wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Sounds great!
WreckDiver1321's 2003 Frontier CC SC
- Thread starter wreckdiver1321
- Start date
Sounds great!
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Trying to figure out why my fuel mileage is in the toilet. I'm getting 12.5 mpg doing 70 mph at 2600 rpm on the highway. With a tailwind. Something isn't quite right.
EDIT: Threw a scanner on it today. My knock sensor is dead. Considering doing the bypass mod, but I haven't been able to find a good info source on this. Any leads?
Also, the SC belt is chirping. It sounds like it's coming from the AC compressor pulley, but I need to verify. That's strange though, because the whole compressor assembly is 8 months old.
EDIT: Threw a scanner on it today. My knock sensor is dead. Considering doing the bypass mod, but I haven't been able to find a good info source on this. Any leads?
Also, the SC belt is chirping. It sounds like it's coming from the AC compressor pulley, but I need to verify. That's strange though, because the whole compressor assembly is 8 months old.
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wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Just going to have the knock sensor changed. I'd do it myself, but I don't have the time or motivation right now. A friend of mine is going to do it.
While he's in there, I'm going to change my plugs and wires too.
While he's in there, I'm going to change my plugs and wires too.
mortonm
Expedition Leader
Good Idea, I Didn't do mine either when I had it changed, you have to remove a lot of stuff to get at it
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
I figured while that was going on, I might as well. I'm already spending money on it. Plugs and wires won't add that much really. I'm trying to maximize the mileage I get out of it. Right after I got the tires, I was averaging 15.7 mpg with mixed driving. If I can return to that, or even slightly improve it, I'll be happy. My goal is to be able to do 65-70 (2200-2600 RPM) and do around 15-16 mpg.
mortonm
Expedition Leader
Definiately achievable, fully loaded I get about the same on the highway.
Might as well do em all while the thing is torn apart
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
EPA estimated highway mpg is 17-18. I think 16 with big tires and a slightly taller profile is easily attainable.
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wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Man, I need to spend less time online....
I've just decided what one of my next mods is going to be. I'm going to be getting a toolbox to mount in the bed. I need it badly. I have a lot to organize and carry, and it will really help.
Inside the toolbox, there will be a battery box.
Inside the battery box, there will be a Die Hard or Odyssey group 34 battery.
That battery will be connected to the main battery via a National Luna dual battery kit.
I've been thinking about doing this for a while, and now I've taken the time to figure out how to do it and how it all works. I can see all the great benefits of it, and I'm positive I can do it myself pretty easily. I have no idea when I'll be able to undertake this. We shall see when I can get the other stuff out of the way as well, but I suspect I'd like to do this not long after I get my winch.
And now that I've figured it out, I'm pretty sure I know how I'm going to clean up my electrical system. I'm going to run a 6 or 12 circuit Blue Sea fuse box under the hood for all my auxiliary circuits, a 6 circuit fuse box in the cab simply for switch circuits, and a couple of Hella relay boxes to keep the relays clean. This should keep all of the underhood wiring clean and well done, as well as keeping the interior switch circuits tidy. It might sound like a bit much, but consider I'll be running the lights up top, lights on the front bumper, a light on the rear bumper, possibly rock lights, a fridge, and a ham radio. Oh, and a winch, but that doesn't affect the fuse box wiring. Again, no idea when this will happen. As money allows I assume.
I've just decided what one of my next mods is going to be. I'm going to be getting a toolbox to mount in the bed. I need it badly. I have a lot to organize and carry, and it will really help.
Inside the toolbox, there will be a battery box.
Inside the battery box, there will be a Die Hard or Odyssey group 34 battery.
That battery will be connected to the main battery via a National Luna dual battery kit.
I've been thinking about doing this for a while, and now I've taken the time to figure out how to do it and how it all works. I can see all the great benefits of it, and I'm positive I can do it myself pretty easily. I have no idea when I'll be able to undertake this. We shall see when I can get the other stuff out of the way as well, but I suspect I'd like to do this not long after I get my winch.
And now that I've figured it out, I'm pretty sure I know how I'm going to clean up my electrical system. I'm going to run a 6 or 12 circuit Blue Sea fuse box under the hood for all my auxiliary circuits, a 6 circuit fuse box in the cab simply for switch circuits, and a couple of Hella relay boxes to keep the relays clean. This should keep all of the underhood wiring clean and well done, as well as keeping the interior switch circuits tidy. It might sound like a bit much, but consider I'll be running the lights up top, lights on the front bumper, a light on the rear bumper, possibly rock lights, a fridge, and a ham radio. Oh, and a winch, but that doesn't affect the fuse box wiring. Again, no idea when this will happen. As money allows I assume.
stioc
Expedition Leader
Nice plans man! Oh and I can confirm the wiring starts to get unwieldy even with just a few extra accessories like I have without a proper secondary fusebox and a relay bank etc. I wish I started it right that way but you know how it is..."nah, I only need to run these two wires not worth the wiring project" famous last words because accessories happen 
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Nice plans man! Oh and I can confirm the wiring starts to get unwieldy even with just a few extra accessories like I have without a proper secondary fusebox and a relay bank etc. I wish I started it right that way but you know how it is..."nah, I only need to run these two wires not worth the wiring project" famous last words because accessories happen
My thoughts exactly! I get really annoyed if things aren't nice and neat and properly done when it comes to my truck. By the time I'm done, I'll be a master of automotive accessory wiring.
