Goodbye Trusty 2nd Gen, Hello New 4th Gen!

[SnoKing]

OK, when I get back from the anniversary dinner with DW, there should be more pictures of your new truck and a report on driving on I-10 back to Benson!!!

You going to get another cap or a new 5th wheel???

#ad


Chris

 

[JLandry]

...there should be more pictures of your new truck...

Sorry, no new pics today. By the time we got home is was already dark. It's been a long day.

...and a report on driving on I-10 back to Benson!!!

The drive back was absolutely SUBLIME! I love the truck. It's so smooth and quiet at freeway speeds (compared to my old 2001) yet it still has a pleasant soft growl.

You going to get another cap...

For now I've decided to put a locking three panel tonneau cover over the bed to keep rain off of our stuff. I called a few places and everyone tells me a camper shell will take about 3 weeks to get and that doesn't fit in with our plans. If it turns out I dislike the tonneau cover, I'll put a canopy on the bed this summer when we're back in WA state.

...or a new 5th wheel???

There's no plans to upgrade our travel trailer in the foreseeable future.

John L.

 

[JLandry]

So John did you happen to note the RPM's at 70 MPH with the 4:10's and Aisin transmission? The Aisin is .63 in 6th gear where your old 47RE was .69. Tires might be larger in diameter also.

Chris,

Here's what I noted on our drive today...

60 mph = 1700 rpm
65 mph = 1850 rpm
70 mph = 2000 rpm
75 mph = 2100 rpm

These are really rough engine rpm estimates because I was looking at the analog tachometer on the instrument cluster. I haven't had time to figure out if there's a digital tach available on the EVIC. I'll update with more accurate numbers later if possible.

The truck is so smooth and quiet at any speed. We were driving through a construction zone in Tucson at 45 mph but it seemed like we were doing only 30 mph. My wife even noticed this phenomenon.

It's an amazing truck.

John L.

 

[SnoKing]

Great report John, I think you guys are going to love it. If only I could....... Chris

 

[Doubleclutch]

John- I'm having trouble keeping the thing held back. I found a "speed bug" that you can set at a given speed over the limit. A voice sings out... "The speed limit is XXX". Can be a little frustrating, but will probably help keep the beast in rein. <G>
Greg

 

[JLandry]

I found a "speed bug" that you can set at a given speed over the limit.

Greg,

I found her too during our drive home last night deep in the navigation system settings.

Now my wife has no reason to nag me anymore... the truck will. :-laf

John L.

 

[SnoKing]

I have our Tom Tom set to Cuckoo alarm when I exceed the posted speed limit by 2 or 3 MPH. It knows the speed limit pretty good on most highways. Some times it is Shut up Cuckoo!!!!! So I just turn the volume down. It still gets the red alarm on the bottom of the screen.

So now with these new trucks you need a lefty riding shotgun to run the electronics!!!! Is Karen already a lefty or soon to become one? Maybe she will put you in the shotgun seat?

Chris

 

[Doubleclutch]

Yes, but you can YELL at "gertie". <G> And I do!

 

[SnoKing]

Yes, but you can YELL at "gertie". <G> And I do!

But John and Karen just traded in their Dinosaur! Chris

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Hey, Greg, so no one has noticed or commented on your signature yet? lol

 

[SnoKing]

Hey, Greg, so no one has noticed or commented on your signature yet? lol

"transfer case delete option"!!!!! Subtle way of saying it! Chris

 

[JLandry]

Been out adjusting tire pressures on our new truck. They're all wacky from the dealer.

The inner duals were at about 80 psi, one outter dual was at 68 psi, the other outer dual was at 75 psi, and the fronts were at about 65 psi. According to the placard on the driver's door, the rears are all supposed to be 65 psi and the fronts at 80 psi.

Here's something interesting...

This truck came from the factory with "Nexen" brand Korean made tires! Nexen Roadian HTX RH5 LTV tires to be exact.

I've never heard of this brand before so had to do some Googling to figure out who and what they are.

At least they run smooth and have a 65,000 mile tread wear warranty.

John L.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

With some owners' complaints about the General tires on their duallies, you may be better off with these Nexens.

 

[SnoKing]

Been out adjusting tire pressures on our new truck. They're all wacky from the dealer.

The inner duals were at about 80 psi, one outter dual was at 68 psi, the other outer dual was at 75 psi, and the fronts were at about 80 psi. According to the placard on the driver's door, the rears are all supposed to be 65 psi and the fronts at 80 psi.

Here's something interesting...

