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Mileages...
Wow... all I wanted to know is what could be done to help larger vehicles...in particular a 1 ton 4x4 dually I recently bought to replace the 272,000 mile 3/4 ton for towing and heavy hauling needs as well as Primary. The 1 ton has all the whistles and bells Chrysler had expect the wood grain dash. It sold new for $39,965 in 01 and also had close to 6k of Polished cast Alum wheels, full length running boards, gooseneck and 5th wheel hitches, and a fairly stout front guard (it lived through hitting the horse!). I paid 16k cash. It was literally showroom mint with 105K... just broke in as far as the Cummins is concerned. If I can get 250k plus out of any decent v8... the Cummins is at least good for a half million for me... and part of why I bought it. Alas... It will never happen... and yes it irritates the crap out of me!.
Mileages;
Work 115 to 120 RT four days a week... due east of here.
Wife's Drs... at least 3 or 4 times a month... 150 RT if in Cincinnati (due west of us... so if I go with her its both mileages..., Close to 180 RT if in Columbus.
Our little town for the normal stuff from the feed mil, hardware etc... 35 miles RT... No such thing here as down to the corner for a loaf of bread. Tractor and other farm stuff places 50 to 200 ile RT for Parts depending...
Pack of cigs after 7 pm 30 miles... (yep is been done... )
just and indicator of country and to me its still crowded here compared to where Id rather be in Montana, Idaho, or Washington... but work and our mortgage is here.
The point is this... from some of your replies... some, at least, do not know what typical mileage is for people out here. Between my commutes, shopping and my wife's Drs... none of which align... together we average somewhere around 800 to 1000 miles a week right now. it will never be less. I get 13.5 on a good day, her 94 Concord V6 gets 22-24 mpg (I think, never measured it)... so do the math. Sometime back with both hers and my commutes at 180 and 110 respectively, we put some 60k or more on a year on our two primaries together. This is also why I had elected to get 250k lifetime drivelines or we'd be buying all the time and loose even more money. Yes we still have the Bronco as her backup, and I have the one ton or the horizon as backup... or the motorcycle (which really doesn't count in OH).
Also for special things.. I used to think nothing of running 800 miles in a day to go pick something up 400 miles away and bring it home... One of you though 75 miles was a long ways. I guess I'm just a different kind of animal with different experiences... In the days OTR... a 1000 miles a day was routine... MNSP, Mn to LA Ca 2000 miles in 56 hours routinely. LA to SF to load and the 2000 miles back to MNSP. 5000 mile RT 4.5 days. Average 70 mph... avg mpg 5.5 (best of the fleet BTW, in 1986). Solo...will not run team! So why was it again that I'd care about a measly 60 mile trip to work????... The one ton IS A LITTLE truck! Its all relative.
I just thought maybe the technologies had improved some and the E-tinkerers may have figured out something to help... evidently not... regardless of what the green people say... kinda tough to improve on good old gasoline or fuel oil to do real work... Now when we get a battery powered system that can haul 20k with ease... cruise at 70 for not less that a 1000 miles non stop basically, fill or recharge in a few minutes (two 30 gal fuel tanks can)... then maybe we'll actually have something. By the way, that was figured out in 1915 or so. Until then we will all play around with our tonka toys and our electric train equivalents. Nope the eco and alt E industry has not impressed me yet (although I like the hydro reserve setup). Until they get real range and consistent real hyway cruises it will never work for almost all of us out here and be comfortable.
Will I get something more economical... probably... but they just went up three prices... I likely suffer through driving the Horizon for a bit... while I save up some cash. The 94's not worth anything... and my estate will have to give way the one ton down the road... as it will never be for sale... In twenty years I can haul it to the shows as mint dinosaur.
I don't know... maybe its time to get serious on a "David Rod" as my wife would call it... Just not use a V8... Hummm can one do that???? I don't know, sounds like heresy to my wife and I. I might get shot by the true hot-rodders. I will say this... If GM and Chrysler can do variable displacement... so can I... and incorporate, some type of regen, and alt-e to boot.... Its the average of the miles rolled that counts. I need 500 ft-lbs on demand when wanted, just to feel right, as well as 50 mpg average per gallon gas... but the home plug in electric for hyway use will get screwed up too.... can't let a tax dollar get away now... Its ENERGY.. so someone other than the average person will always be controlled by the controllers of it.... Been that way since NOAH... well maybe his sons anyway. I HATE Being CONTROLLED... by ANYTHING! And especially BIG MONEY, its all part of it.
Hey... its now been 24 hours with out a single cigarette... cold turkey after 35 years at 1 and a half packs a day.... want one REAL bad... and its only day 1. Patches, gum, pills, just prolong the agony I think... so I'm relying on my stubbornness... I'm told by some its at a reasonably high level in me (smile).
later... Dave
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