Well, another year, another trip across I-90 to Minnesota, my favorite drive.

The truck turned 213,xxx as I rolled back into Everett so here are my thoughts on how it did:

She started right up every time. The new timing chain helps this. Ran smoothly and never had a hiccup or stutter or noise.

MPG was bad. I maxed out at about 15 and worst tank was about 12. I just eyeballed it this year as I know the gauge and how many gallons are each notch. Had terrible, frigid head winds coming back with windchill in the -30 range so that didn't help. If I hadn't put on my winter front, it would have never warmed up. Temp ran about 175 which also didn't help but after about an hour, I got enough heat to warm up inside.

The new Skyjacker M95s are A M A Z I N G !!! I have driven this stretch over a dozen times in this truck, in the summer, in the winter, towing, and empty. Never has it been so comfortable or smooth. The stock shocks were always soft, like riding in a caddy. The Skyjacker water shocks were hard as rocks and bucked the whole way. These are a happy medium with control and absorption.

The tires are Cooper ATP 285/75/R16 and I will NOT be getting them again. They have hummed since about 1 year old and wear horribly on the edges every other lug. I've been told this is called "scalloping" and one store said it was my truck (bullsh*t) and another had never seen a tire do that. But I checked my parents' 05 Tahoe that has the ATP in 265/70/R17 and they are starting to do it too.

The vibration that has me stumped the last 2 years has to be in the trans or transfer case. I could feel it a little around hwy speed but cruising down a mountain at 80 made the steering wheel buzz so bad it tickled and the rearview mirror was blurry. Coming to a stop it buzzes real bad under the floor boards. Not really worse, just telling you what it's done for 2 years. It may be tire related, but other times the tires are super quiet on a nice new road and I still feel it. I don't believe its tires.

Speaking of tires, I usually air up to 55-65 for a road trip. But this year I kept them at 45 in case I hit snow. And I did. Snow, hard pack, ice, and glaze was on both stretches between Chamberlain, SD and Butte, MT. It got pretty dicey at times. But the tires only broke loose a couple times and always felt planted. Of course, I'm getting passed constantly by little SUVs like CRVs and such. How those little light rigs don't spin out is beyond me. The lower psi also contributed to lower MPG. If it was summer, I would see 15-17 on most tanks until I get into Ethanol country. Grrr.

While in MN, we got rain. Which sucked. It froze. Which sucked worse. I finally got to town one day and didn't go in the ditch although I saw a fellow 2nd genner do a header into the ditch. But as I was getting out, my foot hit ice and I went down. The only thing I was holding onto was the door handle which gave as I was almost on the ground. It snapped right off at the door panel. Now I have to stick my finger in the hole and pull to get out. Guess those stupid panels have to come off again. . . .

Coolant leak seemed non-existent as it didn't use any. Not sure what or where it is but I'm still keeping an eye on it. Oil consumption was up as it's been the last year. Usually I use 1 quart over the trip but this was almost two. I haven't checked it yet this morning but I'll bet its at ADD mark. I used Valvoline 10w40 Maxlife as I have the past five years. It had no trouble starting at 0 and -5 while in MN and MT. Just fired right up, not plugged in.

Now for the steering. Most of you have probably read my thread, "Is there no hope" and will know that everything is knew up front (sometimes twice) except ball joints. The 2nd Redhead steers much better than the first, with no play if you get on a flat stretch. The truck feels very planted and I let go several times and until it found a rut, would stay on track.

The steering feel though, is actually worse than before. I had to really fight it to stay centered as its so STIFF. It takes a lot of effort in the hand and shoulder to drive it. People have said that with a Redhead, you can use just one finger. I had to use both hands. There is no feeling of return in the wheel. Once you turn it, especially right, it just stays there. So its like steering a snowmobile. Speaking of snow, once I took an exit, most roads were snowpacked along the way and at low speeds, there is ZERO return. You take a corner and it just keeps turning. I had to be very careful driving through towns. In a word: sucked. All there is installed right now is the 2nd Redhead and the Moog T steering. I left off the DSS and the shock. The pump whines going right but not left. Fluid level was good the whole way. The Redhead has not broken in or loosened. But like I said, when you can get the truck flat, it will stay there so I know the toe is good. It's just so dull to drive it really takes a toll.

