Heading west. - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #46 06-20-2016, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Drat. I was hoping you'd have some data on a correlation between tire temperature and blowouts. I've heard some people deny a connection. I did have a boat trailer on which the PO was running 60 psi instead of the suggested 90psi. I saw a drop of about 30 degrees in tire temperatures once I raised the psi to 90.

I usually walk around my vehicle and put a hand on every tire. A hot one is a warning sign. Its not very scientific but if its not enough to feel its probably not a problem. I do find that the right side tires on both the truck and trailer but more so the trailer seem routinely hotter. I wonder if its the exhaust from the motor that makes the trailer tires hotter?

Like I said this day I was thinking about my tranny and trying to get used to pulling it out of od for every hill, not easy to remember since the motor barely notices anything short of a mountain.

t walgamuth · #47 06-20-2016, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

By the way, I have a friend who has a fifth wheel trailer and uses a tire monitoring system. He had a blowout and even with the tire completely absent from the rim, his monitoring system was still indicating everything was fine. It was only the next day that his monitoring system indicated a problem.

We heard a muffled pop then I noticed a vibration. I pulled over and slowed down within seconds of the pop. Usually when a trailer tire goes I cannot hear it but can feel the vibration when the tire comes apart. We both heard it pop.

I need to get one of those infra red tire probes to use for autocross. Tire temp is very critical on my Lotus. Too hot and its like driving on ice....too cold....same thing only not as pronounced.

t walgamuth · #48 06-20-2016, 11:57 PM

Interesting vehicles spotted on the trip:
A fairly new Land Rover, the old fashoned style with aluminum body and a TDI engine. It had a tent that folded up and flipped out from the roof of the vehicle. It was accessed by a folding aluminum ladder. I spoke with the owner, a Brit, who loved it....in the KOA at West Yellowstone.
I actually saw three vehicles which Kerry would love....very large box like trucks with a camper on back with limited windows and large off road style wheels...must have been nearly 4' in diameter. One at least was a benz, also one at least was a MAN.
And an IVECO SUV thingie.
Also in that KOA was an enormous selection of huge motor homes, several with tandem axles at the back end.
Last night out in Eastern Iowa we saw two lovely Prevosts...one with the fetching polished aluminum panels on the side.

TwitchKitty · #49 06-21-2016, 07:46 AM

I have been surprised how much hotter the tires are on the sunny side of the vehicle.

t walgamuth · #50 06-21-2016, 09:36 AM

Maybe that's it.

kerry · #51 06-21-2016, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

I have been surprised how much hotter the tires are on the sunny side of the vehicle.

Me too. I've driven across the country the last 4 years in summer pulling a trailer and checking the tire temps with a non-contact thermometer. I thought the heat generated from the flexing tire would negate any solar effect but not so. There's always a difference between the sunny and shady side.

t walgamuth · #52 06-22-2016, 11:46 AM

So yesterday I ordered two cooling devices....basically aluminum housings to bolt on where a transfer case would. Increases lube capacity 2 qt and adds surface area and fins to throw off heat.....also a temp gauge and a pod to mount it on my windshield post.

I have added pictures of the trip now too.

kerry · #53 06-22-2016, 02:45 PM

I don't have a temp gauge on my transmission and it was over 100 degrees when I was towing across Nebraska and South Dakota last year. I would have liked to have had one. Where are the pictures?-----ok I see them now. I liked the peaked roof on your camper. Never really understood why most manufacturers use flat roofs which are usually plagued with leaks after a few years.

t walgamuth · #54 06-22-2016, 03:37 PM

That little camper is an excellent design! We came from a 34' airstream before that and the interior stuff tends to be as good as the airstream stuff. the Award was built in Canada. Its very light and is filled with airstream like nice quality touches. If you're over six foot though it might be tight.

kerry · #55 06-23-2016, 12:35 AM

Here's some trailer RV'ing you might appreciate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk6KJXeOM0k

t walgamuth · #56 06-23-2016, 06:48 AM

Its not the destination it is the trip, right? Looks like fun!

Mistress · #57 06-24-2016, 10:29 AM

TW loving that truck!

t walgamuth · #58 06-24-2016, 02:19 PM

You mean the studebaker or the dodge?

t walgamuth · #59 07-03-2016, 07:51 PM

We took the Truck with the new tranny, the cooling devices and the new tem moniter gauge towing the travel trailer. Running 70 mph the temp never got above 170....in sixth gear.

t walgamuth · #60 03-31-2017, 10:01 AM

When the tranny went bad in Yellowstone I decided since the truck had 200K on it to change the clutch as a precaution since it was all apart...mistake! Without my knowledge the repair shop put in a full metallic clutch disc with the matching pressure plate. They also did not turn the flywheel saying it was fine.

Shortly after installation I noticed the clutch was grabby. Thinking it would wear in and smooth out I carried on. It only got worse.

So yesterday I took the truck to my Indie and had them put in a new clutch. The flywheel was dished out pretty good. When i noticed the new clutch disc was all metal I talked to John about it and he said they were pretty known to be grabby. After a discussion we decided to get an oem quality clutch with organic friction material.

Labor and all parts are being covered by NAPA. Unfortunately they would not give us anything except what had been put in my truck (without my knowledge) in the original repair.

So I'm gonna sell off the all metal clutch and PP. I'll have to pay for the organic clutch though.