What did you do to your Tow Vehicle today? - Page 52

SmokerBill · 07-29-2016, 09:06 AM

Changed engine oil and filter this morning, full synthetic oil and Purolator filter. Drained and refilled the rear differential with new 75w140 synthetic gear lube. Also aired up my new night-chilled tires to 40# front, 44# rear, and aired up the rear suspension airbags.

Truck is ready to tow the TT come Sunday, or maybe Monday.

edatlanta · 07-31-2016, 05:12 AM

Oil and filter change. 165,000.

SmokerBill · 07-31-2016, 07:32 AM

I told my camp host friend about how I changed the gear oil in my rear differential a couple days ago, and ended up changing it in his truck yesterday. It was a little more involved than mine, since his truck's diff doesn't have a drain plug. Had to remove, clean, and reseal the diff cover. It's all good now.

Today I'm going to up the tire pressure in my new rear "LT" tires to 50psi before I hook up to my TT and start towing. The sticker on my truck stipulates 44psi for towing, but that's with the original tires that had a max pressure rating of 44 pounds. My new tires max pressure is 80psi. I figure that the higher pressure should stiffen up the sidewalls a little more, creating a more stable towing experience. Still need to top off the gas tank before hitting the road, too.

I'm heading south today, towards the area I'll be hunting deer/elk come September to do a little scouting for a couple of weeks. It's about 15 miles east of Long Beach, WA. Might even do a little bear hunting while scouting, since the season starts on Aug 1.

SmokerBill · 07-31-2016, 05:04 PM

Pulled my TT about 40 miles and stopped to rest. For some reason, the ride hasn't been stable on the new tires. It's not tracking well in a straight line. I checked the springbar tension and it seemed OK. Moved a little weight from the back to the front of the TT, and tightened up the anti-sway bar a little too.

I also dropped the tire pressures closer to specs- 40 psi, down from 42 psi in the fronts, and 46 psi (44 recommended on the sticker), down from the 50 psi I started with in the rears. About to hit the road again and see if my adjustments take care of the side-to-side motion.

SkyBound · 07-31-2016, 05:25 PM

Bill, my sticker recommends 35psi on the stock P tires and in my new LT's I run 60 in the rear and 50 in the front. My tongue weight is probably a little heavier than yours but not by much. I run them at 45 for normal unloaded driving.

I would air them up more for starters and try that.

SkyBound · 07-31-2016, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eng45ine

Sky, which bulbs did you install? I have a 2014 F150 and would benefit by having better reverse bulbs

I don't know the exact brand since my buddy has a small business which includes aftermarket auto lighting, and he hooked me up with them.

All I can tell you is that they are glass encased T-10 bulbs. They have LEDs on the ends and the sides of the bulb.

eng45ine · 07-31-2016, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyBound

I don't know the exact brand since my buddy has a small business which includes aftermarket auto lighting, and he hooked me up with them.

All I can tell you is that they are glass encased T-10 bulbs. They have LEDs on the ends and the sides of the bulb.

Thanks for the reply, if you should ever find out which brand and maybe a stock number, please message me!!! Thanks!

Marcm157 · 07-31-2016, 06:05 PM

Abused her a bit helping another camper out who buried his rig in the mud leaving a campground where it rained buckets overnight. Took a bunch of short pulls and resets but he was very grateful! I ALWAYS carry chains and straps with me because you never know...

ttavasc · 07-31-2016, 06:58 PM

Gave it a long overdue bath and scrubbed all the bugs out of the grill from the last two outings. Used some cleaner/conditioner on the Bak-Flip cover as well. Nice to have everything shining like it's supposed to again.....

SkyBound · 08-01-2016, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eng45ine

Thanks for the reply, if you should ever find out which brand and maybe a stock number, please message me!!! Thanks!

PM sent with details

Camper_bob · 08-01-2016, 08:59 AM

Over the weekend, took it out to my dad's deer lease for the second time. It did GREAT again. The "roads" out there are barely suitable for goats, but my RAM does just fine. This time, I hauled a full water tote all the way out to our setup. It weighed over 2400 lbs, and my truck hauled it up those goat-roads without any complaint. I'm REALLY starting to love my truck!!

SmokerBill · 08-01-2016, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyBound

Bill, my sticker recommends 35psi on the stock P tires and in my new LT's I run 60 in the rear and 50 in the front. My tongue weight is probably a little heavier than yours but not by much. I run them at 45 for normal unloaded driving.

I would air them up more for starters and try that.

