Handy tip there @Crusty181 and one I'll keep in mind for when the new suspension goes in and the roof rack goes on.
Smergen's LTZ Colorado - The Rock Truck
- Thread starter Smergen
- Start date
Did I mention I love the carrying capacity of having a canopy?
To interpret this for others.......I don't have tie things down anymore.........
Yep... that's certainly a plus!
Problem we had a long time ago (3 children under 12 years, Triton 3 litre, trip to Central Aus - 7500km in 16 days with a few other families - great time) was DUST in the tray - silly me thought it would be sealed! Still a wonderful experience - 3 children are now under 34 years!
Got the vent on the front of the canopy which should help with the positive pressurising, but will need a seal kit or something similar before taking on the red dust on Central Australia.
OK finally got around to fitting the HPD catch can to the Rock Truck. After the trip up north last weekend decided it was time I knew a little more about how to maintain and understanding the basics of what goes on under the hood.
I had previously bought the catch can late last year, but hadn't got around to fitting it, mainly due to laziness. But had a few hours spare before the Hawks game yesterday so got out the tools, rolled up the sleeves and tried not to stuff everything up.
It's a quality bit of kit this catch can, and all parts, clips, bolts and nuts come packed as well. Designed to slot straight into an RG, I bought this based on good reviews and simplicity of install. I also liked how it had a dipstick to check the level without having to unscrew it all the time.
Hmm.... shiny....
Here's the "before" shot. Smart design utilises one of the small available nooks under the bonnet of the Colorado.
Bracket install, mounts perfectly on the fluids mount. Will need to make sure that factory screws still hold, but cant see why not.
Install was pretty straight forward with reasonable instructions from the supplier. Simple matter of redirecting some hose work. Might need to change over the original factory hose as it's a little long and I reckon I have bent it a bit more than I like to make it fit. Still, it's snug and no parts left over which is always a good sign.
By far the hardest part was getting the manifold cover back on. Stupidly awkward piece of plastic crap.
So there it is. Hopefully it'll work well, and prolong engine life. Will monitor the oil build up and report back for anyone interested.
I had previously bought the catch can late last year, but hadn't got around to fitting it, mainly due to laziness. But had a few hours spare before the Hawks game yesterday so got out the tools, rolled up the sleeves and tried not to stuff everything up.
It's a quality bit of kit this catch can, and all parts, clips, bolts and nuts come packed as well. Designed to slot straight into an RG, I bought this based on good reviews and simplicity of install. I also liked how it had a dipstick to check the level without having to unscrew it all the time.
Hmm.... shiny....
Here's the "before" shot. Smart design utilises one of the small available nooks under the bonnet of the Colorado.
Bracket install, mounts perfectly on the fluids mount. Will need to make sure that factory screws still hold, but cant see why not.
Install was pretty straight forward with reasonable instructions from the supplier. Simple matter of redirecting some hose work. Might need to change over the original factory hose as it's a little long and I reckon I have bent it a bit more than I like to make it fit. Still, it's snug and no parts left over which is always a good sign.
By far the hardest part was getting the manifold cover back on. Stupidly awkward piece of plastic crap.
So there it is. Hopefully it'll work well, and prolong engine life. Will monitor the oil build up and report back for anyone interested.
G'day mate, little update on this. On our interstater trip last weekend we were subject to some of the dustiest driving conditions I've seen. (Even @17triton's rig got dirty and that's covered in teflon) I used the dust vent and it worked a treat. A bit still got in but I suspect most of that was just through the vent at the top which ironically doesn't have any kind of filter (might look into that).
I'm confident that if I wasn't following any other vehicle the dust ingress would be substantially reduced.
Yep after last weekend I'm thinking I need to put a roof vent in as @Smergen 's ute had way less dust than mine. And yes if you weren't in convoy would be dust free pretty much.
I like that catch can position, I mounted mine in the corner next to the horn, moved the horn forward a few inches, pain to get at though..............I'm thinking of venting mine to elsewhere and plugging the air tube hole, stopping any oily air getting into the engine since I can't shut down the EGR rubbish unless I spend big $$ on a rewrite or flash.
