This truck ROCKS!!!!!!!! 44' Gooseneck, enclosed race car hauler, tools, tool boxes, etc......2 bedroom apartment loaded inside....washer/drier, couches, chairs, dining room table, the whole works. 70-75 MPH, stock power, 12.5 MPG. Could not tell you how much I weighed, but this truck manhandled the load, AND GET THIS.......I had loaned out my brake controller to my friend, and had NO BRAKE CONTROLLER to stop this thing. The stock brakes ROCK!!!! I was 1/2 way there before I realized I had loaned out my brake controlller Well, i can tell you, I worked the brakes pretty darn hard, but they never faded. Anyways, I need to get my friends Bully Dog Power Pup and REALLY load this thing up and see what she can do....WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO


Oh yeah, I am so excited becasue I came over from a modded 7.3 Powerstroke (I use to haul cars cross country, and I still do sometimes) and was worried about the power, because honestly, this truck feels so slow compared to my 7.3. But man, not with a load behind it. At 70-75MPH, boost gauge was 20LBS pretty much the whole way.......The old Cummins got a GOOD workout this weekend

 

Im gettin 12.5 mpg pullin 6000lbs

 

I'm getting 12 mpg pulling 8,000 lb. But I'm not complaing, my Titan got 9 mpg (with a tailwind!) pulling the same load.

 

I've been getting 14. Warmer weather, windows down, 5" straight pipe, and a heavy right foot will kill mileage

 

On the highway, I'd imagine the aerodynamics of the truck/load combo would matter more than the weight.

 

And you want to mess with perfection? Thats the beauty of these trucks.

Call me old fashioned but to me play toys are one thing, working trucks are another. Don't you worry, I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't end up posting on another thread about the holed piston, wiped bearings due to dilution, chunkies in the turbo...

When you do really load it up, make sure the brake controller is installed.

 

I like hearing that! I should be done with the hauler bed and be towing in a couple more weeks. I hope it does good so I can leave it alone. I got most of the mod stuff out of my system with my 97. It gets expensive keeping the driveline in good shape! I only want to do airflow mods on my 03. Craig

 

Yeah, the brake controller will be the FIRST thing put back on my truck, I can tell you that I am not going to get crazy with my truck, as you can tell I am already extremely happy with it as is. The Bully Dog Power Pup set on performance, and a nice free flowing muffler, and I will be good to go. My modded 7.3 Powerstroke, was chipped, exhausted, and intaked, and hauling heavier loads (3-4 cars), the only thing I killed on that truck was the auto tranny @ 38K. I put over 100K modded miles on the 7.3, and I know the Cummins is a better built motor then my 7.3, so I am not worried there. Keep an eye on the old EGT gauge, and good to go. The only thing I figure that will go, will be the stock clutch, but alot less then the auto I blew up in my Ford Very happy with this truck. Oh yeah, I alwasy said the Ford rides better then my Dodge, UNLOADED, but man I am here to tell you, with that load this weekend, this truck rode like a freaking Cadillac. I know you throw SOME weight back there, sure, softens the springs up some, and will give you a softer ride, but man, THAT much weight, just blows my mind. I can now really offer a Apples to Apples comparison to my Ford and the Dodge.


You want a VERY nice truck, that rides good unloaded, pulls good, all around a very solid truck, buy a 7.3 Powerstroke.

You want a VERY nice truck, that rides harsh unloaded, pulls awesome, all around GREAT work truck, buy a Cummins.

 

after the brake controller is reinstalled, spent the money on an exhaust brake, you wont be sorry.

 

Never had any experience with an exhaust brake, that much of a difference you think???

 

Everyone I know with 03 HOs were unhappy with the stock power because they had owned pumped-up 2nd gens. I towed with my 03 for the first time yesterday and it's a slug with a load. I expected a lot more, judging from the unloaded feel. My 97 will blow it away - not even a contest! I see what guys say about the 03 muffler - it sounded like it was smashed shut. The 03 has no top end but low-mid range isn't too bad. I don't think air mods will help much if it hasn't got the top-end fueling. I'm still happy like a pig in ****!My 03 handles weight twice as good as my 97. The dually is like night and day difference over the 3/4T and the 6spd/4.10 over the 5spd/3.54 is equally impressive. PERFECT for towing! Craig

 

See, me coming from a Modded 7.3 (320/639 at the tires) auto 4.10's was VERY happy with the power (at the time). My CTD, stock just seemed to handle the weight , both power wise and handling did a better job then the PSD. So, now that my CTD is modded, should have even better results Oh yeah, even stopping that thing with NO brake controller impressed me

 

My 97 dynoed 292/812 at 6000' alt. a few years ago and I turned it down a little til I got the SB clutch in it and I left it that way to preserve the rest of the driveline. I'm guessing it's about 270/750 now. The stock 03 HOs dyno about 265/490 so I expected more out of it. Now I see what a huge difference tq. makes! Where the 03 HO peters out (about 2200 rpm), my 97 is just getting started. I'll do some mods to the 03 til I at least get some top end power. Craig