written by: Kaycee LaBonte

We are excited to team up with one of Kaycee Labonte on a new project this Summer, Tech Tip Tuesday! Kaycee is a diesel mechanic, working various types of diesels, but especially six liters!

Injection Control Pressure Sensor

Basically, it does what it’s called! It tells the Electronic Control Module (better known as the ECM) to tell the Injection Pressure Regulator valve to increase or decrease pressure.

When this sensor goes bad it can cause your truck to not start, instantly sending any six liter driver into a case of the worries. But chances are, you were probably experiencing some “symptoms” before hand, like rough idling, surging, and stalling are a just few signs that your ICP has gone bad.

It’s that time again, where I start looking for my next set of tires. That is a lie. I am always looking for the next set of tires. I am your typical woman when it comes to this, I am indecisive. Super indecisive. I know I want fat meats (aggressive looking) under my truck, but at the same time I don’t want mud terrains. Been there, done that; they didn’t last long and were. So. Loud. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind some noise to them, but not the way this set sounded when they probably had four to six months of tread left to them. Also, one time when I was tire shopping, I was dead set on having a set of Dick Cepeck tires; all of the ‘mom and pop’ tire stores in my town, were like “Who?”, followed by a “Little lady, you sure are looking for some weird named tires. I have never heard of this Dick Cepek?” Wait, what?

My husband asked me yesterday, in the attempts of helping me shop, what are the things I look for when I look at tires. I instantly began thinking, ‘What are the first things I notice on tires?’. I came up with a small list of those things, unfortunately, when it comes to sound and wear on them, you have to be able to talk to someone who has ran them, or find out for yourself.

Size- Size is one of the first things I look at when I check out my own tires, especially someone else’s tires. To me, the size of your tire is the ‘eye catcher’, what draws my attention to your lower half- your wheels and tires. Tire size (width and height) can make your truck; along with a great set of wheels and maybe some offset! While size is the number one thing that catches my eye, it is not one of the first things I check when looking for availability to purchase.

Tread- Tread comes next, almost simultaneously to size. Here is where I especially look at aggressive features. I want a unique tread pattern, an asymmetric tread, if you will. Tires that are asymmetric have a continuous unique design across the width of the tire’s tread. My eye is really drawn to tires in which the tread pattern rolls on to the side of the tire, like you would see commonly, on mud terrains; more and more all terrains are coming out with this trait, too.

Events in the motor sport industries are always fun, full of activities, competitions, vendors and more. Some events happen more than one time a year, some hold qualifying events which then lead up to a main event. As spectators, or even competitors, we tend to over look or take for granted what all goes into planning an event like Shied Diesel Extravaganza (held every August in Terre Hautte, Indiana), Diesels in Dark Corners (put on every November in White Plains, Georgia by Liberty Truck and Tractor Pull), and so forth. We also never get to see the faces of the hardworking individuals that do so much work behind the scenes, from social media, budgeting, to keeping track of distance and track times, to cleaning the headsets used for communication of the track officials. Someone does these things, someone puts a lot of time and effort into making sure an event goes as close to planned as possible!

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Nikki Day, one of our Diesel Doll Bloggers, reached out to Michelle Talaski, with Ultimate Callout Challenge, about doing a feature on her and her role with this well known event in the diesel industry! Talaski does a phenomenal job with all of her tasks that play a part in the UCC team. Nikki asked Talaski what it was like to be a female in this industry, and her answer at first fell to the back burner. With a couple of reasons for that, one being when you read through Talaski’s interview, you’ll see her passion for her job, her gratefulness of experiences she has gained working with various companies, you’ll see she has a job she seems to love. A job she has been called, from God to do; God leads you where He wants you, where He needs you to be. As importantly, to us (we love this answer she gave), it is because she never saw herself at different advantage because of her gender, or disadvantage for that matter! Talaski tells us that she created opportunities for herself and built relationships!

The goal this month was to bring three builds to the series, aiming to have one truck from each major make- cummins, duramx, and powerstroke. We had two planned out, and the build owners were excited to help us get the article ready! But, we needed one more! We put out a search on social media, and we quickly found the missing build. We love being able to feature people and women you tell us about, so coming soon, there will be an option on the website to nominate someone (or yourself!) to be featured! Get ready! Make sure you sign up for our newsletter, so you know when the nomination form will be up!
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This six liter, is a 250, with the King Ranch interior package. It is currently sitting on six inches of lift, with thirty fives wrapped around twenty by twelve Mofo Metal wheels. She installed the cab lights after she purchased it. This King Ranch adorns a Move bumper topped with a Billet mesh grille. Even more recently, it received a new transmission.She tells us that her build on this truck is a slow work in progress! 

