how to drive my cube van

[Miller88]

Diesels use less to idle than a gas engine.

I don't a vehicle that old would be able to do a mpg readout with a computer. You can keep track of it manually.

I've done a bit of towing and hauling with pickup trucks. It is my understanding that the more load you have, the higher you put the tire pressures (better for the tires).


... and I thought the only vehicles that had 3 speed transmissions in 1994 were YJ wranglers.

[MazdaMatt]

What about changing my final drive gear so my shifts happen at high speeds and my highway cruise is at a lower RPM? What would that cost me? Does this change happen in the diff or the tranny?

[Miller88]

Since it is a mechanical transmission (sounds it), you shouldn't have a problem with the truck's coputer getting mad. What rear axle does it have and what is the gear ratio? I believe the highest I've seen on those trucks is 3.73.

Have you thought about swapping in a 4 speed OD transmission?

[MazdaMatt]

No idea what rear axle is has. Unfortunately i don't know much about this truck. I've owned it less than a year and driven it only a half dozen times.

I would LOOOOOVE a 4-speed od tranny. Actually, i'd prefer a 5spd manual, but that just isn't going to happen. What would it cost me to swap a tranny in that beast? I have access to a truck shop and some very helpful mechanics in the family, but I can't be sinking a lot of money into this truck just to save some gas.

[trikkonceptz]

If you like you can PM me with your VIN # and I will have my parts counter look up the vehicles info including the rear end gear ratio if you like.

Swapping gear isn't the cheapest thing to do, but it may be a good long term investment.

[MazdaMatt]

I would guess that I will spend a total of 300 dollars fueling this truck this year. If the swap costs me more than 50 OR saves me less than 25, its a no-go.

[elhigh]

It'll cost more than 50. But you've got to amortize that savings - how long do you intend to keep the truck? If you keep it for years and years and it saves you money every year, then you may come out ahead.

[MazdaMatt]

I think i'm pretty much destined to drive slow and give myself an extra hour of travel time. Nearest thing to a mod I could do is a partial narrowing at the back, but even that is looking at 4 sheets of coroplast at 20 bucks each. A skirt for the box would be 4 sheets and an underbelly covering would be another 4 sheets. Not worth it for a seldom-used vehicle, even if it IS a pig on gas. A new 4OD might up the resale, however. 3spd is REALLY stupid. I wonder if i could make a manual shift mechanism for it so i select my gear with a lever or buttons.

[wagonman76]

Another thought. Since you only drive the van 3 times a year, how about selling it and buying/making a trailer for your racecar? You could start with a junked travel trailer and go from there to do it for cheap.

Then for the 3 times a year you need to go to the track, just rent or borrow a basic truck or van to pull it. Youd probably save more than your yearly fuel bill in the plates and insurance you wont need to keep up on the van. Dont know how your area works, so youd have to do the math to see if its worth it.

[MazdaMatt]

Its a close call, i suppose. I don't pay much for licence and insurance for this thing. I suppose i also underestimated my usage. I realize that going to 3 events per year doesn't mean 3 trips per year. I also went to two racing schools in the spring and I'll be going to an open-lapping day in two weeks. I also used it to move last year and I am using it to move again in a few months... the moves are short trips, though.

In retrospect, it gets about 2x the usage I described.

One MAAAJOR reason why i like this cube van for hauling my car is that when i arrive at the track at midnight the night before in the pouring rain or fall cold, I just have to hop in the back where my bed is made up and me and the car can sleep comfortably together out of the elements. My car has no windows, so keeping it inside is a plus.