So far as your engine goes, it will pull anything you throw at it stock.

 

Lot's of good info folks, thanks!<br><br>I'm trying to make a list from what I've read on this and other boards. Believe it or not, I am trying to do as much research as possible before asking questions. I keep forgetting that the search feature defaults to a 7 day max age, so that has been throwing me off.<br><br>Ok..... (in no particular order)<br><br>1. Exhaust Brake... Still cannot figure which is best to use with this auto tranny, and who would make it. I don't mind waiting until after hours to creep up a grade, but I'd like everything possible to make sure I creep down it.<br><br>2. Electric (and possibly disc) trailer brakes.... I didn't mean to imply to anyone that I would consider towing without trailer brakes, I just didn't know if there was something better out yet (air, or air over hyd'...etc). Honestly, I think the truck/trailer designers are asleep at the wheel for not having yet collaborated on an ABS trailer braking system which would integrate with the factory ABS...&quot;We Tow Better&quot;... ok..whatever. <br>Anyway, my truck came with the Tekonsha &quot;Voyager&quot; controller and I'll probably change it out to that one that begins with a &quot;J&quot; since it makes sense to me in it's operation.<br><br>3. Engine upgrades..... Well, I bought my truck used and it has over 200K on it (the only way I could afford such a truck in this year, and I'll probably only put 10k a year on it so...). The engine came with a &quot;puck&quot; called &quot;Diablo...something&quot;, and who knows what else was done? I'll leave it as is aside from K&amp;N air filters and such. After an overhaul, I'll consider &quot;BOMBing&quot; it (hey..I do catch on ;D ), but until then I run this engine out.<br><br>4. Suspension...hmmm.. well, I think it already has a HD suspension from the factory. It has helper springs and what looks to be a sway bar in the rear. To this, I'll add an AirLift system just in case (cheap enough).<br><br>5. Speaking of the rear.... I'm not sure if I have the 4:10 rear or the other one. Until I get a factory manual with some sort of designation, I really won't know. I could jack up the truck and start spining things to count, but I cannot afford to change it, so I'll just take whatever is in there.<br><br>6. Hitch.... I've read some debates on 5th vs Goose, so I figure I'll stick with the flip-over gooseneck for now. It seems beefy, but doesn't seem real solid (kind rattles when up and nothing on it). I have no idea if this is normal or not, but I'll get under there and see if there is any provision.<br><br>7. Transmission.... Hmmm... well, DTT trannys are pretty pricey if you cannot work the cost into a daily hauler. My truck will haul maybe 3 times a month, so I'll just have to risk it until my tranny goes, or until the truck has payed for itself to have an upgraded one<br><br>8. Steering...... it's cr*p... The truck wanders. I'll order an Energy suspension kit for all the links/arms, and see if the pre-load on the steering gear will take up some slop. I'll also throw on a new stabilizer and check the ball ends.<br>It's not the worse thing in the world as many of the more commercial trucks I've driven have just as much, if not more backlash, but those don't tow. I might have to drive a new one, or someone's repaired truck to know what it *should* feel like. My regular cars are a 300zx TT and a Lotus Esprit, so I'm used to some pretty tight steering, and in my mind, when I'm driving a commercial truck, the difference is to be expected. I guess I cannot figure out if this Dodge should handle more like a car, or more like a 24' stakeside.<br>Does anyone know if you can adjust the gear backlash out on the box like in older units?<br><br>9. Lubrication..... To Amsoil or not to Amsoil? I've been searching all over town for this stuff today, and it's not the easiest thing...and I live in a major city (Los Angeles).<br>Here's what I think about the product *without* having tried it....<br>I don't like the idea that it is not available at the local &quot;Pep-Boys&quot;. I also don't like that they sell organic health products on the same page. Sounds like snake oil to me. However, I am a small time inventor, and I also know what it's like to make something good, and sort of be suppressed by the &quot;Giants&quot;. I also know that there is *no* question that the big oil companies (with incredible R&amp;D) can make a better product than Amsoil....question is... &quot;would they want to?&quot;<br>So, not to get too deep into conspiracy theories, but it seems that there are two ways of thinking on this...<br>Either Amsoil is snake oil the likes of Slick 50, or Amsoil is actually a better product than the Big Oilers make due to the fact that they aren't bound by the X-files secret contract with the Big 5 auto makers. I really wish that their web page didn't have health products as their sister company (or this Avon style prymid dealer scheme)<br>Ok, #9 could start a rather warm debate, which is not my intention...just how I feel after a couple days of web browsing.<br><br>Well, that's where I'm at on the checklist. The unseen side of this is me trying to learn all the querks of the desiel engine/tranny... Warm for 2 minutes, cool for 5 minutes..if..unless... .... downshift, then upshift, then OD on unless...if.....then...off... etc. (Any I thought my other turbo cars were complex )<br><br>Overall, how am I doing?<br><br>All the Best<br>Sean