​Her Longhorn edition Cummins, which is another head turner on our 'Build Watch' list, will get a lot of custom work in the future. Plans include things like an upgrade on her suspension, a lift change; Eifert tells us she wants to go bigger and even shinier. She also plans to change all the lights on this Longhorn, affectionately nicknamed, Moose. As far as under the hood, Eifert has already deleted and tuned Moose, and plans to do some transmission work, injectors, and so forth. Eifert's list of 'wants' for Moose, goes on and on, as we all know, a build is never "done"!

​Coral Hetrick rounds out this month's Build Watch series with her 2008 GMC Sierra Duramax 2500HD. This 2008 is running strong with over 220k miles on it! Hetrick put a six inch Rough Country lift on it, sitting on 20x12 Rockstar II wheels that are wrapped in 35x12.5 Nittos. This Duramx also has a set of custom headlights and taillights, with color matched, 2016 mirrors and an Edge exhaust. She plans to get different wheels, take off the flares, and get all the chrome color matched one day soon. 

​This nineteen year old resides in Jonestown, Pennsylvania, and is currently a full time student at Delaware Valley University, where she studies large animal science/pre-vet. Hetrick show and shines her 2008 Duramax, and if she's not studying, or cleaning the truck, you will find her either in the barn messing with her horses, or in the woods hunting anything in season. Her interest in diesel trucks also began at a young age, loving the sound and their large appearance! 

What is interesting about a diesel truck website and blog is that technically you are branded all things Diese. What is fun about Diesel Doll and where we hope we’re changing the game, is that we enjoy supporting and making friends with other people and brands in the auto industry in general! You don’t own a diesel truck? That’s okay, I am sure we have similar interests else where! That’s what is great, we can find a way to “bond” over common interests.

That is exactly how we have gotten to know Morgan Hurd’s Instagram based small business and social media, Only Prettier Off-road, through similar interests! Back when Diesel Doll first started up on the Instagram scene, we found Only Prettier Off-road, which some of our team members have brand replied for in the past! Like many of you, we enjoy off-roading and off-road vehicles! That is where we bonded with OPO!

Hurd began OPO in 2015, out of wishes to see pages feature more than just off-roading. For example, Hurd herself drives a diesel truck, something we didn’t know until writing this article on OPO, but she wanted a place to show off her truck without being called the infamous nicknames (we will let you imagine what those are!) us women in the diesel industry all to often, wrongfully get accused of being. She also seeked a community for women to be a part of, that they would feel safe and would know they were not going to get bashed for not having the largest or most expensive vehicle with a mile long list of modifications.

Only Prettier Offroad was designed for women of all walks of life, of all builds, and of all interests. Hurd stressed to us that a woman should feel free to be a part of their community and brand whether your rig is a “pavement princess” or if it is an off-roading toy. Hence their motto, “Pretty on Pavement, Prettier Offroad”. OPO is what we here at Diesel Doll call a “stress free community”, meaning they lack drama and do not stand for any type of hate. They welcome everyone and want to encourage others to be positive and respect others! A message that Diesel Doll can get behind!

OPO is constantly growing their community with an apparel and accessory line. Hurd tells us that while they are primarily Instagram based, she hopes to take OPO on the road to truck and off-road events as a vendor. OPO’s goal for 2019 is to hit that twenty thousand follower mark on Instagram, while continuing to grow the brand!

Go check out Only Prettier Offroad for some of the coolest female driven rigs around!

When we began searching for more women and builds to feature on our website, we realized that there needs to be an outlet for those of us, who are working hard on our build! Build watch, is exactly what the title says it is. This new series is all about women who we think deserve to have some support and attention with their build, but are not QUITE ready for a full feature, because their truck isn't quite where they want it, yet. We will try to select two to five women (or men) a month to share with our readers. You can also send in your ride HERE, we'd love to learn more about you and your build at whatever stage it is in!

Without further ado, lets start talking about these women with their trucks! I mean, that's why we're here, right?!
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​Hooser's F250HD, as mentioned before has a 7.3 liter diesel motor in it. A four inch lift has it sitting on thirtyfive inch Cooper Discoverer STT Pros, with a completely rebuilt and powder coated rear axle. She tells us while there is not a lot of special mods done under the hood at this time, it does have an upgraded air filter, a high idle IDM and she is preparing to purchase a built turbo, and putting on an electronic fuel system. The interior, is currently stripped. Her seats are getting reupholstered, shes getting new carpet and a new headliner.

