posted 01-14-2004 09:10 PM         

When Tom Olding purchased his 1995 Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel,he wanted a vehicle that could go a lot of miles. After all, he was planning to use it to deliver Air Stream vehicles from Jackson Center, Ohio, to dealers across the country. Well, so far Olding’s Turbo Diesel has gone over a million miles – and it’s still going strong! "When I bought the truck, I’d heard a lot of good things about the Cummins engine and it just seemed like the best decision," Olding explains. "The truth is, you can’t beat this Cummins engine."

According to Olding, the mileage rolled over to all zeros on a trip to St. Louis. "I pulled over and took a photograph of the mileage gauge when it showed 999,999 because that’s sure not something you see very often," Olding recalls.

Other than routine maintenance, Olding’s Cummins Turbo Diesel has been virtually trouble-free. The engine still has the original injectors and turbo. He replaced the water pump at 700,000 miles (1,126,541 km). "I change the oil myself and I do that every 8,000 miles (12,875 km)," says Olding.

Olding tows Air Stream trailers weighing up to 9,600 pounds. So the truck has been working hard. He averages about 120,000 miles (193,122 km) a year, delivering trailers to all the contiguous states except Maine.

Along the way, Olding has taken the time to stop into Chrysler dealers across the country. "There are other Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel trucks with a lot of miles," says Olding. "So far, I haven’t heard of any others with over a million, but I’m thinking of starting a Million-Mile Club as soon as I hear of some others."

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