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[4000lbsOfGoat]

Nothing more reliable or field fixable than pre emissions vacuum controls.

I don't understand, if it is reliable, why does it need to be field fixable? It seems to me that "field fixable" is an important quality for something that is NOT reliable...I can't do much field fixing of my modern Toyotas but they have been reliable so that isn't really an issue....

 

[IdaSHO]

I can respect some of the sentiment. But for the most part this is little more than old guys moaning about things they ignorant about.
By and large, things are FAR more reliable than days past. Service intervals are far greater, and things simply last longer.
They are however, not typically serviceable. Which is why I can understand SOME of the sentiment.
I too like things to be serviceable. But if they rarely, or never fail... whats the problem??

A simple example is the fuel filter on my 6.2 Ford.
What filter? Yeah, thats right... there is no serviceable filter. Its built into the in-tank pump.
So the filter change isnt even on the table anymore. Zero maintenance needed.
And the pumps essentially last forever, so what are we even talking about?

It enrages me that ford has buried their heads in the sand regarding the superduty hub vaccume issue. A friend of mine has had his f350 tremor in the shop twice this winter due to hub failure. I'm in a Similar boat with my tremor, she's going in the shop soon for repair. Nothing like being out in the bush for a fire and getting stuck because your 4x4 dosnt work!

Id say you are fortunate to have locking hubs to begin with. Ford is the single hold out for front locking hubs (fullsize)
And the vacuum hub problem isn't anything new. It relys upon vacuum (duh) and its weak point is the inner hub seal.

No seal lasts forever. So either replace the hub seal or toss selectables on it if you don't already have them.

I have more of an issue with the unit bearings myself. Many are getting less than 75k out of a set.
And when they go... they GO. So I have converted over to a Dynatrac setup, that uses traditional taper bearings and manual lockouts.

But you do have to get your nancy butt out of the truck to lock them. Sorry

 

[JaSAn]

I don't understand, if it is reliable, why does it need to be field fixable? . . .

Because Murphy was an optimist.

 

[Explorerinil]

I can respect some of the sentiment. But for the most part this is little more than old guys moaning about things they ignorant about.
By and large, things are FAR more reliable than days past. Service intervals are far greater, and things simply last longer.
They are however, not typically serviceable. Which is why I can understand SOME of the sentiment.
I too like things to be serviceable. But if they rarely, or never fail... whats the problem??

A simple example is the fuel filter on my 6.2 Ford.
What filter? Yeah, thats right... there is no serviceable filter. Its built into the in-tank pump.
So the filter change isnt even on the table anymore. Zero maintenance needed.
And the pumps essentially last forever, so what are we even talking about?



Id say you are fortunate to have locking hubs to begin with. Ford is the single hold out for front locking hubs (fullsize)
And the vacuum hub problem isn't anything new. It relys upon vacuum (duh) and its weak point is the inner hub seal.

No seal lasts forever. So either replace the hub seal or toss selectables on it if you don't already have them.

I have more of an issue with the unit bearings myself. Many are getting less than 75k out of a set.
And when they go... they GO. So I have converted over to a Dynatrac setup, that uses traditional taper bearings and manual lockouts.

But you do have to get your nancy butt out of the truck to lock them. Sorry

When the hubs on my F-250 fail, I won’t be replacing them with stock ford hubs, ill go the route you did.

 

[Explorerinil]

It enrages me that ford has buried their heads in the sand regarding the superduty hub vaccume issue. A friend of mine has had his f350 tremor in the shop twice this winter due to hub failure. I'm in a Similar boat with my tremor, she's going in the shop soon for repair. Nothing like being out in the bush for a fire and getting stuck because your 4x4 dosnt work!

I’d rather have the ford hubs, when the vaccum fails you can manually engage them vs the central axle disconnect on one side of the axle that aam uses in the axle on ram trucks.

 

[IdaSHO]

When the hubs on my F-250 fail, I won’t be replacing them with stock ford hubs, ill go the route you did.

You wont be sorry. Its a great kit.
Zero regrets!

 

[billiebob]

I think you are wrong.
Tesla can remotely:
- disable your car,
- monitor your driving,
- change your cars computer code.

Whatever Tesla can do, the government can do, other car manufacturers will be forced by governments to do, and bad guys will eventually figure out how to do.

This has nothing to do with the vehicles power source.... they can do all the above with ICEs too.

 

[billiebob]

I don't understand, if it is reliable, why does it need to be field fixable? It seems to me that "field fixable" is an important quality for something that is NOT reliable...I can't do much field fixing of my modern Toyotas but they have been reliable so that isn't really an issue....

Think flat tire..... Think run flat tire..... think I'm 300 miles from the road, no matter what tire you run don't you want a spare tire.

