RE: [a/s] looking for a tow vehicle....

["Robert D. '"Sandy"' and Ann Noyes" <boojum@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kip -

I assume you have the 5.9L diesel.  I have a '94 4x4 2500 with the tow package.  I get 13 - 16, usually 15, 
towing with moderate hills.  I have gotten 17 towing in the flat San Joquin Valley in California.  I have gotten 
10 towing into fierce headwinds in hilly west Texas at 70 mph.  Best mileage is at or around 60 mph or about 
1500 rpm which is the max torque.  Bobtail I get 20 with 21 to 22 in just highway with limited around town, 
stop and go.  With lots of stop and go, like our home town of Palo Alto, I get around 14.

I have added the modified #8 fuel plate from Tstproducts boosting my hp from 150 to 250 and torque from 
400 to just under 600.  As long as I keep the boost below 20# this extra power is not used.  From 20# boost on 
up it is.  A nice safety factor.  As for engine stress: marine 5.9L Cummins crank out 350hp, but into water 
which is more fluid than the tires on the pavement.  My bias here: get an exhaust brake.  I got the BD and like 
it very much.  There are others but I can recommend BD.  I also got their valve body which allows me to tow 
in OD which helps the mpg.  It does this by raising the internal pressure in the tranny which makes sure the 
OD unit gets enough lube.  Stock it does not.  If you pump up the power you must get a pumped up torque 
convertor, which I also got from BD.  Lower stall speeds and shift points more in keeping with diesel power 
curves.  I also added Bilstein shocks all around because the stock ones were more suited to a go kart.  

If you have a 24 valve you can hop it up with chip mods.  Just remember when you get mods, get the exhaust 
temp gauge.  Aluminium pistons melt at 1440F.  Stock engines don't get that hot.  If you have the automatic 
and trans temp gauge is a must.  The idiot light just comes on to let you know you just spent $2500.  A boost 
gauge is nice, too.  The boost gauge will tell you how hard the engine is working;  it is like a vacuum gauge in 
a gas engine in this respect.

An immensely helpful list is the list you can sign on from www.tstproducts.com.  I am banned from it for life 
for some as yet un-revealed infraction.  This saddens me but it is not as serious as a punch in the eye, or 
worse, a poke with a sharp stick.  BD in Abbotsford, BC, has been my supplier of choice.  My personal 
experience with them when I drove to BC was first rate.  They are sharp guys and know Dodge diesels.  I 
have been happy with their equipment.  Hunter has their exhaust brake, too, and will possibly let you know 
how hers is working.

The boys at BD have modified their Dodge diesel trucks a great deal and turn in the low 13's in the quarter 
mile.   This is as fast as a Lhamborgini in the quarter mile.  Not bad for a truck which can pull a 30' trailer.

Let me know if I can help further.