I go to www.thedieselstop.com regularly to try to learn about the truck I'm going to be getting, but it's really an annoying dang site because hardly anyone there even uses their truck to do any towing or work with. It seems to be full of phallicly challenged twentysomthings that only care about throwing a ton of money at bling. I can't beleive that these guys make fun of ricers when all their doing is spending 4 times as much money on something that's just as ricey. I'm sorry, but an 8" chrome lift, Fox external double bypass shocks and chrome 22s with low profile knobby tires on a 1 ton pickup that never sees dirt and never hooks up to a trailer is just frickin retarded... This dude today posted trying to decide between Walker Evans Beadlocks or these uber-bling chrome Welds. Didn't even care about eh function of the beadlocks, just that they lookeed cool. Why the heck would you deal with the hassle of maintaining beadlocks if you didn't need them? I know that TDR isn't like this, but are most other diesel sites like this? I really hope that this site takes off and is aimed more towards guys that use their trucks like they're intended to be used, for hauling loads and towing stuff... Rant off... *crossing fingers that this site doesn't turn into www.blingyfauxtowrig.com *
THis new site seems to be, and most importantly, staying pretty much focused on towing and the performance capable drivetrain of our tow rigs. Regardless.... Chrome shocks and chrome lift kit parts don't effect towing performance. There's nothing wrong with completely detailing out a lift to match the truck before it goes on. If I didn't plan on pulling my K5 and the gooseneck I would probably do a moderate 4.5" Skyjacker kit with most of the parts powdercoated with remote reservoir chromed shocks.... But with some classier 16-17" Weld rims and 35x14.50 SSR's, not big gangbanger 20" Evo's that belong on Escalades. Even with a moderate lift and up to 35's, a truck can still be a decent tow rig. Not as good as stock though...which is why I just plan on a 2-3" lift with some 305 BFG's and 16x10 rims.
I can deal with moderate lifts and 35s, but even the guys that "only" do that over on that "other" site put the 35s on 20" rims. Talk about retarded looking... Don't know if they support remote linking... This wheel/tire combo just looks stupid to me, I don't understand the purpose other than to have the maximum shinyness possible. http://photos.thedieselstop.com/data/500/7090P2200003-med.JPG
The second one is a little tall for a true tow rig but it looks nice. Wheel size on those is much more in lines with what a real world truck should have though. I find the lack of locking hubs disturbing.
Exactly, thank god over paid sports players and rap stars aren't interested in diesels. You're old school.
I think that Ford looks sweet. The Dodges have tires that are too small for their ride height and the wheels, while nice, don't really do anything for me. I really like the KORE truck, it looks exactly like mine will look. Still undecided on the wheels though, the stocker alloys on the Dodges are pretty sweet. Thedieselstop used to be cool when it was ford-diesel.com. I hung out there and those guys helped me build up my Chevy long before I found or even heard of CK5.
I spend some time over at dieselplace.com and have noticed that most of the guys there like to put out a bunch of power. Some of them do "use" their trucks as a truck and some like to throw money at it to get the most hp on a dyno. I see the big thing is that you use these forums to get info on products and service that you need. It does get hard to wade through the bs sometimes. I wonder how some of these guys that are putting out 500 rwhp would do hooked up to a 10,000# trailer on bad roads. I know my truck with the 65 hp predator tune in it is very hard to keep under control when empty if the roads are icy. It does however drive real nice with the snowmobile trailer behind it. I can't use the 65 hp tune when towing the buggy because my egts would be through the roof with the stock exhaust. edit: Is that what your new dodge is going to look like Tim? Thats a nice looking truck.
I will second that site as a good recommendation. Very GM based, but they have forums for Dodges, Fords, and one for eveything else diesel. I have learned a lot from them in the last couple of months about my 6.5 (and no, they didn't have to teach me that it is slow ).
I don't know about the Dmax but I do know that serious cummins with big turbos like the Bell Turbo USB and DD B1 bomber turbo, the motors fall flat on their face trying to pull heavy loads under normal, lower RPM driving conditions. They do great when hooked to a sled or at the drags but are let loose to scream.
