Trying to find out the best mods/upgrades to make on a new megacab with the 6 speed CTD 4x4. Anything from exhaust, intake, tires, to computers, etc. Just need all around advice from you great people since I am coming over from a Powerstroke and knwo little about Dodge and it's weekspots or upgrades. Thanks in advance.

 

Best thing you can do is read a bunch of posts in the 3rd gen forums, then you'll know enough to ask the right questions.

Welcome to the top of the diesel world!

 

I have spent many hours reading. My head is in a blur at this point. Any ideas from people?

 

What is your goal? Most power, daily driver with reliable power, towing power, sled pulling, etc?

Also, this should probably be asked in the 3rd gen forum. The mods will probably take care of that. They are great guys.

And welcome to the forum.

 

Guages
Intake
Exhaust
Exhaust Brake
Transmission Upgrades

Any truck with those type of mods will give you a very reliable, very fun truck to drive for lots of miles.

 

Which products as far as those categoires are best?

 

Perform a search and you will find many opinions on what people like.

 

If you do any pulling i recommend a B&W turnover ball gooseneck with the 5" set back. For a 5th wheel I'm sure one of the other guys will point you in the right direction for a good slider.

 

I also have the B&W turnover ball....It depends on what you are using your truck for if your looking for a chip/programmer most people around here are running edge, smarty, or bully dog. MBRP makes a good exhaust that I have been pleased with. But like I said let us know more about what your planning on using your truck for and that would help give you some better ideas, if it is primarily for towing then an exhaust brake may be one of the first mods to make.

 

Is it simply for towing 3K to 8K trailers for delivery. I guess mpg and operating costs are the most important factors since this affects the bottom line.

 

For towing trailers:

• Exhaust brake. I wouldn't want to tow without one.
• Replace the stock muffler. This will lower your EGTs a little bit.
• Guages. EGT is most important.
• Replace the OEM shocks with Bilsteins.
• Move the back axle spacers from between the axle and springs to above the springs. This will level and lower the bed for fifth wheel or gooseneck towing.
• Maybe a power module for towing like the Quadzilla XZT. If you get the Recon XZT, that would cover guages, too.

Even if you only do the first few things on the list you'll be pretty good. These trucks when stock are good for towing. I don't have my guages in yet, so I tow by RPM. Keep it between 1800 and 2300 RPM (a little towards the higher end when going up hill) and it should be good.

Tony

 

So is the "Jake" brake the preferred exhaust brake due to warranty stuff?

Replace the stock muffler with what? A delete pipe or a diff muffler? Is there a stainless delete pipe?

Do you prefer the "standard" gauges or more like the commander digital ones?

Big difference with Bilsteins or just a thing to do when the stock ones go out?

As far as moving the axles spacers....are there any drawbacks if the gooseneck will fit as is?

As far as the Quadzilla XZT which is preferred....just the tow module one or the adjustable ones? Is the recon or the commander preferred?

 

With me, the Jake Brake was all about warranty, since I have an auto. I don't know if that's the case with a manual transmission. I would lean towards the Pacbrake on a MT, since you can use the compressed air for other things and it's supposed to work a little better.

Almost anything is better than the stock muffler from a back-pressure standpoint. Some people go with a muffler delete. It's not too loud as long as kitty is left in place. Other people like Donaldson, Rokktech, or Diamond Eye mufflers. Just about any muffler will do that's 4" in/out and you can see straight thru without any blockages or narrowing. As for size, manufacturer, etc. do a search on "drone" and be prepared to read alot.

Standard guages will give you less grief if you have to take it into a dealer. The Commander is nice because it will defuel if you hit any limits like EGT or Tranny temp (nice for autos), boost, and fuel pressure (with optional FP kit). It will also effectively allow you to have settings on their non-setting box through the Commander interface (this allows them to defuel gradually rather than an abrupt on/off).

I haven't put Bilsteins on yet, but I'm sure some other people that have will say how much better they are over stock.

If your trailer clears now, I wouldn't worry about the spacers unless you wanted to lower the bed another 5/8" to 1.25". With higher load weight on a GN, if you flipped/removed both spacers, it would probably ride a little low in the back. One or none would be better. I wouldn't bother with them for anything that clears the bed rails okay.

I'd suggested the Recon because you have a MT. Your most important guage while towing is EGT, and the Recon would cover your guage needs nicely and it saves $150 just off the price of the Commander alone.

Sorry for the long reply. I just figured you wanted to see some of my reasoning behind the suggestions. Even if you don't agree, it gets you thinking about what you need or want for your truck, so it's all good.

Tony