what guage should I get

[FullSack]

I know, dumb question, but I need some advice



I don't tow, and don't have any chips or stuff like that.



If I was to get 1 and only 1 guage, what would you get and why. I'm leaning towards a boost guage.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

You can get a combo gauge. Boost and egt in one.

 

[FullSack]

I'm only putting one in. I bought the SRT-10 a-pillar with the single gauge. Now I just need to choose the guage.



Does monitoring my EGT's matter if I don't tow?

 

[MMeier]

Fullsack, on the 3rd gen trucks, most feel it is important to monitor EGT's, seeing as how these run "hot" in stock form. The combo gauge is perfect for that single pod opening, Geno's garage here carries it!

 

[DPKetchum]

Try Geno's Garage for a Westach boost/Egt gauge combo. Like mine. They also carry the single gauge pillars

 

[AK RAM]

Ditto. If you only want one, a Westach combo Boost/EGT would be nice:



#ad




Dakota Digital also has combo digital gauges:



#ad




Both will fit in your single gauge SRT-10 a-pillar nicely.

 

[Hercules130]

i just installed a white faced westach combo guage in my srt10 a-pillar and it looks great.

 

[1Tufdsl]

I second AK RAM and the Dakota Digital. I have pic's of the Dakota installed in the link in my sig below.



Karl

 

[litespeed]

I second AK RAM and the Dakota Digital. I have pic's of the Dakota installed in the link in my sig below.



Karl

Karl,



Were you able to wire the gauge into the lighting circuit in the truck so you can dim the gauge with the rest of the factory gauges? How is the brightness at night? Too bright can be fatiguing on those long nights in the seat..... Curious... .



Thanks,



AJ

 

[MSLiechty]

X.....

Iam doing teh same but going the Dakota digital route!



Hope this helps



Michael

 

[1Tufdsl]

Karl,



Were you able to wire the gauge into the lighting circuit in the truck so you can dim the gauge with the rest of the factory gauges? How is the brightness at night? Too bright can be fatiguing on those long nights in the seat..... Curious... .



Thanks,



AJ

Yep, it's tapped right into the dimmer and dims just like the rest of the digital readouts on the truck (ie. , the same brightness). That's one of the main reasons I wanted the Dakota gauge was becuase I didn't want three lighted gauges on my entire A-pillar obstructing my view while driving at night for the same exact reasons you mentioned.



Karl

 

[DPKetchum]

Was told some don't like the digital. Changes too fast.

 

[1Tufdsl]

FullSack, I forgot to add that the reason it's good to have a EGT/boost/trans gauge(s) even on a stock truck is that it's nice to monitor the health of the engine and transmission, and to be able to get a baseline for EGT's if you ever decide to install power mod's.



Karl

 

[rbattelle]

If I were only going to get one single gauge it would be boost. You and I have similar trucks (and similar uses for them... no towing, no performance devices).



-Ryan

 

[JRD]

If I were to install one single gauge, Id go EGT. Boost is nice to know and so is trans temp, but I feel EGT is just as important as oil pressure...

 

[Jengle]

Definitely get a EGT, first, Boost or Fuel pressure secondary, if you go combo. You will be surprised how many times your EGTs willl be way over 300*, even when stock, right before you shut it down. Mine would go to 400+, just climbing my dads driveway, and its not that steep and only about 50yds long. And that was before I added anything other than the gauges, that I would see that. So, go EGT first. My . 02.

 

[1Tufdsl]

Was told some don't like the digital. Changes too fast.

That may be the case with other digital gauges (not sure about them) but I certainly don't feel that way with the Dakota. Obviously, boost moves faster then EGT or Trans but it's still very easy to read. But, opinions are like rear ends, we all seem to have one.



Karl

 

[keimmmo]

I would vote for a trans oil temp gauge. My reasoning is that I don't hear of a lot of fried motors due to too much boost or even high exhaust temps with a stock motor. I DO hear of fried transmissions fairly often! Gauges are to protect something valuable. I would guard against the most common failure!



Steve Keim

 

[CaptNemo]

I would vote for a trans oil temp gauge. My reasoning is that I don't hear of a lot of fried motors due to too much boost or even high exhaust temps with a stock motor. I DO hear of fried transmissions fairly often! Gauges are to protect something valuable. I would guard against the most common failure!



Steve Keim

I'm with Steve, if you're towing or seriously off roading, then the trans temp becomes critical.

 

[rbattelle]

He's not towing. He has no plans for any performance modifications. Good point about transmission temps nevertheless, but I'd still pick boost. It's a nice "active" gauge and it really gives an excellent idea of what kind of load you've got on the engine. Just idle 30 seconds to 1 minute before shutdown and that covers your EGT requirements without need for a gauge.



-Ryan