East coast to West coast trip - Free part taxi - standby assistance requested

Hopefully I will be going to get mine in the next week or two. What are you averaging for speed on the highway?

You are in Minnesota now?

nchittendon said:

You are in Minnesota now?

Click to expand...

Middle of SD now...

50ish... Around 2000rpm...

Actually getting closer to 6 mpg than 5... Thanks to flat land..

Some hills in PA and WV I was going 25 mph up.... And couldn't go faster...

I predict some more of the same in MT...

Biggest issue is the seat.

Spring sucks. Shock is shot. Foam is toast..

Added 2 seat cushions from Walmart... Still not good.

I'm wearing ear plugs but I still hear the engine running after I shut it off... And dream about it...

But you're having fun that most of us wouldn't have. Stories for a lifetime.

Maybe try one of those memory foam pillows. I'd better get one for my trip too I guess. LOL

Once you get home put an air ride seat in. Your butt will thank you.

TechnoWeenie said:

Middle of SD now...

50ish... Around 2000rpm...

Actually getting closer to 6 mpg than 5... Thanks to flat land..

Some hills in PA and WV I was going 25 mph up.... And couldn't go faster...

I predict some more of the same in MT...

Click to expand...

A photo of the territory now and then would be SO sweet.

Could you maybe "click" a pic or two!?

More to come

Found a good air dryer if anyone needs one, going to order one before I make my trip.Try ebay search 24V HALDEX ABS AIR DRYER

Thats me

Air line blew... At drain valve.

Vice grip to the rescue.

Back home. Lots of work to do. Will update with pics when I get a chance. All failures were air related.. Even the tire, technically.. Hah

I gotta change all the fluids (again)
I'm going to replace both fuel and oil filters with spin on
I'm gonna replace the air lines with synthetic rubber and standardize the dimensions. Each line will be on a barbed connector with hose clamp so replacement will be easy if necessary.
I'm going to replumb the air system, making each tank with its own blowoff valve, and shutoff valve, so all the tanks are connected yet separate. I can isolate a tank or line in the event of a leak or failure. Each tank will have a check valve as well.. Incoming air cannot escape the way it came in. This way if there is a leak upstream, I still have all the air in the tanks, instead of watching my needle drop like a rock...

Lots of other stuff... But first things first..

Also.. The warning buzzer can't be heard with good ear protection on.

It will be replaced with a 120db warble alert.... With a cutout switch so I don't have to hear it once the problem has been identified.

TechnoWeenie said:

I gotta change all the fluids (again)
I'm going to replace both fuel and oil filters with spin on
I'm gonna replace the air lines with synthetic rubber and standardize the dimensions. Each line will be on a barbed connector with hose clamp so replacement will be easy if necessary.
I'm going to replumb the air system, making each tank with its own blowoff valve, and shutoff valve, so all the tanks are connected yet separate. I can isolate a tank or line in the event of a leak or failure. Each tank will have a check valve as well.. Incoming air cannot escape the way it came in. This way if there is a leak upstream, I still have all the air in the tanks, instead of watching my needle drop like a rock...

Lots of other stuff... But first things first..

Click to expand...

You probably should research the D.O.T regulations before altering the air system , unless your truck will used off-road only .

Good job getting it home! Don't worry, you'll get the feeling back in your butt and right leg after a day or two!

Oh, and I think if you just change out the check valves and update your air dryer. (And possibly the PPV) All your air problems should be good. It's not a bad system when it's maintained.

porkysplace said:

You probably should research the D.O.T regulations before altering the air system , unless your truck will used off-road only .

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I'm not much for rules and regulations.

Safety is more important to me than the 'right' way. If it's safe, do it.

No warrant, no inspection.

Wanna crawl under the truck? Don't complain if you get run over..

All I know is I had 3 air related failures... And I want eliminate future failures of a critical system and provide rapid fixing of a failure should it occur.

Nothing I proposed would impair safety... Quite the opposite, it would improve reliability of a critical system.

Adhering to 50 yr old DOT guidelines (fmvss anyone?) when better, more reliable, and safer, technology is out there, is dumb.

That's an argument for another thread. I'm not required to undergo DOT inspections.. So that's not an issue either.

Plane Fast said:

Oh, and I think if you just change out the check valves and update your air dryer. (And possibly the PPV) All your air problems should be good. It's not a bad system when it's maintained.

Click to expand...

My concern is the lines blowing out... Rather.. One line blowing out twice...

If one will, others will.

The lines were sitting for at least 7 years and plastic gets brittle over time...

Well glad you made it back home. Im sure it will be a while before you make that trip again but if you really want to sounds like Alaskaboy will have an empty seat. Overall your trip was not a total loss. If you remember when we hooked up my air grinder to cut the holes in the bumper for the lights a lot of water and rusty water that came out. After working on my 5 ton dryer couple weeks ago and what happened to you on the trip if anyone out there is planning on a trip take a new air dryer for insurance.