I gave that a try for this morning's drive- 50 front / 60 rear. Not much difference if any. I tightened up the anti-sway bar a little more, tightened up the spring bars one link on each side, and dropped the pressure down to somewhere around 42 front / 46 rear. That made an improvement. Also, I'm wondering if the brand new tread needs to wear a little before it attains optimum grip on the road? Anyway, after the way it handled this morning, I'm a happy camper now.

This morning I used my TV to pull my TT to Cape Disappointment State Park (WA) from the Walmart in Chehalis, WA, where I overnighted.

SmokerBill · 08-02-2016, 01:56 PM

Checked my cold air pressure this morning (57 degrees Fahrenheit) to make sure the pressures were at 42 front / 46 rear. Had to release a little air from all four tires to get there. I will be towing again in a few days. Anxious to see how it tows at these pressures. And if I notice any more tracking problems, I'll try going down to the door label towing pressure recommendation of 40 front / 44 rear. Maybe Dodge/RAM really knows what tire pressures the truck needs.

One thing I failed to mention before, there was a bit of water left in the fresh water tanks. I drained all of that out yesterday thinking that the side-to-side sloshing might have been a problem. However, it was never a problem with the stock Goodyear tires.

edatlanta · 08-02-2016, 04:29 PM

I had the intermediate steering shaft replaced a couple of weeks ago due to a rattle in the steering. This is the same problem I had when the TV was new and this shaft was replaced twice under warranty. The second warranty replacement was said to be "the improved one". They must have been right because that was over 100,000 miles ago, but it finally gave up too. After the recent replacement the rattle was still there, but a different pitch and quieter. It was the bearing that the shaft runs through, so that was replaced today. The steering is quiet again and a bit firmer like a brand new truck. While there I had the fluid changed in the transfer case and rear diff. I change the transmission fluid and filter myself and it isn't due for 10,000 more miles.

blujay40 · 08-03-2016, 09:53 AM

In preparation for our new 330RSTS, I need to upgrade the OEM receiver on my GMC 2500HD because the expected tongue weight of the new trailer will end up exceeding the 1500# rating on the OEM receiver. Found a great deal on a Curt 15860 and am having it installed as I type. Next will be to get the Blue Ox BXW2003 WDH installed and setup.

SmokerBill · 08-03-2016, 05:41 PM

I just ordered a set of 16 new spark plugs and a PCV valve for my RAM from Amazon today. Both need replacing before 100k miles, and I'm getting close.

01tundra · 08-06-2016, 08:12 PM

Installed a 18k GVW Long Tru-Cool aux. transmission cooler and Prodigy 3 brake controller with hard-wired 7 prong plug on our FJ Cruiser today. Our new Hummingbird should be here in about 6 weeks so I'm working hard to get our TV ready for it.

It was a long day, but everything went smoothly and turned out great. Got an Andersen No-Sway hitch and Air Lift 1000 rear air bag kit to install next week........she should've just let me buy my new Tundra :-)!

Oh yeah, and ordered a new set of 10 ply, E-rated Cooper S/T Maxx tires for it today also.

Little Can · 08-06-2016, 10:17 PM

A few weeks ago I put on the Timbrens in the back and also replaced my rusted factory hitch with a new Curt XD hitch. The new class V hitch has way more capacity than the factory hitch. Factory hitch rated 600 /1200 tongue weight (without & with WD), total weight cap 12,000#.
Curt XD hitch rated 2400# tongue weight both with and without WD, total weight cap 16,000#, 17,000# with WD.

Yesterday was fun day

, replaced both upper control arms w/ ball joints & bushings, replaced both lower ball joints, lower control arm bushings, and sway links, then got it aligned. The Burb rides just like new now.

Camper_bob · 08-08-2016, 07:36 AM

Got the title in the mail over the weekend! She's officially mine! Free & Clear!

Only made payments on it for a little over a year. I've never payed off a vehicle that fast before. Feeling pretty good about that. Now it's time to get after the other vehicle and then the trailer.

And she needs an oil change and tire rotation; next weekend's project? DW's car is due for an oil change too...

edatlanta · 08-09-2016, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Got the title in the mail over the weekend! She's officially mine! Free & Clear!

Only made payments on it for a little over a year. I've never payed off a vehicle that fast before. Feeling pretty good about that. Now it's time to get after the other vehicle and then the trailer.

And she needs an oil change and tire rotation; next weekend's project? DW's car is due for an oil change too...

Congratulations on having the title in hand. It is a good feeling. I had to spend some bucks on my 2006 this summer, but I didn't mind too bad. This is first maintenance I have had to do on it in 165,000 miles and 10 years other than normal maintenance. Much cheaper than a new truck and this one is PAID FOR.

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