| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RE: Montana Bear attack today
Sad to hear, but remember... we go to thier house, they don`t come to ours! well sometimes they do, but that`s because they were pushed out of thier area. with that said we have to watch out for ourselves in thier home!
|
dodge guy
|
07/28/10 09:08pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: It`s confirmed
Ya what he said.
A few years ago checked on prices of rear springs for the Excursion. At that time the springs for the X were well over double the cost of the Super Duty's.
My 224K mile X is still on the stock springs and shocks. It's got the Hellwig sway bar though!
I was going to go to the F250/350 rear springs, but I didn`t want the stiff ride they give. others have stated that the airbags they installed didn`t help with the sway, I believe that is because they attach to the top of the axle and not the spring pack. and with that the springs are just along for the ride and don`t offer any control. that`s why I went with the bags that install on top of the leafs.
Either way my problem is taken care of!
|
dodge guy
|
07/28/10 08:59pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Yes another MPG topic!
Tires, like previously stated decreased your MPG's, through additional friction on the road per explanation.
Gas, like previously stated is getting worse. My last hold out of Ethanol free gas 85 octane just added the dreaded sticker. Now only the premium is Ethanol free. 10% ethanol = less energy = more used = worse MPG's. (They also no longer have LSD, so those that could burn this FUEL are out of look there too)
Weather variances, like previously stated will give you some pretty wide variances from trip to trip.
This is now years later, you may be carrying a significant amount of more weight,....child additions/growing, pet additions, gear additions, waste line (mine anyways), etc...
All these added up, leads me to believe that you probably don't have a mechanical issue, it's just all these factors are working against you.
It's not the "bad" MPG's it's "relatively bad" MPG's comparing to the past or other TV's that gets me. It's probably more psychological then anything else. I never keep track of the $ I spend on fuel (diesel), but I diligently keep track of MPG's. I just filled my car up this morning, I know I paid $2.69/gallon, and got 23.4 (hand calculated MPG's), but I can't remember how many gallons, or the total I paid, but it was empty so it must have been 17+/- gallons.
True! except that last year I removed alot of weight 150-200lbs and rearranged some weight to get my tongue weight down to 1200lbs. so my trailer this year is actually lighter than last year. as far as weather goes. coming home this last trip what little wind there was, was a tail wind! and the temp was the same as our 4th of july trip! it may have been hotter, which is actually better for gas mileage.
As far as keeping track of my mpg`s, well I only do it a few trips a year. and every year, like I posted earlier, it has steadily dropped!so that is what is bugging me. I didn`t decide to RV because it`s cheap! LOL on short trips the low mileage isn`t an issue. it`s that one long trip a year that can bug you. doesn`t matter to me either way, I`m going camping!!! :B
|
dodge guy
|
07/28/10 08:54pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Yes another MPG topic!
Well between the ethanol and the 285 BFG AT T/A`s I think that would be the issue! I`ll just deal with it untill it`s time for new tires. FWIW the difference in MPG with the BFG`s in the winter is worth every penny! I used to have to practically idle away from a stop on snow covered roads with the Pirelli Scorpions that the X had (plenty of tread) even in 4WD! with the BFG`s I barely even need to use 4WD and that`s accelerating fairly hard from a stop in the snow (yes I know "it`s dangerous"). next sat. we leave for the Smokies! :B so I am going to do some experimenting. I`m going to try a tank full of 92 octane and see how that does with the mpg`s. sure towing a trailer isn`t cheap, but when your talking alomost -2mpg. that`s a considerable amount of money spent over 1000 miles! approx. $100!!!
|
dodge guy
|
07/28/10 08:46pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Problem having oil changed
When I worked at the dealer you know how many cars I changed the oil on that had the wrong drain plug, cross threaded plug, or stripped to the point that I needed to use an air hammer on the edge of the plug to loosen it?! too many to count! and all of them were from jippy lube or some other goofy lube type place!
|
dodge guy
|
07/28/10 08:31pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Yes another MPG topic!
Give it a good tune up with new air and oil filters, new spark plugs and use synthetic oil in everything.
Did all the above! prior to our last trip. even with synthetic oil that I have used since I bought it. I have used a K&N cold air kit since I purchased the truck. so the 7.5 mpg was with the K&N!
I`m starting to think the ethanol may be the problem! my buddy always bragged how his truck would get 9.5-10mpg towing his slightly smaller length, height and weight TT. he just came back from a 3 1/2 week trip out to Yellowstone and Vegas and he said he was lucky to have averaged 8! HMMM!
|
dodge guy
|
07/27/10 09:03pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Yes another MPG topic!
I wonder if it's lousy gas. My mpg went down at least 1 since the ulsd. Maybe gas is getting worse, too. Craig
Yeah didn`t think of that. I know in the winter the mileage gets worse due to the cold and crappy gas. but evry spring it usually comes back. now I wonder?
|
dodge guy
|
07/27/10 08:45pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
Yes another MPG topic!
OK so we take a trip up to Miocqua WI. for the 4th and I get 6 mpg!!! when I first got the X with 17k mi. it would get 7.5 maybe 7.8 towing at 65mph. I could get 8 if I kept it at 60! over the last couple of years it has slowly declined to the point it`s at now. I always do atleast one hand calculation and compare it to the trucks trip computer it`s always +/- .1mpg., so I know everything is accurate. I have even checked my odometer against my GPS and again it was very close.
