Diesel Tuner Gets Year In Prison

[Jack_Toepfer]

1/2 tons have come a long way… they can actually get decent payload and tow ratings when properly optioned. Having said that, the sacrifice in MPG for a couple weeks a year is more than made up for the other 99% of the time you’re enjoying not being in a 1 ton.
Diesels enjoy working, that’s for sure, but the initial cost over a gas motor, the increased maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle, and the inconvenience of finding diesel while you’re on the road make is a hard sell as a grocery getter. If it’s not bringing you joy or money, get a gas motor.

Nobody should be running so big of a turbo on the street that they can’t get it to stop smoking… it’s not hard. Size the injectors and turbo for the street and you’re fine. You want to run a big snail at the track, have at it, and use some nitrous to get on top of it. I had 250/200 injectors and a bigger turbo on my 7.3… I had a very clean tune and a smoke tune… but at the end of the day I had the right combination of parts to do what I wanted. I believe I also had the highest HP vegetable oil burning Ford on the planet…

 

[why2kmax]

Now if they could only hold the CDC to that standard...we might have something...

the EPA lost. SC is on a roll CDC may be next?

 

[Jimmy N.]

1/2 tons have come a long way… they can actually get decent payload and tow ratings when properly optioned. Having said that, the sacrifice in MPG for a couple weeks a year is more than made up for the other 99% of the time you’re enjoying not being in a 1 ton.

I keep seeing the argument that "I tow so seldom that I don't need a safe or durable tow vehicle".

To me, that's a bit like saying that I don't need to wear seat belts all the time because I crash so seldom. Also, I enjoy being in my 1-ton, and have even thought about getting a 4500 or 5500 to increase the margin a bit since I'm sometimes over the tow rating (due to only having 3.73s, not 4.10s).

Sure, my 1500 gets better mileage, although probably wouldn't if towing. But more importantly, it physically wouldn't handle it. I don't think that the light and short 1500 would take kindly to a 5,000-lb. pin weight even if quipped with every helper air spring on the market. Physical space permitting.

 

[DavidKFla]

Now if they could only hold the CDC to that standard...we might have something...

I do believe that they were created by executive order.

 

[Jack_Toepfer]

I keep seeing the argument that "I tow so seldom that I don't need a safe or durable tow vehicle".

I hope that’s not what you thought I was implying… I clearly stated that their payload and towing capacity came with appropriate options, not that anyone should be towing beyond the rated capacity based on their frequency towing. 1/2 tons are very capable within their rated capacities. The bigger the truck the easier the load is to handle, but there are trade offs. That’s all I’m saying

That being said, if you don’t need 5,000lbs of payload you don’t want to be driving around a heavy duty pickup the rest of the time. The highest payload you can get in a half ton, that I’m aware of, is less than 3500lbs in the f150. So if you don’t need twice as much payload you don’t need twice as much truck.

Once I was done with my 4000 pin weight trailer, the dually went away and was replaced with an F150 that handles daily duties just fine.

 

[Jimmy N.]

I lost all faith in the J2807 ratings after towing my little enclosed trailer over here as usual, except that time with an F-150 Ecoboost instead of my Ram 2500.

I wasn't exactly looking forward to doing it with a 1/2-ton (based on prior experiences with light and short tow vehicles), but it was rated to tow more than the 2500.

Well, it pulled the trailer just fine, and was more stable that I'd expected (which wasn't much), but the real surprise was that it used more gas than the 5.7 Ram.

Okay, so it did it, but once here I got a big dose of reality. A creeper tour revealed that the size of the parts underneath were darn near half the size of what my Ram's drive train consisted of. No wonder it was lighter.

In my ideal world the tow vehicle is as long (wheel base) and heavy as possible compared to the trailer. And the trailer isn't a bumper pull, which makes everything more sketchy.

Later I learned that J2807 favors acceleration and uphill speed over the tow vehicle actually being able to handle a trailer on the far more critical down grades. That explained why some inferior tow vehicles have such high tow ratings.

In other words, I would not go by whatever a vehicle is rated to tow, but what basic physics suggests could safely be towed with it.

Until recently I had a good tow vehicle for heavier loads, but sold the Pete. Now I'm maxed out at 39,000 GVCWR with the 3500 and the most capable trailer. And when something needs to be moved, it gets put on an appropriately sized gooseneck trailer, not on the 3500's flatbed.

