If the weather clears up I might just do that Ted! It drives like a dream and has no power issues at all to me.. Yes, most truckers say they are guttless dogs but its all I want for get up and go on 35K pounds. It will be hard to get back in the M109 that power steering will spoil you fast..
Dave said the pump is turned up a notch.. That old indian just put his ear on the hood, it was the first thing out of his mouth. Gotta love that guy! He has helped me allot and I have learned so much about this big stuff from him. 5 years ago I would never have thought I would have anything bigger than a CUCV/M37.. WRONG!
As for delivery! It was a pain in the butt! But patients and some last minute changes and it all worked out in the end. I had to unload it in Gaylord dew to the fact they put it on a single drop that had no ramps! Therefore , not knowing if it would run, roll, do anything? Dave P drove his 819 to work and was going to unload it and tow it to his house for me with the 819 so we could work on it. He had some complictions on the way down so I put my trusty jump starter on it and Kablam! She fired right up! Good oil pressure and all.. I had a stuck air valve on the trans so it would not pump up.. Fixed that and I let Dave P drive it off the trailer. It had no brake pedal so I wanted him to do it. The trucker unfortunately caught the front brake line with the chain! Therefore we fixed that, I checked all other fluids, and away I went! Was a blast driving home and lots of finger pointing.. I loved it! Cant wait until cruise night and some parades..
A bonus found by Dave P was a full set of chains for it in the back side compartments. Bring on the snow! I think this one was in winter operations or spent some time on civi roads? Just by some of the rust issues and the camo job?? Wish they could talk!
I have also taken 8 of them glow sticks off of it?? Strapped in variouse strategic locations? Night ops of somekind? It has all new tires much better than NTD's, ground spades,vice,heater, and strobes.. I am very happy with it so far. This was a must for me working on this heavy stuff. Putting plywood down to use my engine hoist was getting old. Now I can pull the dumper motor, move some of my shelters, pick up sap tanks, and so on..
Thanks for all you comments guys and its nice to share ones exsperiance with others who like the same old junk I do.. Or atleast act like it....
Lane
