6.7L Cummins Forum

I have been reading your forum threads all morning and thought I should introduce myself.

My name is Mike. I live in Colorado and have been driving a Dodge Ram Cummins for 7 years now. I love my truck to death and hate the idea of giving it up, but I probably need to move up to a new dually.

I am a weekend warrior (yes, I am that guy Squid mentioned in another post here recently that only tows once or twice per month and only 6 months out of the year ). I used to tow a 32' 5th wheel that weighed around 9K lbs. empty and 11.5K lbs. loaded. My 2500 with a few mods was a good match for that trailer. (Hopefully my signature shows up with more info about the truck.)

In May, a tornado hit our home in Windsor. It was an EF4 and destroyed much of what we own. Fortunately the truck was not at home, but we lost the house and the fiver - not to mention 6 months of our lives trying to get back home.

So now, we are looking at a new fiver, and I think our new trailer will be too much for the truck. It's a triple axle toy hauler and it weighs over 12K lbs. dry. My truck is running 35" tires on 3.55 gears, so that's a lot of load to pull with an effective gear ratio of about 3.23. Actually, I know my truck can pull it, but I would prefer to replace the tires as they are only load range D, and new tires are going to lead to new wheels as I would probably choose to drop tire size to 33" to regain some gearing and my 10" wheels will be too wide for a 285 series. Then I will probably want to upgrade my clutch this year, since I have 82K on the stock clutch and I tow in the middle of BFE on longer trips in the summer.

Also, my truck is a shortbed, which is always a challenge with a fiver, especially since I have a B&W turnover ball and cannot run a sliding hitch. So, very long story short, for several reasons, I have decided the better investment is to upgrade the truck.

I thoroughly researched the Cummins 5.9L ISB motor before I puchased my current truck and before I made any mods to it. Now I am trying to get up to speed on this new 6.7L engine, which at first look, seems to have very little in common with my old 5.9L. I know it has tons of new features and more power, but my 5.9L has been a very strong and bulletproof motor. And with absolutely no smog equipment at all, it has been completely troublefree. Keep it well lubricated, watch my fuel pressure, and it is probably good for another 20 years. Too bad there is no way to buy a new 6.7L with the simplicity of my 5.9L.

But I look forward to learning from you guys. I already have learned a few things here about the new design. I will try to search before I ask old questions, and I apoolgize in advance for the dumb ones.

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Purchased 01/31/09: 2008 Ram 3500 QC LB DRW 4x4 Laramie, 6.7L, 68RFE 6 speed auto. Stock for now.

Sold 01/23/09: 2001 Ram 2500 QC SB, 5.9L ISB, NV4500 5 spd, Dana 80 rear, 3.55 ratios, Edge EZ, AFE Cold Intake, 4" dual exhaust, 35" BFG ATs, pyro, boost and fuel pressure gauges on A-pillar, and tons and tons of other extras. Owned and loved for 7 years, but had to let her go in pursuit of a larger tow vehicle.

Well Mike first off, Welcome to the Forum!
We're all still learning about the 6.7L so feel free to ask away and we'll see if we can't find an answer. It's true the 6.7L is more complicated then the 5.9L and It's probably a good thing I had never owned one or I probably wouldn't have been so patient but after 44,000 miles I'm a damn happy Dodge 6.7L Cummins Owner. I could have bought the exact truck with a 5.9l but chose the 6.7L and I wouldn't trade her today for that same 5.9L truck, period.

Coupled with the 68RFE 6 speed auto and this truck is a bad azz even with all the anti-pollution stuff and as a forty something year old man I feel good about doing my part to help the environment now that diesel is back down to the $2 range because there is no doubt you're going to take a MPG hit compared to your 5.9L truck. The good news is I'm getting the same MPG as our 04 Nissan Titan 1/2 ton so as long as fuel stays within $.30 or $.40 a gallon I'll take the hit and did I mention how well this big mofo handles not only around the corners on dry pavement but also on the ice and snow as long as you're driving a 4x4.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

Ditto! The 6 speed automatic and the engine brake are worth the price of admission. I have had no issues with mine. It'll have 40,000 kms on it within a week. I did lots of towing with it in the summer. It is the best tow vehicle that I have ever owned and I've owned a few.

Double Ditto's...I've never had a TV like this. Mine have been gassers but lord have mercy, I'll never go back

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7.5 3500QC 6.7CTD 68RFE Build date June 2007
Superchips tuner 3808, Boost/EGT Laser Gauge, Airaid cold intake

Well, thanks for all the encouragement guys. As of Saturday, I am now a member of the 6.7L owner fraternity. Sold my 2001 about 2 weeks ago, and found a sweet deal on a 2008 Laramie 3500 DRW 4x4 Quad Cab. Sure was fun to drive it home. Even in stock form, it runs like a beast. I am hooked.

Mileage isn't a big concern for me. I only drive my truck about 5K miles per year. In the 7 years I owned my 5.9L, I put 34K miles on it. But if I can safely and esaily improve mileage, I will.

I do tow a fair amount. Our new fiver is a 38 foot triple axle Raptor Toy Hauler, so we really needed to step up to the long bed dually. I have always preferred the manual transmissions because of my towing needs, but with this new 68RFE transmission, I was actually looking forward to buying an automatic. I will be 42 in March, and while I still consider myself young, I have pushed the clutch in enough times in my life to appreciate a well built automatic. This new 6 speed is really the first auto I actually wanted in my truck.

