Got back at 6:30pm yesterday. Here are some stats.

Towing 7-8000#'s of shingles in a GN 24ft trailer (I am guessing the trailer weighed about 2500#'s at least). There was 72 bundles (2400 Sq Ft) on 3 pallets. The trailer might have been overkill but it was all we had. The church raised the money and my brother and I took them down to Covington, LA, where there was a church coordinating with the locals to provide free services.

Going down I averaged 10 mpg. I was cruising at 70 mph and the EGT's were about 650* on flat ground.

Coming up, doing 70 but with out the extra 7000#'s, I got 12 mpg. EGT's were at 600* flat.

I hit a record (for me) 1100* going down coming out of Memphis accelerating from 55-70 mph. Other than that I usually hit 950-1000* but I had semi's on my rear want to go.

It took 16 hours and like 25 min's going down but coming up I did it in 15 hours 45 minutes.

The longest hill was 2.5 miles long and that was in Illinois on I-57. Nothing big but I passed a Cheby 2500 pulling a fiver.

I saw a semi that either busted a head gasket or a injector. It was at a weigh station. As I was coming up to it, all I saw was a cloud of white smoke. It was coming out of the stacks, and it covered the whole highway!

I got down there and let the truck sit for awhile to cool down and as I found someone to help us unload the trailer. Well it sat for 7 or 8 minutes. I went to shut it off as the guy got the skid-loader. I turn the key to off and the gauges shut down but the engine sat there and purred like a pleased kitten! So now I will be part of the kill-cable club once I set that up.

All in all, it was a good trip.

Jon

PS, should my radiator fan kick on at 70 mph? It kicks on and off no matter if it is raining and cool or if I am going up or down hill.

 

If its the one I am thinking about inbetween Charleston and Harrisburg right?

We call that the Big Hill on our trips to Sikeston, Mo. My dad's 93' had to drop to 3rd on that hill pulling our 32' disk home from charleston when we got it about ten years ago.

 

Mile marker 38 if I am right. I didn't pay attention to towns, sorry

I was a little disappointed because when I went down it, it looked bigger than going up it. I was able to accelerate from 60-70 mph about half way up it. I was hoping for something a little more challenging I guess that I will be going somewhere where they have real mountains.

Jon

 

Yea thats the one. Its defiently fun accelerating up that hill. When I was a kid I wanted to sled down it.

 

No, it should only kick on when the air coming through the radiator is too hot, like pulling a steep grade in hot weather or sitting in traffic with the A/C on.

 

I have no AC and the temps were around 80. Is something wrong?

Also, I looked at my truck this afternoon. I power-washed the whole truck so that there was nothing oily about it. I found out my transfer case seal around the front driveshaft leaks bad. Also there is a leak behind the injection pump, I don't know if it is diesel yet but I will find out soon. Is there a seal that goes out on the pump that is towards the engine?

Jon

 

Feel the front of the fan clutch. If your fingers come up oily, replace it.

 

Sounds like a great trip glad you made it back with no problems