From: Patrick Jankowiak (recycler@swbell.net)
Date: Sun Aug 29 2004 - 19:10:48 PDT
Hi,
This is very good information, I am glad you had a good trip!
Can you say what your average/target highway speed was?
I am trying to think of why I get 7.5-8MPG (yes my truck rolls
easily, it can be pushed by hand) and all I can come up with is:
1. wind resistance of the S-280 shelter
2. putting the pedal to the metal always in 3rd, 4th, and 5th to
get up to speed (is this a normal thing or am I short on power? )
unlike in a car where there's plenty of extra power and one can
drive conservatively.
3. I have the interaxle shaft installed
Patrick
Marc Strangfeld wrote:
> Hello
>
> Just thought I would let everyone know how the 3000
> mile trip went from Eau Claire, WI to Ouray, CO this
> year.
>
> First of all, if you turn up the pump and plan on
> working the truck then a pyrometer is needed. I don't
> have one yet but I will soon. With the extra fuel
> being fed to the engine it will get hot and get hot
> quick. ie, glowing orange turbo and manifold. I did
> not have a meltdown but did have to watch how I drove
> and pullover occasionally to let it cool down.
> Monarch Pass is around 10 miles of 6% grade from
> either direction and while spectacular to drive on it
> is a great feeling to be at the bottom on the other
> side. I stopped at the western side at a towing place
> called Doty's Garage to meet the folks that own it.
> (they have local ties to WI and are friends of someone
> I know) anyway, he has lots of stories about people
> who didn't have a good experience on Monarch Pass. In
> fact while I was there a guy with a mid nineties Ford
> F-250 was getting a qoute on new front brakes. On the
> way down he fried everything, they got so hot the
> seals in the calipers melted causing them to leak. In
> a way I don't feel sorry for him.
>
> The truck was set up with freewheeling front hubs,
> supersingle 11.00's (ndcc), and had the interaxle
> driveshaft removed. Traction was not a problem as
> long as I stayed clear of the uneven surfaces as best
> I could. When we got to Ouray I did put the splined
> hubs back on and did need them on the steeper streets
> and parking lots. One drawback to driving with the
> interaxle off I found is the middle axle, the one with
> all the torque going through it wears a lot quicker
> than the other tires. All the tires before leaving
> were 60-70%. Now the fronts are 45-50%, the middle
> axle 25%, and the rear about 45-50%. I quess the old
> Hercules does have enough power to burn up a set of
> tires. The fronts did not chop near as bad as I
> expected them to since adjusting the toe in to around
> .0625-.100.
>
> The truck had two atv's in the bed and the M105 had
> two atv's on it as well. GVW was an estimated 18,500
> lbs. The cargo box was set up with bows and canvas
> also. For mileage we saw anywhere from 8.00 to 9.50
> mph. This was very good in my opinion and above my
> expectations. We drove non stop both ways. It took 37
> hours getting there and 32 to get back.
>
> We also got pulled over by Johhny Law three times.
> Once on the way out near Fort Carson and twice in
> Nebraska on the way back. Each time it was night and
> the cops appeared to be bored having tailgating and
> following alongside us for several miles before
> actually making the stop. Each time they questioned
> me on not having plates on the trailer, (WI law I'm
> pretty sure doesn't require them, but I now will find
> out) and an overall, "what the hell are you doing with
> this thing?" They were all realitively pleasant and
> except for wasting my time did not bother me.
>
>
> Overall assessment of the truck now that I'm back is
> this: four leaking rear hubs , one leaking injector
> return line, a leaking front transfer case seal, a
> leaking compressor base gasket, a leaking oil filter
> canister base gasket, and a thourough wash job to get
> rid of all the oily mess caused by the leaks. I
> forgot to mention a bald set of tires, four new holes
> in the cargo canvas, and a horn that works for #%@!.
> On a good note, the new headgaskets aren't leaking.
>
>
> I'm already looking forward to next year.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Marc
>
>
>
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