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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: 2002 8.1 engine tick
I've had engine tics through the years and always found them by taking a 3 or 4 foot section of water hose, putting one end next to may ear and then taking the other end and slowly moving it all over the engine until the tic suddenly gets louder. This has worked numerous times.
When I bought my first new car, a 1976 Ford Elite, I had an engine tic. The dealership ended up pulling the heads and supposedly fixing bad valve lifters. All of this under warranty. When I got the car back after two weeks the noise was exactly the same. A few days later while I was home I took a piece of water hose laying on the garage floor and just used it as a stethascope (spelling) and found my noise. A small metal tube coming up from the intake manifold and going into some type of a disc shaped object near the rear of the carburetor had actually cracked and pulled up out of the disc shaped can. I pushed it back down and the noise went away!!!
Another time I had a bearing squeal coming from somewhere and found it using the water hose method, a bad bearing on the distributor shaft.
Noises can be hard to trace but don't always involve massive internal engine problems. Intake or exhaust areas are prime suspects.
Good luck
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Likes to tow
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04/27/12 05:18am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Ford 5.0 vs Eco Boost V6
I believe his main objection to the Eco Boost was that only a few years ago Ford came out with the 6.0 Diesel and advertised it as a breakthrough in modern engine design. It was advertised as highly tested, highly refined and the new
platform on which all diesels would be measured. As we all know it was a major disaster with lawsuits, warranty claims and Ford enthusiasts jumping ship.
So like one post says, lets wait a few years and see if it really is an eco boost or an eco brick.
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Likes to tow
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04/24/12 06:15am |
Tow Vehicles
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Ford 5.0 vs Eco Boost V6
My son just bought a new 2012 F150 with the 5.0 engine. He thought about getting the V6 Eco Boost since all the salesmen were really applying the pressure. He pulls a trailer that weighs in around 5k. On a trip last week without towing anything he averaged 21 mpg running 65 mph each way for a total of about 600 miles!!!!
When pulling his trailer on a short 100 run he got 12 mpg in the hills of Kentucky.
I'm just not sure the Eco Boost will be the best engine for the F150 since it has all the high tech twin turbo technology to break down. This 5.0 seems like a really great engine and the mpg numbers certainly back it up. The 6 speed auto with manual shift feature also makes towing a breeze.
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Likes to tow
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04/23/12 07:33pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Blue Ridge Parkway w/ 43' Class A & Toad ?
Since you have a Toad why not pick a nice spot and put down for a few days and drive the Toad onto the parkway for day trips. I would highly recommmend Buck Creek Campground near Marion NC. It has plenty of room for big rigs, very close proximity to the parkway and the best attractions on the whole route. Mt. Mitchell, Linville Falls, Grandfather Mountain. The Biltmore in Ashville is a must see also, very close to Marion.
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Likes to tow
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04/22/12 04:45pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: RVing Blue Ridge Pkwy in VA
I agree with above post. There are a few sections on the Parkway that require some extra thought. We overheated a transmission a few years ago while pulling a small 24' fifth wheel on the section from James River to Peaks of Otter where the parkway goes from the lowest elevation to the highest elevation in the Virginia section in just a few miles. It's uphill totally for several miles. Be aware of transmission temperature and never pull over at the very top, keep moving until the transmission cools back down. You don't reach speeds that allow the torque converter to lock up and heat becomes a real problem. This is probably the worst section on the entire parkway for this type grades. Beware also that while on the parkway you may not encounter many steep grades that are an issue but trying to get off the parkway can be very dangerous. There are a few places where exiting the parkway is absolutely not a problem such as I77 exit but other require very serious steep grades that can heat up brakes.
The parkway is a wonderful trip but requires planning and knowledge. We now find a campground near I81 and just unhook the 5th wheel for a nice drive into the mountains. My wife likes to plug into electric and there are few campgrounds on top of the parkway that offer hook ups. Meadows of Dan has a privately owned campground that is very nice, has electric and is close to I77 exit. You will find many folks in big rigs of all types and it will not be a problem if you plan ahead and be aware of the best places to exit or enter. Ashville is another nice low elevation point to enter or exit. Many overlooks on the parkway are not pull thru and when you enter them you may realize turning a big rig around is impossible.
Plan plan plan!!!
