[jimcol]

Bob, OK, I've spent the afternoon (or 20 minutes or so) thinking about this. When your truck came out in 2000 it was pulling 5'ers comprable in weight to what you are pulling now. Maybe not as easy as the new trucks but they were doing it. Your main concern was less load on the truck when pulling through the mountains. How much are you going to be pulling in the mountains? How much is the new trany and all associated upgrades going to cost? How much is an exhaust brake going to cost? Don't know those $$ but guess it is plenty and when you are done you'll have a 12 year old, high mileage truck with some nice additions. If it were me I'd rough it with the 2000 stock truck for a couple of years and put those $$'s back for a nice down payment on a new truck when your budget permits.
Well, you ask, and it is raining here so I had to have something to do while watching the ball game. Good luck with whatever you decide. Jim