DTR "Truck Of the Month" for April 2004
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From: Central VA
DTR "Truck Of the Month" for April 2004
Welcome to Springtime.
It's time to get outside, wash and wax those winter blues away and take some new pictures of your rides for the Member's Photo section.
That's where Joel, Dennis and myself find ourselves every month drooling over all those rides and trying to pick a winner for our DieselTruckResource.com Truck Of the Month.
This month's winner is a regular contributor to our Towing/RV section, answering many questions posed by new and old members alike.
And he has a Knockout Rig that definately caught our eye.
The members of the TOM committee, Dennis, Joel and Ed, along with our TOM sponsor
Forest City Diesel
are happy to announce that the winner of the DTR TOM award for APRIL 2004 is:
Casey Balvert
AKA
balvert
Click on pic to go to Casey's photo gallery.
And now here's Casey to tell us about this beautiful rig.
Since buying my first one in late 1996 I was hooked on Dodge/Cummins combo. We enjoyed a lot of great times pulling our fifth wheel around the country with our 97 2500. In the spring of 2002 our thoughts turned to planning for our retirement and it didn’t take us long to reach the conclusion that we wanted to continue to travel in our fifth wheel. However we wanted something larger and in order to do that we first needed the proper tow vehicle. Since there was talk of stricter emission standards for 2004 we decide to order a new generation 2003 which would be configured to maximize its towing capability. Of course it had to be a Cummins HO bolted to a six speed manual and since we wanted the maximum towing capacity, the dually was the logical choice. The choice of color was pretty easy as there were only four choices with the Sport Package. While I have owned other colors it seems like I always gone back to black.
On August 8th, 2002 I placed my order for a black two wheel drive dually quad cab HO six speed as we had planned and got it pretty well loaded with the Laramie package, Sport Group, limited slip axle with 4.10 ratio, side airbags, heated seats and tow package with the mirrors. Since there were no brochures or new generation trucks on the lot, I made up the order pretty well sight unseen with only a pricing list of options. When the truck finally arrived in late September, I could not have been happier with it. It was all I had imagined and boy was it quiet! And that made my wife very happy. It was the first dually in the area and I got the thumbs up sign from pedestrians on a regular basis. Everyone wanted to listen to it run. Only problem was since it was so new, aftermarket accessories were few and far between. No compatible hitch, no running boards, nothing. But that soon changed within a few months. I installed a Pullrite 25,500 pound fifth wheel hitch in anticipation of the new trailer we would soon order. Next came J&J Enterprises stainless steel running boards with matching mudflaps, a Handy louvered tailgate which was painted to match the truck, Linex bed liner, Prodigy brake controller, a Garmin Street Pilot GPS and a Jacobs exhaust brake. We ordered our Newmar Mountain Aire fifth wheel in July of 2003 taking delivery in mid September. Even though the fiver was only a double slide it still weighed in at 14,600 pounds empty and we were glad we had done our homework when ordering the truck. Even though at the maximum capacity, the combination tows like dream getting 11 miles to the gallon to boot. Solo she was good for 20; not bad for a truck weighing in at over 8,000 pounds.
The engine is bone stock and since it produces plenty of power for my needs I don’t anticipate any upgrades in that department. Future plans include a Brakesmart trailer brake controller with the engine EGT and boost readouts and a Tire Sentry Pressure Monitoring system mounted in a SR-10 pillar pod.
We use the rig extensively during the camping season, storing both the truck and trailer inside during the winter months while we are still working. The retirement rig is just about complete and we look forward to hitting the road in about three years and enjoying the fruits of our labor.
Thanks to the DTR and staff for this honor of Truck of the Month and for providing such a great resource for Dodge diesel owners.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Another proud Dodge/Cummins Diesel owner now has a beautiful DTR TOM winner's plaque from Forest City Diesel to hang on his wall, and his rig added to the winner's gallery in the Member's Photo section of the site.
Congrats again to Casey on his win, and to the rest of the members,......get those trucks shined up and posted in the Photo section. If we can't see it, we can't choose it.
C-Ya next month.
It's time to get outside, wash and wax those winter blues away and take some new pictures of your rides for the Member's Photo section.
That's where Joel, Dennis and myself find ourselves every month drooling over all those rides and trying to pick a winner for our DieselTruckResource.com Truck Of the Month.
