mitchkim

i might trade trucks first of the week

here is my problem, i have a camping trip planned next week also

if i dont have 500 miles on the truck before i tow will i hurt anything

Hounddog

Differantiials need the break in time.They can and will run HOT.Engine and trans really not a worry.But break in is listed in the owners manuals for a reason.

Dieseljunkie

start driving.. alot.. before your camping trip.
Scott

HorseHauler

you have an 03 with less than 500 miles on it??????????

Dieseljunkie

Read the first line of his post.. then rethink your reply

Scott

HorseHauler

wow i need some sleep

TexasCTD

Well if you get the truck around the first of the week, surely you will be able to put 500 or so miles on it. Go out and drive that THANG!! My electricity was off (transformer problem in the neighborhood) this evening at my house, so instead of being bored sitting around the house in the dark, I went for a drive and put a hundred miles on mine just playing around.

Im sure if you put anywhere near 500 miles you will be fine. The break in period is for the rear diff gears, not the cummins. Just go drive it a while, then hook up that trailer and go.

P Kennedy

Throw that over-valued Dodge bible back in the glove box and drive the stupid truck to your camping spot loaded. I will state it again "how many commercial vehicles" with commercial medium and heavy duty power trains do you know drive around empty when brand new with a paid driver for 500-1000 miles- Zero,Zero,Zero,Zero. Load and go- generate that precious wear pattern as you work the truck- proven theory that class 5-8 trucks used as the piggy back tractor from the factory have less break-in problems. "Dodge will deny warranty" horse-pucky-98% of all work done to new vehicles with less than 10k miles is manufacturer defects and 2% is direct deliberate physical abuse by an operator. Myth #2 rearends need to be broken in 1st- don't think so the synthetic gear oil in those diff's won't physically allow that much wear in 500-1000 miles otherwise the oil is no good and does not do what the oil manufacturer states it will do "prevent wear". However in the 1st 2500 miles watch for leaks and oil consumption to protect your components by NOT running them dry due to the "break-in" process- aka manufacturer defects. PK

Hounddog

Well the differantial suppliers I've bought from in the past would HIGHLY disagree.I guess the engineers for D.C.and MANY other suppliers don't have a clue.I BREAK mine in.Could CARE what big rig commerical haulers do.

djbikeman

Kennedy,

Maybe this will change your opinion. Randy's is one of the most respected R&P suppliers in the country. There was also a story in one of the 4wd mags about them blowing the rear ring on a brand new Tundra because they didn't bother to break it in before they hooked up to a 5k trailer. Not a warranty, but Toyota took care of them because it was part of there test fleet.

http://www.randysringandpinion.com/c...lt.asp?pid=122

My opinion, Break it in, go out a few hours a night and put the mileage on as recommended before your trip.

runamuk

Yep,

I agree the 500 mi break in period is mainly designed for the differential's heat cycling.

I took mine to Yuma from Sacramento and I almost died until I hit the 500 mi mark somewhere around Modesto

Its All Good

Like they said above, just get in and drive....better safe than sorry, I know I couldn't wait unit I hit the 1000 mile mark to start putting goodies on my truck...

P Kennedy

Some of you boy's are a little snippy this weekend- Reality is welding rigs, ambulances, hotshot trucks etc. don't get the big break in period they just go to work. Most of these are equal to or more than the 5000lb camper/trailer described and never get the opportunity to HEAT cycle or wear in according to the mighty DC standards. As far as those infamous engineers go they probably do have some fancy math to prove all of this hype on paper therefore you are correct. Unfortunately these are the same folks who manage to "engineer" vehicle components that are just about impossible to change without dismantling the the stinking truck. Before everybody gets bent out of shape we need these people however it sure would be nice if they could engineer the details of our lives into there brilliances. Your Dodge is more like a commercial vehicle than you realize but protect your investment as you see fit, unfortunately diff failures in the 1st 40k is according to "DC" low oil, defects and abuse ie: racing. A small side note those using their vehicles for work like hot shotter's and RV hauler etc. have much higher general milage before major component failure than powder puff rigs. PK

Hounddog

Its just NOT D.C. with the break in advise.Its ALL auto manufactures as well as the AFTERMARKET DIFF.suppliers.I bought numerous gear sets from GEARS and REARS who supply to Nascar.They were infatic about break in and heat cycles.Wonder why if it didn't matter?