She has a long list of goals for her truck, but the major ones are a new paint job, completing the interior, and sooping up the motor. She tells us that she could literally write out everysing goal and want for the truck, but that would make a really long article! 

​This south Florida Doll also grew up around trucks! Janna comes from a Ford loving family, in which her dad  drives a F150 while her uncle drives a F350 with a 6.7 Powerstroke. She tells us specifically, are love of trucks began when she was around six years of age, her dad would put her in his lap and let her "drive" around the neighborhood in his 2004 F150. Volz would claim that truck as her's, as a young child, that she was letting him borrow it, until she needed it back! 

We have enjoyed getting to know these ladies more, and genuinely can't wait to see where their build goes, and where life takes them as a person! We hope to soon, see them on our website as full, individual features, articles on the events they attend, and more! Thank you Janna and Taylor for being a part of the first installment of this new series, Build Watch! You guys were and are a pleasure to work with!

 I’ve heard this question a lot myself, generally followed by, “No one seems interested in my truck”. 
Ask yourself, what do you have to offer these companies? Are you spiking their interest enough or do you just seem interested in their product simply for the chance at free items?

You’re going to need to write up a proposal describing in detail how the truck is now how it sits and what you plan to do with it in the future. List all the shows you have plans of attending. Send pictures of the truck currently, explain what makes your truck cool and interesting.

Have a Rendering done. Strictly Custom Designs, Keg Media and Truck Guru all do incredible work, if you’re trying to figure out who to have do it. We have linked their websites, and you can visit their sites to see their work!

Most importantly, Sell yourself. What’s the benefit of them sponsoring you specifically? Tell them, because if they sponsor you, you work for them. The reason companies will consider a sponsorship is to get more product out there and on vehicles in hopes that they’ll gain more sales.

Ways to do that- Advertise. Post on social media, run their decals on your vehicle, wear their apparel, push their product. Be their salesman. The more business you bring them, the better chance you have at building a better relationship with these companies. 

Whatever you do, don’t go into a sponsorship request asking for free product. These products still cost companies money and 9 times out of 10 they still have to try and break even. Chances are they won’t be out to make money off of you, but usually they aren’t able to justify losing money. 
 
We asked our friend and current SEMA builder what advice he could give to a new builder when it comes to sponsors and how to gain the interest of companies, here’s what he said:

If you are nervous about venturing into the showing world- DON'T BE. Everyone started out somewhere. 

Your time, financial situation and goals will all effect your building timeline so don’t worry if it’s taking you longer to build your truck than it takes others. The nice thing about the showing community is everyone has the same passion and same goals, they’re generally all very supportive to fellow builders. 

Start by attending local or close shows, whether it be multi-class or strictly truck shows/meets. Get that truck noticed. Once you start feeling comfortable with it, start traveling to shows and meets.
Begin posting to your social media platforms- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. Join those groups that your truck fits into, whether it be Ram, Ford, GMC, Chevy, Etc (Diesel Doll has a great group!). Post that thing! Use those hashtags (people seriously do look at those believe it or not), Tag the companies that are on the truck so far, send picture submissions to different pages for them to post. Any publicity is a step in the right direction. 

Try and meet up with some other builders and do photoshoots. Exposure, Exposure, Exposure. 

We asked Pleasant Cook (4x4 Barbie) what got her interest in building show trucks, how she got started and what steps she suggests a new builder take to get started. 

A lot of people don’t realize that building a show truck, let alone a SEMA truck, is extremely stressful.
You’re constantly waiting on parts, hoping you’re building it correctly and watching your bank account drop quickly. Plus, if you don’t know how to work on the stuff or have friends willing to help, talk about those shop bills. 

If you’re preparing for Sema, don’t even get me started on the time crunch. No matter how much time you start in advance something will always come up and cause issues in your plans and 9 times out of 10 you’ll be running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to get everything finished and make sure it doesn’t look like a complete hack job. Some have a hard time handling the stress and others aren’t even phased by the stress. 