This truck came from the factory with "Nexen" brand Korean made tires! Nexen Roadian HTX RH5 LTV tires to be exact.

I've never heard of this brand before so had to do some Googling to figure out who and what they are.

At least they run smooth and have a 65,000 mile tread wear warranty.

John L.

The 65 lbs in the rear tires if for a fully loaded rear axle. With you bumper pull light tongue weight you can get by with 45-50 lbs. I would leave the fronts at 80. Chris

 

[JLandry]

With some owners' complaints about the General tires on their duallies, you may be better off with these Nexens.

I sure hope so.

Since our truck was manufactured Jan 2014, maybe Chrysler got the message about the Generals?

John L.

 

[SnoKing]

John, when are we going to see a picture of the new truck and trailer ready to hit the road! I am sure that you have been busy getting organized with installing a bed cover etc! Chris

 

[JJPage]

This truck came from the factory with "Nexen" brand Korean made tires! John L.

I purchased a new Charmac enclosed utility trailer a couple of years ago, it has Nexen brand tires. So far so good, no cracks or deformities present and they have all held air pressure very evenly.

 

[JLandry]

I purchased a new Charmac enclosed utility trailer a couple of years ago, it has Nexen brand tires. So far so good, no cracks or deformities present and they have all held air pressure very evenly.

Good to hear.

John L.

 

[JLandry]

John, when are we going to see a picture of the new truck and trailer ready to hit the road! I am sure that you have been busy getting organized with installing a bed cover etc! Chris

We're not leaving the RV park where we're currently staying until hopefully this coming weekend, so no towing until then. In the mean time, we're indeed getting the truck ready... "moving in" so to speak. Today I reconfigured the 10k Equal-I-Zer hitch (flipped the shank) that I use to account for the significantly higher (as in 5") receiver on our new truck.

We took a short day trip down to Sierra Vista today to the Home Depot there to log some miles on the truck and get more familiar with it. So far everything's been wonderful and we absolutely love it... we're definitely happy with this purchase.

I pulled into the Home Depot today and parked in the outer fringes of the lot, and since there were plenty of empty spaces, I took 1-1/2 spots just because I could. As I was letting the engine idle for a couple of minutes to cool the turbo, a guy pulls up in a 2011 Ram 2500 and rolls down his window. My first thought was I was going to hear a complaint for being jerk at taking up 1-1/2 spaces, but he just wanted to ask about the new truck! He said he was walking to his truck when we pulled in, heard our truck go by, and couldn't believe how quiet it was!

Tomorrow a complete set (front and rear) of Husky Liner molded mud guards are supposed to deliver from Amazon and I'll be installing those. I have a right angle attachment for my cordless drill, so hopefully I won't have to remove wheels to do so. I've also ordered a set of Husky Liner classic series floor liners. I had a set of those in my 2001 and loved 'em. They're super tough and hold about a gallon of dirt and water.

I'll also be installing paint protection film on the sills of the front and rear door frames to keep them from getting scratched. My wife has a terrible habit of dragging dirty / gritty shoes across this area on every vehicle we've owned, thus resulting in scratched paint. I'm determined not to let these scratches happen on this truck. Notice how I didn't say I was going to try to prevent my wife from dragging her dirty shoes across the door sills... that'd be useless.

The Extang Encore tonneau cover gets installed at Arizona Truck Outfitters in Tucson on Wednesday morning. I can't wait because it means I can get this big pile of CRAP out of our travel trailer which was in the bed of the old truck under the canopy.

Once we get back from the dealer in Phoenix to have the Mopar cab-length tube steps installed (sometime later this week), I'll take some new pics of the truck with the updates. I'll definitely also take pictures of the truck and travel travel trailer once we're all hitched up and underway again.

Take care,

John L.

 

[JLandry]

Pics of New Truck

FINALLY our new truck is configured the way we want it and we're back on the road!

Over two weeks after we bought it, the selling dealer in Tempe, AZ finally received and installed a set of Mopar stainless steel cab-length tube steps (part number 82213614) for us, which they'd agreed to throw in the deal at my request. We left Benson, AZ the very next day for a remote RV park here in Rodeo, NM (by way of Douglas, AZ) on our first day of towing our travel trailer with it.

The word WOW pretty well sums up the difference between my old 2001 and this new truck! I don't think there could be a more perfect towing experience. The new truck is quiet, insanely powerful, and oh so comfortable.

Note the new Extang Encore tonneau cover over the bed.

We'll be here a few more days enjoying the amazing sunsets before moving' on eastward across the backroads of New Mexico and Texas. I can't wait!

Best regards,

John L.