Maybe its the oem ball joints after all. They are original and always check out on the "up and down" test. But maybe they have oval-ed or something and when turning, make the wheels stay? I'm truly lost at this point.

BUMP STEER was absolutely T E R R I B L E. Several times the wheel was ripped from my hands over a bridge or pothole. I understood that the T steering is better but that is not true. It was very bad. I do NOT recommend the T steering. I'm sure if I had dual shocks installed it would help, but until the return is figured out, I'm not spending another cent. It does feel planted over even bumps and strong. No rattles which is nice.

With the new speed limits everywhere (75 in SD and 80 in MT) it was hard to keep up. She can only really do 68 to 70 and then every little hill kills it. The deathflash doesn't help though. While I miss my stolen Hypertech, the engine is smoother and quieter without it. Odd but true. It would be nice to have a newer rig that can keep up with traffic. Some of those stretches in MT and SD get awfully boring.

The scenery was spectacular. Best yet I believe. There was snow on the ground from Snoqualmie to my folks' place. The least amount was in MN while the most was between Spokane and Billings. The blizzard on Christmas was cleaned up by the time I hit western SD. The latest snow in MT was beautiful but it was mostly cleaned off. It was so cold that even the ice was kind of grippy. The winds were horrible though. I got some great sunrise and sunset pics over the winter landscape and it was good to feel the boogers freeze again. As a MN native, nothing feels like winter unless its butt cold with snow. It's actually below freezing in Everett today which feels good for once here.

Well, this turned into more of a blog than anything but wanted to share my experience. I drive instead of fly because I like my sanity. My Dad is life-long trucker (cattle) and I basically grew up on I-90 and 212 so this is my vacation. I have trucker in my blood. Taking my time, being alone, and seeing the best sights this country can offer is the reason I do this. Although, it may be the last time for my girl. It needs so much work to keep it comfortable and with the new steering worse than before, I'm getting real tired fighting it. Trouble is, there is nothing made today that I get excited about. Nothing under $40 grand that is. Oh well, hope you enjoyed this read. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

It sounds like the steering box is adjusted to tight over center....... Would redhead void your warranty if you backed it off an eighth of a turn?

 

I'm not touching it. They have it sealed and marked and comes with a warning tag to not touch or it voids warranty. They adjusted the first box themselves when I went there and it ruined it. That's why they sent me a second one.

So far I'm not a fan of Redhead boxes or T steering. I think the Dodge factory may have actually known what they were doing back in the day. My truck did drive perfectly for over 80k miles after all.

 

So much for that thought. have you had a chat with them about this behavior since the new box?

 

Nice write-up. I'm getting ready to move from TX to WA.

I just spent $1200 on my truck (1996 1500 4x4 5.2/auto 215,000 miles). The timing cover was leaking, so while we (they - the shop) had it apart we put in a new water pump, timing chain (was really slack), timing gears, fan clutch, belt, thermostat, they had to drop the oil pan (coolant leaking inside the timing cover to the oil pan, plus they tore the oil pan gasket taking the timing cover off anyways). Since coolant got into the oil, we filled it with oil, ran it, drained it, then refilled it. Pretty much 1/3 for parts, 2/3 for labor. I told them not to put old or even questionable parts back in the truck if they had to remove them in the first place.

But I'd rather spend some money every-so-often on my truck then spend a ton of money on a new one (I like the looks of the new Rebels though...). I've owned it since new. A month or so ago I put a new alternator in the truck as it finally died.

