Longest tow coming up.....

[Alli-max]

Well, I just bought a boat in North Carolina and wanted to get some info from you full timers...

Total weight will be about 6,300 pounds, and I will be towing that weight a little over 1,000 miles. Bumper pull with brakes. I have the Juice, and was thinking to be safe, I should tow in I or II. NO EGT or Boost to see though! Thoughts??

By the way.... I've been here, I've just shut my trap a few months and sat back and listened (hard to believe huh??) :D

[MountainMax]

Who posted bond? :D :D

[SoMnDMAX]

Hey Mark!! Long time no see! I'm suprised you could keep your yap shut that long... :D Is the water still draining freely from your airbox? tongue.gif

Anyway, You'll be safe pulling the boat in Level #2. With gauges, you could probably run #3 or #4, but a person ABSOLUTELY HAS to pay attention to EGT, and adjust thier right foot accordingly when the temps get too high. Resist the temptation to pull in the higher levels without the gauges. It doesn't take much sometimes to push the EGT to 1400 degrees, if you're not careful.

Have a fun trip!

Matt

[ 01-24-2003: Message edited by: SoMnDMAX ]</p>

[pinehill]

Last summer I rode with a friend who has the standard Juice, pulling an 8,000 lb TT in a hilly area. Level 1 was enough to enable him to pull all but the steepest hills while holding overdrive. His guages showed no increase in EGTs compared with pulling without the Juice. Level 2 did show a moderate EGT increase. You should be happy (and safe) running in level 1.

[Alli-max]

hahaha MM..... :D

thaks Pinehill and Matt.... Will keep her in Level I/IV on the way there, and Level I/II on the way back. At least it is interstate 95% of the way. Going to have FUUUUUN with these no excuse for mirrors...

[SoCalDMAX]

"Who posted bond? :D :D "

LOL :D Now THAT was funny! We still haven't heard who posted it... maybe all of his witnesses left the country, or he got time off for good behavior. ;) Those min. security joints must have internet access, probably cable and satellite, too.

Seriously, with only 6,300lbs, I would think level 3 would be no problem, especially with the cold air temps. Level 2 would be absolutely safe.

What kinda boat? Have a fun trip!

Regards, Steve

[SteveO]

Alli-max,

What part of NC?

Oh, never mind.. Leafblowers are outlawed in my neighbor hood.... smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

[JEBar]

Like SteveO asked .... What part of NC? Might be a good excuse for some of us in this area to hold a quick get together?!? If you are coming by I40, (without a guage) would strongly suggest no more than level II in the mountains....Jim

[SmokeyB]

Count me in if we have that get-together in NC.

[FirstDiesel]

Speak up if it happens, I'll be in N.C. in a few weeks and wouldn't mind saying hi too

[Alli-max]

SoCal... It is a Searay 245 Weekender...

Picking it up at Wrightsville Beach, NC at the Marine Max dealership. I will be spending the night there that night (this Friday night)and grabbing it at 8A Sat. morning. Planning on leaving WB area around 11A for my 1,064 mile jaunt back....

[ 01-27-2003: Message edited by: Alli-max ]</p>

[MountainMax]

Let's see.... we have someone who has 1135 posts in two years that says he's been "sitting back watching" ;) for awhile. And, he's from Texas where there are as many boat dealers as fire ants but yet he's driving to North Carolina, through the mountains, in the winter, to buy a boat??

Mmmmm,.... Does your Doctor know about this trip? Are you taking anyone from your group? If not, we're here for ya man. And don't be afraid to take the pills. Psychtrophic medicines have come along way in the last few years.

[Alli-max]

lol... actually been reading a bit, but mainly personal stuff (the Big D, and I dont mean Dallas as the song goes).... So now I am going through my 'mid life crisis' and getting a boat. Getting it in NC because I CAN NOT pass up on this deal. Way more boat than I need, but had to get it. Stopping in Birmingham and Atlanta GA for a few sales calls so I can write it off too! :D

Nobody from my area going w/ me. Me, myself, and I. Pills? What pills? tongue.gif ;)

[sonofagun]

Mark,

Glad you are still around. Keep the toys comin' our economy needs all the help it can get!!

Don't forget to hang a big red flag on the back of the boat!! :cool: :cool:

Enjoy!

