Sore neck/back
I've been sleeping on the same mattress for 10 years now, and it wasn't that great when I got it. The wife has been bugging me to get a new one, and with the stiff neck/shoulders I've been having every night, I'm about to agree. We went looking for mattresses this weekend, and I didn't know you could easily spend $3500 on one. Crap! What is even worse, it seems that every store has their own signature series and model lines made by Sealy, Serta, and Simmons. So it makes it impossible to compare prices for features (either at different stores or online).


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- posted by Jeff @ 6:45 AM | 1 comments

 
Autometer gauges
Got some Autometer Carbon Fiber style gauges to put in the A-pillar of the new truck. Put in a pyrometer (reads up to 1600'F) and a turbo boost gauge (reads 0-35psi). They work great. I also managed to put in a "finger stick" and EGR Blocker plate (these avoid sending your exhaust back through your intake to reduce emissions).

I sure am glad I put these gauges in!!! I hooked up to my 25' Wildwood travel trailer (6950lbs dry, almost 7700lbs loaded with water), and we towed... on I-84 this past weekend. Outside temp was 65-70'F and there weren't any really nasty long hills on our route. I checked both stock and +40hp Predator setting.

I didn't notice the stock tune turning in significantly more boost, but it was just a little higher. I'm guessing that is because of the way the predator lies to the computer on the fuel that the engine is ACTUALLY getting. Also, the stock tune NEVER got above 1350'F (it pops up to 1200'F pretty quick, and then just creeps up to around 1300'F mostly over long pulls). The +40hp setting would quickly exceed 1400'F and didn't show signs of slowing down by the time I would pull my foot off. It would run 1300'F just on a level road at 75mph cruise (and any little hill would send it over 1400'F, pretty quick). This is one place that the Edge/Attitude is probably a great buy with the defueling ability.

I was a little disappointed in how hard this trailer pullled (after reading all of the posts around here, and people pulling 16,000lb stuff all at 75+). I had a tough time on some grades keeping it at 75mph. Some times the truck would get this high rev sound, but the RPM's didn't seem to change, then it would sort of slowly wind down and get quieter (again, all with no RPM change). It wasn't really a "shift", but I assume it was something in the tranny? Is this what is known as "limping" or slipping the tranny? Is this bad? How do I avoid it (without buying a new upgrade)? Just slow down?

Here is a picture before we took off for Three Island Crossing near Glenns Ferry Idaho (it was raining).

And is a picuture up by Farewell Bend, Oregon a couple weeks ago.

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- posted by Jeff @ 9:57 PM | 3 comments