New Tow Rig - I Jumped Ship!

BilletGarage

BilletGarage

Diesel Addict
Two Fords later (6.0 and 6.4), I decided I needed to give the mighty Cummins a try.

2005 Dodge 2500 QCSB ST 4X4
48RE Auto
MBRP 4" Turbo Back
AFE Cold Air
Banks Intercooler, Piping, High Ram
Bullydog GT (Canned Tunes)
BD Diesel Flexplate
Raceline Assault Wheels 20x9
Federal M/T's 35x12.50's
3" Leveling Kit, 3" Blocks
Bilstein 5100's and Steering Stabilizer
Rough Country Steering Box Brace

I needed something to tow my street car to the track and shows.

Any suggestions on what I can do to make this thing ultra-reliable for towing?

Thanks in advance guys!

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Head studs, better low pressure filtration (filter header or FASS, etc...), trans pan (triple disc, billet input, and VB would be good too).

The piston rings like to break in those, but if you keep the tune down, and EGTs lower, you should be pretty good.
05's are pretty reliable from my experience.
 
CorneliusRox said:
Head studs, better low pressure filtration (filter header or FASS, etc...), trans pan (triple disc, billet input, and VB would be good too).

The piston rings like to break in those, but if you keep the tune down, and EGTs lower, you should be pretty good.
05's are pretty reliable from my experience.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice! Will put this stuff on the mods list.
 
Not to be a douche' but WHY does everyone's list of parts seem like and endorsement for various manufacturers, these days?

Whatever happened to such descriptions:

100 horse injectors.
Tuner with 100 horse program.
BHAF air filter/filter "kit".
Suspension lifts and mods.

Oh, and FWIW, the best commonrail trucks out there are the '03 6 speed trucks, most reliable, best fuel mileage and simple(r) to work on.
If you get a very early 2003, then you get 12/24 valve rods.

This is all my very own, unique, opinion and experience, of course. :D

Mark.
 
Mark Nixon said:
Not to be a douche' but WHY does everyone's list of parts seem like and endorsement for various manufacturers, these days?

Whatever happened to such descriptions:

100 horse injectors.
Tuner with 100 horse program.
BHAF air filter/filter "kit".
Suspension lifts and mods.

Oh, and FWIW, the best commonrail trucks out there are the '03 6 speed trucks, most reliable, best fuel mileage and simple(r) to work on.
If you get a very early 2003, then you get 12/24 valve rods.

This is all my very own, unique, opinion and experience, of course. :D

Mark.
Click to expand...

LOL Fair enough! I guess it's to let members know the brand of parts in case it's relevant to their opinions or advice. And it's habit I guess.

Good info too on the 2003! I have been under the impression that 2006 and 2007 were the most desired 3rd Gens. But admittedly, I am a noob on this platform.
 
Mark Nixon said:
Not to be a douche' but WHY does everyone's list of parts seem like and endorsement for various manufacturers, these days?

Whatever happened to such descriptions:

100 horse injectors.
Tuner with 100 horse program.
BHAF air filter/filter "kit".
Suspension lifts and mods.

Oh, and FWIW, the best commonrail trucks out there are the '03 6 speed trucks, most reliable, best fuel mileage and simple(r) to work on.
If you get a very early 2003, then you get 12/24 valve rods.

This is all my very own, unique, opinion and experience, of course. :D

Mark.
Click to expand...

Ah yes because SuperChips and HP Tuners is virtually the same thing.
 
Build the 48, switch to HP tuners tuning, Fass or Air dog, and head studs. Would be a solid daily driver at that point. Maybe throw in a set of gauges or Insight CTS2 with EGT probe.
 
YoungGun said:
Build the 48, switch to HP tuners tuning, Fass or Air dog, and head studs. Would be a solid daily driver at that point. Maybe throw in a set of gauges or Insight CTS2 with EGT probe.
Click to expand...