It's rare that I put anything in the 1500's bed (it's an all-weather car to me, with a laughably low payload), and while it's rated to tow something like 6,000 lbs., I will not do it. If nothing else, its brakes are questionable as it is.

But next week the 1500 will get used for bringing back a 3-stage hydraulic cylinder. I'd rather drive a Challenger, but can't really put a pallet in the trunk in one of those with a forklift, so the 150-lb. cylinder will get to go in the bed of the 1500.

That's the kind of usage I think a late model 1500 is capable of, and good for.

 

[1971demon]

I lost all faith in the J2807 ratings after towing my little enclosed trailer over here as usual, except that time with an F-150 Ecoboost instead of my Ram 2500.

I wasn't exactly looking forward to doing it with a 1/2-ton (based on prior experiences with light and short tow vehicles), but it was rated to tow more than the 2500.

Well, it pulled the trailer just fine, and was more stable that I'd expected (which wasn't much), but the real surprise was that it used more gas than the 5.7 Ram.

Okay, so it did it, but once here I got a big dose of reality. A creeper tour revealed that the size of the parts underneath were darn near half the size of what my Ram's drive train consisted of. No wonder it was lighter.

In my ideal world the tow vehicle is as long (wheel base) and heavy as possible compared to the trailer. And the trailer isn't a bumper pull, which makes everything more sketchy.

Later I learned that J2807 favors acceleration and uphill speed over the tow vehicle actually being able to handle a trailer on the far more critical down grades. That explained why some inferior tow vehicles have such high tow ratings.

In other words, I would not go by whatever a vehicle is rated to tow, but what basic physics suggests could safely be towed with it.

Until recently I had a good tow vehicle for heavier loads, but sold the Pete. Now I'm maxed out at 39,000 GVCWR with the 3500 and the most capable trailer. And when something needs to be moved, it gets put on an appropriately sized gooseneck trailer, not on the 3500's flatbed.

It's rare that I put anything in the 1500's bed (it's an all-weather car to me, with a laughably low payload), and while it's rated to tow something like 6,000 lbs., I will not do it. If nothing else, its brakes are questionable as it is.

But next week the 1500 will get used for bringing back a 3-stage hydraulic cylinder. I'd rather drive a Challenger, but can't really put a pallet in the trunk in one of those with a forklift, so the 150-lb. cylinder will get to go in the bed of the 1500.

That's the kind of usage I think a late model 1500 is capable of, and good for.

When I got my 21/1500 Ram...I kept the 18/2500 Ram for a couple of months...we put both up in the air side by side...the 2500..is a truck...the 1500 is a car...huge difference...

 

[Magnified]

View attachment 74667

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a...ar-in-prison-for-violating-the-clean-air-act/

F-ing tax evasion. Your toast for the rest of your life. Freaking idiot. Wonder if hes talking a bunch of shit now?

Also, they have the 14000 buyers on the list.

The law is the law. If you dont like it, work to change it. If you just decide it doesn't apply to you, no different than the convenience store stick up guy. No one is above the law.

My heart cries tears of smirks. Dumb ass.

 

[Magnified]

Meanwhile, many are getting 500,000+ problem free miles on their pre-'19 Rams.

Don't know about Furds, but it sure looks like those who actually use their Ram diesels for their intended purpose (pulling heavy, as often as possible) have far better luck with their emission systems than those who use their 3/4 or 1-ton diesel as a car.

Can't really blame the manufacturers, who built those vehicles for a specific purpose, if they are then used for something else. Much like I wouldn't tow with my 'Cat and expect it to stay together.

Too many buy solely as a status symbol and get treated far better than my HC did

 

[1971demon]

Too many buy solely as a status symbol and get treated far better than my HC did

Since when is a farm truck a status symbol

 

[Magnified]

Since they're rednecks and oil field workers and wannabe cowboys (and some convicted felons). Out here, they're the thing.

 

[DavidKFla]

F-ing tax evasion. Your toast for the rest of your life. Freaking idiot. Wonder if hes talking a bunch of shit now?

Also, they have the 14000 buyers on the list.

The law is the law. If you dont like it, work to change it. If you just decide it doesn't apply to you, no different than the convenience store stick up guy. No one is above the law.