So do what you've got to do to keep it on the road. These Gen 2 trucks have character.

 

I've made the move from TX to WA twice so I know it well. I was towing all I owned in a completely packed 6x8 cargo trailer that I'm sure maxed the tow rating. Plus I had 285s with 3.55 gears both times. She made it. Once was in the winter, once in the summer. This has been the most reliable and useful vehicle I've ever owned or anybody I know. Now at 213k and still hums. People think its a diesel since it has so many miles.

 

Here's one of my more recent Army DITY moves pictures (that's all us) from WA to TN (Ft Campbell) in 2012. I'm driving the rental truck towing my TJ; my wife, my brother-in-law, and son are driving other vehicles. Toss in a daughter, two large dogs and a cat (cat rode with me in the rental truck) also along for the ride. Stopping for fuel was a major production. Two years later we did a similar move from TN to TX.

I think this final move to WA (from Ft Hood, TX) I'll drive the rental truck with a trailer but instead put "stuff" on the trailer instead of a vehicle, my wife will drive the Dodge towing the ******, and my daughter will drive the KIA towing the Yaris. We sold the minivan. After I get to WA I'll fly back to TX to drive the TJ towing the little adventure trailer.

I'd have to stop and think how many times my Dodge truck has driven across the country towing the ****** (mostly due to Army moves). And that doesn't include towing the ****** to Jeep-related events (often well over 1000 miles one-way) with camping gear packed in the back of the truck. That Dodge truck has too many memories tied-up in it to ever get rid of it.

 

Will the kia actually tow the Yaris? I understand the yaris barely qualifies as a car..... but, still and all.

 

Actually the early KIA Sorentos (mine's a 2003) are quite stout; body on frame construction, four-wheel disc brakes, and a 195hp V6. It is a beast in the snow (4WD). And the Yaris is pretty light (just over 2000lbs if I remember right). For the TN to TX move I installed a permanently mounted tow system brackets on the front of the Yaris (like what they use when pulled by motor homes), so no tow dolly anymore - just a tow bar to flat-tow it. The KIA again did just fine towing the Yaris.

You have to be very secure in your manhood to drive a Yaris - there's no way around it. And at 6' tall 205lbs, I wish I could move the seat back a few more inches (it fits my wife just fine for driving). But when I moved to WA in 2008, gas was $4.50 a gallon with no sign of dropping anytime soon, and my Dodge truck was at that time my daily driver at 11 - 13 mpg (hence the 2008 Yaris purchase with triple the mpg). There was no way I was getting rid of my Dodge, so I just added to my vehicle collection. The Yaris is actually a fun little car to drive (stick shift of course). Fold down the back seat and there's a lot of space back there. Nice factory stereo in the Yaris; it is like driving a pair of headphones. I've done 12hr stretches driving it multiple times; it just cruises right along.

But I've got my 96 Ram 1500 4x4, 2003 KIA Sorento, 98 Jeep TJ, 2008 Yaris, and a 46 ****** CJ2A. If I had to pick one to drive across the country, it would be the truck. The Yaris and the KIA make my right leg cramp after a couple hours of straight driving; the TJ is comfortable but noisy (looking to purchase a hardtop), and the ****** is work to drive any distance (lots of cool points though). But the truck - no problems driving it all day long; comfortable, plenty of power, sit up high, nice simple aftermarket stereo and speakers - again my first choice for cross country driving.

 

We have a '11, or 12' Yaris at work. We do onsite repairs for various things, and most of our calls are in Detroit, or nearby. (80 miles away.) We bought the Yaris simply because of the 38mpg it got, as compared to the 10-12 the other company 'car' got. ('14 Ford F250....... for those times when we need to move a LOT of computers.) It also has the manual trans... and yep, at 6'2", and 210lbs, it's a bit of a squeeze for me. It's ok to drive, but, I wish it had a bit more power. Maybe I'll talk the boss into forced induction.