Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

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Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:05 am

In many ways I feel the 5.9 Common Rail truck with a 6 speed to be the "best truck that dodge ever built". I get asked almost on a daily basis by customers why don't I own a newer truck.

As I've stated on this forum many times.. "I use my truck in the mountains and to trap a very large percentage of its life". I'm going to give some examples on actually how hard on vehicles our mountain roads are.

My brother-in-law has an early 2004 6 speed CR. He has owned it for 5 years and has ONLY put on 36k miles on it during that time.

He is on his 3rd set of tires......3rd set of ball joints..... tie rod ends, and associated steering components, 3 times. Every time I ride in his truck, I strictly envy him on how nice it rides and the smooth power it produces (bone stock truck). Not even to mention the phenomenal fuel economy it gets (well over 20mpg average). But they just CAN'T handle the constant ruts and gnarly rocky mountain roads with the front end.



Now, on my truck.......I've put just shy of 100k miles on it since it was built in 2011.

My shocks, bushings, and springs all pretty much need major attention this year again (new in 2011). I've had to replace EVERY SINGLE steering component one time (this last summer). I've had 8 sets of tires on it during that time (7 of those sets were bought used at a smokin' deal). I've had to replace steering knuckle "king pin" joints, and axle joints 1 time.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby cmann250 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:50 am

Other than the dead nuts reliability and the 99.9% chance that your can fix any non-catastrophic issue on the side of the road/trail with a 1st gen, why not get a 3rd gen and a Carli/KORE/whatever suspension set up?

In my opinion, outside of neglect of necessary engine maintenance, oversized tires are the hands down worst thing you can do to a truck or SUV. I completely understand that large tires are necessary on a hunting/trapping vehicle out west. If the thing isn't going to rust away, plunk down the change or make your own suspension that will handle over sized tires. I'm sure the weight differential between a 235 or 265 that most trucks were designed to have and a 37-12.50-16 (?) that some folks run is huge.

Of course that's just my 2 cents. I just have a puddle sniffer.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:56 am

Me replacing the brakes 1 time, and all of the rest of the front end stuff 1 time... after 100k miles on 37s. I see no need to run smaller tires on a 1st gen.

As far as the CR trucks.......his has stock tires. Could you imagine what it would be like running oversized tires?

As far as the upgraded suspension.....those don't fix the steering and ball joint issues of the newer trucks. It isn't the actual suspension stuff that wears out on them.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:02 am

But, when I go with a newer generation.... it'll be a 4th gen. Strictly for the company.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby cmann250 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:03 am

RCCUMMINS89 wrote:Me replacing the brakes 1 time, and all of the rest of the front end stuff 1 time... after 100k miles on 37s. I see no need to run smaller tires on a 1st gen.

I guess I missed the point the first time. That ^ is good.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:18 am

Yep, point was.... from 94 to date, the front ends can't handle the beating when they are not on the pavement for as many miles as our rough, crude, pos, 1st gens. At times, I absolutely hate my truck.... but it doesn't fall apart and is reliable.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby The_Head » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:34 pm

I've been questioning whether I should replace mine as well.

I came to this realization today. I'm living in a really old 5th wheel, in a ghetto neighborhood and have a beater car. It would be really weird if I had a brand new truck.

Plus, my truck has done what I have asked, so far. It's got a ton of little issues though.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:42 pm

The_Head wrote: It's got a ton of little issues though.




Same here........I'm getting really sick and tired of dropping $500 bills at it multiple times a year.

My NV4500 is about to fall apart (pretty pissed about that one), my case is about to throw in the towel, and my engine is screaming for mercy on a daily basis...... yea.....so add those up. :roll: That is $4,000-$10,000 just depending on how I go about it.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby The_Head » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:53 pm

RCCUMMINS89 wrote:
Same here........I'm getting really sick and tired of dropping $500 bills at it multiple times a year.

My NV4500 is about to fall apart (pretty pissed about that one), my case is about to throw in the towel, and my engine is screaming for mercy on a daily basis...... yea.....so add those up. :roll: That is $4,000-$10,000 just depending on how I go about it.


Holy cow. $500 is not a small issue to me, lol.

I've been asking myself this: How long should a truck be kept in full service before it is sent to pasture, even if it's still in decent shape? I think 25 years is a good number. How many pre-1989 my trucks do you see still running around on a daily basis doing real work? I don't see many here. It's getting hard to find certain parts unless you go to a junkyard, and those are rare in my area.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby ellis93 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:08 pm

The_Head wrote:
RCCUMMINS89 wrote:
Same here........I'm getting really sick and tired of dropping $500 bills at it multiple times a year.

My NV4500 is about to fall apart (pretty pissed about that one), my case is about to throw in the towel, and my engine is screaming for mercy on a daily basis...... yea.....so add those up. :roll: That is $4,000-$10,000 just depending on how I go about it.


Holy cow. $500 is not a small issue to me, lol.


Yeah,that's front pocket money to Eric tho. :lol:
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:25 pm

Perhaps I should say.......maintenance/upgrades. I have a tendency to upgrade when something fails.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby The_Head » Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:31 pm

You are still paying less money than having a new truck though, yes?
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby RCCUMMINS89 » Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:40 pm

Massive amount of less money. Which is why I started the thread.

I could rebuild the engine, trans, and case for the first year's depreciation alone on a brand spanking new fully loaded Cummins.
89 RC on shortened 92 diesel frame - NV4500 w/dual disc/4.10s on 37s. - Self built pump, "hot screw", lots of timing, True high volume low pressure lift pump, 62fmw/68/.7gated, 77lpm SAC Inj., Studs/O-rings,- 423/1220 Mustang - 11/16/2013 http://www.TheHungryDiesel.com full line dealer, if you don't see it please ask.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby The_Head » Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:20 pm

Um, I've priced newer used Cummins trucks, they don't depreciate that much. In fact, from what I saw, it's cheaper to get a new one, with the rebates, etc, than to get slightly used one.
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Re: Reasons I own a 1st gen (I consider my RC a 1st gen)

Postby DodgeFreak » Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:02 pm

RCCUMMINS89 wrote:my engine is screaming for mercy on a daily basis...... yea.....so add those up. :roll: That is $4,000-$10,000 just depending on how I go about it.


Would you have those problems running a closer to stock engine???
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