So I managed about 100 miles around town with no issues. Great, let's hook up a trailer and take off. What could go wrong?
So over the past few days I've tried to compile a kit from my "second tier" tools that I can keep in the van. It seems like it's pretty complete but the only way to know is to actually use it to do any work. You might notice something missing - a jack. I have a sheepherders jack (sorry, a Hi-Lift) but I can't see how/where I could use it so I didn't bring it. It seems like the best (only) way to lift the van would be with a small hydraulic jack under the axle. So what are you guys using? I'd like to pick something up on the way because not having one is tempting fate.
One thing I was absolutely sure was going to be replaced before we left were the headlights. Wow, are the stock ones bad. So I broke out that tool kit.
After spending a lot of time researching it seemed like consensus was that Scott at
Vantage Optics was the guy to turn to. I'd previously made the mistake of buying aftermarket lights for my F-150 off Amazon. There are not words to describe how bad they were. They were a nightmare to install, the clips broke and when they were finally in they were dimmer than my stock ones and with a worse pattern. Burned once I wanted to buy from a real person who had a good reputation. So I went with Vantage.
I've had the kit for maybe a month and because of the nightmare of my previous experience I was dreading installing the lights. So I waited until the day before we were going to leave on the family vacation. Now, I'd planned on making this a step by step but sadly for you it was so easy that I had them installed in like 30 minutes and didn't bother with the "steps" because it's essentially a harness with plugs that only can go one place and his instructions are dead simple.
The stock ones popped out easily and the only tricky part is finding a place for the ballasts and screwing them to the body. But it's not a biggie.
And I have to say that they look good. In fact the whole "chrome" thing seems to be working really well here which is a bit unexpected. More importantly these lights work. Amazing! Definitely some of the best money I've ever spent on after market lights.
So we're on the road and I have to say I'm really impressed with how well the van tracks. I took it into Sears to have the alignment checked and the tech put it on the rack and ran the numbers and then said I was basically right on except for toe in which we knew needed adjustment. He even admitted that when he saw the van he was worried it was going to be a wonky home job but said he'd actually never measured a more accurate rear axle - it was .01 degree off. As close to perfect as he's ever seen. Nice job MG.
Of course I don't want it to go to his head so I texted him from the road that one of his brackets cracked and the van was pulling really hard. Then, not wanting to panic him, I immediately texted "Just Kidding!" but he still said I gave him a heart attack. Sorry MG!
While the van has been steering and running great we're going to replace the speed converter as the one we put in doesn't get us close enough. Chris at U-Joint is going to overnight me a replacement Monday and I'll install it and see how that helps as the tranny hunts a bit right now. Also, it is now
very obvious that 3.73 gears are not going to work. The van really struggles going up the steep hills and at one point the tranny downshifted really hard and there was a sudden cloud of smoke behind us. I slowed down and pulled over to check. There was oil sort of sprayed around but no drips or obvious damage. We limped along to the next gas station and checked the fluids and all were topped up and no loss so I called MG and he thought the hard downshift probably blew out some oil through a breather or past a seal. I wiped it all down and it seems to be staying dry so I'm going to back off for the rest of the trip.
Two things I've noticed - you are really tall and the visibility is amazing. You can look into the cabs of semi's. The other is that you get a lot of thumbs up. I've never driven anything that gets as much attention save for a friends Shelby Cobra. People love this thing. I was talking to Taylor the other day and we were remarking on what a tranformation it is and yet it's really only bigger wheels and of course all the underpinnings that make those wheels possible - but visually, it's the wheels and stance. How that makes such a night and day transformation is hard to say.
Also, chicks dig this thing. At the motel in Boise tonight (too damn hot here for the trailer) the check in girl took a long look at the van and finally said, "That's a sweet van!"
Yup, it sure is.
I'll try to update this as we go as the plan is to do more than tow a trailer with it.
Gregor