A lot of builders will send their truck off to a shop and have most of the work done, which seems to help quite a bit in the stress department, I've heard. Those of us who choose to do all their own work are generally about ready to pass out most of the time. I’m not sure if it’s due to stress or exhaustion. Either way, it’s a lot of work for everyone involved. I still haven’t found a way to relax so I'm going to ask someone else for their input here. We asked another good friend how he handles all the stress involved in building a show truck, especially with all the outgoing money and time crunches.​

Kelly Foster of Harrison, Arkansas, is setting goals high for herself and other women in and out of the diesel industry. Foster is a wife, a mom, a business owner and a diesel truck enthusiast. Foster fell into the diesel industry when she fell in love with her now husband, about three years ago. Her current build, which is also her first, originally belonged to her husband. She fell in love with it and wanted to make it hers, so he gifted it to her! Together, they have worked to get the truck to where it is now.

Foster had been a single mom of two, doing what she could do to make ends meet, often feeling as though she was "robbing Peter to pay Paul". For years, in previous relationships, she had been cheated on, used and abused, and taken for granted by partners she should have been able to trust. 

Foster tells me, meeting the man that would turn into her husband, took her back to her roots! It brought her back. He helped Kelly become herself again. Their first date was in the truck they are currently building, together. Foster fell in love with a diesel guy, a diesel truck, but most importantly, fell in love with herself, again. 

Foster THANKS her husband for believing in her, helping, being patient, and for doing all he has for her and their family. Aside from her father, her husband has given and been more for than any other man has. Her husband is proof that her standards were very high, all along, as she knew settling wasn't an option and that she deserved more- so. much. more. 

Foster admits, through all of her life's experiences, she has learned, often the difficult way, to set her standards high. Expecting anything less of herself or anyone else, is not acceptable. She's also made being the "bigger person" while being tough, a way of life. 

As the once orange truck was a big part of a new, better outlook on life and life, the truck was named, High Standards! 

High Standards, the truck, is built representing Kelly's mind set- TOUGH! The truck is built big and tall, sturdy and tough, representing Kelly's life in a way. High Standards is her hope for women everywhere, to not settle with what they want and deserve! She hopes to encourage other women to do great, excel in love and life, find themselves, be confident in setting standards higher, and to find their happy!

The build is a 1999 Ford 250, 7.3 motor. High Standards has a touch of Riff Raff Diesel, a Garrett turbo with upgraded injectors, and it is tuned by Tyrant. Cosmetically, Foster fully wrapped the truck, herself. High Standards is sitting on Fuel 24x14s, which Kelly also wrapped keeping in theme with the truck's wrap. The Fuel wheels are wrapped in 40" Nitto Trail Grapplers, with a twelve inch lift, and a Redhead stearing gear box! 

High Standards is currently sponsored by Kastle Graphics,

Foster tells me, the truck will soon need track bars, and she hopes to upgrade bumpers. Maybe, continue "dolling" her up on the underside and under the hood, and more!

Written by: Amy Kent
Pictures courtesy of Kelly Foster

Wyoming based, Casper to be exact, Missy Cook, began her venture into the small business owner world, by opening an apparel line for women interested in the diesel industry! The idea came to her in the fall of 2016. Mind you, Missy was not new to the diesel world! Missy and her partner, Amber Thurston (of Wyoming) have been friends of Diesel Doll, basically since we began, back in 2012! I remember reading messages from them, about how there wasn't many women in Wyoming into diesels like they were, and that they longed to meet more women interested in the same thing. Missy and Amber have done a great job of creating a fun and active line with women of all types interested in their apparel!

It all started when Cook was shopping for diesel themed apparel for herself. She had a difficult time finding exactly what she wanted, noticing that there are many diesel apparel lines, but most are catered towards men! That is when the idea of launching a line herself, came up. She ran the idea by Thurston, who of course was very supportive! Little did Thurston know, Cook was about to wrap her up in this project as co-owner! Once Cook came up with the name, Miss Diesel, she set out to create a logo. After many trashed ideas, the iconic M came to place and has stuck! Miss Diesel is run out of Cook's home, so every shirt, decal or other apparel is put together by no one other than Cook, herself. Cook describes Thurston's position as co-owner, explaining that she is literally the support pillars of the company, and that without her support MD wouldn't be what it is today!

In addition to a great supportive co-owner, Miss Diesel is supported by elleven brand reps! Some of which play a more administrative role by helping with social media accounts! Another long time Diesel Doll friend and avid truck puller, Paula Borring helps run the Miss Diesel facebook account, while Elsha Hunter LeFevre, of Utah, assists in running the Instagram account. Cook credits all the brand reps for helping MD grow, but gives big kuddos to Borring and LeFevre for being a great help in MD's skyrocketing growth. Cook says, "These two ladies have been unbelievably incredible, they both have made Miss Diesel skyrocket with their phenomenal keenness and point of view.". Cook also tells me that they have been a joy to get to know, along with the other nine ambassadors, claiming she feels that she has made some great friends in them, which only deepens her love for this community even more!

