Hey guys I'm new to the Dodge/Cummins and plan to start hauling rv's for a living soon. I'm getting the truck outfitted for that line of work. From what I can tell everything is stock on this truck. The exhaust has had the cat and muffler cut off if it had one. The friend/co-worker I bought it off of just put new stock injectors in it within the last few months. The truck has 134k miles on it.

What else should I do to make this truck dependable and as fuel efficient as possible? I currently get 17/18mpg running 60-65 unloaded. I've been thinking about getting a Smarty JR for alittle more power and hopefully better mpg's.

I should mention that I plan to purchase a different Dodge truck next year to continue this type of work.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Scott

 

Welcome to the DTR Scott. You are right about the Smarty Jr. it will tow much better. Egt, and boost gages are a must especially if using a programmer. Air bags would also be helpful as my 3500 squats pretty good with our small 10K 5er. As cool as the no muffler/cat thing sounds while running empty, I am pretty sure if you are towing all the time you will want something to quiet the drone.

 

I am running pure stock except for a ScottyIII larger air cleaner. I have a 16K fiver, run right at 24,000 when full of fuel and loaded ready for a 6 month trip. I get pretty consistent 12.7 on the road running 60, maybe push 65 if clear and level. Too bad you have short bed - - sure nice to have an extra 50 gallons of fuel on board. I likewise recommend EGT and fuel pressure guages. I run a solid 20 mpg in town solo and 19 - 21 solo on the road. As for power, I have been in some pretty awesome places in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia (12% grades), Alaska, the Baja in Mexico and never found the need for any boost. I do not have to be the first one to the top of the hill but I climb them very nicely and don't go thru the roof on the EGT's. They are an awesome towing machine.

YOu might want to run back thru some past posts and catch up on some info on sleeping quarters in your truck. Scotty would be a good guy to pm for info on what you want to do.

Bob