Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
TDRComm
Staff Member
Congratulations to long-time TDR member Conrad Stover, whose photo was selected to be on the cover of the latest issue of the Turbo Diesel Register, #117. Conrad took this beautiful, pastoral photo on a cow pasture, part of his South Carolina property, at sunset. We thought it fitting for the cover of the August, September, October issue and we’re happy to be able to once again have a TDR member’s photo on the cover.
Conrad’s two Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo Diesels are featured in the photo and we asked him for more information about the two trucks and his uses and experiences with them. Here’s what he had to say:
TRUCK 1: 2003 Ram 2500 4X4, Manual Transmission
Current odometer reading: 263,000
Typical fuel economy (highway): 20-21 MPG
Modifications: Over the years, there have been a lot of upgrades and modifications. Under the hood changes include: Rokktech Crank sensor, BD Boost Fooler, Banks Technicooler and Monster Ram intake horn, Electric Fans, AFE Intake and AFE Torque Tube and a 5" Diamond Eye exhaust. The injectors are slightly larger than stock. The clutch is South Bend dual disk. I run a Smarty programmer on it. Inside I have Diesel Dynamics gauges (Remember those?). Also, I've added tow mirrors with lights and added cab clearance lights, air bags and running boards.
Turbo Diesel Register: What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever trailered with the 2003?
Conrad Stover: In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, I took a camper from Indiana to Lake Charles,
Louisiana for FEMA. Not necessarily an unusual job, but it was an adventure for me.
TDR: What is the heaviest thing you’ve ever trailered with it?
CS: The heaviest thing I ever hauled was my JLG telehandler with the forks and basket weighing around 28,000-pounds on a 40-foot gooseneck trailer.
TDR: Is there any other information you’d like to share about the 2003 truck?
CS: I bought the 2003 in 2005 with 45,000 miles. In my opinion, the 2003 High Output 5.9, with the NV5600 manual transmission, will always be the best truck ever. Simple to tune with no factory emissions components and no catalytic converter.
TRUCK 2: 2018 Ram 2500 4X4, Manual Transmission
Current odometer reading: 90,300
Typical fuel economy (highway) 19-21 MPG
Modifications: Programmed with EzyLink and Kory Willis tunes.
Retractable bed cover, and gun mounts in Ramboxes.
TDR: What is the heaviest thing you’ve ever trailered with the 2018?
CS: The heaviest thing I’ve hauled with it was the 2003 truck.
TDR: Is there any other information you’d like to share about the 2018 truck?
CS: In 2018, when I learned that the manual transmission was going to disappear, I began to look hard for one of the last manual trucks. I almost bought a new one, but at the last minute I decided to wait. Finally, in 2020, this truck appeared on Marketplace and was only about a five hours drive away. It had everything I wanted, most importantly the 6-speed manual transmission, plus leather interior, heated and cooled seats, and the Rambox storage. It has so many more options than the 2003, it's a totally different machine. The 2018 Ram has become my daily driver.
Conrad, thank you for being an integral part of the Turbo Diesel Register community!
Conrad’s two Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo Diesels are featured in the photo and we asked him for more information about the two trucks and his uses and experiences with them. Here’s what he had to say:
TRUCK 1: 2003 Ram 2500 4X4, Manual Transmission
Current odometer reading: 263,000
Typical fuel economy (highway): 20-21 MPG
Modifications: Over the years, there have been a lot of upgrades and modifications. Under the hood changes include: Rokktech Crank sensor, BD Boost Fooler, Banks Technicooler and Monster Ram intake horn, Electric Fans, AFE Intake and AFE Torque Tube and a 5" Diamond Eye exhaust. The injectors are slightly larger than stock. The clutch is South Bend dual disk. I run a Smarty programmer on it. Inside I have Diesel Dynamics gauges (Remember those?). Also, I've added tow mirrors with lights and added cab clearance lights, air bags and running boards.
Turbo Diesel Register: What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever trailered with the 2003?
Conrad Stover: In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, I took a camper from Indiana to Lake Charles,
Louisiana for FEMA. Not necessarily an unusual job, but it was an adventure for me.
TDR: What is the heaviest thing you’ve ever trailered with it?
CS: The heaviest thing I ever hauled was my JLG telehandler with the forks and basket weighing around 28,000-pounds on a 40-foot gooseneck trailer.
TDR: Is there any other information you’d like to share about the 2003 truck?
CS: I bought the 2003 in 2005 with 45,000 miles. In my opinion, the 2003 High Output 5.9, with the NV5600 manual transmission, will always be the best truck ever. Simple to tune with no factory emissions components and no catalytic converter.
TRUCK 2: 2018 Ram 2500 4X4, Manual Transmission
Current odometer reading: 90,300
Typical fuel economy (highway) 19-21 MPG
Modifications: Programmed with EzyLink and Kory Willis tunes.
Retractable bed cover, and gun mounts in Ramboxes.
TDR: What is the heaviest thing you’ve ever trailered with the 2018?
CS: The heaviest thing I’ve hauled with it was the 2003 truck.
TDR: Is there any other information you’d like to share about the 2018 truck?
CS: In 2018, when I learned that the manual transmission was going to disappear, I began to look hard for one of the last manual trucks. I almost bought a new one, but at the last minute I decided to wait. Finally, in 2020, this truck appeared on Marketplace and was only about a five hours drive away. It had everything I wanted, most importantly the 6-speed manual transmission, plus leather interior, heated and cooled seats, and the Rambox storage. It has so many more options than the 2003, it's a totally different machine. The 2018 Ram has become my daily driver.
Conrad, thank you for being an integral part of the Turbo Diesel Register community!