My heart cries tears of smirks. Dumb ass.

Much anger in your life?

 

[Jimmy N.]

Since when is a farm truck a status symbol

When you load it up with so many options that it costs upwards of $80K.

Unfortunately, each one of those options also eats away at the available payload, making it less useful while costing more.

By the way, this reminds me of when someone claimed that the only reason I bought a Tradesman Ram 3500 instead of a Laramie was that I couldn't afford a Laramie.
Well, with that kind of thinking, pickups are apparently status symbols.. To me less is usually more.

 

[1971demon]

When you load it up with so many options that it costs upwards of $80K.

Unfortunately, each one of those options also eats away at the available payload, making it less useful while costing more.

By the way, this reminds me of when someone claimed that the only reason I bought a Tradesman Ram 3500 instead of a Laramie was that I couldn't afford a Laramie.
Well, with that kind of thinking, pickups are apparently status symbols.. To me less is usually more.

My 2500 was fully optioned out...my 21 1500..more bells n whistles than I know how to use..but I log 45/50 thousand miles a year in that truck..DD and business travel...I want it to work like a truck....and ride like a Bently...

 

[1971demon]

When you load it up with so many options that it costs upwards of $80K.

Unfortunately, each one of those options also eats away at the available payload, making it less useful while costing more.

By the way, this reminds me of when someone claimed that the only reason I bought a Tradesman Ram 3500 instead of a Laramie was that I couldn't afford a Laramie.
Well, with that kind of thinking, pickups are apparently status symbols.. To me less is usually more.

I just love when people try and speculate about my net worth...

 

[Jimmy N.]

Those 1/2-tons do ride softly. With the '14 I had I made it a point to go buy water (4-5 cases) in the daytime.

If in the dark, the headlights were way off correct adjustment from "all that weight" and i didn't want to blind people with the improved headlights.

The '21 1500 hasn't been subjected to driving at night yet, as it has even softer suspension. And it will never "work like a truck". It's barely a pickup.

 

[1971demon]

Those 1/2-tons do ride softly. With the '14 I had I made it a point to go buy water (4-5 cases) in the daytime.

If in the dark, the headlights were way off correct adjustment from "all that weight" and i didn't want to blind people with the improved headlights.

The '21 1500 hasn't been subjected to driving at night yet, as it has even softer suspension. And it will never "work like a truck". It's barely a pickup.

The fact I put a lot of miles...and make it work like a truck.(.weather it likes it or not)..I never keep one more than 3yrs....and with a 1500...and 140/150 thousand miles..and 3 winters as a plow vehicle...its done...

 

[Jimmy N.]

I kept my '14 for almost eight years. Sold it with just over 20K miles on it. Nice and practical car, but incredibly boring.

If the weather is nice, and no small stuff needs to be transported, I much prefer driving something fun. And while the new 1500 is a lot more fun, there's a reason it has about 1,600 miles on it in over a year. A car with a little bed on it still isn't that fun. Especially in the twisties.

 

[Jack_Toepfer]

I understand the braking statement all too well. Set the gain on your controller to an appropriate assistance level and the braking capacity of the truck is less relevant. Of course the trailer brakes could fail, but so could your truck brakes… so I won’t get into the hypotheticals here.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been using a borrowed dump trailer behind mine for a few days, about 2500lbs a load… 3000lb trailer. My truck stops it just fine, and even better now that I found the problem with my brake controller.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Trailer brakes do indeed fail. Maybe not often, but it may only take once.

Bought a used gooseneck 40' flatbed a while back, dragged it home some 150 miles on twisty and hilly roads...going a wee bit fast as usual.

Well, got to a stop sign in town, almost home, and the stopping was nothing like it should've been. Once past the stop sign I tried the manual activation. Nothing.

Thanks to, or because of, the excellent exhaust brake on the Ram I hadn't noticed the lack of trailer brakes for over 100 miles. But if something had happened along he way, it could've got ugly. Having to abort passing a car because of oncoming traffic, for example. Or the road littered with elk after a blind curve.

That trailer probably weighs only about 8,000 lbs., so technically it could've been towed with 1500.
But I was sure glad I was in a long wheelbase 3500 that weighs 9,400 lbs. or the trailer could've pushed me through the corner and past the stop sign.