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The Big Blue Car, Jw60's Expedition Max & Ozark Lite 1650bh

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Jw60, Sep 16, 2020.

  1. Feb 27, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Trails end,...
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    Well my wife just sent out the last payment on the Expedition. We told the salesman we would have it paid off in 3years.

    2019 Expedition Max XLT 4x4, bought Sept 2020 with 39,000 miles. Paid off March 2023 with 61,000 miles
    :beer:

    I don't really want to think about the cost per mile... fuel, insurance, oil changes, all that darn refrigerant.
     
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  2. Jul 31, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I think I have a slow leak somewhere...
    [​IMG]20230731_122327 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    There is dye in the high pressure service port I tightened the valve with a proper tool but I think I'll change that valve out. I just put $50 (8oz) and it got to here:

    [​IMG]20230731_122723 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

    I guess 16ounces will get it to 50psi, it's about 75°f today. I know one service line was replaced but I need to find the ticket to know which it was.
    If it was the high side I'll ask them to make it right.
     
  3. Jul 31, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    I remember R-12 at $1.00 per pound. R-1234-YF, just take my money and invest it in PFAS.
     
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  4. Jul 31, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I invested in Honeywell today.
     
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  5. Jul 31, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    Yes you did.
     
  6. Jul 31, 2023
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
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    You might check with the local flaps to see if they will loan or rent a leak detector.
     
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  7. Aug 19, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    More later but the Expedition is a darn good choice for pulling a 4000lb camper.
    .
    .
    .
    And it is going to get full skid plates asap...
    Day 1 camper jack failed
    Yesterday we hit a tire carcass on i70
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2023
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  8. Apr 14, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I guess I never followed up on the I70, we were cresting a hill while being passed by a semi and the tire carcass jumped out at us, all rolled up so it stood up. Luckily the car and camper survived.
    That's all I have to say about that.

    The jack was replaced by a "trailer valet" jack that accepts a drill adapter. We just finished our first trip this year, I should have gotten a stronger one because the drill isn't strong enough to get the equil-izer bars set.

    I put another 24oz of 1234yf in.... $140 :n:, 12oz included stop leak so I'm hopeful it fixes itself:waiting:
    Currently 38psi at 75°F
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2024
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  9. Apr 14, 2024
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Gulf Breeze FL...
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    So clean :drool; Any kids puke in there yet?
     
  10. Apr 14, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Even I have vomited in that car, racoon poop, dog poop. The camper had puke on the floor just this weekend. We have a hoover 1gal upholstery cleaner that does a good job.

    I need to clean everything up again lots of goldfish on the floor.
     
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  11. Apr 14, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    After camping I got the lp refilled.
    $0.69 per pound and I got 30lbs. This will last the year unless we have a cold weekend.

    Across the street is a car wash with truck bays.
    $20 later and the camper is scrubbed up.
    [​IMG]

    Now time for a question... anybody know what thread propane hose is feeding a camper fridge?
    [​IMG]
     
  12. May 27, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    We finished our 2nd round trip of 2500miles to central Florida. Mpg was between 15 and 17mpg. We were loaded down with one layer of four full suitcases and a tote on the roof then the trunk filled to the shoulders of the 3rd row. Then snacks and stuffed animals in every nook and cranny.

    Had to stop in Florida on the way down to charge the AC again, I added about one half Oz of dye and 8oz of refrigerant to get it to something like 55psi with 90deg ambient temps and terrible humidity.

    A fold-up cargo carrier would be better mpg but I think we had too more than one could carry on a hitch platform. This cargo bag was only half full so there is the ability to put more up there is needed in the future.
    [​IMG]20240518_084617 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2024
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  13. May 28, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Interesting the turbo V6 gets about the same mileage as the NA 5.7 V8 in the Sequoia. You were definitely loaded heavier than we usually are, but at the end of the day, it's more a function of weight, drag, rolling resistance, and friction that determine mileage than the engine. You can't work around physics.
     
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  14. May 28, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes, the battle is to minimize inefficiencies.
    The 3.5 turbo can do better than the 3.5 na if you are easy on the throttle. (Using the smaller turbo to capture wasted exhaust energy)
    I actually got better mpg in tow/haul than eco or normal on this trip. Tow haul allows more torque than eco, so eco would run a lower gear but tow/haul would hold 10th gear with an abundance of boost on tap.

