[Swamplizard]

ordered tire pressure/temp gadget and ODBII thingy for the other stats I want to know in real time. Fun!

 

[MaggieMarty]

“The Pug” got new shoes.
Kumho Crugen HT51 LT stock size in a load range E. My stock Vanco’s were C (Commercial) rated und lasted about 45k miles.

Love this tire! Smooth as butter - instead of the loud “Kaboom” driving over road seams or small potholes with the Vancos, it’s now a subtle low “Thump”.

$800 out the door
Kumho Tire | All-Ways. Go With You

 

[diytech]

Now those look like a really excellent choice for our PMs. Should be very quiet, good in rain, and resist side flexing as well. They look even better than the Toyo commercial tires I've been buying for years. Thanks for sharing!

“The Pug” got new shoes.
Kumho Crugen HT51 LT stock size in a load range E. My stock Vanco’s were C (Commercial) rated und lasted about 45k miles.

Love this tire! Smooth as butter - instead of the loud “Kaboom” driving over road seams or small potholes with the Vancos, it’s now a subtle low “Thump”.

$800 out the door
Kumho Tire | All-Ways. Go With You

 

[Roach711]

Finally got around to testing out the spare tire winch etc.... Glad there was a full sized spare identical to the other Nexens. Was surprised at the black wheel rather than silver as on Van. I guess that allows someone to know which is the tire without TPM.

What year is your van? Did you hear 3 clicks when winching up the spare?

The manual says I should hear three clicks when the tire is fully winched up but I broke the lift on my 2021 when trying to get the thing to click when the tire was fully up against the van floor. The dealer replaced it under warranty and the tech said to just snug the tire up against the floor and leave it at that.

 

[larry barello]

I mounted a Jerry can to the back of my van. My first attempt was a bust. The mount wiggled easily and with a full tank I am sure it would have deformed the panel.

My second attempt was a bit more work welding a rack to spread the moment arm over 2 feet vs. 5". I recycled one of the holes for the new mount. The other three are sealed with a bit of butyl sound dampening.

I mounted it with VHB tape after minor bending so the pads conformed to the sheet metal. Later I'll drill out the holes and through bolt it, but given how strong the bond, I think it might just hold with a full tank (~40#). I kind of wished I made the pads twice or three times as big then completely skip the bolting.

Regardless, the frame doesn't wiggle at all. I can't see/feel any deflection when I grab the can holder and yank.

Update ---------
I decided to stand on the frame (sort of a ladder) and it held my weight. So I jigged up and down a bit, still barely any flexing of the door panel. But, BANG, the adhesive gave way. After cleaning up the mess I through bolted the frame to the door (along with the adhesive).

 

[Swamplizard]

Tried to get OBDII ELM thingy to work - wont communicate

 

[Lolaeliz]

I mounted a Jerry can to the back of my van. My first attempt was a bust. The mount wiggled easily and with a full tank I am sure it would have deformed the panel.
View attachment 93084 View attachment 93085

My second attempt was a bit more work welding a rack to spread the moment arm over 2 feet vs. 5". I recycled one of the holes for the new mount. The other three are sealed with a bit of butyl sound dampening.

View attachment 93088 View attachment 93086 View attachment 93087

I mounted it with VHB tape after minor bending so the pads conformed to the sheet metal. Later I'll drill out the holes and through bolt it, but given how strong the bond, I think it might just hold with a full tank (~40#). I kind of wished I made the pads twice or three times as big then completely skip the bolting.

Regardless, the frame doesn't wiggle at all. I can't see/feel any deflection when I grab the can holder and yank.

Update ---------
I decided to stand on the frame (sort of a ladder) and it held my weight. So I jigged up and down a bit, still barely any flexing of the door panel. But, BANG, the adhesive gave way. After cleaning up the mess I through bolted the frame to the door (along with the adhesive).
View attachment 93117

What's in the tank?

 

[RamVanGuy]

What year is your van? Did you hear 3 clicks when winching up the spare?

Its a 2022, and true confessions time : I have not read the manual so did not know anything about "3 clicks". The winch worked great - no sticking as some reported and I snugged tire up as tight as it seemed to need. Note that I was only using hand wrench to lower and lift - power tool is unnecessary. Only thing I found weird was the extra long safety cable that was attached to the tire hoist hanger bracket - why have two stainless steel cables side by side - surely if one corrodes the other will too?

 

[Lolaeliz]

I tightened all the nuts on my electrical system. None were horribly loose, but there was room for tightening.
And I eliminated the 60a fuse, since all that was there was the ground wire to the solar .

 

[Swamplizard]

Larry B - This is what I was planning for the back of the Van; ;-)

 

[CarKeys]

Larry B - This is what I was planning for the back of the Van; ;-)
View attachment 93134

That's hilarious, 007's overnight stealth bag with extra "protection" 😁

 

[Roach711]

Our member Badjo suggested using Reflectix insulation as an engine cover to keep rain water from leaking onto the top of the engine and causing rusty intake manifold bolts and damage to spark plug coils. I recently had an alternator burn up and it could have been caused by water leaking down and turning to ice (this is a total guess).

I had some Reflectix laying around and made what appears to be a very serviceable cover in about 20 minutes. I cut the insulation 26" deep x 31" wide (with scissors) and tucked it down behind the engine at the back and between the upper radiator support and the air intake hose at the front after trimming around the coolant reservoir. I could have made it wider but I have coolant lines going back to my Isotemp water heater that blocked me in that direction. The cover naturally pitches toward the driver's side of the engine and is easy to move aside to get at the oil dipstick. Removing it and putting it back in place is extremely easy.

It didn’t move after a quick drive on the interstate. I just hope it doesn't make a cozy hideaway for squirrels.

 

[proeddie]

Maybe add a few grommets to the Reflectix in the corners to secure it to something nearby?... just to keep it from shifting to a spot that you don't want it to be.

 

[phil]

I'm surprised the heat didn't melt the plastic bubble wrap inside.

 

[Roach711]

I'm surprised the heat didn't melt the plastic bubble wrap inside.

The member who suggested reflectix said his has survived for two years so far. Apparently there isn't enough heat under the hood to damage the plastic. There's a lot of plastic under that hood. Even the intake manifold is a big hunk of it, though certainly way less meltable than the reflectix.

 

[phil]

I had visions of a Reflectix s'more (since I didn't have any on hand to test), so I went an Aldi's oven liner

 

[Motor7]

I wonder if a Jeep Wrangler engine cover will fit?

 

[Roach711]

I had visions of a Reflectix s'more (since I didn't have any on hand to test), so I went an Aldi's oven liner

If it hadn't already been done before I wouldn't have thought it a good idea to put flimsy plastic bubble wrap on a hot engine.

 

[dru_b]

Yesterday..

 

[baitbegger44##]

Ur ready to go, everything else is just icing on the cake