Owning any aging vehicle comes with a few headaches now and then. From unexpected failures to fixing quirky, minor issues, it can become time-consuming-and steal plenty of cash from your wallet. However, the benefits of owning an aging truck include (but are not limited to): no monthly payment, cheap insurance, and in our case, the everlasting diesel engine under the hood. The trade-off of driving an older truck is that maintenance is key, and you need to keep an eye on all of the vehicle's vital components in order for them to last. This consists of performing routine maintenance, replacing broken or worn parts as needed, and being prepared for the unexpected. The reward is often simple: doing the work yourself and learning along the way. After all, many of us who own older diesels are our truck's warranty, and a lot of the following scenarios have been experienced by most of us.inline_mediumwraptextright1997 Ford F35028217356/tech/ford/1004dp_ford_failures_and_fixes_preventative_maintenance1004dp_01+ford_failures_and_fixes+1997_ford_f350.jpgTrue

Everybody needs tires. Whether you drive your vehicle off-road, pull a trailer, or just jam around town, tires are your all-important contact patch to the ground. There are many types of tires available to the diesel enthusiast, so let's start by decoding the sidewall. After that, we'll discuss load and speed ratings, as well as tread patterns and sizes. Finally, we'll talk about usage and taking proper care of your tires.

If you own or are looking to buy an '03 to '07 Dodge with a 5.9L Cummins common-rail engine, then you're in for a treat. These trucks offer the most bolt-on-for-the buck potential of any year Dodge, and it's not uncommon to see 450 to 500 hp at the wheels with just an intake, exhaust, and tuner. The 6.7L-powered '08 to '10 models also have great power potential, albeit with a lot more emissions equipment.inline_mediumwraptextrightLate-model Cummins trucks have the ability to make clean power. The common-rail Dodge pictured made almost 600 hp on a chassis dyno with only a light haze of smoke coming out the stacks.Chassis Dyno28192144/tech/dodge/1004dp_2003_to_2010_dodge_ram_power_recipes1004dp_01+2003_to_2010_dodge_ram_power_recipes+chassis_dyno.jpgTrue

The Pit Bull Rocker XOR-LT radial is an extreme tire in every sense of the word. It's the exact opposite of a drag racing slick, but it's just as purpose built. While there's no reason you couldn't run these on your daily driven pickup, that's not really the point of a tire like this. The Rockers were built to thrive in the nasty mud, rocks, and dirt.inline_mediumwraptextrightThe Pit Bull Rocker XOR-LT tire is a mottled mix of huge lugs, wide voids, and large sipes that all indicate this tire's been designed for places far away from paved roads. Yes, these animals can be driven on the street if you need to, but if you're looking for street manners from a tire like this, you're missing the point.Tread Design32393658/tech/1004dp_pit_bull_rocker_xor_lt_tires1004dp_01+pit_bull_tires_XOR_LT_tires+tread_design.jpgTrue