Good advice! I actually have HP Tuners Pro software for tuning the GM LS platform. Maybe I need to learn Diesel tuning. :evil
 
Don't et me wrong, your truck appears to be a nice specimen, I wouldn't kick it out of my yard, if it wandered in needing adopted. :)

The 2006-2007 trucks are "most desired" for various reasons, mostly for the better interior, better interior options, like the business console set-up of 2006-2009, sunroof, power sliding rear glass, u-connect, nav and more.
Back when it mattered, and no decent tuners were available, they were also desired because they were EFI Live tunable.

Now that there are a few "decent" tuners out there for the SCI platforms (2003-2005), the tunability is better, with a myriad of tuners now available for those trucks, as well.

Mark.
 
Mark Nixon said:
Don't et me wrong, your truck appears to be a nice specimen, I wouldn't kick it out of my yard, if it wandered in needing adopted. :)

The 2006-2007 trucks are "most desired" for various reasons, mostly for the better interior, better interior options, like the business console set-up of 2006-2009, sunroof, power sliding rear glass, u-connect, nav and more.
Back when it mattered, and no decent tuners were available, they were also desired because they were EFI Live tunable.

Now that there are a few "decent" tuners out there for the SCI platforms (2003-2005), the tunability is better, with a myriad of tuners now available for those trucks, as well.

Mark.
Click to expand...

LOL Good info. I only knew they were more desireable from a tuning aspect. Didn't know about the interior options or that HP Tuners was now an option for my truck.
 
DDually said:
Ah yes because SuperChips and HP Tuners is virtually the same thing.
Click to expand...

There are some of us who care less for tuning trucks, where stock reliability is plenty, where a good fuel pump and filtration is all we need.
To think everyone out there is a pedal masher, balls to the wall, 300% injectors, s-486 turbo, gee whiz hopped up truck lover is madness.

Sometimes stock-ish is all we need, or care for.

You can go nowhere fast, breaking things, I'm happy to take my time.

If you want to argue with me about it, I'll show you a whole pile of blown up cummins commonrail engines that tells you I'm right.

Mark.
 
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Looks like a slick truck. From what I have been around and read about. 03/ early 04. Had the better injectors. 04.5-07 Seem to have more injector issues and burned piston issues. (Injector issues)
 
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coorsman2005 said:
Looks like a slick truck. From what I have been around and read about. 03/ early 04. Had the better injectors. 04.5-07 Seem to have more injector issues and burned piston issues. (Injector issues)
Click to expand...

Thank you! It is in pretty good shape for it's age and mileage (181,000) I think.

Good to know on the injectors. Thanks for the info.
 
05 was the first year for the hardened valve seats from the factory if I remember right too. Don't quote me on that.
 
All weather floor mats
Turn the clamp around on the intercooler tube (by the banks monster ram)
FASS 150GPH and fuel sump
Built transmission
 
kleann said:
All weather floor mats
Turn the clamp around on the intercooler tube (by the banks monster ram)
FASS 150GPH and fuel sump
Built transmission
Click to expand...
Weathertech's arrived today. My OCD was on to that clamp immediately. LOL FASS, or the like is on the list. And I think I may have the transmission built before it dies and leaves me stranded. :) Thanks for the suggestions!
 
Good looking truck. As others said, build the trans, HP tuner tune, fuel filter setup, and a good lift pump. Though the factory in tank pump will keep up pretty good in my experience.

When the trans is removed, do a coolant bypass. Easy time to access the rear freeze plug with trans removed.

For towing, buy the BD OD lockout kit. This allows you to lock out third gear which is not possible with tow haul mode only. Add a converter lockup switch.

05’s are quirky.
 
Red Sleeper said:
Good looking truck. As others said, build the trans, HP tuner tune, fuel filter setup, and a good lift pump. Though the factory in tank pump will keep up pretty good in my experience.

When the trans is removed, do a coolant bypass. Easy time to access the rear freeze plug with trans removed.

For towing, buy the BD OD lockout kit. This allows you to lock out third gear which is not possible with tow haul mode only. Add a converter lockup switch.

05’s are quirky.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Good stuff!
 
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