Long trip/tow, what else to do to be ready?
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Professional
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 115
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Got a trans temp gauge and column mount, will get the manifold soon, but may use the #4 port for my trip.
I wanted a digital, but went with an Auto Meter Z-series. Should be here Mon or Tues.
I might get a Derale pan before my trip. Still have the minor leak, been checking fluid level daily to be safe. Truck still shifts fine and drives mostly the same.. shifts feel smoother/slightly quicker though since the fluid/filter/sensor/solenoid change.
I have a trans cooler kit in the box I was planning to possibly use for another vehicle. Best pic/info I can find(size etc):
http://www.americanmuscle.com/mishim...ns-cooler.html
I know it is slightly smaller than the factory one, but I think it may be more efficient if it was not installed behind the condenser, not sure of that though.. so Ive not really put much thought into using it on the truck. I may go with a larger unit, but it would have to wait for now.
I wanted a digital, but went with an Auto Meter Z-series. Should be here Mon or Tues.
I might get a Derale pan before my trip. Still have the minor leak, been checking fluid level daily to be safe. Truck still shifts fine and drives mostly the same.. shifts feel smoother/slightly quicker though since the fluid/filter/sensor/solenoid change.
I have a trans cooler kit in the box I was planning to possibly use for another vehicle. Best pic/info I can find(size etc):
http://www.americanmuscle.com/mishim...ns-cooler.html
I know it is slightly smaller than the factory one, but I think it may be more efficient if it was not installed behind the condenser, not sure of that though.. so Ive not really put much thought into using it on the truck. I may go with a larger unit, but it would have to wait for now.
Last edited by sarmikgar; Jun 15, 2012 at 03:15 AM.
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Professional
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 115
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Just got back from my trip a few days ago and thought Id finish off this thread.
fuel cost: I had 1/4 tank already at my first fill up, filled up three times overall and arrived home with just under 3/4 left. Spent $147.56 total, gas prices were $3.50-$3.80 a gal.
overall distance: 574 miles.
estimated weight: 3700lbs.
elevation: 2200ft. to 7400ft.
Left early in the morning in the cooler air and the trans temp stayed about 180* most of the way, went over 200* once when I had to slow down while climbing due to slower traffic, and during a 3k rpm very steep pull that was about 5 mins long. The dirt/mud road to the campground was semi-steep 10mph at best and I heated up over 230* for a few minutes in 90*+ ambient temp.
Duratracs were quiet on the highway even with the load, and never slipped in the dirt and mud. Camper was parked downhill and near a creek and it rained for 3 days on and off, so I used 4L for getting back to the dirt road, never had it in 4L before
Coming home was much easier on the trans, and I had less weight(less food, no ice in chests, etc.) I was able to run in OD quite a bit coming down the hills, and hit a large rainstorm which dropped temps a lot. Gauge did fog up, but has cleared thankfully.
Need helper spring or air bags, or maybe new leaf springs even.. rear was lower than I would have liked. Truck did great, actually much better than I thought it would power-wise, drove easily and straight even at 70mph cruising down some of the hills
Complete list of what Ive done over the last year:
Fuel tank and pump(tank cracked)
Tires
Pcv
Purge valve
Timing chain
Plenum fix
Dist cap and rotor
Spark plug wires
Spark plugs
Magnaflow cat
Shocks
Steering stabilizer
Radio
o2's
sway bar links
breather
trans fluid and filter(6/22/12) and (7/1/12)
Borg Warner HD sensor and solenoid
Trans drain plug
trans temp gauge
BIG THANKS to this forum and those on it for all the help and info I have found here.
edit:filled up 4 times
fuel cost: I had 1/4 tank already at my first fill up, filled up three times overall and arrived home with just under 3/4 left. Spent $147.56 total, gas prices were $3.50-$3.80 a gal.
overall distance: 574 miles.
estimated weight: 3700lbs.
elevation: 2200ft. to 7400ft.
Left early in the morning in the cooler air and the trans temp stayed about 180* most of the way, went over 200* once when I had to slow down while climbing due to slower traffic, and during a 3k rpm very steep pull that was about 5 mins long. The dirt/mud road to the campground was semi-steep 10mph at best and I heated up over 230* for a few minutes in 90*+ ambient temp.
Duratracs were quiet on the highway even with the load, and never slipped in the dirt and mud. Camper was parked downhill and near a creek and it rained for 3 days on and off, so I used 4L for getting back to the dirt road, never had it in 4L before
Coming home was much easier on the trans, and I had less weight(less food, no ice in chests, etc.) I was able to run in OD quite a bit coming down the hills, and hit a large rainstorm which dropped temps a lot. Gauge did fog up, but has cleared thankfully.
Need helper spring or air bags, or maybe new leaf springs even.. rear was lower than I would have liked. Truck did great, actually much better than I thought it would power-wise, drove easily and straight even at 70mph cruising down some of the hills
Complete list of what Ive done over the last year:
Fuel tank and pump(tank cracked)
Tires
Pcv
Purge valve
Timing chain
Plenum fix
Dist cap and rotor
Spark plug wires
Spark plugs
Magnaflow cat
Shocks
Steering stabilizer
Radio
o2's
sway bar links
breather
trans fluid and filter(6/22/12) and (7/1/12)
Borg Warner HD sensor and solenoid
Trans drain plug
trans temp gauge
BIG THANKS to this forum and those on it for all the help and info I have found here.
edit:filled up 4 times
Last edited by sarmikgar; Jul 19, 2012 at 05:10 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,482
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From: Clayton MI
So, even using the 3.50 for gas. (more gas that way...) With the numbers there, you got about 13.5 MPG on average. Probably better than that, considering there were times you paid more for gas. (and got less.....) So, that's a conservative estimate, but, fairly close. Considering you were driving a 4x4 truck, pulling a trailer.... I am thinkin you did quite well. 
