RE: Watch the 2 millionth Cummins engine for the Ram being built
GM just built its 1,500,000 Duramax last November. Considering Dodge/Cummins had a 12 year head start I would have figured that there would be far more 5.9L Cummins'
When this thread first started, I knew it wouldn't take long for one of the blue oval or GM boys to comment something like this. They just can't stand to see Ram have something to be proud of.
RE: automatic vs manual transmission
I don't understand the passion on this subject. It's nearly as bad as Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge or 4x4 vs 4x2 or, God forbid, diesel vs gas. Over in the Tow Vehicles Forum it gets downright nasty at times. The comments about "Luddites" and 'manliness" toward manual users are no more appropriate than comments about "lazy" or "wusses" are toward automatic users.
Why can't some people understand that, in addition to the reasons given regarding better control and reliability, some of us just plain enjoy shifting? Some of us would rather DRIVE the vehicle rather than just be a passenger. Some of us want to be involved to a greater degree than "Light green - mash go pedal. Light red - mash stop pedal". Some of us take pride in being able to start out smoothly and shift without jerking. Some of us like the sound of the engine doing exactly what we want it to do. For Pete's sake, people, go camping or something.
RE: automatic vs manual transmission
The choice between a manual or automatic transmission comes down to personal preference. I would have no problem owning any of the current automatic offerings but I prefer a manual transmission for a couple of reasons. One, I'll never be convinced that some computer buried somewhere in the bowels of my truck knows better than I which gear I should be in and how long I should stay there. Two, and most important to me, is reliability. Admittedly, today's automatic transmissions are light years ahead of their ancestors, both in features and reliability, and they are getting better all the time. But they are also expensive, complicated pieces of machinery with computers to fail, wiring harnesses to chafe and tubing to leak. Each component is a point of failure. They require more maintenance than manuals with periodic fluid flushes, filter changes and so on and although this wouldn't be a deal killer for me it is something to consider.
On the other hand, a manual is as complicated as a stone ax and just as reliable. If you keep it topped up with fluid, it will pretty well just work and work and work. But (and this is a big but) you have to know how to drive one and fewer and fewer people today have that skill. To those who claim that clutches are expensive to replace, yes, they are. Anything mechanical can fail, of course, and everybody knows somebody who has suffered failures. But in 50 years, and several million kilometers, of driving I have only had one clutch failure and that was in a 61 Chevy when I was 17 years old and it took a LOT of abuse before it finally quit.
As others have said, only Dodge offers a manual today and likely before long it will no longer be offered, either. The engine in front of it is detuned a bit but, really, I can't imagine how heavy you would have to be towing or hauling to exceed the transmissions, or the engines, capability. Honestly, how many of us really need 30,000 lbs of towing capacity? For the most part, this is only an issue with those who have to have the biggest and baddest.
This is just my opinion and works for me. I would never denigrate anybody who chooses an automatic. It's your money and you can spend it any way you choose. But as long as I can work the clutch, I'll have a manual transmission.
RE: 2004 Cummins 3500 DRW - real towing capacity
Not sure I understand why your GVWR is only 11,500 pounds. I have the same truck and my GVWR is 12,000 pounds. Is your truck a megacab by chance?
RE: BC Canada and truck weight ratings
The DW wants to take the camper to BC for vacation this year. I'd love to because the Canadian Rockies have to be one of the top ten most spectacular places in the world to see and, even though I've been to the Eastern slopes many times, I've never seen them from the BC side.
But my rig is over the GVW (a bit) and I've told her that, even though the chance may be small, it just isn't worth the risk of having to unload the camper, find a bigger truck to get it home and pay a fine if we get stopped and weighed. With my luck, I'll run into an overly zealous, newbie RCMP who's pumped up on his or her own power and trying to save the world. Sorry, Dear, but if we go the Left Coast, we will have to "car" it.
RE: Lowest gas prices you remember.
25.9 cents per gallon in 1966 in Des Moines, Iowa at the Gulf station I was working at. I got an additional 3 cents per gallon employees discount. I believe my 57 Oldsmobile had a 10 gallon tank so I could fill it up for around $2.00! Of course, I was working for $1.10 an hour so I had to work for two hours to earn a tankful.
RE: Installing larger propane tanks
Our Eagle Cap 995 came with two 30 pound tanks, although I've noticed that the new 995s are coming out with two 20 pounders instead. At any rate, you have enough room two 30 pound tanks if you want.
RE: DRW, checking + filling inner tire?
I use the double headed tire gauge/filler and it works fine. However make sure you get the right one, there are two that I know of: this is the one that I use: Straight
And this other kind that doesn't work well for me: Angle
To be honest, your first link is the first that I'd seen a straight end on a double-headed gauge:
http://cloudfront.zorotools.com/product/full/2HKW5_AS01.JPG
I think that would be just what I need for a gauge and inflator. Any idea where you got it from?
X2. This is the type of tire gauge you need. You can also get the same kind in an air chuck. The other kind, the ones that has both heads angled, didn't work well for me. You can pick these up at almost any automotive store such as NAPA.
RE: Who has NEVER had water in diesel fuel??
Four Cummins since 1999. Never had a drop of water that I was aware of. I do change the fuel filter religiously at the manual recommended intervals and use the best filter I can find.