Bob

[SteveO]

MountainMax,

Not to worry, no mountains to climb in his trip..
Just keep it between the lines smile.gif

Alli-Max,

You going all the way up I-85 to 74 in NC?

[SoCalDMAX]

The big D... hmm is there a trend here or what? Perhaps some of us have been spending too much time online. ;) I'll admit I'm guilt of that, although 5 mins. a day would still have been too much...

Congrats on the new boat! Hey, if it's not too far out of your way, swing through Tuscaloosa and look up Sdaver. If he's as funny in person as he is online, you'll still be laughing when you get home!

Looks like an impropmtu get together going down in NC! Might as well have the meeting in the Home Depot parking lot to pick up supplies, then head over to a bar to swap lies. ;)

Regards, Steve

[Alli-max]

SteveO.... Looks like it is actually I95 then 74 from what mapquest tells me..... http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&ct=NA&1y=US&1a=&1p=&1c=atlanta&1s=tx&1z=&1ah=&2y=US&2a=&2p=&2c=wilmington+beach&2s=nc&2z=&2ah=&lr=2&x=0&y=0

[Alli-max]

WHEW!!! Long trip with a little over 3 tons hanging on to the back and about 1100 miles. I kept speed in setting 1 on the Juice (awesome) and the Allison downshifted MAYBE 5 times the entire way with cruise on 70!!! Only gripe I had: 10 mpg. Man that stung the hip pocket. Pretty much the entire way, I saw fuel prices from 1.429 up to 1.569. I pay around 1.459 currently, and probably averaged that pay price for the trip. Doesnt that seem to be a bit low on the economy for that weight? Boat sits about 11 feet high, but the boat is pretty aerodynamic... :confused: :confused:

[Tractorhauler]

Alli,

That may be a bit low mileage. Wind drag account for more than a lot however.
I tow my 8k 5ver and can get 13 in the Colorado rockies but when the wind blows in South Dakota I can slip down to 11. I run on Juice 2 with tow/haul on. On a recent 3000 mile trip to Atlanta I averaged just over 9 but had a large profile JD tractor and grossed just over 27K. However I could go as fast as the roads would let me however. What a truck, eh!

Regards,

Mark

[Alli-max]

Thanks for the info TH...

I think you are right. I have been driving this truck around for a little over 100K now, and I have ALWAYS seen bad economy. And no, not a heavy foot when I am trying to get good mileage. I am TRULY stumped here. Does ANYBODY have an idea on things I can look at? PLEEEASE tell me. When unloaded, the best I get is right at 15 mpg., and this is on the interstate!

[Allison Jettester]

Alli-Max,
There are several things you can look at to determine if something is causing your low mileage. I haven't researched the helms to determine where everything is, but can if you haven't the means. Anyway, here's what I would check, using a Tech 2 or Autoxray, Autotap or whatever: Note: If sensors are just reading low, they won't throw a code - they have to be broke to do that.

a. Check the computer sourced temperature sensors for accuracy - if it/they read low you will always be running rich - an indication of this is black smoke.

b. Oxygen Sensor - It also adjusts mixture

c. Mass Flow Sensor - You might want to clean this anyway, but get some readings of it's output (Mass AirFlow)(Fuel Ratio)

d: Throttle Position sensor

If you can get as many readings as possible while running/driving, I can check them with what my engine is outputting. I got 19 - 21 miles per gallon on the interstate when the truck was new and am getting slightly over 21 now that the truck has over 11000 miles. It's hard to do a good consistent mileage check on these trucks because I have found that depending on how the truck is sitting, I can put 2.4 - 2.8 gallons in it after the pump shuts off. I have to spend about 5 mins shaking the truck until I get standing liquid in the filler. My truck has never put out one puff of smoke that I have seen.

I will look at the ECM inputs to determine if there are more things to look at or it could be the ECU itself that is not calculating fuel demand properly. These were all off the top of my head so...... If anybody else knows of other things to look at, feel free to chime in. Go to
http://www.obdii.com to get an idea what's available.

Hope this helps,
Joe

[ 02-12-2003: Message edited by: Allison Jettester ]</p>

[a64pilot]

Allison,
I think that you may have a point, but some of those sensors and related problems are applicable only to a gasoline engine.