My B&W turnover ball is already installed. Just need to hook up my Prodigy and I am ready to tow. Very glad to have a factory jake brake. That was one of my first upgrades to my 5.9L. We drag a fifth wheel up and town the Rocky Mountains, and I can't even imagine coming down Rabbit Ears Pass without one. Some of the roads out here should actually require them.

Now, I am considering my first additions to the truck. Mudflaps are #1. Wife threatened me after she had to drive behind me.

I am currently debating the Edge Juice w/ Attitude or just going with the Edge Insight. I have used Edge products in the past and was very happy with them. But I really question whether I need any more power in this truck. I was thinking I might just save myself the headaches of potential warranty debates with dealer service departments. But I want gauges right away. I am so used to having gauges on my truck that I almost feel uncomfortable without them. Haven't decided which way to go on that one.

I will definitely be looking for an intake by late spring. I have put cold air intakes in all my trucks and many other vehicles. Fresh air is probably my number one upgrade in any vehicle. Nothing but good comes from letting an engine breathe better.

Have some other things in mind, but nothing major. This truck is so nice, I don't plan to change much for now. Sure is quiet though. My 5.9L sounded like a Mack dump truck coming down the road - especially with a load behind it. This truck barely makes any noise at all.

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Purchased 01/31/09: 2008 Ram 3500 QC LB DRW 4x4 Laramie, 6.7L, 68RFE 6 speed auto. Stock for now.

Sold 01/23/09: 2001 Ram 2500 QC SB, 5.9L ISB, NV4500 5 spd, Dana 80 rear, 3.55 ratios, Edge EZ, AFE Cold Intake, 4" dual exhaust, 35" BFG ATs, pyro, boost and fuel pressure gauges on A-pillar, and tons and tons of other extras. Owned and loved for 7 years, but had to let her go in pursuit of a larger tow vehicle.

Welcome, it's a beast alright....Many here share your views and it's a great place (thanks be to Squid) to learn

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7.5 3500QC 6.7CTD 68RFE Build date June 2007
Superchips tuner 3808, Boost/EGT Laser Gauge, Airaid cold intake

Congrats on the new truck!

I already have more miles on my 07 then you put on your 01 so no worries there. She will get louder with time but nothing like a 5.9L, at least not so far. As far as gages this truck really does need them so you can monitor regeneration and stay out of the dealership due to a clogged DPF, not to mention EGT and I highly recommend a turbo timer due to the high EGT during regeneration that can happen at any time while driving. (1100 F or more)

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

That's why I am still debating between the Edge Juice w/ Attitude and the Edge Insight. I really don't care about adding power (at least not yet), but the turbo timer seems like a really good add on for this truck.

I have always installed all my thermocouples pre-turbo, but I hear a lot of guys saying they put them post-turbo on these trucks. I'm curious if there are specific reasons why post-turbo is better placement on this truck.

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Purchased 01/31/09: 2008 Ram 3500 QC LB DRW 4x4 Laramie, 6.7L, 68RFE 6 speed auto. Stock for now.

Sold 01/23/09: 2001 Ram 2500 QC SB, 5.9L ISB, NV4500 5 spd, Dana 80 rear, 3.55 ratios, Edge EZ, AFE Cold Intake, 4" dual exhaust, 35" BFG ATs, pyro, boost and fuel pressure gauges on A-pillar, and tons and tons of other extras. Owned and loved for 7 years, but had to let her go in pursuit of a larger tow vehicle.

And I should add that with 33 full months of bumper to bumper warranty remaining (because I will not hit 36K miles within 3 the 3 years), I am leaning away from any performance mods at least for a while. I know the laws about after-market parts and warranty, but I would still prefer to avoid the hassle.

Fortunately, if I have an EGT readout of any kind, I am already a human turbo timer. It is so engrained in habit for me to watch the pyrometer before shutting down the truck, that it will be pretty much automatic for me to watch my EGTs before I shutdown the new truck. Just need a gauge.

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Purchased 01/31/09: 2008 Ram 3500 QC LB DRW 4x4 Laramie, 6.7L, 68RFE 6 speed auto. Stock for now.

Sold 01/23/09: 2001 Ram 2500 QC SB, 5.9L ISB, NV4500 5 spd, Dana 80 rear, 3.55 ratios, Edge EZ, AFE Cold Intake, 4" dual exhaust, 35" BFG ATs, pyro, boost and fuel pressure gauges on A-pillar, and tons and tons of other extras. Owned and loved for 7 years, but had to let her go in pursuit of a larger tow vehicle.

I can understand the hesitation about a programmer and the warranty because I had to think long and hard about it before I ordered mine. With that said, I'm really glad I did because the Edge shifts so much better then stock, add in all the other goodies, 1mpg and it's quite a toy.

As for the position of the Turbo timer I did mine Pre turbo because I own a right angle drill and also wanted the most accurate reading I could get. I think most people place it Post Turbo for ease of installation and also so they don't have to worry about metal shavings. If you get an EGT gauge without a Turbo Timer you won't have a problem knowing when Regeneration occurs so that's the minimum I recommend. If the wife is going to be driving it then I'd cut her some slack and get the Turbo Timer.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10