JAG1

That ain't right... that you get to live in a place like that. Big Smile because emoticons don't work

At times, esp. on memorial day, I catch myself avoiding thoughts of my dad, it's just that it's so deeply sad how he was killed in Vietnam at 35 leaving 7 of us kids. Tough times, it was for a lot of years afterward. But then I realize how most Americans are good people and since my dad died for all of us, think about everyone as family too. Prayer for all our families in America.

I hope there is a good outcome to this. Keep us up to date.

Pete you came to the right place for questions. This site can help you mod your truck for reliability to last well into retirement. Make sure the new lift pump is capable of maintaining at least 14 psi at WOT/ heavy hauling so the VP is getting max cooling. Do a search on why adding two stroke oil to every tank is most important. Welcome to the site

Your truck and trailer are very photogenic but the surrounding countryside, that's just plain beautiful. Have a fun safe run.

Mike that stud in the PDC is for the lift pump power. (Big smile) Battery studs get the vp cooling blower and rv/ camper hook up cable. Thanks for the info though on batts. Starting batteries are less expensive and I need less expensive these days. I know a guy that uses two starting batts. in his rv. Don't know why except for the price. Can't last too long.

I like the extra studs next to the posts for powering/ adding electrical accessories. I read some where batteries act like a giant buffer or capacitor and help reduce electrical noise. Do deeper cycle batts help a bit more in any way than regular starting batteries?

Anthony, is there any remote chance that the salesman is so honest and nieve (greenhorn) that they're willing to make an honest mistake right? Find out what they'll do without the attorney. I do think you have the upper hand here. I ounce caught a business in a fraudulent action. They understood and credited my account for every bit of expense they caused to me by attempting to cheat.

Most people take care of poison snakes properly. Through legal means, of course, I would go see about getting your family a free truck. Fraud means you are eligible for punative damages. This is clearly a case of fraud. And makes me all the madder that they would take advantage of trusting senior citizens.

Glad you got the good stuff Joe. I've spent a lot of time and money getting my truck to last a long time and have listened to Eric (been there several times) at Vulcan. He is one of the good guys. A very nice lady give me a Snap-On ratcheting torque wrench. The kind you can set the foot pounds by turning the handle and then clicks to tell you when it torqued. Man I love that tool. I know how good it is to have reliable tools and products.

Need to do a write up on this along with a material and bolts list. A volt meter set to OHMS, must have batteries disconnected, will show the sender is working when you move it up and down.

Don't know if I'm much help here, but tie rod ends are easy to replace aren't they? With a puller or pickle fork, you could do that in camp? Check your large U-bolts are tight on rear differential too...diff. could be shifting when accelerating. With ignition to on position, truck not started, get under front end and have wife run the steering wheel radically left to right as many times as you can. You can spot a clunk or loose connections that way too.

Thanks Mulcher I couldn't quite put my finger on it but, you describe it exactly. One experience, went beyond anything we would normally call just plain rude. Beside the no time for you attitude, they lied and tried to manipulate. When I called out what was actually agreed the day before (pre contract), they acted as if nothing was wrong... all part of a game. I bid them out of their own ball park and felt I hit a home run (Big smile)

As some of you know, I've been a general contractor for many years. Mostly working on country properties, farms, small ranches. It been really good contracting with good folks that understand the value of hard work. Lately I notice a new up and coming generation looking for guys like me that run a small operation, especially when they notice a particular job I did or project that appeals to them. I have one question.... What the hell is with all the rude attitudes? I really don't trust situations/ contracting with people that are short, don't have the time of day. It's strange to me at least. Comments appreciated....

Glad you got it fixed and shared experience with how many alt's are actually not right before finding a good one. As far as I know, Mike is one of very few people teaching about checking the Vac. Of all my diesel truck readings, this site has helped me understand so much more than all others.

I haul my camper(3475lbs fully loaded) in OD on the flats all the time, never hammer it up the hills. I just sort of let the truck ease into the hills and go at about what is reasonable, never pushing it hard to give all she's got. I let the truck mostly decide when to shift of OD and go back in. My trans temp gauge is the real guide how I drive the truck in hot weather hauling the weight..