 

with some mods already being on the truck and it have 200k on it i would say that ther eis a chance someone already upgraded the tranny somewhat cause they usually only last about 100k i hear!

 

Exactly.<br>At this point, it would be hard for me to identify what internal mod's may have been done. I'll just wait until something *needs* to be taken apart before assuming that the parts that I might put in there are better than the parts that could *already* be in there <br><br>However, this truck is still sporting the factory air box, so I'd just have to assume that the mod's are mild.<br><br>Sean

 

Yeah with the stock airbox i belive mild mods would be a safe assumption ;D

 

Sean, do yourself a favor if you are not well off financially, hook it up and run it, then see what you need. You have enough springs on the '99 to pull anything that you want to. Air bags at this point would be a waste. I only have a '99 2500 with one less helper spring and the springs are great with 30,000 pound gross. Electric brakes are fine with the Jordan. Ahhhhh don't talk about adding abs to the mess For heavy hauling they are a pain and complicated. When I put the pedal down I want to know what it is doing without some computer engineers ideas of how to stop on a hill. Currently they are the only braking system that is not cobbled up with computer nightmares.

 

Ok..scratch one set of air springs for now.


Financially well off....no. I'm in my second year of business. I need a good hauler so that hopefully I can at least become financially *comfortable* in the future.


Sean

 

Yeah, I'm financially independant ;D Not much money but independant as hell 8)

 

Hmmm....<br>I found a pic of a fellow member of a machinery type site I moderate on.<br><br>I thought this might give an idea of what I'm talking about when I say &quot;large, heavy and irregular&quot;.<br><br><br><br>Ahh heck, now that I have my truck, all I wanna do is buy a speedboat and a travel-trailer anyway. Forget the work!<br><br>Sean

 

I think you didn't get an answer about the fifth wheel and gooseneck. For what you will be doing, I would think a gooseneck would be better as it will allow the trailer to &quot;twist&quot; if you have to get off the pavement on uneven ground. I don't beleive this was mentioned either, the problem with being legal. This can get very sticky and complicated. Anytime you go beyond the trucks weight rating, you may be open to an expensive lawsuit. When you start suspension work, do not forget the shocks. I have the Rancho 9000 on mine and these are a very common upgrade which help a lot. They are adjustable for running empty or loaded. I like the airbags. About the truck scales along the highway, I believe if you are hauling for a buisness, you have to pull in. This is why travel trailers don't have to pull in. Maybe they should because a lot of them are way over on their weight. My travel trailer weighs 10,000 dry.<br>Michael

 

If you try and pull on to a highway scale in Indiana you will be given a dirty look and the tipical drive through statement. :<br><br>They don't even bother with anything under 50k. All they want to see is tractor trailers. The state doesn't have the man power to inforce the laws on the small independent hauler. Every now and then you will see them focous on dumptrucks for highway inspections but that's about it.<br><br>Get some good trailer brakes, some good tires, and make sure all the lights work and you wont have a bit of trouble in the Hoosier State.<br><br>DB

 

That GN looks almost identical to mine. Looks like a good load, hope it pays well.