    The ecoboost is paired with the 10speed with 7th gear as 1:1 and 3.31gears in the axles. It will drop to 8th and work up into 9th and 10 but all of those are still overdrive gears with shallow axle gears. Ours sounds like a regional jet when towing (all turbo) it accelerates about the same, building up speed and power.

    I got to drive My inlaws older 5.4 v8 Expedition towing our camper, i've also used the old 5.3 v8 Silverado with the jeep in tow and they run a lot higher rpm in tow/haul being in a lower gear with a bigger step. Ours doesn't have the 3.73 gears or automatic 2 speed transfercase but I'm confident it can do the job of towing more than 6600lbs once the load is rolling.

    But the biggest reason for using tow/haul was the stopping power of the engine. We went through the Ozarks, Up and down windy roads with alternating passing lanes. All I needed to to was lightly put my foot on the pedal for 3 seconds and it would downshift and keep the vehicle from accelerating, lightly press it again and the it will start engine braking, all the way to 5-10mph. But if you just slam on the brakes it's all on the powerstop service brakes (which I also love)

    I'm also running some new nitto's at 37psi, slightly narrower than the old recaps and the new are a really soft winter friendly compound.
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2024
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  15. Aug 19, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    We took the Expedition and camper to one of our favorite campgrounds last week...

    Camper has been sitting for a few weeks. And we only took it out once or twice previously this season.
    The first few miles were country backroads that zig-zag between the square fields. 55mph then a 30mph turn, 55mph 30mph etc.
    I decided I needed to check The trailer tire, bearing, and brake temps. It wasn't acting crazy but just felt a little "off".
    The tires were good but the driver side brake and hub were hotter than the passenger side.
    L brake 192, hub 163, tire 143
    R brake 110, hub 163, tire 145
    It was an off kilter sholder so I couldn't do anything there. Decided to get on i70, back off the trailer brakes to about 5v max with the easiest rate of increase and be that guy running 55mph in a 75mph
    About 14 miles down the road was a rest stop where I checked the temps again.
    L brake 110, hub 165, tire 145
    R brake 160ish, hub 165, tire 145
    Seemed to confirm something wasn't right.
    I should have pulled the wheels and brakes off here flat level pad... but Instead I rocked the rig forward and reverse a few times bumping the trailer brakes thinking it was sticking.

    Thinking the brakes were freed of whatever was sticking I went along my way with the brake controller unplugged.

    The Expedition has power stop truck n tow service brakes and the new 3.5/10 speed has amazing engine braking for long grades, it'll go into a cool deceleration mode where it downshifts, spools the turbos as needed with the injectors cut till it has slowed down enough to drop another gear. With the close ratio 10 speed (4:1 1st, 1:1 7th, 0.6:1 10th, 3.31 axles) towing in 8 or 9th gear this all happens pretty snappy if you want to go faster you apply more throttle and if you want to slow down more you let off the throttle. (You activate it with a tap and long light brake pedal activation) so knowing where I was going I was pretty comfortable going on without the trailer brakes.

    40 miles down the road the right drum was at 260°f and I'm squirting it down with a spray bottle.

    Another 20miles to camp and the drum was 400°f hosing it with the water fill hose.

    Seems the brake is salvageable but small parts were not available before we needed to break camp.
    [​IMG]20240816_201102 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr

    So all the brakes were replaced.
    [​IMG]20240816_221322 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr

    [​IMG]20240816_231227 by Joe the adapter guy, on Flickr
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2024
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  16. Aug 19, 2024
    Jw60

    Jw60 Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    if it were a tandem axle trailer that wasn't always pulled with a fully loaded vehicle, I would have gutted it and found the parts when I got home, then reassemble... but this is always behind my kids, my dogs, my wife, and myself... not worth saving the money.

    It looks like this is what let loose:
    https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/etrailer/AKBRKR-AS-1012.html
    upload_2024-8-19_13-13-36.png

    I wish e-trailer came to mind at the time, I probably could have torn the brakes apart at the rest stop Thursday had parts to the camp site on Saturday and been together again Sunday before too much damage was done.
     
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