Category: vehicles

Observations From The Latest Trip

On By JohnIn home improvement, tiny house, travel, vehiclesLeave a comment
  • The dual-battery config on the trailer did really well for the long weekend of boondocking. In fact, we could’ve gone several more days on battery power, even running the furnace at night to keep our little hybrid trailer above 55F.
  • We would’ve run out of fresh water before we run out of power; but still had about 20 gal. on board when we departed (used 25 gal.).
  • No nearby dump stations, so if we were to actually plan on boondocking anywhere, we’d need a waste solution (like a Thetford SmartTote or something).
  • The next truck will be an actual 4×4 for the extra terrain-traversing capability it provides.
  • Allison transmissions on diesel trucks are awesome. Except when you’re doing a long descent… without an exhaust brake.
  • The red-line on the 2002 6.6L Duramax is 3,200 RPM. The Allison transmission will dutifully shift down to 3rd while doing 65MPH.
  • The sound of a diesel V8 pulling 3,500 RPM is a little unnerving.
  • Add ‘exhaust brake’ to the list of improvements we’ll need to make… along with:
  1. canopy
  2. lift pump
  3. exhaust brake
  4. new tires (and full-size spare)
  5. replace trailer spare
  6. compact, quiet generator option

Yeah, there will be a few dollar signs.

Truck Maintenance & Some Geekery

On By JohnIn travel, vehiclesLeave a comment

When we bought UPGRAYEDD, we knew that there would be a few things here and there to repair. One thing that we learned the day we took possession is that the engine has a behavior that we didn’t see during the test drives: when stationary, in gear, at idle, when above regular operating temperature: it lopes.

Noticeably and very annoyingly.

We hadn’t noticed it during the test drives because we bought it during the winter and it never had a chance to actually reach regular operating temperature.

Put it in neutral and the lope stops. Give it just a touch of throttle and the lope stops. Let it start rolling and after a couple of lopes to get moving, the lope stops.

Hmm.

Doing idle-speed maneuvering to position a trailer in a campsite or the driveway? It’s feels like a medium-sized gorilla is hopping on the hitch.

I’ve been suspecting all kinds of potential problems:

  • An air leak after the MAF.
  • Gummed up vacuum lines or even a failing vacuum pump.
  • Bad injectors — and let’s not have -that- discussion again.
  • Potential problem with the torque convertor, which is about as expensive as it sounds.
  • Fuel system sucking air — diesels do -not- tolerate air leaks in fuel systems.
  • Bad fuel pump or pressure regulator.

So, yesterday, I set to systematically working through the fuel and vacuum systems to see if I can identify a root cause. Here’s what I found:

  • Yes, there was an air leak after the MAF, and the MAF was loose. Repaired both, but no change. Pass.
  • Vacuum lines are clear, no leaks, all actuators are functioning smoothly. Pass.
  • It has 8 new injectors, now with about 1200 miles on them. Pass. Also, no evidence of high-pressure internal fuel leaks. Pass.
  • Torque convertor shows no signs of mechanical failure. It’s well-balanced and perfectly smooth in park, neutral, and while in motion. Pass.
  • Fuel system: water/fuel separator was damaged and installed incorrectly. It would have been allowing air ingress. It needs a replacement, but I don’t have one right now. I did reinstall it correctly on a new fuel filter. No change in behavior. Pass.
  • Fuel pump & pressure regulator (FPR/MPROP). You know, that the vacuum-side of the fuel system didn’t seem to resolve it and that at high power, there are no stumbles, I think the fuel pump is probably fine, too. Going to hold off on the high-pressure side for awhile.

…to be continued…

Getting Ready for the 2014 Camping Season

On By JohnIn travel, vehiclesLeave a comment

We’re chomping at the bit to get out for a camping trip. We’ve reserved a site at St. Vrain next weekend as our first trip of the season. The overnight in the driveway, tonight, doesn’t count, does it?

This week, I installed some seat covers, transferred the brake controller from Twuck, and tested the wiring harness. I also installed and adjusted a new shank for the Eaz-Lift hitch as the hitch needed to be lowered about three inches.

This morning, we took the trailer for a little drive to see how it behaves behind UPGRAYEDD, then decided to take it for a little longer drive up the interstate and ended up stopping for lunch while we were out.

When we got home, I did a few more tweaks to the Eaz-Lift and put the WD bars on. I really prefer to have the weight shifted a bit further forward than where it was. I’m sure it’ll take a few adjustments to get it the way I like it.

Next on the list was to prep the trailer for the season. Typically, that’s just a matter of opening everything up, sanitizing the potable system, running the appliances, and checking and repairing anything that was left from last season.

I’ll also need to remove the old bumper sticker that I had made for the trailer as it doesn’t really seem fitting anymore because UPGRAYEDD is two feet longer than the trailer.

So, what’s the sticker?


At the time, the tow vehicle was a 15 year-old Nissan Pathfinder behind a full-height, full-width travel trailer.

Of course, when we upgrade to the Heritage Glen T300BH that we like, we’ll need to come up with another humorous sticker.

Can’t Leave Well-Enough Alone…

On By JohnIn amusing, vehiclesLeave a comment

I’m one of those people who give nicknames to vehicles.

I had an old 1983 sedan that we named Christine because of all manner of strangeness with the engine.

My motorcycle is named “The Wee Star“.

My last Chevy truck — a 4×4 with no muffler and a big 350ci V8 — Beast.

The Pathfinder, because it actually pulled all of the things that I’ve asked it to: “The Little Pathfinder That Could”. Though it’s short name is Twuck.

Daisy asked yesterday if we should name the new truck.

“I suppose.”

“What should we name it?”

I thought for a moment, “UPGRAYEDD!”

—

Edit:


“Spelled thusly. With two D’s, for a double-dose of his pimping.”

For those that don’t quite grok the reference, please see the movie, Idiocracy.