 

[billiebob]

But for the most part this is little more than old guys moaning about things they ignorant about.

yep, this is me. I understand plugs points carbs, but the check engine light is like a farmer checking his fields, pop the hood.... yep its still there.
Mechanical fuel pump on the side of the engine vs electronic fuel pump inside the tank. Two bolts, 5 minutes replaces the mechanical one vs drain and drop the tank. Or the issues with almost every modern truck where you have to lift the cab to do anything. I know hopefully you'll never need to they are so reliable but I'd sooner just service my basic truck with plugs points and a carb and be able to see everything when I open the hood.

Dead battery in anything new and German, ya cannot boost it, the protocol is deck it to a dealer... My buddy, an 80 year old logger, changed the battery in his 2012 Explorer, reverse quit working because he never knew about the 87 step procedure to change the battery in a 2012 Explorer.

Quite right, ignorant and proud of it. Can you imagine the day they add computer tracking to guns and bullets.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Old guys are ignorant...? I didn't know that,,,
And, what's this 'getting out of your vehicle to engage your hubs'
That's SO old school. This is 2022 ..come on man.?

 

[Anti-lander]

If your happy with 70s tech on your inline 6 engines why are you even complaining about emissions on vehicles you don't even own.

I could talk about setting points on rotors,bad timing, rebuilding carbs and cork gaskets causing vacuum leaks all day too. how about when the starter goes bad and sticks causing the mechanical fuel pump to flood the carbs and cause unsafe fueling issues.

In my opinion which don't mean a thing.
Carbs only belong on bikes, mowers and generators in 2022


And what do yall mean non serviceable everything is replaceable if you know the procedures and have a spare for it.

Check engine lights are great I can hook up the autocal find out exactly what's going on and fix it quick. While you are tearing apart your carbs to change jets, clean it or adjust the bowl I can log onto a laptop and Change my fuel/air map on the go.

I think it's more about your refusal to learn the new way things are done instead of hanging onto old tech. Your the only one missing out on anything.

 

[spot]

So how do you fix an ecm that takes a dump in Death Valley? My dedicated off highway truck is a 78 vintage with 78 tech. The only new tech is a digital guage cluster. If the carb acts up I can rebuild it on the trail in 20 mins (yep bad fuel from sketchy gas station), ignition goes bad, swap in spare module, fuel pump dies flip on the spare electric pusher, manual trans I can roll start if necessary and I have learned to shift without a clutch. ECM goes out I guess you carry a spare, body control module????
My daily driver is new and it has been mostly trouble free for nearly 100,000 miles but I can’t fix it in the field without a computer. I would much rather rely on my 50 years of mechanical knowledge and the intimate knowledge of the truck that I built than rely on tech that is proprietary. I know not everyone is a mechanic or even wants to learn. If you can’t fix it make sure you have a credit card, a friend near by or a sat phone I guess.

 

[displacedtexan]

My buddy, an 80 year old logger, changed the battery in his 2012 Explorer, reverse quit working because he never knew about the 87 step procedure to change the battery in a 2012 Explorer.

This seems to be unique to you two...

 

[4000lbsOfGoat]

If the carb acts up I can rebuild it on the trail in 20 mins (yep bad fuel from sketchy gas station), ignition goes bad, swap in spare module, fuel pump dies flip on the spare electric pusher, manual trans I can roll start if necessary and I have learned to shift without a clutch.

At what point do you stop carrying spares? Do you have a spare driveshaft? Axles? Wheel bearings? CV joints? Shocks? Springs? Do you just tow an entire spare vehicle behind to ensure that you can always fix anything that might break? At some point you just have to trust (hope?) that the vehicle is not going to break. You can't be prepared for every possible failure. I think many of us have more trust (hope?) that a vehicle that just rolled off the factory floor a couple\few years ago is likely to be reliable. Sure, things can go wrong, but as you mentioned, that is why I *do* have a satellite communication device and credit cards....

 

[jbaucom]

Old vehicles are cool and have character, and that makes messing with them and driving them around a fun hobby (most of the time). When it comes to a vehicle that I'm depending on, whether as a daily driver or for long trips, I don't want to have any doubts about it's reliability. If I'm concerned about having vehicle problems that can't be resolved with a spare tire or a booster pack, I'm shopping for a new vehicle. A little preventive maintenance goes a long way with any vehicle. If I chose to depend on an older vehicle and I could predict what was likely to give me issues well enough to be carrying the correct spare parts for a roadside/trail repair, then I believe I'd just go ahead and do a little PM and nip those problems in the bud so I could leave the spare parts at home. A side benefit of that is that it's easier to work on a vehicle in a garage/shop than on the side of the road or trail.