Well, I got home at about 1AM this morning. It was a 15 hour odyssey. Traveling with an 8 year old has it's own unique set of challenges. The truck ran as well as I could have hoped, total trip was an indicated 483 miles. The truck averaged about 8MPG with a 1500 pound payload of 7 michelin 14.5x20's. Wish that was better.
The CAT3116 ran at 2700 RPM for much of the trip. No oil consumed (and I checked it at all 10 of the stops I made). The 395's definitely give you some height, and WOW does this truck bounce around at 50MPH or better.
My odometer reads 1033 miles on the clock when I finally parked.
Some random observations:
After a 14 hour drive in my 109, I have even more respect for those who have served our country and had to drive these beasts as their JOB. On this weekend, THANK YOU to all who served.
Pre-drive checks after all 10 stops took some time, but I feel like it was time well spent. My son doesn't agree.
Southern Maryland has some spectacular countryside, and is remarkably agrarian.
Diesel fuel prices vary widely, but the least expensive on the highway was on the NJ turnpike, at the Vince Lombardi service area.
New York and New Jersey both misspelled their names when applying for Statehood, and I'd suggest a revision to New Jerk, and New Jerky for the fundamental lack of ANY courtesy while I was driving the roads in that state. Connecticut-you-off may also be up for revision.
Try and schedule your trip in your MV so you DON'T end up hitting the top of the NJ turnpike JUST as the Meadowlands is emptying 60,000 people onto the road.
Even with the 395's, I wished for just 5 more MPH of highway speed....some of the time.
If you see someone broken down by the side of the road, do not offer to push them if you have 395's. The height of your truck will put your bumper WAY over any passenger car's bumper.
The personnel heater in the cab was adequate...for now.
Also - The State of New York should be
ASHAMED of themselves for charging a $32.00 toll to cross the George Washington Bridge. That is an absurdly high toll.
I'm glad to be home safe, and give thanks for that. The only casualties of the trip is the right headlight blew it's low beam, and whatever backlight the speedo and oil pressure gauge also went out. When I brought the headlight to the auto part store, I was laughed out of there.
Because I could, I crammed all 4 in my family for the 1.5 mile drive to church this morning. I said an extra prayer of thanks for the safe journey, and another to thank all of you for your help and counsel.
That's all for now. I have to track down a headlight, backlight, and read up on the rules for posting photos......Jay