When it comes to diesel engines, we all got introduced to the stump-pulling torque one way or another. For Roper Voskamp, it all started as soon as he was born. Raised in Vernon/Republic, Missouri, Roper roamed on two farms his entire life with tractors and combines that had massive diesel engines. Since Roper’s dad was also into the tractor pull scene, the duo was always at the local truck and tractor pulls. So naturally, this sparked an interest in the diesel industry that he could never quite shake off.

As soon as Roper got his Dodge, he put it to work and started pulling trailers with his new rig.

When Roper turned 16, he knew a diesel-powered truck would be his first vehicle. Due to hauling trailers and pulling heavy loads, a gas truck was not an option. However, Covid hit, and everything went up in price, especially the second-hand diesel truck market.

In Roper’s sophomore year of high school, things were looking grim. When he was able to find a truck to look at, someone else seemed to always get there first. Frustration set in and he almost gave up hope. But while he was at a dairy cattle show in Kentucky, 14 hours from home, he got a text from his mom saying, “We found a truck.” That truck was a 2001 3/4-ton second-gen ECSB with a five-speed and a Cummins. After seeing a few pics, Roper knew he had to have it.

I instantly fell in love with the second-gen because it’s my dream truck. So I hopped in the cab and was ripping all over town. – Roper Voskamp

The Cummins-powered second-gen had a respectable 310,000 miles on the clock but had quite a few tasteful upgrades. Such as a new Suncoast five-speed transmission matched with a new clutch. The Cummins’ current engine upgrades include a Holset Hx35 turbo, Van Aken 60 horsepower chip, and an Air Dog 100 lift pump. This combination is perfect since Roper will be using the truck as a tow rig and a daily driver. This combination of parts ensures the truck has good power and is reliable enough to go anywhere.

Roper states that after being gone for two weeks, he finally got to drive his truck waiting on him in the driveway.

Unfortunately, Roper was not going to be home for two weeks and would have to wait to see his new-to-him truck. When he did finally get to see the truck, he tells us, “I instantly fell in love with the second-gen because it’s my dream truck. So I hopped in the cab and was ripping all over town.”

One of the big appeals to the second-gen is the simplicity of the Cummins and that there are not many electronics involved. This allows Roper to work on it with relative ease. And although Roper loves the Dodge, he’s eager to upgrade this second-gen further. Roper states, “I’ve already got a paint-matched bumper, grill guard, and halogen headlights. Most people call me crazy with my ideas. The plans are always changing, but I can work on and build this truck myself cheaper than I can buy a new one, and I probably get better fuel mileage.”

Most kids at Roper’s high school don’t understand the desire for diesel trucks and call him crazy. All they see is a twenty-year-old farm truck that makes a lot of noise and blows black smoke when you get on it. But Roper saw something that needed a little work but had incredible potential. At 16 years old, he has already acquired his dream truck and is diving into an industry he is passionate about. This story shines a light in the right direction. It shows that even in the climate of the crazy things happening in the world and how high-priced trucks are, you can still find a way to make your dreams happen.

Roper has a lot of plans for his truck, but being in high school he is limited on time and resources. However, a few years down the road and it’s safe to say it will be far from stock.

Something tells us that Roper will own his second-gen for a long time, and the white Dodge will be doing everything from pulling trailers to discovering back roads of America. I know that is exactly what I would do if I had my dream truck when I was 16 and in high school. While Roper’s truck may not be a brand new Cummins or a fully built show truck, he still takes pride in his ride and is proud of what he owns. In a world full of haters I think we should all take something from that.

Do you want to see more Reader’s Rigs? So do I. This is a new column DieselArmy.com will be putting together and I need your help. If you would like to share yours, I want to hear about it — I can never get enough. If you want to see more trucks built by you the readers, send a few pictures of your rig showing the engine, interior, and exterior, along with all of the pertinent information, and I’ll make you internet famous. You can send your submissions to [email protected].