Ultimate Tow Rig BUILD

So I have decided to build myself a new truck the way I want instead of spending $80k on a new one. I just really like having something nobody else has, and the fact that I built it. I have 4 kids that will just get bigger, and it sucks to cram them in my 04 quad cab, so I need a bigger cab and a long bed so I can pull my 48' Eliminator race trailer without hitting the cab in tight corners. The trailer loaded weighs somewhere around 20k pounds, so I really want a 6spd auto. I also drive in about 2hrs of stop and go traffic everyday, so I do not want a manual trans.

I have three trucks that I will be using to build this thing, a 2008 Mega Cab 2500 4x4 roller, a 2004 3500 dually 4x4 roller, and a complete 2012 Single Cab 3500 dually 4x4 Cab and Chassis with a (hopefully) rebuildable 6.7 Cummins and AS69RC transmission with Borg Warner 44-46 transfer case.

I am going to put it all together and make a 2008 3500 4x4 Mega Cab Long bed with a custom flat bed. I will have to use all of the wiring, computers, and dash out of the 2012 since there is no other way of making the Aisin trans work. So I will basically have 4th gen interior with 3rd gen door panels.

Engine: 2012 6.7 Cummins HE351VE/475 compounds, stock CP3, stock injectors, fully deleted with EFI Live. Just looking for around 500-550hp.

Trans: AS69RC conversion, possibly some internal mods.

Tcase: Borg Warner 44-46

Axles: Front 9.5" with manual hub conversion, 4:10-4.56 gears. Rear dually AAM 11.5 full width axle.

Suspension: 6" Thuren Soft Ride coils, Fox Remote res shocks, rear 3" block and Fox res shocks. Custom front radius arms that will clear 37s at full lock.

Steering: 2012 steering gear and tie rods with Fox steering stabilizer.

Bed: 70gal built in Aux fuel tank, side tool box drawers, on board air, rear facing LED work light bar.

Tires and Wheels: 37" Toyo or Nitto MTs on 17" Dodge Alcoas. 2.5" steel dually spacers.

Its going to be a ton of work, but should be cool when its done.

only thing I would change is turbo, Get away from a VGT? maybe just a single 464?

Mudn_1 said:

only thing I would change is turbo, Get away from a VGT? maybe just a single 464?

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I know the VGT is junk, I just want to keep the exhaust brake and have the turbos light as fast as possible. Also the HE351VE is cheap, I thought about using an aftermarket VGT turbo also, I just dont know if they are anymore reliable than a stock one.

Everybody likes peektars.








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Mudn_1 said:

only thing I would change is turbo, Get away from a VGT? maybe just a single 464?

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For a tow rig that's DD'd, an HE351VE with bigger wheels is a great/cheap turbo for 550hp. I love how quick it spools with a 6pd. I haven't pulled 20k with it, but I've done my 28' 5th wheel with my tandum 16' steel trailer, with a 4-seater side by side behind it. Couldn't complain at all. Set cruise control and go.

37's is going to be the kicker. I'd make sure it's got 4:10's in the diffs. 37's on my 12V made it a little tough to tow with.

Why lift it for towing? I'd say forget the lift, and run 33" tires. For the amount of weight you're towing, why add the extra pressure on the chassis/suspension?

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CorneliusRox said:

For a tow rig that's DD'd, an HE351VE with bigger wheels is a great/cheap turbo for 550hp. I love how quick it spools with a 6pd. I haven't pulled 20k with it, but I've done my 28' 5th wheel with my tandum 16' steel trailer, with a 4-seater side by side behind it. Couldn't complain at all. Set cruise control and go.

37's is going to be the kicker. I'd make sure it's got 4:10's in the diffs. 37's on my 12V made it a little tough to tow with.

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Yea, planned on running a 4.10-4.56 ratio. I just need to check on a gear calculator to see where the Aisin OD would run.

J-Pipes said:

Why lift it for towing? I'd say forget the lift, and run 33" tires. For the amount of weight you're towing, why add the extra pressure on the chassis/suspension?