This month's winner is a regular contributor to our Towing/RV section, answering many questions posed by new and old members alike.
And he has a Knockout Rig that definately caught our eye.
Forest City Diesel
are happy to announce that the winner of the DTR TOM award for APRIL 2004 is:
Casey Balvert
AKA
balvert
Click on pic to go to Casey's photo gallery.
And now here's Casey to tell us about this beautiful rig.
Since buying my first one in late 1996 I was hooked on Dodge/Cummins combo. We enjoyed a lot of great times pulling our fifth wheel around the country with our 97 2500. In the spring of 2002 our thoughts turned to planning for our retirement and it didn’t take us long to reach the conclusion that we wanted to continue to travel in our fifth wheel. However we wanted something larger and in order to do that we first needed the proper tow vehicle. Since there was talk of stricter emission standards for 2004 we decide to order a new generation 2003 which would be configured to maximize its towing capability. Of course it had to be a Cummins HO bolted to a six speed manual and since we wanted the maximum towing capacity, the dually was the logical choice. The choice of color was pretty easy as there were only four choices with the Sport Package. While I have owned other colors it seems like I always gone back to black.
On August 8th, 2002 I placed my order for a black two wheel drive dually quad cab HO six speed as we had planned and got it pretty well loaded with the Laramie package, Sport Group, limited slip axle with 4.10 ratio, side airbags, heated seats and tow package with the mirrors. Since there were no brochures or new generation trucks on the lot, I made up the order pretty well sight unseen with only a pricing list of options. When the truck finally arrived in late September, I could not have been happier with it. It was all I had imagined and boy was it quiet! And that made my wife very happy. It was the first dually in the area and I got the thumbs up sign from pedestrians on a regular basis. Everyone wanted to listen to it run. Only problem was since it was so new, aftermarket accessories were few and far between. No compatible hitch, no running boards, nothing. But that soon changed within a few months. I installed a Pullrite 25,500 pound fifth wheel hitch in anticipation of the new trailer we would soon order. Next came J&J Enterprises stainless steel running boards with matching mudflaps, a Handy louvered tailgate which was painted to match the truck, Linex bed liner, Prodigy brake controller, a Garmin Street Pilot GPS and a Jacobs exhaust brake. We ordered our Newmar Mountain Aire fifth wheel in July of 2003 taking delivery in mid September. Even though the fiver was only a double slide it still weighed in at 14,600 pounds empty and we were glad we had done our homework when ordering the truck. Even though at the maximum capacity, the combination tows like dream getting 11 miles to the gallon to boot. Solo she was good for 20; not bad for a truck weighing in at over 8,000 pounds.
The engine is bone stock and since it produces plenty of power for my needs I don’t anticipate any upgrades in that department. Future plans include a Brakesmart trailer brake controller with the engine EGT and boost readouts and a Tire Sentry Pressure Monitoring system mounted in a SR-10 pillar pod.
We use the rig extensively during the camping season, storing both the truck and trailer inside during the winter months while we are still working. The retirement rig is just about complete and we look forward to hitting the road in about three years and enjoying the fruits of our labor.
Thanks to the DTR and staff for this honor of Truck of the Month and for providing such a great resource for Dodge diesel owners.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Another proud Dodge/Cummins Diesel owner now has a beautiful DTR TOM winner's plaque from Forest City Diesel to hang on his wall, and his rig added to the winner's gallery in the Member's Photo section of the site.
Congrats again to Casey on his win, and to the rest of the members,......get those trucks shined up and posted in the Photo section. If we can't see it, we can't choose it.
C-Ya next month.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Lake Hughes, Calif.
Congrats and a beautiful truck and trailer looked at the Newmars but were to pricey for our budget right now but they sure feel solid. Have you done any comparisons towing with and without the wind deflector? Do they work for a bumper hitch trailer or is there too much space ?
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
From: Western Michigan
Great looking rig, truck and trailer! My wife and I have the same goals for retirement, also in about 3 years. I'll probably be towing with my reliable '99 (November 03 TOM), and the new fiver will come in about 2 years or so.
Congratulations!!!
You'll love the plaque.
DeWain
Congratulations!!!
You'll love the plaque.
DeWain
It really matches that trailer well. Congrats on fulfilling your retirement goals!
.