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Likes to tow
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04/11/12 06:43am |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Fifth wheels
Never buy RV's new because they lose over half their value in two years. There are massive numbers of good one or two year old units on the market for less than $40k. Let someone else eat the depreciation and put up with returning the unit to the selling dealer to work out all the bugs in manufacturing. Do an Internet search for a 200 mile radius of your home and you will find the perfect unit for a great price. There are too many posts on this forum with people having trouble with manufacturers not honoring the warranty. RV's require constant maintenance and cleaning and if given good treatment even low end units can last years. I built a large storage shed for mine and when we are not on the road it sits out of the sun and rain. Still looks very good and its going on 6 years old. A high end $100k unit will still look used in only a year or two of sitting outside.
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Likes to tow
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03/14/12 07:40pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Summer fuel prices
I keep thinking the price will go higher and many Rv'ers like us will start to re-think their attitude of "continuing our passion regardless of cost." Then right before election time we will see a plan to all a sudden find a solution and get prices back down to $3.25. Bingo Bango.....re-election for sure!! As a result of this thought we are planning our trip to Utah for late summer/early Fall. I believe we will see $5+ gas by July 4th and at or before Labor Day prices will drop back. Once high prices become the norm then lower prices will seem like a deal. Gas will never return to pre Obama era levels.
When you consider the size of RV's in Europe and cost of their fuel you begin to wonder if a significant adjustment is not coming for us. Do we realize how large our units have become in the last 30/40 years?
One poster talked about downsizing to a 26 footer and a 1500 tow vehicle. This package will get 9/10 mpg at best. We must all consider that our next unit will be a 10 foot aerodynamic low profile tear drop style camper.
Small diesels have been popular in Europe and around the world for years. Ford Rangers with diesels are available!! Why not here? Technology with the V6 Eco boost has pushed mpg to high levels but when you read forum posts about these folks towing with these engines you see they become Eco Bricks with a heavy load. 20 mpg suddenly becomes 9 mpg. The current prices and threat of future speculation will change the face of RVing. We must all face facts and adjust.
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Likes to tow
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03/13/12 05:22am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Some info on the 48RE trans
On my 05 Dodge Cummins this little fact of manually shifting to 2nd gear with the tow haul button on and staying above 25 mph lets me pull steep grades with my transmission temperature guage never showing any heat increase. I did not know this when I first bought the truck and saw some real heat build up on steep grades. The owners manual tells you about this. Funny what you can find out when reading the instructions!!
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Likes to tow
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03/12/12 07:43pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Feel compelled to say why I chose my truck...
After four new Ford gas trucks in a row the move to a diesel was a no brainer. I really wanted another Ford but all the bad stuff I read and heard about the Ford diesels after the 7.3 era was what drove me to Cummins. My 05 Ram has been a great tow vehicle and I've grown to love the shipping crate too. If I buy another diesel I won't even consider anything but Ram Cummins!!!!!
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Likes to tow
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03/12/12 07:35pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Reese sliding hitch
I stopped most of the "bump and clunk" with my Reese slider by taking some thin metal and making shims that I slide back under the rollers. By tightening this area between the roller and bar slide I have considerably less noise when stopping or starting.
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Likes to tow
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03/11/12 07:32pm |
Towing
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RE: Summer fuel prices
I will not cut back on my fuel usage for my tow vehicle or in my boat this year. Only problem is that I shall cut expenditures in other areas to pay for the fuel. We will eat out less often, we have decided to keep the current carpeting in our home for a while, the new furniture in the den will have to last a while longer, we will be less reluctant to spend any money that is not absolultely necessary just so we can still enjoy travel and boating. NOW, with that said how is this going to play out with the recovery? Will I contribute to the decline or prohibit a recovery simply becuase a larger share of my spendable income will go to the oil companies. I think when you look at my situation and multiply that by the multitudes of poeple doing the same thing it could stall the recovery.
Clinton made the statement that it would be useless to drill in Alaska because it would be years before this product came on line. Well that was over 12 years ago!!!! Now look where we are. We did not do it and now the hurt still continues and all we do is talk about it and say it should be done. The ever powerful EPA is doing nothing to provide a road map to energy independence. Anytime a path for product is found or suggested the EPA cries fowl and shuts it down. I'm beginning to realize this is all part of the master plan.
