I stopped at a local gas station/car wash this morning and saw a red Ram 3500 CTD with the driver sitting in it. I went over to talk to him and the first thing I noticed was the sound. This is the first common rail Cummins that I heard. I looked in the window and saw a laptop mounted to a stand that was mounted to the floor on the right side. It was HARDWIRED to the truck!?! I also saw other things mounted to the truck in various places. I started to talk to the driver and mentioned something about the computer. He said &quot;This is actually an '04 model and I am an engineer for D.C. We have 5 '04 trucks here for testing purposes&quot;. One was the diesel, two were Hemi's and the other two were gassers too, but I can't remember what they were. Anyhow, they were on their way to Marquette Mi. The engineer did say that it was the most powerful engine that they have ever used. It was an HO, 6 speed, 4wd, shortbox srw. I did mention something about the dash looking &quot;cheesey&quot;. He told me that he had heard that from others too. He also said that no matter where he stops someone who owns another CTD comes over to talk to him. He also said that he was getting 16 mpg. Anyone over in the UP of Mich. should keep their eyes open and maybe get to talk to him.<br>Tom

 

So anything different that you could tell by looking. Or just more POWER! ;D

 

And not so promising fuel mileage ???.<br><br>Maybe the computer hook up was doing funky things,<br>simulating stuff or something that would eat up the mileage?<br><br><br>phox

 

Winter blend probably has his mileage down some as well, I will glady ride around in a New truck for testing purposes if the boys at DC are listening ;D<br><br> Not for me of course strictly in the name of science ;D

 

[quote author=SFtopSGT link=board=8;threadid=11212;start=0#107357 date=1045844278]<br>... I will glady ride around in a New truck for testing purposes if the boys at DC are listening ;D<br><br> Not for me of course strictly in the name of science ;D<br>[/quote]<br><br><br>Of course... : <br><br>Dont those guys usually need a co-driver? <br>Well, look no further! ;D<br><br>Rich<br><br>

 

All of us in Michigan will have to keep our eyes open. Any idea about the plates, which state?<br><br>KC

 

The engineer did not give me any specs as to anything. The truck did look just like the '03 models. The one thing that was most noticeable was a 4&quot; piece of 1 1/2&quot; pvc pipe mounted on the drivers side roof near the back with wires to it. He told me that it was for monitoring the ambient air temps. There was also a drain tube below the fuel tank too. When you got close to it you could see some extra fuel tanks (plastic) in the bed.<br>As far as a co-driver..............the computer equipment took up almost all of the available room. :'( :'(<br>Tom

 

I see Ford test vehicles almost everyday... they have all kinds of monitoring gear hanging off of them, black tarps covering stuff up, no badges on them, wierd looking body pieces with snaps or other things holding them on, etc... I guess it's pretty cool when you work a couple blocks from the Ford Dearborn proving grounds.

Tony