RJC2

I guess we all are different. As for me, if I had an extra thiry grand laying around, I'd buy it.

I have the same gears and transmission as you and get around 17.5, but I live in the mountains. We have very little level ground. The overhead tells me I get 17.6, it is always one tenth of a mpg off, I can live with that. It is stock with stock tires.

That $26K would be like paying $31,967.00 today figuring in the cost of inflation. That said, I would like to find a 2011 with 18K miles for $32K. I think you got a pretty good deal back then. --- Update to the previous post... Final bid; $28,100.00

I think it was a California truck. If I read right, the window sticker said something about the California emmisions system being free of charge. Somehow the words, "Free of charge" and "California" don't go together.

Book value is out the window on this ole girl. I guess it is all in how you look at it. It is 10 years old, however, it is like buying a nearly new truck that one can work on and all of the gremlins have been addressed and cures found. Anyway you look at it, the truck still needs a lift pump and fuel pressure gauge... It will be interesting to see what it brings. Dave, I couldn't figure out why someone would equip a truck with towing and camping packages and no tow mirrors.

I know this probably isn't the best place to post this, but I thought it would be noticed here more than the other conversation areas and it won't be there for long. (2 days) On Ebay a guy is selling a 2002 2500 with all the bells and whistles with 20,000 original miles. It is a truck that looks like the day it was bought and is like stepping back 10 years. I have nothing to do with the truck or the dealer selling it, but thought someone might find it interesting to see a really nice original 2nd gen truck. There are lots of pictures. If I were a rich man this truck would be in West Virginia... I don't know how to link to it but the ebay auction number is 190624375183. Just enter that # in the search box. Okay Big Mike, do I have to stand in the corner for doing this?

Dave, Does the Napa 375190 stay steady on 190* for you? I take it that it doesn't but I thought I would check before I go and throw more money at something.

Dave, I have the Cummins brand 190 degree stat. It does the same as the others, always moving. I did try burping the system, which seemed to help a bit, but when cold weather hit it was the same old same. Go down hill, so does the stat 20 degrees. I kept my original stat and am tempted to put it in, but I have a hard time doing that after paying around $80 to Dodge for the Cummins (flucuating) stat. Maybe I will try NAPA...

I have been looking for a good charger to buy. I'd like one of the newer chargers that has the three level charge and renews (desulfates) the battery. I haven't found anything that is very informative as of yet. It appears that the old manual chargers like I have are dependable, but very old school compared to the computerized new ones.Does anyone have a suggestion or any experience with these new chargers?

My truck gets lots of short trips from the barn to the chicken coop, to the wood shop and then the house, all with the grid heaters running. I have noticed it cranking a bit slower than usual latley and thought maybe I would give mine a charge tonight.What is the best amp rate to charge at, 2 amp or 10? And Mike, I am interested in what kind of charger are you using? I know you are a good bit more experienced with batteries than most of us with that home electrical generation set up you run, so I wondered what kind you use. (I just hooked the charger up on 10 amp and it is showing the batteries at 50%)

The price of $250 doesn't include the TBK trackbar conversion kit which is another $185.00. From what I see that will be needed so the price goes to $435.As far as the steering stabilizer, I bought one that looks just like the one you sourced from Solidsteel.biz, for $110, (shipping included)on Ebay. Now, this trackbar from Source automotive, is it an adjustable one for the leveling purposes like Jag1 spoke of?

Thanks. I will pass that on to my friend. $850 is pretty steep, however, avoiding a head on is priceless. As for me, I think the leveling kit can wait a while. Santa didn't have a track bar in his sleigh.

And as a third Amen to that... Eric will take the time to talk you through any problems you have with the install.

First off, thanks for the info., it is very helpful. I think I will wait to install the leveling kit until I can get a 3rd gen track bar. My truck drives very nice and I don't want to change that over making it look "level". Do you mind me asking how much your 3rd gen. track bar ran you?

Jag1, just to clarify, are you saying you got a adjustable 3rd gen. trackbar. Or, an adjustable Luke's link?I am thinking you meant the "3rd Gen." but I just want to be sure. I have read a little about people installing the newer bars but haven't gotten a clear idea of what year 3rd gen. to order from (if that even matters). My friend has had a lot of trouble with looking like a DUI candidate. I had an extra steering box stabilizer that wouldn't work on my truck because of the snow plow frame. He put that on his truck and it has helped a good bit but he is really interested in making it drive right, so any information (including cost) you can give me on the 3rd gen. track bar is much appreciated. He just bought a large camper trailer like Mopar Mike's so he needs to keep it between the lines. Another question. I am getting ready to install a 2" leveling kit on my truck. Do you know if I need to modify anything else to install this kit. The kit is from Hell Bent Steel.I was of the understanding that I could just install it [2" leveling kit] and it wouldn't affect the driveablility at all. I am running completely stock wheels and tire size.Thanks in advance for your help.

From what it sounds like, the link is a good idea if a person doesn't mind adjusting it every so often to keep it tight. Am I wrong in my thinking here?

Thanks Mike. That was great. There is a lot to be said for seeing it that way, for me anyway.

Dave, I have a friend with an 08 F450 pickup truck with the 6.4 diesel. He would die and go to heaven to get 10.2 RUNNING EMPTY. He gets an average of 8 mpg (empty). He paid $55K for it and refuses to sell it because he doesn't want to take a huge loss on it. (wakey wakey, it's already happened) He loves the way it looks, hates the fuel mileage so much that he won't drive it. I guess that is the definition of a true "Love, Hate relationship" Back on topic...These old trucks do very well on fuel considering what they pull, and how many miles are on some of them.

That makes the most sense. [turning off after a while] The Ford is "on" anytime the truck is running summer and winter. It bakes salt spray to a nice white haze where you have to stop and clean them or you can't see. Some guys will put them on a switch to avoid this problem.

Jeeps, 4X4's, and Cummins. I have a friend who combined all three. He put a 4 cly. Cummins from a wrecked bread truck in his Jeep. Sorry, back on topic. I much like Mike find 4X4 only necessary occasionally. But when you need it, you really need it. Chains are a lot of help.

I am still kind of new to all of this, when you say 3rd generation track bar, what year specifically should he ask for? Also, should he get it from the stealership, or does someone else build a better one.I know Dodge won't be cheap. Yesterday, I bought that braided oil supply line that runs from the engine to the turbo... $124.

Thanks that is what I needed to know. This guy has more time and ability than money. It is probably just what he needs.

I didn't want to recommend it to a friend without knowing if it is a good product or not. Mine is good.

Don't forget to give your batteries a little extra charge with the charger when you get home. They cannot recover fully on their own and it shortens their life.

I came across an article about a track bar repair called "Luke's Link". It is supposed to rebuild the worn end of the track bar better than stock and be adjustable should it ever loosen up. Cost is $69 at Vulcan Performance.Has anyone tried this?I have a friend who is about to buy a track bar and I thought of telling him about this, but thought I would check to see if anyone has tried it yet.