I picked up a 94 long bed ex.cab 4x4 with a 12valve cummins 1 week ago. It has 230000 miles on it and an auto trans. Its first job was to pull the stuck bobcat from the pasture that was useing a trincher and got caught in the rain so it was stuck in the freshly dug dirt that turned to mud so from a dry spot the dodge pulled the bcat loose and up the hill like it was a feather I am surprised by the low end power but i want to know what i can expect at highway speeds 55mph to 75mph with a load.  

It's a Cummins man, it will do just fine, but if you need more power you can pull some big numbers out of the 12v's, the only thing I would watch is the tranny (tranny cooler will help a lot) and the track bar on the front(they go out fast).  

although yours is the 180 (which is highly under rated because in my TDR magazine a bone stock 180hp 12v put down 178hp at the rear wheels on a dyno) horse my dad has a 96 215 horse 12v w/ just a fuel plate that rates the engine at 280hp and 680tq and it pulls a trailer stronger than my stock 325 horse common rail. but when it comes to torque the 12v is king!  

I have a 97 12V that we are building for the magazine, and yes they are torque monsters, but other than low end are sloooow.  A fuel plate will get you enought HP to blow through the converter, so you'll need a converter and a rebuilt trans....after those three things you should have no problem.  Also a good idea to get gauges to check your egts while towing.

Jason Sands
Associate Editor
Diesel Power Magazine  

I have decided to call this truck ol smokey the king of rattle. I have done the math and so far I have gotten 20 mpg. at 65 with no load. thats not bad for an old dodge if you ask me. I really like this truck and ill keep everyone up on the upcoming upgrades.  

I own a 95 12valve i pulled two horses with it 250miles one way at 75 mph and never had a problem but you better but a tranny cooler on there they go out fast without them but trust me you will have no prob  

I have a 1996 12v 2500 with a 180 pump. I put a 100 hp fuel plate in and turned the afc screw for more smoke. I raced a stock '06 duramax and was able to win by about half a truck length in a 1/8 mile. I also pull a gooseneck on a regular basis with almost 20,000 lbs. of seed and fertilizer on the back and it has no problem. 12v arent amazingly fast in stock form but with a little work the can be reeeeealy fun! I have alot more stuff planned for my truck (injectors, pump, delivery valves, tranny) It'l be one big torque monster when I'm done with it.