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No other reason than I just like lifted stuff, and it will ride better with the parts I am using. The whole reason for running a flat bed is so I can lower the hitch height and still have a lifted truck.

On the GrimmJeeper calculator a stock configured truck with 3.73s and 31" tires runs 1783RPM @70mph so I think 4.30 gears and 37s would be ideal at 1722RPM @ 70MPH. 4.56s would run 1826RPM which wouldnt be bad either.

This is a very cool project.

The only thing I would suggest doing is use the 04 VIN and title and license it as an 04. I suggest this because of the increasing intolerance of deleted/tuned vehicles. If it is titled and licensed as an 04 it will be much easier to avoid headaches.

My experience with towing on my 6.7 vs 5.9, it gets really loud at 1850-2000 RPM. If I can get just above or just below it, it's quiet. That was with stock and straight exhaust (obviously louder on straight).

bracker8040 said:

This is a very cool project.

The only thing I would suggest doing is use the 04 VIN and title and license it as an 04. I suggest this because of the increasing intolerance of deleted/tuned vehicles. If it is titled and licensed as an 04 it will be much easier to avoid headaches.

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The title follows the VIN that is on the cab, so it will have to be a 2008. I could really care less about the EPA anyway.

CorneliusRox said:

My experience with towing on my 6.7 vs 5.9, it gets really loud at 1850-2000 RPM. If I can get just above or just below it, it's quiet. That was with stock and straight exhaust (obviously louder on straight).

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I plan to use the same setup I have on my 2004, compounds with 5" exhaust and a 50" Donaldson muffler. Sounds like a stock truck besides the turbo noises.

That white dually is slick.

CorneliusRox said:

For a tow rig that's DD'd, an HE351VE with bigger wheels is a great/cheap turbo for 550hp. I love how quick it spools with a 6pd. I haven't pulled 20k with it, but I've done my 28' 5th wheel with my tandum 16' steel trailer, with a 4-seater side by side behind it. Couldn't complain at all. Set cruise control and go.

37's is going to be the kicker. I'd make sure it's got 4:10's in the diffs. 37's on my 12V made it a little tough to tow with.

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2nd gen swap with something like a 464 will spool just as fast.... keep EGT's cooler, better fuel mileage, and much more reliable than a HE351 ever thought about. aaaaannd a swap isn't much more than an upgraded 351

Mudn_1 said:

2nd gen swap with something like a 464 will spool just as fast.... keep EGT's cooler, better fuel mileage, and much more reliable than a HE351 ever thought about. aaaaannd a swap isn't much more than an upgraded 351

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I fell in love with the compounds in my 04, HE351/467. I love how quiet they made it and never gets over 1200* pulling my trailer, even at WOT. I do like the simplicity of a single, but I want that damn exhaust brake too. :bang

SPEEDSHIFT said:

The title follows the VIN that is on the cab, so it will have to be a 2008. I could really care less about the EPA anyway.

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What prevents you from swapping the VIN? Seems like that’d be less of an issue than dealing with inspections and licensing a deleted 08 down the road.

bracker8040 said:

What prevents you from swapping the VIN? Seems like that’d be less of an issue than dealing with inspections and licensing a deleted 08 down the road.

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That is too shadey for me... Getting an inspection is not a problem, if they want to give me a ticket for no DPF, then so be it. I would rather deal with that, then get a cop that realizes they didnt make mega cabs in 2004 and start to treat the truck as a stolen vehicle.

I have never heard of anyone getting DPF tickets locally, and my truck will sound stock so I dont see all of this to be necessary.

SPEEDSHIFT said:

I fell in love with the compounds in my 04, HE351/467. I love how quiet they made it and never gets over 1200* pulling my trailer, even at WOT. I do like the simplicity of a single, but I want that damn exhaust brake too. :bang

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I will say, I am interested in trying out one of the new ATS VFR units.... they look nice!

I just don’t understand. These days I can barely make myself do a brake job, and here you are building a race truck and juggling three others to make a tow rig? How?