I need new wipers!
This is the rig that almost wiped me out when he ran out of lane and came into mine. I had to brake hard and happy to say my ABS works very well!
Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
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2000 Ford E-350 415CI/6.8L V-10 Triton Superduty 4X4 Chinook Concourse XL Club Lounge
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
That last pic brings back Midwestern memories. Gah. Glad you made it.
1999 Concourse
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
So took the rig to Les Schwab bc I still felt it pulling to the left even though I had an alignment before my trip.
They rotated the 10 ply 4 year old LT front tires and said it might help, and if not then it may be that one of the tires is bad, or the ball joints, which are slightly loose, will need replacement, or the brake calipers are getting stuck.
BUT, they also informed me that the four rears are 7 years old, and are only P rated four ply, not LT 10 ply as should be for the load rating, and were at 80 lbs or pressure, which should only be at 40. They guess that it was to compensate for the weight.
They said it’s an accident waiting to happen. I’ve been driving on these for three months! Anyway, I appreciated the information and am having the rears replaced with the proper 10 ply LT tires.
I was thinking about getting them slightly taller, but it would alter the speedo, and could potentially rub as well, so that idea got nixed. More fun to come later!
They rotated the 10 ply 4 year old LT front tires and said it might help, and if not then it may be that one of the tires is bad, or the ball joints, which are slightly loose, will need replacement, or the brake calipers are getting stuck.
BUT, they also informed me that the four rears are 7 years old, and are only P rated four ply, not LT 10 ply as should be for the load rating, and were at 80 lbs or pressure, which should only be at 40. They guess that it was to compensate for the weight.
They said it’s an accident waiting to happen. I’ve been driving on these for three months! Anyway, I appreciated the information and am having the rears replaced with the proper 10 ply LT tires.
I was thinking about getting them slightly taller, but it would alter the speedo, and could potentially rub as well, so that idea got nixed. More fun to come later!
2000 Ford E-350 415CI/6.8L V-10 Triton Superduty 4X4 Chinook Concourse XL Club Lounge
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
Wow, glad that you find out about the rear tires.
Yeah, tires are like that. You can get away with them for months/years, until bang!!! and big trouble. A coworker of mine drove his rig from California to Vegas, got a flat on the left inner dually there, and did not find out what is wrong with it until he went all the way to Yellowstone, and come back home to California. He was lucky that he did not got hurt, or killed anyone else. Obviously he did not check his tire pressure the entire trip
Yeah, tires are like that. You can get away with them for months/years, until bang!!! and big trouble. A coworker of mine drove his rig from California to Vegas, got a flat on the left inner dually there, and did not find out what is wrong with it until he went all the way to Yellowstone, and come back home to California. He was lucky that he did not got hurt, or killed anyone else. Obviously he did not check his tire pressure the entire trip
2000 Concourse dinette, on 1999 6.8L Ford E350 Triton V-10 Chassis
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
Just think of all those miles you drove "innocently" on those 7-year-old, way over-inflated, passenger tires 
Whew! Glad those are gone.
Lubricating the caliper slides is good preventative maintenance (they can get stuck and dramatically overheat otherwise). Is your pulling specifically when braking?
Whew! Glad those are gone.Lubricating the caliper slides is good preventative maintenance (they can get stuck and dramatically overheat otherwise). Is your pulling specifically when braking?
1999 Concourse
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
Hey there! Just got back home after a beautiful two day drive back. No bad weather this time!
If I drive real slow, it pulls hard to left, and the steering wheel turns hard left if I let go. I'll see if I can lube the calipers to see if it stops that.
It doesn't pull to the left while driving at speed anymore though. I think rotating the front tires did the trick.
I noticed that the ride was a little harsher on the new rears. The front felt like it was shaking, sort of like if the tires were out of balance at times, especially at around 70-80 mph.
They inflated rears to 60 as per vehicle door jam specs and 65 in front. Perhaps before, they were less air therefore softer riding. I'll keep the spec air in for now but I may let some air out if I get tired of the hard ride.
The rig performed so well. Everything is working and I really enjoyed traveling in it. I only stayed two overnights on this trip, in rest areas, but was very comfortable. I also like the ability to stop anywhere and stretch out and relax whenever I want. Everyone was impressed with the size and using only one parking space.
Now to wash all the bugs off it.
If I drive real slow, it pulls hard to left, and the steering wheel turns hard left if I let go. I'll see if I can lube the calipers to see if it stops that.
It doesn't pull to the left while driving at speed anymore though. I think rotating the front tires did the trick.
I noticed that the ride was a little harsher on the new rears. The front felt like it was shaking, sort of like if the tires were out of balance at times, especially at around 70-80 mph.
They inflated rears to 60 as per vehicle door jam specs and 65 in front. Perhaps before, they were less air therefore softer riding. I'll keep the spec air in for now but I may let some air out if I get tired of the hard ride.
The rig performed so well. Everything is working and I really enjoyed traveling in it. I only stayed two overnights on this trip, in rest areas, but was very comfortable. I also like the ability to stop anywhere and stretch out and relax whenever I want. Everyone was impressed with the size and using only one parking space.
Now to wash all the bugs off it.
2000 Ford E-350 415CI/6.8L V-10 Triton Superduty 4X4 Chinook Concourse XL Club Lounge
Re: Seattle to Sacramento March 24-31, 2019
Not saying it's the cause of any specific issue, but if you want to dial in your tire inflation and know it's right, then you go by weight of each axle and the inflation chart for the tire. I have posted inflation charts in the past for our stock size tires.
In Washington and Oregon you can weigh for free at any public scale - a great feature. They leave them turned on so you can go in when they are "closed" and usually there is no-one else there and you can take your time. Many have enough space off to one side of the scale pad that you can take a second pass with just one side and thus get your side-to-side balance as well.
Many of the Oregon ones have a display out in front of you kind of like a stoplight. The ones I have used in Washington have the display in the booth facing out of one of the windows.
Then too, you will have your weights for general knowledge.
For tires, these actual weights will override the door sticker suggestion for tire inflation. That is just a best guess vs. the actual weight of your rig you'll get at the scale. (Max inflation of the tire is for when it is loaded to its max capacity, which we don't even approach on our E-350's.)
In Washington and Oregon you can weigh for free at any public scale - a great feature. They leave them turned on so you can go in when they are "closed" and usually there is no-one else there and you can take your time. Many have enough space off to one side of the scale pad that you can take a second pass with just one side and thus get your side-to-side balance as well.
Many of the Oregon ones have a display out in front of you kind of like a stoplight. The ones I have used in Washington have the display in the booth facing out of one of the windows.
Then too, you will have your weights for general knowledge.
For tires, these actual weights will override the door sticker suggestion for tire inflation. That is just a best guess vs. the actual weight of your rig you'll get at the scale. (Max inflation of the tire is for when it is loaded to its max capacity, which we don't even approach on our E-350's.)
1999 Concourse