Mock Tender
Adventurer
Our 2015 shake-down cruise: total miles of 660 in three days. Covering mountains and high plains.
With more parts on order, the motorcycle lift system being painted and the head-ache arch being contemplated, we decided to take-off for a shake-down cruise to Sugarbrite Canyon, New Mexico.
We already had 560 miles on the stock FG with mostly city streets and about 120 miles of highway. This was the first of any real distance since the sub-frame, EC wheels and 315/75/16 Cooper ST/Mxxx, bull-bars, Bigfoot were installed and the don't exceed 2,800 RPM.
We worked our way across Colorado Springs and south for Raton, NM on I-25. The speed limit from Colo. Springs to Raton is between 65 and 75 mph with the Raton Pass topping out at 7,834 feet. Our speeds ranged from 43 to 70 (GPS checked since the speedo has not been corrected for the bigger tires). On the medium to steeper uphills the transmission acted like every other underpowered automatic that I have ever driven. I was disappointed, but not distraught. I could have gone faster at times than 70 mph, but the big tires started to have a really pronounced floating feeling, that I was uncomfortable with and felt a little unsafe.
The following day we drove from Raton through Taos to the Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Questa, NM. What I did find was the FG/BF at lower speeds of below 50 mph would handle going 5-10 mph faster than the posted speed on turns. Without any hint of being dangerous or scary. Between the engine braking and the mild fluid feel of the steering, I was always comfortable doing the speed limit downhill.
On our last day, I decided to go over some real Colorado passes on the way back to Colo. Sprgs. So we went via Great Sand Dunes National Park up State 17 to US 24 going over Poncha Pass (9010 ft.), Wilkerson Pass (9,507 ft.), Trout Creek Pass (9,346 ft.) and Ute Pass (9,165 ft.): I think I am missing one.
I want to start off by saying that during the whole trip, I was unable to figure out when the turbo was going to kick in and when it would wind down. I owned a Saab Turbo when I used to live in Colorado. When I hit a certain RPM or load the turbo would kick in. I could put the Saab into 5th gear, cruise control on and watch the speedo and tach never move and the turbo boost gauge would quietly be working up and down the whole time flying up the mountains.
The FG is, from what I can tell, nothing like that at all. There is a high pitch whine/squeal when you would think the turbo would be turning, but no extra power. Then there is a sound like a super-charger spooling in (low rumble). I almost wondered if it is the alternator coming on and off- but is very much timed to when I asked for power. But, then it would not spool down when I let my foot off the gas pedal. The auto shifting was jumping between 5th and 6th and never when I would have wanted it to. So for the first pass as I started up the rise, I manually kept it in 6th; except when it slowed down to 2,200 rpm when I would then shift down to 5th. I would hold at 5th gear until up to 3,200 and then go back to 6th. But, most of the time, I just stayed in 6th and let the turbo work.
At the top of Poncha Pass (9,010) I had to slow down for the speed limit of 50 mph with only one car right behind me. It was the same story for all of the rest of the passes, I was always as fast or slightly faster that the speed limit.
Coming down the back side of passes the engine braking worked exceptionally well. Let off gas = little engine braking, step on the brake the FG would down shift and add heavy braking. I am sure it was throwing anyone behind me off wondering if my brake lights were working.
At this preliminary point, I seem to be needing to add DEF about every 800 miles. Don't know if this will change with temps and altitude.
I will also have to say that those big Cooper's and the added weight (I was running right at 10,500 pounds) have definitely put the spring/seats/shocks replacement on hold for now. Our next jaunt is a three week excursion up to Idaho. I expect to put 2,000 miles on then- more decisions after that.
Also- expect to get lots of attention wherever you go. At a Burger King stop- seven employees from a Big O tire came over crawling around an under the truck just oohing and aahing. By the time we left 6 more people came over to shake my hand and take pictures and ask a lot of questions. The cops in Taos smiled and waived- that might be helpful someday.
Mark
With more parts on order, the motorcycle lift system being painted and the head-ache arch being contemplated, we decided to take-off for a shake-down cruise to Sugarbrite Canyon, New Mexico.
We already had 560 miles on the stock FG with mostly city streets and about 120 miles of highway. This was the first of any real distance since the sub-frame, EC wheels and 315/75/16 Cooper ST/Mxxx, bull-bars, Bigfoot were installed and the don't exceed 2,800 RPM.
We worked our way across Colorado Springs and south for Raton, NM on I-25. The speed limit from Colo. Springs to Raton is between 65 and 75 mph with the Raton Pass topping out at 7,834 feet. Our speeds ranged from 43 to 70 (GPS checked since the speedo has not been corrected for the bigger tires). On the medium to steeper uphills the transmission acted like every other underpowered automatic that I have ever driven. I was disappointed, but not distraught. I could have gone faster at times than 70 mph, but the big tires started to have a really pronounced floating feeling, that I was uncomfortable with and felt a little unsafe.
The following day we drove from Raton through Taos to the Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Questa, NM. What I did find was the FG/BF at lower speeds of below 50 mph would handle going 5-10 mph faster than the posted speed on turns. Without any hint of being dangerous or scary. Between the engine braking and the mild fluid feel of the steering, I was always comfortable doing the speed limit downhill.
On our last day, I decided to go over some real Colorado passes on the way back to Colo. Sprgs. So we went via Great Sand Dunes National Park up State 17 to US 24 going over Poncha Pass (9010 ft.), Wilkerson Pass (9,507 ft.), Trout Creek Pass (9,346 ft.) and Ute Pass (9,165 ft.): I think I am missing one.
I want to start off by saying that during the whole trip, I was unable to figure out when the turbo was going to kick in and when it would wind down. I owned a Saab Turbo when I used to live in Colorado. When I hit a certain RPM or load the turbo would kick in. I could put the Saab into 5th gear, cruise control on and watch the speedo and tach never move and the turbo boost gauge would quietly be working up and down the whole time flying up the mountains.
The FG is, from what I can tell, nothing like that at all. There is a high pitch whine/squeal when you would think the turbo would be turning, but no extra power. Then there is a sound like a super-charger spooling in (low rumble). I almost wondered if it is the alternator coming on and off- but is very much timed to when I asked for power. But, then it would not spool down when I let my foot off the gas pedal. The auto shifting was jumping between 5th and 6th and never when I would have wanted it to. So for the first pass as I started up the rise, I manually kept it in 6th; except when it slowed down to 2,200 rpm when I would then shift down to 5th. I would hold at 5th gear until up to 3,200 and then go back to 6th. But, most of the time, I just stayed in 6th and let the turbo work.
At the top of Poncha Pass (9,010) I had to slow down for the speed limit of 50 mph with only one car right behind me. It was the same story for all of the rest of the passes, I was always as fast or slightly faster that the speed limit.
Coming down the back side of passes the engine braking worked exceptionally well. Let off gas = little engine braking, step on the brake the FG would down shift and add heavy braking. I am sure it was throwing anyone behind me off wondering if my brake lights were working.
At this preliminary point, I seem to be needing to add DEF about every 800 miles. Don't know if this will change with temps and altitude.
I will also have to say that those big Cooper's and the added weight (I was running right at 10,500 pounds) have definitely put the spring/seats/shocks replacement on hold for now. Our next jaunt is a three week excursion up to Idaho. I expect to put 2,000 miles on then- more decisions after that.
Also- expect to get lots of attention wherever you go. At a Burger King stop- seven employees from a Big O tire came over crawling around an under the truck just oohing and aahing. By the time we left 6 more people came over to shake my hand and take pictures and ask a lot of questions. The cops in Taos smiled and waived- that might be helpful someday.
Mark
