Bringing the beast back to life

[ACF]

Well I am currently deployed to Afghanistan and back home I have a 05 QC/SB/48-RE/4x4 beauty waiting for me when I left her with around 4k on the clock. I made sure she was in a dry garage, covered with a good truck cover, had a full tank of diesel and had both batteries disconnected. I will have been gone for a total of around 6. 5 months when I get to fire her up again. Is there anything you would do upon returning to insure a nice transition to it being a daily driver again? The oil is still the original factory issue..... I did talk to Cummins and they said they recommend to RV owners that don't rack up many miles to change at least once a year, so it should be fine. My main concern are seals drying out, any advice is appreciated.

 

[HBarlow]

ACF,



Thank you for your service.



Harvey

 

[Ereynolds72]

Yes, thank you for your service.



Is there anyone that can run it around for you a few times in the interim? If not though, it wouldn't seem to me that that time frame would be a killer for seals.



When I'm away from my truck for a few days... and have to drive something else, I can't wait to get back and fire my '02 up.

 

[ACF]

KORE kit

Ereynolds72 how do you like your KORE kit? I have been reading about them and they appear to be the best thing out there for really setting the suspension up with some better than stock improvments.

 

[testraub]

I also have the KORE Pace system and it's much better then the stock in my opinion and the wife even likes it! Are you over there with Task Force Phoenix? My Brother is, and is returning to NH around Aug. He seems to have fallen in love with their white Ford Ranger though and I may have to have a long talk with him on his return

 

[Ereynolds72]

Ereynolds72 how do you like your KORE kit?

As far as the ride and handling goes, you can't beat it. With these heavy diesel engines in front, it didn't take much to bottom out the front end (sending me crashing into the headliner of the cab). I knew I wanted to raise the front end and I read posts here about suspension lifts for awhile before making my decision. I installed the Pace system which includes the mini-paks in the rear. $1250 seems like a lot of money but I don't have any regrets for my decision to go with KORE. I'm not a hardcore off-roader and I won't be jamming down any desert roads at 90mph so the 5100s suit my needs perfectly. You can't believe though how much more stable the truck feels in corners, dips in the highway, going over bridge approaches etc. I even notice other trucks going over speed bumps and they just bounce. My truck soaks it up nicely.



One thing I will warn you about though; which mine seems to be an extreme and rare case, when you raise the front end you change the steering geometry (however minimal it is). In my case, I ended up adjusting caster positive to improve the tracking and handling characteristics. This however increased my pinion angle which in-turn created a vibration.



This has been something I've been tinkering with but I don't regret the suspension installation at all. I love it and strongly recommend it if you want to improve your suspension. Oh Yeah! Stick with E Rated tires too.



Erik

 

[WHazelwood]

ACF, Thanks for what you do!

If I remember right even batterys that are disconnected will lose charge after several months. Just make sure they're charged up.

Keep grinnin and come home safe.

 

[ACF]

Kore kit

Ereynolds72, thanks for the honest advice. I really like the KORE kit and do feel that it would be useful even for the pavement pounding daily driver and tow rig. What you said about the vibration turned me off to it though as I just went through a buy back for the very same reason. My old truck had the dreaded 70 mph vibe and this one is much, much better although not 100% vibration free. I will wait till there are some hubs on the market before I lift her. Once again, thanks for the heads up on that issue.

 

[ttreibel]

I would get a trickle charger on the batteries... ... . I would change the oil even before I started it and then I would start it and drive drive drive to the tank was almost empty then fill it back up more and drive even more. I bet you are ready for a vacation no doubt..... good luck with the return home... . God Bless

 

[testraub]

Not a wobble on my PACE system The alignment is off just a little, but I won't worry about it until the new tires go one in the fall. Have put over 3K on it with the PACE and never had a problem. Truck tracks just fine, and the Billet drops kept everything dang close to stock. Call up KORE or DRC and ask any questions you want, they are ready to help.

 

[mberry]

ACF



Thank you for your service! Do whatever it takes to come home safe. Semper Fi.



My advice would be to change the motor oil before you leave and put a good fuel additive/preservative in the tank that will prevent any bio growth. Other than that, you've got everything else taken care of. Just follow the owners manual when you go to start it back up. Then drive the crap out of it and enjoy.