My engine cover is sitting in the shed (so to speak) I found it was trying to wear away one of my injector cables, it rattled and other than collecting dirt and bugs any leaky bits are hidden from view, so like the covers on my Jeeps I ditched it, can now view if anything leaks and things are cleaner which is always good.
My engine cover is sitting in the shed (so to speak) I found it was trying to wear away one of my injector cables, it rattled and other than collecting dirt and bugs any leaky bits are hidden from view, so like the covers on my Jeeps I ditched it, can now view if anything leaks and things are cleaner which is always good.
Ditched the cover Drover? Does it do anything other than stopping stuff hit the top of the donk? It doesn't look like it does much that's for sure.
I'm not sure if the cover does anything other than make things look tidy, possibly contains a bit of sound but I know with mine on all around the injectors etc was just dust, dirt and crap now it's all clean so must aid cooling.........did it on my Grand Cherokee so I could keep an eye on any sign of black death, mine never had it and I always wondered if that was because no cover meant less heat contained.
Evening @Pace.
Last fuel update actually returned a PB of 8.9 I think. I am consistently getting low to mid 9s with my highway commute. I'll check the spreadsheet tomorrow for you and give you a bit more update.
Last fuel update actually returned a PB of 8.9 I think. I am consistently getting low to mid 9s with my highway commute. I'll check the spreadsheet tomorrow for you and give you a bit more update.
OK fuel consumption update for @Pace (and @Drover)...
It should be noted that most of my kilometers are done on the highway with very little in the car, so probably as good consumption as can be...
So I think helping the car breathe a little easier has made a world of difference. For the Big Lap with a heaving loaded car and bigger van, I'll be budgeting on somewhere between 17-20L/100km. I'm hoping better filters and exhausts will help combat the weight. Having said that, the two tanks that were pure van towing were on pretty poor days (wind/oppressive heat) so maybe it could be better.
All in all, reckon they're reasonable figures all things considered.
It should be noted that most of my kilometers are done on the highway with very little in the car, so probably as good consumption as can be...
- Overall (everything ever done): 40139km using 4177L @ 10.41 L//100km
- All trips including towing van: 11565km using 1423L @ 12.3 L//100km
- All trips not towing van: 27857km using 2688.4L @ 9.65 L//100km
- Pure van towing trips: 737km using 122L @ 16.5 L/100km
- Two trips since cleaning air filter and putting catch can on: 1473km using 132L @ 8.96L/100km
So I think helping the car breathe a little easier has made a world of difference. For the Big Lap with a heaving loaded car and bigger van, I'll be budgeting on somewhere between 17-20L/100km. I'm hoping better filters and exhausts will help combat the weight. Having said that, the two tanks that were pure van towing were on pretty poor days (wind/oppressive heat) so maybe it could be better.
All in all, reckon they're reasonable figures all things considered.
I think you should get better than 17 when towing, with Big Mal on and both loaded to the gunwales I'm getting 14.4 I think it was, we are on the max if not over so you should be good, I chuck my air filter every 20K but would like a snorkel, did find my chunky tyres ate a bit more fuel. When I get the new shed and empty out the Ute, I will have to see if I can get down to your figures but I think the steel tray and alloy shed on back make mine heavier then a tub job.
It will be interesting @Drover... the new van will be around the same height I think (sit lower, but full height van), and will run on HT as opposed to AT which were on the Expanda. But will be a fair chunk heavier in its full dress trim so it will counter it.
What does Big Mal come in at weight wise?
I might look at replacing the air filter completely after the weekend I've just had (trip report pending) to help it a bit more. I'm using the 17-20L/100km as an initial budgeting guide. If it gets better than that, sweet, I'm ahead. If not at least I've allowed for it.
What does Big Mal come in at weight wise?
I might look at replacing the air filter completely after the weekend I've just had (trip report pending) to help it a bit more. I'm using the 17-20L/100km as an initial budgeting guide. If it gets better than that, sweet, I'm ahead. If not at least I've allowed for it.
I was surprised that going from the Tardis which just tucked into nearly the same profile as the Ute, to Big Mal which is as high again and towers over the Ute and is/seems wider by a couple of inches only added an extra lt/100 when in tourist mode and 2lt/100 when in full time home mode.