Sorry about your trouble Ken. First off I never go to the dealers Ken because it'd been my experience that they don't care but to only get you to trade in your truck. I hear many stories of them just throwing parts at a problem without really knowing/ caring about the situation. Confusing electronics/ computers are a real boone to the service dept and truck sales dept. I wish they hadn't messed with the wiring so much and put the expensive/ unreliable new APPS on there. The aftermarket one is only about $175 and is proving smoother and long lasting. It's called a Timbo APPS on Google. Do you have a fuel pressure gauge? That's imperative for beginning the diagnostics on a truck. Forgive my distaste for dealerships..... it sounds to me like they are confused except to give you a ride for a trade in. This could be poor fuel supply, bad VP, bad lift pump, which the oem's are often failing. Also could have bad overflow valve or fuel supply clogs in the tank. Lift pump the dealers put inside the tank is a poor option. You really need it acessable on the frame and off the vibration of the hot engine. Folks can help you better than I can on this forum. I suggest just getting the truck home first.

I am disappointed that your transmission guy is not at least willing to look at it. That's not honorable, coupled with the bit of bs he conveyed, I don't think I'd ever go back. I think you should let everyone else know the name of this trans shop cause it sounds like he's not grounded himself. Trans shop horror story; years ago I went to a highly recommended shop for a rebuild. With the front counter people always acting there is nothing to worry about, that they are the best. I later walked in out of the blue to see the progress on my truck. But they in no way would let me in the shop..... 'due to insurance reasons', they said. I went ahead and acted like I was leaving but then snuck in thru the rear shop door. He he. My truck there on the lift, I noticed a long haired hippie looking guy with very dirty unwashed clothes. Unshavin' and unbathed himself, I said, you should not be working on my truck with the starter motor hanging buy the wires. Felt like sayin' something else but didn't..... I could see the smaller gauge wires stressing with the weight, but the guy argued with me about it. My concern is that loads of these shops only care about the money and the 12 month warrantee. A week later, truck all complete, I was on construction a job, go to start the truck, but the starter motor keeps running and would not shut off. Somehow we eventually stopped it and got home. It was a simple fix later but, 6 months goes by and my trans goes out slipping up a hill. They did fix it under warrantee but never trusted the truck after that. It never felt quite right and sold it at a good deal to the buyer.

The few times I stopped hard enough for ABS felt like the truck wouldn't stop a normal stop. Would disabling it be a concern to my insurance? In my early days of gaining experience without ABS taught you to drive with a bit of skill. Does NASCAR utilize ABS? Sorry to get off topic.

My trans service isn't due for another 13,000 miles. Just doing a passive flush (drain and fill) since I have the drain plug but, when do you stop filling so you don't overfill? Need to get it to where I can drive it for warm up. Then fill to the right level. Thank you to anyone that knows

Mike I fully understand yer thoughts about seeing the crowds of fancy shoppers..... Usually affords the same feelings of wanting to get where it's normal again. I'm working in a working mans neighborhood ready to find a house there. Everyone is such genuine good people with unbelievable generosity. Check on it's way.

Thomas Jefferson...... the mark of a true American leader. He believed in a strong free America thru happy, financially strong Americans. Not this higher taxation/ excessive spending and the flow of billions of American dollars escaping to other counties. I want to believe that Thomas Jefferson, if he were alive today, would be driving a Cummins.

Very informative post Robert.

Wow! it's astonishing how such smart people can at the same time be such huge thieves and continue doing it for years without a conscience. Sounds like his sentence is very small for the upwards of 35 million he stole.

Just want to surmise/ postulate a few things. With population explosion there is only so much money to go around. The continued borrowing/ printing money drives up prices, so the ones that want to pay cash for everything find it more difficult, yet to borrow money for a home does drive the economy and helps younger folks get started. So what can I say about that? If everyone had 1.5 million saved by the time they are 50/ 60, like Suzie Orman so strongly advises, prices would go thru the roof. Be thankful for the little people. The ones just barely making it... they help hold prices down. I am not thankful for excessive money hoarders... they reduce the money supply... especially drug dealers and the few that took billions out of our economy and financial future. Millions lost loads of equity in their homes over this home loan debuckle. Gov't wants control and money/ self perpetuates itself by taking in money for services, taxes, perpetuated/ secured by more rules and laws So likely to not stop eroding our freedom. Printed money first goes thru banks and government, guess who's go the most control of our freedom. Yet when money is spent by Gov't. and loaned by banks it helps all of us when it reaches the private sector. With the price of consumer goods reaching ever higher levels, by comparison, even the higher wage earners are being pushed toward poverty and may not fully realize it. It's like walking down a beautiful path thru a beautiful forest yet 300 yards away the forest has all been harvested. Anything you'd like to add? Thanks for reading.