The only thing different this year is I replaced my "crappy for snow" Pirelli`s with a set of BFG AT T/A`s. now here is the part that may be an issue. I went from a 265 75 16 to a 285 75 16. both were load range "E". the overall tire diameter is only about 1/2" so the difference in tire diameter should be negligeable. like I said I checked my mileage both ways, odometer and gps and came out with a .2mpg difference with the new tires. I assume the additonal -.1mpg came from the slightly taller tire, for every 30 miles the truck is 1 mile slower than the GPS. but I still have 1.5 mpg not accounted for! I know the aggressive tread of the BFG will use more gas, but 1.5 mpg more?!!! and like I said I have slowly seen a decrease over the last couple of years. I have replaced the plugs (autolites), cleaned the MAF sensor and throttle body 2 weeks ago. and the last trip I still came up with the same mileage. so right now I`m stumped.
Maybe someone here has an idea! I`m also going to throw this out over on the Ford Trucks Forum.
Thanks!
|
dodge guy
|
07/27/10 08:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
It`s confirmed
(For me anyway)
Excursion rear springs are useless for towing heavy!
I recently had to replace my Reese WD Hitch head due to a crack in the WD bar socket (older hitch head). now with the new head I was finally able to get the proper WD on the X. with the old head the truck would sag in the rear and when I pumped up the air bags it would level out, but I would have some squirliness (sp) out of the X. so I just left the air bags at 10 psi. and the truck and trailer handled great! now that I have the new head adjusted for proper level, 1/4" rise in front (best I can get) and 1/2" drop in the rear, the X sways all over the road like the tires aren`t even controlling the rear of the truck. so I pumped up the air bags in 10psi. increments untill I got to 40 psi. when all of a sudden I had the solid feeling back!!! so I now need to keep 45 psi. in the bags when towing to put the proper pressure against the tires/axle. my airbags are mounted to the top of the leaf springs, not the top of the axle. so with the 45psi in the bags I have effectively increased the spring rating of the stock springs.
I don`t think I would have had this outcome if the air bags were mounted to the axle as some kits are designed.
So, some of you are saying "so what". well I just thought I`de throw this little bit of info. out there so that some would know that there is always more to setting up a combo than just being level. you will always have to do some tweaking to get the setup to respond properly and safely.
Sure I could have gone the HA route, but that would have just covered up my rear spring problem. and I still have over $2g`s in the bank! that pays for alot of gas! which will bring up another post!
|
dodge guy
|
07/27/10 08:16pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Double check those bikes!!
yep! gotta make sure those bikes and rack are secure. i have mine ratchet strapped to the back of the trailer. they do not bounce or move side-side.
|
dodge guy
|
07/22/10 03:05pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: mammoth cave
thanks everyone. i'll have to see if the dw will want to do a 4 hr. tour.
|
dodge guy
|
07/22/10 10:42am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
mammoth cave
ok so on our way back from the smokies were stopping at mammoth cave for 2 days. going to do a tour of the cave. i'm torn between 2 tours. i don't remember the names offhand, but they are the first 2 on the NP tour list. has anyone done the cave tour? what do you recomend? also I know you can eat in the cave, where is this located? couldn't find it on the NPS site.
thanks in advance.
|
dodge guy
|
07/22/10 07:17am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: Check out this oldie for sale....
judging by where the wheels are located it looks like the tongue is missing. if ot were on the far end there would be no tongue weight!
|
dodge guy
|
07/22/10 06:50am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Engine blown. Need some advice from the collective.
Opportunity knocks :B
http://www.crateenginedepot.com/store/images/12498793_large.jpg
Take your pick 450 to 720 Hp $5,487 to $13,785
Personally this would`ve looked much prettier than a stock Jasper 454! LOL. and the looks the diesel guys would give you when you pass them going up a hill would be priceless. :B
Seriously. glad you got it all done. now you basically have a new truck. I probably would have went the same way. the 502/572 GM motors are not made for towing or heavy duty use, so they would really not work out.
|
dodge guy
|
07/20/10 07:44pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: Anyone replace current awning with a larger one
my buddy went from a 16' - a 21' awning and is glad he did. he has an Outback 28 rsds and they installed the awning only over the middle door, tbe smaller one. with the bigger one it covers the main door now and he has more space to keep things dry.
it's worth it IMO!
|
dodge guy
|
07/20/10 02:58pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: Disapointing campground
You want to see a crappy KOA? check out the one in Billings MT.
as far as tbe visitors fee goes, they do have to pay for ins. water and to maintain the septic. $3 a day isn't much!
|
dodge guy
|
07/20/10 06:47am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: TT accident witnessed today
as far as the bikes on the rear go. yes, 2 bikes and a carrier can throw off the tongue weight enough to cause sway! i haul 4 bikes on the rear but have offset added more to the tongue to compensate for the difference. no one knows exactly what happened. personally i think they were 100% new to towing a TT! so i believe everything posted so far is correct!
|
dodge guy
|
07/16/10 08:05am |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: My goofy. I meant do you pull 15,000lbs. with a 3/4
Your 15 tons Topic was not as boring!
|
dodge guy
|
07/15/10 08:19pm |
Tow Vehicles
|
|
RE: No More HiLo!!!!
Too bad! I never had the need to own a fold down TT, but if I did it would be a Hi-Lo. I`ve looked at both the Hi-Lo and the Trail Manor....the Hi-Lo was the better choice IMO!
|
dodge guy
|
07/15/10 08:12pm |
Travel Trailers
|
|
RE: TT accident witnessed today
Clicky with pics!
Don`t know the whole situation but in one of the pics it looks like they only had a single friction sway bar! they also had bikes on the rear, which in itself is OK as long as they offset the difference in the tongue weight. I`m only guessing here. I`m glad everyone is OK.
|
dodge guy
|
07/15/10 08:09pm |
Travel Trailers
|