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Likes to tow
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03/11/12 07:23pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Reservations vs. No Reservations - what are the factors?
When we had a truck camper we were NEVER turned down at any park. They can always stick you somewhere. Once while driving through Wyoming we stopped at Cody for the night. There was a rodeo in town and the local campground looked full up. When asking the attendent if he had any space he ask me what I had and I said truck camper. He said pull over next to our office and I'll give you a drop cord, otherwise we are totally full. So my run of always getting "something" continued. Now I have a 31' 5th wheel and learned very early to make reservations or travel during the weekdays and start looking very early in the day.
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Likes to tow
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03/08/12 05:54pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Is this happening everywhere?
I think when diesel trucks passed the $50,000 mark and then went on into the $60,000 range we all took another look at our old trucks. With profane pricing and EPA requirements it makes a new diesel out of the question for me. When my 05 Cummins needs work it will get it. I will keep this truck as long as I need a diesel.
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Likes to tow
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03/06/12 07:51pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Local Crossroads Dealer
Just done a dealer search online for you and found the closest dealers are in Sandusky NY and Troy, NY. Have no idea how far this is from you. We have a Crossroads Cruiser 5th wheel and have been very satisfied with the quality of their product.
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Likes to tow
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02/28/12 03:47pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: brake magnets
Are you sure the magnet surface of the drum was turned?? Not all shops have the ability to turn this vertical surface and can only turn the outside surface where the shoes contact. If you had this work done and did not do it yourself I would question the validity of this surface being done!!
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Likes to tow
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02/27/12 03:31am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Mountain Towing
I have an 05 Dodge Cummins automatic with a 31' 5th wheel. Never had a problem so far by using this technique. After reaching a crest I start watching the speedometer really close. When speed builds to the speedlimit I brake hard for a few seconds and bleed off about 10 mph. (When I say brake hard I do not mean slidding the wheels!! Just get rid of 10 mph quickly as possible and allow the wind to cool the pads until the next braking episode) Then as speed picks up to the speed limit or below I brake hard again to bleed off 5 to 10 mph. By using this technique I have never had a white nuckle scarey situation. If you ride the brakes for very long they will heat up and you have no brakes. I've seen 18 wheelers sitting at the bottom of hills in Virginia with brake shoes on fire. Literally flames coming out of the drums. These trucks take the back roads over the mountain to avoid the weight scales on the major highways and then get into big trouble on long steep roads. If you stay on major Interstates or major highways you will have no problem . The design of these highways is such that generally long grades are safe with proper driving techniques. Interstate 64 in the eastern part of WV has one long down hill grade that got lots of people in trouble. The first time I drove this section my mouth was dry and my hands were sweaty. As it all turned out I had absolutely no trouble using the above method and now don't even think twice about driving this section. Try to stay in the left lane on Interstates and keep your foot off the throttle......gravity will give you all you need. After a time or two you will become confident with this method. I drive roads all the time in WV like 219 and have no problems. I've even heard of exhaust brakes failing to operate and if this happens and you don't know how to use the above method what would you do then?
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Likes to tow
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02/23/12 06:08am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Why are Truck Campers so expensive?
So I suppose after reading all this the price of a truck camper is very high because of supply and demand. Less supply because of fewer dealers taking them on and less manufacturers in the business. The demand is high amoung those of us who happen to like them. If you take a boat or a horse you must have a truck camper. Actually everything is much much higher today than it was 10 or 20 years ago. Since I bought my last new truck camper 12 years ago I'm shocked at the price now. Guess I will just forget it. It's just not worth it.
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Likes to tow
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02/19/12 04:59pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Why are Truck Campers so expensive?
I owned 4 truck campers in a row, 2 I bought new and 2 were late model used. Just before retirement I traded in my 10' Starcraft that I had bought new for a late model 5th Wheel. This was my wife's idea and since I would be retired we figured we could take the 5th wheel down to the lake and then come back for the boat....double trip it, only 90 miles one way. Then gas shot from $1.80 to eventually over $4...scratch this idea. Now I miss my truck camper. I'm looking again at buying another small light truck camper. I am totally shocked at the profane prices!!!!!!
