Common Man’s Work Truck
Year/Make/Model: 2004 Dodge Ram 2500
Owner: Jason Kauffman
Hometown: Rexford, Montana
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Programmer/Chip/Box: Smarty S-06
Turbocharger: HTT 62/13/71
Injectors: 100hp marine
Lift pump: Fass 150-gph
Exhaust: Banks 4-inch turbo-back
Transmission: 48RE built by ATS
Suspension: Rancho shocks and steering stabilizer
Wheels and Tires: 20x9 Eagle Alloys Series 079 rims and 275/65R20 Hankook Dynapro tires
Odometer: 320,000 miles
Other: Jason says, “My dad and I run a business together, which involves towing heavy loads. We used to use Chevy trucks powered by 454ci gas engines until we got our first diesel (a ’97 Dodge 1-ton dualie regular cab). We were both hooked immediately, and over the years we’ve owned eight different Dodge diesels. My favorite modifications are the Dynatrac Free-Spin hub conversion, and the fact that we rebuilt the engine. Our Cummins now displaces 6.1L and features ARP head studs.”
Fixed-Up Ford
Year/Make/Model: 1992 Ford F-350
Owner: Kevin Yard
Hometown: Frenchtown, New Jersey
Engine: 7.3L Power Stroke swap
Programmer/Chip/Box: DP-Tuner F5
Injection modifications: Stage 2
Intake: K&N
Transmission: ZF five-speed manual
Suspension: 4-inch Rough Country lift
Odometer: 227,000 miles
Other: Kevin says, “My grandfather bought this truck new, and it came with a 5.8L gas V-8 engine and automatic transmission. When he passed away, my dad got it, and now I have it. I pulled the Power Stroke out of a ’97 F-250 for the swap and rebuilt the truck from the frame up.”
Fifth-Wheel Tailgate
Year/Make/Model: 2006 Chevy 2500
Owner: Rick and Elizabeth Kometz
Hometown: Snohomish, Washington
Engine: 6.6L Duramax
Programmer/Chip/Box: PPE programmer
Air intake: S&B
Exhaust: 5-inch turbo-back MagnaFlow exhaust and Pacbrake exhaust brake
Suspension: Firestone air springs with in-cab controls
Odometer: 15,000 miles
Other: Rick says, “We use our truck for towing our ’07 29-foot fifth-wheel Keystone Challenger. We used our son’s PPE programmer during our last vacation and picked up 1 mpg driving over Stevens Pass in the Cascade Mountains. The extra power was unbelievable. I built a fifth-wheel tailgate for towing, as we didn’t care for the look of the louvered aftermarket ones, and it gets a lot of attention.”
Built to Tow
Year/Make/Model: 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500
Owner: Graham Mercer
Hometown: Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, Canada
Engine: 6.6L Duramax
Air intake: K&N
Transmission: Allison 1000 six-speed automatic
Odometer: 50,000 miles
Fuel economy: 14 mpg towing, and 23 mpg empty
Other: Graham uses his truck to tow a 30-foot fifth-wheel camper. He’s also added a Recon Xtreme taillight bar, a tonneau cover, a 34-gallon fuel tank located in the truck bed, and four Hella lights.
Two Second-Gens
Year/Make/Model: 2001 Dodge 2500 (left)
Owner: Corry Eisenman
Hometown: Knox, Pennsylvania
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Programmer/Chip/Box: Quadzilla XZT+ programmer
Air intake: S&B
Exhaust: 3-inch turbo-back
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Odometer: 114,000 miles
Year/Make/Model: 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 (right)
Owner: Jeremy Eisenman
Hometown: Knox, Pennsylvania
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Injection modifications: No fuel plate in the injection pump
Air intake: AFE
Exhaust: 3-inch turbo-back
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Odometer: 74,000 miles
Other: Corry says, “Our trucks are mostly stock—other than a few minor add-ons for more fuel and air. I use my truck for towing my horse trailer and enclosed trailer (filled with sleds and quads)."
Diesel-Powered Hay Loader
Year/Make/Model: 1996 Dodge Ram
Owner: David Lombard
Hometown: Quartz Hill, California
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Injection modifications: Stage 1 injectors and P-pump modified to flow 50 percent more fuel
Exhaust: 5-inch straight pipe with Pacbrake exhaust brake
Transmission: NV4500 five-speed manual
Wheels and Tires: 16-inch KMC custom dualie rims and 215/85R16 BFGoodrich tires
Ring and pinion: 3.55
Fuel economy: 19 mpg
Other: David says, “I just rebuilt the non-EGR-equipped 5.9L Cummins, and now the Ram can top most hills at 70 mph with a 15,000-pound, 20-foot trailer in tow.”
Centennial Edition
Year/Make/Model: 2003 Ford F-350
Owner: Dustin Bobowski
Hometown: Montrose, Pennsylvania
Engine: 6.0L Power Stroke
Programmer/Chip/Box: SCT X3 tuned by Innovative Diesel
Exhaust: 4-inch Diamond Eye turbo-back exhaust with Sinister Diesel EGR delete
Wheels and Tires: 16x6-inch Rockstar rims with 305/70R16 Nitto Terra Grapplers
Fuel economy: 14 mpg (city)
Odometer: 175,000 miles
Other: Dustin says, “My truck is a daily driver, and I sled pull at most of the local fairs. I also added the ’05-style grille, halo headlights, smoked cab lights, and chrome mirror covers.”
Pulling Princess
Year/Make/Model: 2006 GMC Sierra 2500
Owner: Kylie Schneider
Hometown: Princeton, Wisconsin
Engine: 6.6L Duramax
Programmer/Chip/Box: EFILive with DSP 5 switch
Air Intake: AFE
Lift pump: Kennedy
Exhaust: 4-inch Silverline duals with MBRP downpipe
Transmission: Six-speed manual with South Bend dual-disc clutch
Suspension: Tie-rod sleeves and traction bars
Wheels and Tires: 16x8-inch Moto Metal 955 and 285/75R16 Mickey Thompson MTZs
Odometer: 53,500 miles
Other: Kylie says, “I bought the truck last fall. It took the winter to build it up for pulling, which includes the roll pan and custom hitch. I sled pulled with the truck all summer. When the boys see they got beat by a 16-year-old girl, its pretty awesome!”
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