I really like the idea of having a proper dual battery rig too. Being stranded in the bush due to a dead battery is a pretty awful thing. One thing I've learned from my more extreme scuba courses is that redundancy is always a good thing.Some serious mods are coming for that truck! Keep us updated
That's for sure, and I most certainly will!
Weekender41
Ready to Learn
Hey wreckdiver, since we live in relatively the same type of terrain what would you suggest for tires? I have cooper discoverer M+S on right now and as amazing as they are in the snow and ice they are not very strong so when I have gone to CO for some trips the tires chipped pretty badly on rocks. They are also not very aggressive so I am looking for an upgrade. The 3 I have on my list now are the Cooper Discoverer AT3, Cooper ST Maxx or General Grabber AT2. Can you give some insight as to what tires you like for our type of terrain? Much appreciated.
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
Those are great suggestions. My dad has the AT3 on his F250, and they've proven pretty tough over time. Their grip is good, and the price is hard to beat. The Grabber is a fantastic tire as well. Versatile like the BFG AT, but a bit better in the mud. The ST Maxx is one of my all time favorite tires. Great tread design and nearly bulletproof sidewalls.
If you spend time on trails that are similar to what I see, you're looking at rocks, dirt, snow, and the occasional mud. My top three favorite tires in this terrain are the Grabbers, BFG Rugged Terrains, and the ST Maxx. Which one you go with depends on how rugged the terrain you see is, the ratio of trail/highway driving you do, and how aggressive a look you want.
The Grabbers are a great all around tire. Very tough and plenty aggressive for a lot of conditions. However, they are not as grippy in the mud, ice, or snow. The sidewall lugs are a little small for bigger rocks. I've never met anyone who owned them that didn't like them.
The Rugged Terrains are the best all around tire I've come across. Super grippy, tough sidewalls (LT version), good sidewall tread. They do pretty well in mud (not exceptional, but respectable), and really well in snow and ice. Over the rocks, they grab on to everything. Sidewall tread is plenty big and grippy. Best part is the road noise/manners. Very quiet and smooth tire on the road. You'll probably get the best fuel mileage with this one.
The ST Maxx is the ultimate aggressive all terrain. Pretty smooth and quiet, sidewalls that I'm fairly sure would survive a nuke, and an aggressive tread pattern that sticks like glue. They beat the hell out of the other two in mud, and the grip is better over rocks as well. They don't do as well on ice (although still manageable), but they are pretty good in the snow. Downside is that they are heavy and grippy, which will impact your mileage.
It all depends on what you're looking to do.
Weekender41
Ready to Learn
Wow great info! Thanks! Im not sure if I get the same mud as you do. The ground here is so hard and dry there is not much mud. There are puddles of water on trails in late summer which would have mud underneath but other then that Im not sure I have ever even been through "mud" unless I was looking for it. That's interesting. Oh the ST Maxx are the second most common tire around here for the work trucks (behind duratracs) They look tough as nails. Of those tires the ST Maxx are the toughest tread and sidewall? I have lost a lot of traction because the very edge of the tread is getting chipped away on the M+S whenever I am going on rocks so I am looking to fix that on the next tire. Thank you for the info, it helps a lot. :clapsmile
wreckdiver1321
Overlander
That's the same sort of stuff I get. Early season trail rides or rainy periods during the summer can make the trail a little muddy. Not sloppy and nasty, but enough to make a little more tread a really nice thing. There's a few trails out here that run next to rivers. Early season or during a lot of rain, those roads tend to flood and get muddy. The Boulder River Valley springs to mind. There are occasional mud holes and water crossings that have made me appreciate a more aggressive tire. A few summers ago the water level on the Boulder got so high that the road was covered in three feet of water at one point. As it dried up, it left muddy spots and many two foot deep water crossings, one that covered about a quarter mile of the road. Having a more aggressive tire in this stuff made a night and day difference.
I've done some looking into the DuraTracs, and they are a pretty tough tire. They rock in ice and snow, but they have thinner sidewalls and are prone to rock gouges.
Out of those three tires (General, BFG, and Cooper), the ST Maxx will have the most robust sidewall and the most tread depth (18/32"). I think all of the ST Maxx's are load range E, so they're a 10 ply tread. As tough as it gets. The ST Maxx also seems to be very true to size in most cases (the diameter of the tire matches the numbers on the sidewall). The Maxx will, by all measures, give you the most traction in most situations. On the trail, it's the best performer of the three, with minimal impact on the on road performance.
You're welcome, I'm always glad to help!