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So far so good!
This is the first real trip since I got my M925 onto 16's. I've taken a few little 40 mile trips to shake things loose and adjust the new seat and retorque lugnuts, but this is really first extended drive.
Driving about 200 miles each way. KS and NE back roads, speeds 50-60 with speed limits 50-65. The 16.00 AT3s make a huge difference. Its like a different truck!
55mph is 1600rpm. At this speed it's quiet enough to have a conversation in the cab. The ride is smooth, like 6 big marshmallows. It'll run just over 70mph, but the tires are rated to 55. 55 is comfortable, just loping along. Feels like 42mph on g177s. You guys know the sweet spot....
The speedometer is off by 24%. The bottom end power took a huge hit. There's no comparison between this and my M818 with 16''s and turbo. The M818 has a LOT more power.
But with judicious use of manual shifting you can generally compensate for it. For the hills, immediately downshift when you hit 1500rpm. There hasn't been any hills that I haven't maintained at least 50mph on, but then KS and NE are not known for being hilly.
The truck is just a joy to drive. I have the soft top on, and have it opened up and folded back the first 6 inches. It isn't flapping. I've decided the stitching coming loose across the front is a feature and not a bug - to allow for increased air circulation. (Janet says now that I have the top on that it no longer looks like it has been stolen and stripped)
The rear window stitching let go about 10 miles ago, all at once and with no warning. I'll restitch it with fishing line...
The MRAP seat on the 5ton springer base is ideal, although I'm looking out the very top of the windshield. You guys taller than 6,2" will want some other seat base. I have mine completely compressed and it's still almost too tall, but the mounting bracket i fabbed is taller than it could have been.
I brought along the bare essentials of breakdown equipment - wrenches, jack, jackstand, cribbing, lugwrench, towbars, chains, and air lines. Hoping not to need any, especially since my spare is in the front of the bed...
I'm dragging along the GETT trailer. It's towing dead level and behaving nicely. Backing that short trailer is nearly impossible. By the time you can see it, it's already so far out that it can't recover. I've solved this mostly by avoiding backing. When I have to back, I get out every few feet and walk back and look at it. I'm hoping to Shanghai a ground guide if any tight maneuvers are required at the event. Hey, I cheat! Only results count!
I'm stopped about 20 miles from destination, holed up in a super 8. There's some old tractors on display...
Some pictures - a couple of you have expressed interest.
This is the first real trip since I got my M925 onto 16's. I've taken a few little 40 mile trips to shake things loose and adjust the new seat and retorque lugnuts, but this is really first extended drive.
Driving about 200 miles each way. KS and NE back roads, speeds 50-60 with speed limits 50-65. The 16.00 AT3s make a huge difference. Its like a different truck!
55mph is 1600rpm. At this speed it's quiet enough to have a conversation in the cab. The ride is smooth, like 6 big marshmallows. It'll run just over 70mph, but the tires are rated to 55. 55 is comfortable, just loping along. Feels like 42mph on g177s. You guys know the sweet spot....
The speedometer is off by 24%. The bottom end power took a huge hit. There's no comparison between this and my M818 with 16''s and turbo. The M818 has a LOT more power.
But with judicious use of manual shifting you can generally compensate for it. For the hills, immediately downshift when you hit 1500rpm. There hasn't been any hills that I haven't maintained at least 50mph on, but then KS and NE are not known for being hilly.
The truck is just a joy to drive. I have the soft top on, and have it opened up and folded back the first 6 inches. It isn't flapping. I've decided the stitching coming loose across the front is a feature and not a bug - to allow for increased air circulation. (Janet says now that I have the top on that it no longer looks like it has been stolen and stripped)
The rear window stitching let go about 10 miles ago, all at once and with no warning. I'll restitch it with fishing line...
The MRAP seat on the 5ton springer base is ideal, although I'm looking out the very top of the windshield. You guys taller than 6,2" will want some other seat base. I have mine completely compressed and it's still almost too tall, but the mounting bracket i fabbed is taller than it could have been.
I brought along the bare essentials of breakdown equipment - wrenches, jack, jackstand, cribbing, lugwrench, towbars, chains, and air lines. Hoping not to need any, especially since my spare is in the front of the bed...
I'm dragging along the GETT trailer. It's towing dead level and behaving nicely. Backing that short trailer is nearly impossible. By the time you can see it, it's already so far out that it can't recover. I've solved this mostly by avoiding backing. When I have to back, I get out every few feet and walk back and look at it. I'm hoping to Shanghai a ground guide if any tight maneuvers are required at the event. Hey, I cheat! Only results count!
I'm stopped about 20 miles from destination, holed up in a super 8. There's some old tractors on display...
Some pictures - a couple of you have expressed interest.
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