Truck and trailer mods - 1st tow

[FJfonda]

I just towed with my latest project, only 30 miles but wow what a difference!!!!! See details



Old:

Tow Vehicle

Stock 04. 5 4x4 QC DRW 48RE guages

Trailer

2003 Shoreland'r boat trailer tandem axle - 10K+ miles

- 12,000 lbs loaded

- 12" drum brakes both axles (Titan 5 bolt flange axles)

- Bias ply tires (Goodyear workhorse) 9. 50 x 16. 5 E

- Carslile Hydrastar electric over hydraulic actuator

New:

Truck changes:

- Cold air mod

- Cool hose

- Donaldson 42" muffler

- Smarty Jr running smoke test 4. 0 software on SW# 2

- Wireless backup camera

Trailer Changes:

- Grizzly 13" disk brake conversion kit

- Radial tires, Firestone Transforce HT 9. 50 x 16. 5 E

- Complete rebuild - bushings, bearings, pivot bolts, u-bolts, brake lines

- Aligned the axles to the pull point

The difference is very noticeable. At no time do I need full throttle on the truck while towing, althought there is significantly more drone from the exhaust. I won't be able to check EGT's until I hit some longer grades. The disk brakes are excellent --- application of the brakes is much quicker and very smooth. Moving to radial tires has significantly softened the trailer ride and noticable in the truck on rough roads. I normally get 8mpg towing this rig, looking forward to a longer trip to see if the combo yields higher mpg's.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

should have gone with the 51" donaldson... better flow, better muffling. you can add another muffler inline with your current one and/or add some sound deadener inside the cab.



glad you like the changes, sounds like a whole new truck/trailer now!

 

[FJfonda]

Thanks for the heads up --- I added a glass pack in place of the cat ---- did not make that much difference.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

yeah, I'd lose the glass pack

 

[BHaden]

truck while towing, althought there is significantly more drone from the exhaust.





I've got a Roktek "Silent Might" on my 06 Mega. ZERO drone, 98% as quiet as stock and better turbo spool up. No packing to blow out and an easy install.

 

[FJfonda]

Have to look nto the silent might --- was considering a complete system but everyone I talk to has either drone issues or overall noise concerns.

 

[THoltz]

Hey FJfonda. I like your user name. Does it mean what I think it does?

 

[FJfonda]

Not sure --- PM me with your ideas

 

[FJfonda]

Trip Update

I just clocked 800 miles to Maine and back with my upgraded rig (see below)-- Overall MPG's are the same, 10 mpg at 65mph and 8mpg at 70mph. Hill climbing was greatly improved and the smartyjr allowed me to climb most hills in OD where previously I would be in between being able to tow in OD and a downshift. Trans temps were the same as before, EGT's were slightly lower than previous trips (50 deg F reduction). On the way out, ran 65mpg with the cruise on, since traffic allowed, and it was rock solid at 65mph even in the rolling hills of I95 in southern Maine. On the way back, traffic was heavier and I wound up in the center lane (due to constant interchange-right-hand-lane traffic) running 70 mph to keep in sync with traffic.

As expected, once the TC is locked up at cruise speed the exhaust tone is fine, during acceleration and in the 2100-2300 range it is quite noisy in the cab.

The trailer mods are excellent, the disc brakes work perfect and modulate much better than the drums did. Switching to radials did not change the overall handling, but did make a significant improvement in the ride quality. Of interest is the radials ran slightly cooler than the previous bias ply tires (10-20 deg) but not significantly. Hubs/bearing ran about the same even though I expected the disc brakes to create more heat.



Overall --- happy but was hoping for a mpg improvement.

I just towed with my latest project, only 30 miles but wow what a difference!!!!! See details



Old:

Tow Vehicle

Stock 04. 5 4x4 QC DRW 48RE guages

Trailer

2003 Shoreland'r boat trailer tandem axle - 10K+ miles

- 12,000 lbs loaded

- 12" drum brakes both axles (Titan 5 bolt flange axles)

- Bias ply tires (Goodyear workhorse) 9. 50 x 16. 5 E

- Carslile Hydrastar electric over hydraulic actuator

New:

Truck changes:

- Cold air mod

- Cool hose

- Donaldson 42" muffler

- Smarty Jr running smoke test 4. 0 software on SW# 2

- Wireless backup camera

Trailer Changes:

- Grizzly 13" disk brake conversion kit

- Radial tires, Firestone Transforce HT 9. 50 x 16. 5 E

- Complete rebuild - bushings, bearings, pivot bolts, u-bolts, brake lines

- Aligned the axles to the pull point

The difference is very noticeable. At no time do I need full throttle on the truck while towing, althought there is significantly more drone from the exhaust. I won't be able to check EGT's until I hit some longer grades. The disk brakes are excellent --- application of the brakes is much quicker and very smooth. Moving to radial tires has significantly softened the trailer ride and noticable in the truck on rough roads. I normally get 8mpg towing this rig, looking forward to a longer trip to see if the combo yields higher mpg's.