New Dodge Cummins Owner/New to Forum
#1
New Dodge Cummins Owner/New to Forum
Hello All,
I am a new member to this site following the purchase of my first Dodge Cummins(new to me). I have used this site multiple times while researching all that I can about my new cummins, but I finally decided to join as a member. I am very humble, I love to learn all that I can, from all types of sources and people, and constantly research so that I can someday try to be very knowledgeable about my vehicles, and so that I am able to at least try to perform all of my own work, maintenance, upgrades, repairs and troubleshooting.
Recently, well about 8 months ago now, I bought a 2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel. I had been wanting one, and had been searching for one for about 8-10 months before finally coming across the one that I thought was the perfect deal. My step-father works for Cummins out here in Portland, Oregon and he had always tried to talk me into selling my 2002 Ford Ranger and buying a "real truck". He had owned cummins' ever since I can remember, and I had always wanted one, but was some what reluctant, due to the fact that they were more expensive trucks to purchase, drive, and maintain. Well, I had finally stepped up and found the one I wanted and I bought it. I bought it completely stock from the original owner, It had 136,000 miles on it, and the only thing, which was favorable on my end, was that it had a recently rebuilt, and "built for towing" transmission; Billet torque converter, input/output shaft, upgraded valve bodies, etc. All which came with receipts, only about 6k miles before I had bought the truck. My ideal truck in which I was looking for was to have the 6-speed manual, but due to the incredible deal I got or paid for the truck, I was okay to settle with the automatic.
Since my purchase, I have began to do some small upgrades, in the never ending adventure of owning one of these awesome trucks! These are, 4" turbo back MBRP exhaust, upgraded lift pump, Edge with Attitude programmer, leveling kit, 17" black wheels with 34" (metric size) all terrain tires, turbo silencer ring removal, fog lights, aftermarket reverse lights, window visors (rain guards), and a K&N drop in filter. Next upgrades on my agenda, are 3 gauges with pillar pod (EGT, Trans temp, Boost), a full AFE stage two intake system, and air bags with on-board air. Just to name a few of many to come.
I do a moderate amount of towing. I ride dirtbikes and camp alot, therefore I use it to tow my bike, and a trailer for my girlfriends quad and camp gear, and any of my buddies bikes that want to join. I also make frequent trips to dunes about 5 hours away, and I'm always designated to tow all of my friends quads including my girlfriends and I's (usually about 5 total)as well as our camping gear again. I have a 20 foot tandem axle flat bed trailer that I tow everything with. Last, I am into "4-wheelin" I have an 84 toyota pickup that is my rock-crawler toy that I frequently tow up in the woods on my flatbed trailer to play with. My ranger would really struggle ALL THE TIME towing my toyota or even the multiple quads to the dunes trips. It would squat terrible in the rear, and it would lose speed, down to about 25-30 mph when I would tow up inclines. However, with my cummins now it is EXCELLENT, instead of 25-30mph over the pass, it will tow at 75-80mph over the pass! Day and night difference, and I will never go back to any sort of gas truck
Selling my little Ford ranger, in turn for purchasing my Cummins was the best decision I have ever made. This truck is exactly what I had expected it to be, and all that I will ever need. I look forward to learning much more from the experienced people on here, and am glad to be part of the forum.
Thank you,
Jake
I am a new member to this site following the purchase of my first Dodge Cummins(new to me). I have used this site multiple times while researching all that I can about my new cummins, but I finally decided to join as a member. I am very humble, I love to learn all that I can, from all types of sources and people, and constantly research so that I can someday try to be very knowledgeable about my vehicles, and so that I am able to at least try to perform all of my own work, maintenance, upgrades, repairs and troubleshooting.
Recently, well about 8 months ago now, I bought a 2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel. I had been wanting one, and had been searching for one for about 8-10 months before finally coming across the one that I thought was the perfect deal. My step-father works for Cummins out here in Portland, Oregon and he had always tried to talk me into selling my 2002 Ford Ranger and buying a "real truck". He had owned cummins' ever since I can remember, and I had always wanted one, but was some what reluctant, due to the fact that they were more expensive trucks to purchase, drive, and maintain. Well, I had finally stepped up and found the one I wanted and I bought it. I bought it completely stock from the original owner, It had 136,000 miles on it, and the only thing, which was favorable on my end, was that it had a recently rebuilt, and "built for towing" transmission; Billet torque converter, input/output shaft, upgraded valve bodies, etc. All which came with receipts, only about 6k miles before I had bought the truck. My ideal truck in which I was looking for was to have the 6-speed manual, but due to the incredible deal I got or paid for the truck, I was okay to settle with the automatic.
Since my purchase, I have began to do some small upgrades, in the never ending adventure of owning one of these awesome trucks! These are, 4" turbo back MBRP exhaust, upgraded lift pump, Edge with Attitude programmer, leveling kit, 17" black wheels with 34" (metric size) all terrain tires, turbo silencer ring removal, fog lights, aftermarket reverse lights, window visors (rain guards), and a K&N drop in filter. Next upgrades on my agenda, are 3 gauges with pillar pod (EGT, Trans temp, Boost), a full AFE stage two intake system, and air bags with on-board air. Just to name a few of many to come.
I do a moderate amount of towing. I ride dirtbikes and camp alot, therefore I use it to tow my bike, and a trailer for my girlfriends quad and camp gear, and any of my buddies bikes that want to join. I also make frequent trips to dunes about 5 hours away, and I'm always designated to tow all of my friends quads including my girlfriends and I's (usually about 5 total)as well as our camping gear again. I have a 20 foot tandem axle flat bed trailer that I tow everything with. Last, I am into "4-wheelin" I have an 84 toyota pickup that is my rock-crawler toy that I frequently tow up in the woods on my flatbed trailer to play with. My ranger would really struggle ALL THE TIME towing my toyota or even the multiple quads to the dunes trips. It would squat terrible in the rear, and it would lose speed, down to about 25-30 mph when I would tow up inclines. However, with my cummins now it is EXCELLENT, instead of 25-30mph over the pass, it will tow at 75-80mph over the pass! Day and night difference, and I will never go back to any sort of gas truck
Selling my little Ford ranger, in turn for purchasing my Cummins was the best decision I have ever made. This truck is exactly what I had expected it to be, and all that I will ever need. I look forward to learning much more from the experienced people on here, and am glad to be part of the forum.
Thank you,
Jake