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Urban 'burban

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Boyink, Nov 13, 2024.

  1. Dec 13, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,393
    I think we did about 2K miles on our last NM trip. Gas prices vary, current national average looks to be around $3/gal.

    Truck: 2000 miles / 12 MPG * $3/gal = $500
    Van: 2000 miles / 20 MPG * $3/gal = $300

    Two of those trips per year maybe? $400 isn't enough to keep me from doing anything I want to do. Especially if the truck gets us to cooler places.
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2024
    Dwins1, Twin2, Danefraz and 3 others like this.
  2. Dec 13, 2024
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2003
    Messages:
    3,414
    My 2008 Denali 1500 Yukon XL with 6.2 averages about 12. Best ever was coming back from Tahoe over 80, 18
     
  3. Dec 13, 2024
    jzeber

    jzeber Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Morgan Hill, Ca
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2003
    Messages:
    3,414
    I kept an excel spreadsheet of my Moab (pulling the TJ) and Colorado (pulling a 17' trailer) trips to see what we spent on fuel. Both were so outrageous I ended up deleting both.:D
     
    Dwins1, Danefraz, Ol Fogie and 3 others like this.
  4. Dec 13, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    Kinda the same, except I never do the spreadsheet...:whistle:

    We have that conversation every trip "we should keep receipts to know what this all costs us." Then we camp for $10/night, mostly make our own food, buy a ticket or three to some attraction, and put gas in the car. We get home and realize we really couldn't do it much cheaper, we have to eat anyway, and we already spent the money so who cares what it cost?
     
  5. Dec 13, 2024
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2025 Sponsor 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
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    6,443
    This is the proper approach.
     
    Dwins1, Danefraz, Ol Fogie and 3 others like this.
  6. Dec 13, 2024
    58 willys

    58 willys Sponsor

    Millsboro, Delaware
    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    Messages:
    1,008
    My ‘15 Crew Cab 2500 Ram with a 6.4L towing a 28’ car trailer averaged about 14 mpg but you get going up the mountains in West Virginia 8 - 9 mpg.
     
  7. Dec 23, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,393
    Seats out and off to their next home. Blank slate status achieved.

    Immediate next step is to replace the blown factory subwoofer.

    After that - on this trip to Texas we decided that some sound deadening would be a good idea and now is the time to do it. With MsBoyink's bad hearing in her left ear communicating while going 80 can be a challenge. Still researching products in that space - but Dynamat is probably the name you know. If anyone has experience with anything I'd appreciate hearing about it.

    suburban-blank-slate.jpg
     
    Ol Fogie and Fireball like this.
  8. Dec 23, 2024
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1,226
    I've been using a product from a company called NOICO that really seems to work well, and is considerably cheaper than Dynamat.

    https://noico.info/

    I can't recall if I was getting it from Amazon or Summit Racing though.
     
    Fireball and Boyink like this.
  9. Dec 23, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    6,393
    Thanks. I've seen their name but good to get some commentary.
     
  10. Dec 24, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    Receiver step. Already appreciating this thing:

    800 - 2.jpeg

    Replaced the subwoofer with this MB Quart 8" from Amazon. Local stereo guy wasn't thrilled with the brand anymore, but it was way beefier than the chinsy blown driver I pulled out. Pretty sure it wasn't the original subwoofer, holes didn't line up and someone had used about a tube of caulk around it. This thing sounds great. Way more bass than I need.

    800 - 3.jpeg

    Never could figure out how people got along with carpet floormats. I have a Weathertech mat in the van and am not happy with it - it's so hard to keep clean it looks as bad as the nasty carpet I was trying to cover up. These are Husky "x-act fit" mats. Not cheap at $140, but so far I like them.

    800 - 4.jpeg

    AVS in-channel window deflectors. We actually make use of these to get ventilation in rainy weather. I have the same brand on the van, but they are the external mount and I just noticed they are pulling off the van again. Hoping these are maintenance-free.

    800 - 5.jpeg
     
    Ol Fogie, Stakebed, Jw60 and 2 others like this.
  11. Dec 28, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,393
    About a solid day and a half...one round of Turtle Wax polishing compound and one round of Meguiars Gold something Carnuba.

    I'm ready for the karate tournament now.

    1.jpeg 2.jpeg
     
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  12. Dec 28, 2024
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2025 Sponsor 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
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    Aug 11, 2012
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    2,356
    come on back to Chico, your work looks like a pro, i can set you up with a few more opportunities to make swirlies...
     
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  13. Dec 28, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Actually have thought about it briefly as I do enjoy the work. Then I talk with people doing it and it sounds like a tough row.
     
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  14. Dec 29, 2024
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2025 Sponsor 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
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    2,356
    guy we used years ago used "automagic" products. i have been using them since he went under.

    easy on, easy off. leather conditioner works, etc.

    i could spend more time waxing about it, but i just glazed over...
     
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  15. Dec 29, 2024
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2012
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    2,333
    Nice big car. I understand that you are adept of camping. Good to be young.
    Last time I played camping, it was with the girl to become my wife.
    I invited her for a week holiday in the nice Saint-Tropez area, French Riviera.
    I had a 2 bed tent, the model which you need to creep to go inside.
    First night we had a storm, flooding.
    That was 45 years ago.
    The next day I found a nice hotel.
    Since this day I never made "camping".
    I use good cars, not too big, with good engines, nice seats, and I find hotels, no need to clean the room, the sheets...
    There is a leaflet to hang on the doorknob, clean the room now...
    And yes, I pay.
    Happiness.
     
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  16. Dec 29, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    6,393
    No worries..we won't rebuff you.
     
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  17. Dec 29, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    Currently unavailable anywhere. I emailed them to see if they knew when it would be available again but no response.

    Ended up ordering this NVX material. Decently-reviewed and has both the butyl and foam layers in one product. Not having to cut & fit twice was appealing. Plan is to do full floor, rear wheel wells up to windows, inside the plastic rear wheelhouse panels, and doors/hatch.

    I downloaded a dB meter app - we'll take a test run to see what before/after numbers are. I see people saying "it only lowered my sound level by 3 dB" not seeming to understand that dB are logarithmic not linear, and 3 dB = 50%. And volume is only one aspect - frequency is another. If it works well in the vocal range and helps MsBoyink and I communicate it'll be worth it. Any improvements to the stereo system quality will just be a bonus.
     
  18. Dec 29, 2024
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
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    1,226
    Yeah, I was afraid of that, I don't have any proof, but I seem to recall NOICO being a product made in Russia (Or at least a Russian company) so who knows what the current embargos and sanctions might be doing.
     
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  19. Dec 29, 2024
    Stakebed

    Stakebed Member

    Lake Co....
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2022
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    775
    I have read that Noico is Russian. Hence why we cannot get it here.

    Another license plate idea
    BRBN ICE
     
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  20. Dec 29, 2024
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    6,393
    How long have I had this thing and only just noticed the grille had a missing section? Looked at replacements, only $130 but they all had bad reviews.

    So I did the only logical thing...got out my sidecutters and cut the same section out of the other side...:whistle:

    1.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2024
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