Miss Diesel knows that us women love to dress to express ourselves, and they want to help to facilitate that, by providing apparel just for you! MD's goal for this year is of course to GROW! They hope to expand their product line and hopefully grow their team, as well! MD is here for all women in the industry, and without you all, they wouldn't be here, doing what they enjoy and meeting more of you! Whether you are into diesels as a hobby or a job, MD is here to support you, and hopes to provide you with clothing and accessories that help express your interests!

Missy was born, raised and currently resided in Casper, Wyoming. She is a wide to a loving and supportive husband, together they have a beautiful daughter! Aside from MD, Cook holds a full time job, with a local non-profit that provides a self-sufficiency program for single parent families experiencing homelessness. 

Cook tells me her love of diesels was sparked at a young age, Her dad owned a 1985 Ford 6.9 idi. The sound, the smell, and how it seemed to tower over her as a child- she loved it all.  Cook's dad always included her when the truck needed maintenance, and was one of many father-daughter moments. When Missy was twelve, she and her family were hit head on by a drunk driver, causing the truck that had held so many memories to be reduced to scrap metal. Though that truck held so many memories and will always be remembered, it definitely was not her or her families' last diesel! It seems to Cook that her family always had a diesel! 

Article written by: Amy Kent
Pictures courtesy of Miss Diesel and MD Reps

In August of 2018, I finally broke down, manned up or Diesel Dolled up, and ordered a cold air intake for my six liter. My husband had been working out of my truck while his six point four sat in the driveway, waiting for us to break down and see what was wrong with it. We will talk about that another time. Ugh. Anyways, I felt like it was time to "reward" my truck for working so hard, and for my husband putting it through hell! When I bought my truck years ago, the man I bought it from made me promise to never turn it into a work truck! Oops, sorry, Ronnie! We had to do what we had to do!

My husband put so many miles on the truck, interstate miles, hauling miles (which was good for it!), and also a lot of dirty job site visits! In September, we both agreed it was time to do something nice for 'the King' (its a King Ranch- not super creative on the names, here!). Sense it was time to change out the air filter, anyways, we both agreed to upgrade to an aftermarket one.

My options were S&B, Rudy's or Sinister. I really liked S&B's, but I wanted some color- I don't have a clue as to why I felt like I wanted color. Sinister was only an option because of the color choice, and well, after their recent debacle... well, we'll just leave it at that. So, that put me back with S&B, but the price. My heart was set on wanting everything, the intake and the elbow. I mean what woman doesn't want it all, especially for her kids... or truck?!

That is when I come upon Rudy's intake set up. I found it on ebay, I believe, and I thought, 'That is too good to be true!'! It was the intake, elbow and boots, for a very reasonable price. I went to their website and found everything I wanted, in my budget, and ordered away. I surprisingly, landed Free Shipping and it was here in less than five days!

Of course, it was really easy to install! I am actually, really impressed by this set up. I am getting better fuel mileage, mind you, it needed a new air filter- bad, but still. It has better power, to me. Most importantly, you can hear my turbo whistle even better. I mean, who doesn't want that? My truck is what I consider stock, it has some lift and aftermarket wheels, a couple other things, and now this... but, compared to our pulling trucks, its stock.

If you asked me to rate this product, I would rate it four stars. Why? I don't really have much complaint on it, but there is always room for improvement!

Rudy's is careful to test products five ways, strength, performance, simplicity, durability and fit, before selling any product with their name on it.

Strength & Performance- this intake is built out of aluminum and goes straight back to the turbo, meaning its stronger and sense it goes straight back- it has optimum air flow, giving better performance. Durability- couplers are all silicone, to withstand your high heat under the hood! Fit- RDP intakes are designed and manufactured in house, meaning they control everything from design, fitment to testing, resulting in great fitting products and high quality control. Simplicity- simple designs are best, and RDP agrees, this product was easy to install and didn't take a lot of time. It was supposed to come with full color installment instructions, mine did not, but we managed and didn't need them! EXTRA: I chose the RDP Blue to go under my hood. It was either that or have them powder coated to match my truck better, and one day that might happen still.