Another thing that enters the picture here in my area is that dealers practically laugh at you when you want to trade in a truck camper. "There is little market for them" I've been told repeatedly. Very very few dealers even carry truck campers. NObody wants them. Well I say they are wrong. Horse lovers and boaters/fishermen love them.
I too cannot understand the cost of some basic models. No axle, brakes, steel frame and significantly by a long shot less materials. Less rubber roof, less siding, plywood, windows, smaller fridge, and so forth. Yes some of the new mega truck campers have slide outs and things that could add cost. I do not buy into the argument they are built better because all 4 of mine had road wear. They twist and buckle and come apart just like all campers. Sealing joints is a constant ongoing requirement. They are not maintenance free because of supperior construction. You must have a specialized truck with stiff suspension, preferably a dually, to carry them. I was shocked at what I hit the road at with my Starcraft. It had a brochure listed weight of about 2500 lbs and once while traveling to Montanna we had it weighed at a truck stop and since I already knew the weight of my truck I done the math and was totally shocked.......It weighed 3500lbs. Of course full propane tanks, battery, A/C and all the gear we took. Not all that was the camper itself but I'm sure most of it was.
I believe there are some cheaper pop up models that can be ordered without a lot of options and a few hard side models that can be bought new for under $10K
but for the price of a nice model you can buy a really nice used class C motor home. The smaller ones under 24' seem to be good sellers in the used market according to a friend who works for a dealer.
In the West truck campers are more popular and have a better resale market. Lots of horse people in Montanna! Still puzzled by the cost as most of you are!
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Likes to tow
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02/19/12 06:31am |
Truck Campers
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RE: 1994 Ford 460 vs 2007 Ford 6.8 V10
Thanks for the comments.
I forgot to say that if I buy the 2007 V10 I will sell my 2007 SUV and
the truck will be my daily driver. If I buy the 1994 460, I will keep the SUV for daily driver and use the 1994 as a second vehicle mostly for towing therefor the overdrive will be locked out most of the time.
This might be the deal maker. By not using the 94 as a daily driver the fuel mileage of the 460 will not be an issue!! My 96 got 9 to 10 towing and sometimes 12/14 non towing.........depending on how fast I drove it. There were times when I would check it on strictly highway driving at 50/60 mph and get decent milage. Then other times when driving 70/75 the mpg dropped considerably...much like every engine in every vehicle.
Once while on the Outer Banks of NC we had our 10' slide in truck camper on and drove out a tank of gas just cruising the roads at the posted speedlimit of 45 and got something remarkable like 14 or 15. There again, speed was the issue. The truck normally got 9/10mpg carrying this camper at 60/65 mph
I've had friends who owned the V10 and they got a couple more miles per gallon in some driving situations than my 460. They also had the spit plug problem and I never did. I think this problem was corrected in the later V10's so an 07 might be good. Go to the Ford Enthusiasts web site an hit the V10 tab................read until you go blind. Overall there are many good threads on the V10.
If your tow vehicle is not a daily driver then it is easy to keep it up and in good towing condition. Tires are not cheap. Gas prices are profane and growing worse with the current objection to making us energy independent. My truck was garage kept all those years and when I pulled it out of the garage people would remark about the condition!!
A 94 with those kind of miles can be a tow vehicle for many more years to come. Belive me you will get tired of the mpg using a tow vehicle as a daily driver!! I agree with what others have said about the transmission but my 4EOD never had a problem. However I did put a really big transmission cooler on it and a guage. Heat is what kills transmissions, change the fluid often in heavy towing use.
My differential was a 4:10. I could use Over Drive on flat roads pulling my 5800lb trailer.
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Likes to tow
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02/11/12 06:11am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 1994 Ford 460 vs 2007 Ford 6.8 V10
I had a 96 F250 I bought new with the 460 and kept it 12 years. Used only for towing or travel with my slide in truck camper. Best engine ever!! Only back to the dealer one time in 12 years and that was for the speed control recall. One set of spark plugs and plug wires was all the maintenance required (besides many oil changes). It had 99,000 miles the day I traded it in.
The V10 has aluminum heads and is known to blow plugs out of the cylinder heads and require expensive re-threading kits. Some cylinders are extremely hard to get to. Other than that the V10 is good. For the much better price I would go with the 460.
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Likes to tow
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02/10/12 06:19pm |
Tow Vehicles
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