The Ute II: E350 RB 7.3 ZF6

[naterry]

Love this photo. It says so much to me about exploring the back roads and the history of an area.

Yeah that's a beautiful spot with lots of potential exploring. I wouldn't call the road up "full size friendly" though. It was technically more challenging than getting to the doll houses in canyonlands. Good trail crafting fun though!

It was also featured recently on Petrolicious:

I'm still not understanding why you didn't just pull over into a Les Schwab's for them to change it out. :snorkel:
Nice traffic-free road you got there.

Lol, a couple chukar hunters stopped as I was filling the first flat. That felt like big city livin' compared to the dirt, brush, and recently soaked drainages through the Sheldon National Antelope Refuge in NW Nevada. I certainly questioned my sanity and drove carefully through there without that comfy feeling a spare provides!

 

[sixstringsteve]

man, bummer about the shredded tire. You're the only other van guy I know running those ST MAXX tires. I love 'em, and I have found them to be pretty bulletproof, but now I'll keep a closer eye on them.

 

[ohpyramids]

Samesies on the st maxx. Sweet rig- sub'd

 

[naterry]

Oh I love St. Maxx too. They hit the right balance between capability and road manners for me.

This failure was my fault. If my but dyno was calibrated better I would have noticed the tire going flat before it got pinched.

 

[mk216v]

Lol, a couple chukar hunters stopped as I was filling the first flat. That felt like big city livin' compared to the dirt, brush, and recently soaked drainages through the Sheldon National Antelope Refuge in NW Nevada. I certainly questioned my sanity and drove carefully through there without that comfy feeling a spare provides!

Raises the Australian Outback question; how often have you felt the need for 2 full sized spares?

 

[DougsE350]

That e-fuel setup is killer, I really want to go that route this summer.

 

[naterry]

Raises the Australian Outback question; how often have you felt the need for 2 full sized spares?

Lol, actually every time I've gotten a flat out in the boonies!

Looks like I spoke too soon regarding the Cooper ST Maxx's. I found a split in another tire that goes up half the sidewall. Not a cut, a jagged split, so I can't recommend these tires...

America's tire was nice enough to warranty the two tires, and so I'm switching back to BFG's. Messing around with tire dependability isn't my thing, and BFG's have never failed me.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Dang, now you're starting to worry me about my decision to go with ST Maxxs. Thanks for the review. I'll be curious if you can feel a weight difference between the BFGs and the ST MAXXs with your butt-dyno.

 

[mk216v]

Lol, actually every time I've gotten a flat out in the boonies!

Looks like I spoke too soon regarding the Cooper ST Maxx's. I found a split in another tire that goes up half the sidewall. Not a cut, a jagged split, so I can't recommend these tires...

America's tire was nice enough to warranty the two tires, and so I'm switching back to BFG's. Messing around with tire dependability isn't my thing, and BFG's have never failed me.

Eeek, sorry to hear! Glad you inspected.
Going with the new AT KO2's? My AT KO's on the G treated me well, looks like the new KO2's are even better.
Why not some Toyo's?? My MT's have been treating me well, great load rating, a lot quieter than I expected.

 

[naterry]

Eeek, sorry to hear! Glad you inspected.
Going with the new AT KO2's? My AT KO's on the G treated me well, looks like the new KO2's are even better.
Why not some Toyo's?? My MT's have been treating me well, great load rating, a lot quieter than I expected.

Yeah, bummer on the Maxxs. 10-4 on the K02's. It's hard to know for sure without first hand experience but the reviews seem to indicate that they solved the issues with the original KO's. They also now come with a snowflake rating.

So I guess it's a mix of brand loyalty that they've earned from me with the 3 sets I've run (not 1 flat), price, more aggressive AT tread design, and the reviews I read.

 

[mk216v]

Yeah, bummer on the Maxxs. 10-4 on the K02's. It's hard to know for sure without first hand experience but the reviews seem to indicate that they solved the issues with the original KO's. They also now come with a snowflake rating.

So I guess it's a mix of brand loyalty that they've earned from me with the 3 sets I've run (not 1 flat), price, more aggressive AT tread design, and the reviews I read.

Snowflakes are yummy.
Why not run an MT vs AT?

 

[naterry]

Snowflakes are yummy.
Why not run an MT vs AT?

Oh I'm too much of a city boy for MT's!

In other news, we've passed the point of no return on the pop top:

 

[mk216v]

Yeah, only a city boy would have an E30 M3 w/ LS swap.
Can't wait to see your pop top....

 

[sixstringsteve]

Man, I want a pop top so bad.

 

[mk216v]

Man, I want a pop top so bad.

Which brand are you considering Steve?
As well as a trailer?