Tow Vehicle Problems to fix over winter

[SPBFAN]

I wanted to start this thread so we can talk about our tow vehicles. I want to talk about the maintenance, and problems that need to be fixed over the off season. We seem to always talk about our boats but the tow vehicles and trailer also need attention. So post up your thoughts, questions, and answers if you have them.

[Domsz06]

i need to wash mine. does that count?

[hoopykat]

Nothing major to do, other than the 60K mileage maintenance work, and make sure the tranny is taken care of, like fluids, filters, adjustments, etc. Make sure ball is tight on the trailer hitch...stuff like that.

-Mike

[skyski_tige]

I need to tighten up the cable clamps and replace the belt on the pulley. Not for tow vehicle but for lift. I also need to raise the canopy so it can cover the boat with the tower up.

[skyski_tige]

make sure my nuts are tightened....

[turbonine]

My two mods for my 7.3.

1) Replace intercooler with one off a 6.0 Powerstroke. 6.0 flows 30% more air and helps lower EGTs by about 50 degrees. I already have the intercooler that I got off Craiglist, I just need the time to install it.

2) Replace the transmission cooler with one off a 6.0 Powerstroke. The 6.0 is three times the size of the 7.3 and can lower your trans temps by 40 degrees, which is a lot for a transmission.

Other than that my 7.3 will probably hit 100,000 miles this winter, so she is just getting broken in.

[Jason B]

Just did it:
New front rotors and brakes
New coolant
New plugs
Transmission fluid change
Oil change
Air filter
New U-joint


....good for another 150k

[noworries]

Change coolant, oil&filter, add winter windshield washer fluid, new wipers. I just tested the heated seats this morning. They're good to go.

I'll put a few hundred pounds of ballast in the bed for traction assistance for all those snowboard trips up to Donner summit and Tahoe for the high school team practices and meets. But, I get to ski too.

I'll also probably need to replace the second front hub and u-joint on the Dodge. What an awful job that is. Accountants should never be allowed to design trucks, particularly when they're in cahoots with lawyers on the job.

[lightning59]

replace 4 bushings on my lift, then I'm good to go.

[LovinPowell]

For those that have a trailer tongue that swings to the side. My pivot bolt sheared off about a month ago. I noticed it after we got back from the lake. I don't know when it happened but it could have been a bad deal. I had to buy a replacement from a heavy duty industrial supply store.

You might want to check that bolt.

[DieselPWR]

I'd like to do some mods that will drop my EGT some while towing. Any suggestions? I have an air intake, and a 4" exhaust system with an aftermarket high flow muffler.

[H20SKIER14]

I'd like to do some mods that will drop my EGT some while towing. Any suggestions? I have an air intake, and a 4" exhaust system with an aftermarket high flow muffler.

I just put a bakns intercooler in mine a couple weeks ago, really made a big difference on the egts, are you running a chip??

[MoneyPity]

Clean and detail for snowmobiling.season. Put in winter mats wiith water resevoirs At 80,000 mile check. Have it done and have them change fluids in both differentials and tranny. I do the oil. Find a new drop down hitch. The one I am using now worked well with last boat but is an inch or two high now. Touch up some rust above the windshield and have body shop fix the spot on the hoods etc. Water got into a chip from underneath and the spot is getting bigger.

Get cobwebs out of the sleds.

[jwanck11]

Fix/adjust the parking brake (it is completely useless at this point). New fluids and clean one dirty a$$ vehicle.

[TeamAllen]

I was looking into replacing my shock absorbers. I am always worried the new shocks could be too stiff or too soft. I found these Rancho shocks that let you adjust the settings. http://www.gorancho.com/products/sho...l/rs9000xl.php.
I had an older version, of these shocks, on a previous Suburban and they worked great. Then I started working on the price and found a pretty good bargain.

First, buy them from http://www.partsamerica.com/.

Use code ONLINESAVE15 to save 15% on your order. Have them shipped to store, at your local Checker, Schucks, Kragen Murray's or Advance Auto Parts to avoid the shipping costs.

Second, Rancho has a mail in promotion, good through October, to receive a free myRIDE wireless remote control to adjust the shocks. Kind of like a TAPS switch for the shocks. It is a $250 value.
http://www.gorancho.com/current_promo.php

Third Monroe has a “Save The Squirrels” Promotion to get a $40 ComeBack Certificate good toward your next purchase of any products or
service at the location where you purchased your Tenneco product.
http://www.monroesavethesquirrels.com/pdf/Rebate_EN.pdf