MT4Runner's Toterhome (UHaul) Project

[MT4Runner]

Factory manual on the F-155S rearend:
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/AXSM-8663.PDF

[MT4Runner]

Did a tow test on Wednesday night.

Empty weight: est. 12,000#

Loaded up my friends' 03 Rubicon (36" Iroks) in the back. 4,000#
Friends' CAT skid-steer 9,000#
on their 22' equipment trailer 3,000#

Loaded truck: 16,000#
Loaded trailer: 12,000#

So...I was ~28k GCVW. It moved great through town. Stopping and steering felt great. 0-45mph wasn't too bad through intersections. I could feel the weight, but it didn't feel significantly different from just having the back loaded with my 5,000# Runner. This thing has deep gears and heavy drivetrain. I feel the rig more than I did the load.

I put in a Tekonsha Voyager brake controller. I'll probably change it for my Prodigy before KOH, but the Voyager worked well--if it ain't broke...I might just not fix it.

Out on the highway, it did take about 2 or more miles to get from 45mph to 62mph. I wasn't pushing it hard, just letting it come slowly up to speed.

We pulled two hills. Hit the first one--about a mile at 4-5% grade, and dropped from 55mph to 35mph.

Second hill was all of 7% (probably the steepest one I'll pull up) for about 3/4 mile. It was right after the town of Lakeside, where the speed limit is 35mph. I was up to about 40mph at the foot of the hill, and dropped to 25mph by the top of the hill.

Rig smelled warm, but not hot. Engine temp didn't get above 185ºF. (Outside air was about 45ºF). After pulling that grade with that load, I think it will be a good idea to put a pyrometer in.


So...the good news is that we'll plan on this hauling 3 rigs for KOH. Manson, your rig gets a ride.

Tentative plan for KOH is to put the heaviest rig (Manson's ~6k Runner) inside, and my FToy and the Rubicon on the trailer (3k and 4k) and drag a lighter weight trailer (hopefully ~2,000# 2-place). With 18k on the rig and 9k on the trailer, and 1k in camp gear, we should still be around the same weight.



I also remembered that after we had it all loaded up and running down the road that I'm only plated for 18,000 GVW and as a truck.

Before KOH, it will be plated as an RV, so my legal GVW can go over 26,000.

[2manyprojects]

Quite the load. Did you check the mileage after the big hall?

[MT4Runner]

I haven't refueled yet.

I refilled it ~120 miles ago, and have only hauled (2 cords of firewood, and helped with a move, and then the tow test) with it on this tank, so it should give me a good idea of loaded mileage.

With 3 rigs, it could get 6-8, and I wouldn't feel too bad. I'm hoping for 8-9mpg.

[binderbound]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

... and helped with a move...

I wondered how long it would take before people asked you.

You own a u-haul, people get the wrong idea.

[MT4Runner]

One move was family. The other was my daughters' day care.

....and the best thing: I didn't have to help load, haul, or unload either time!!!


I refueled last night. 20 gallons and 152 miles. Roughly 7.5 mpg loaded. Probably lower on the night of the tow test.

[MT-Toy]

Got chains for that bad dog Shawn? Passes You know? That thing's killer! See Ya there! I want a ride!

[MT4Runner]

Hey guff, actually took it up Blacktail in May for the Skyliners' work weekend, and there were still ~1.5' drifts of corn snow on Wild Bill Saddle road--and it plowed right throught them with the traction recaps.

I do have 35" chains that should fit.

[MT-Toy]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Hey guff, actually took it up Blacktail in May for the Skyliners' work weekend, and there were still ~1.5' drifts of corn snow on Wild Bill Saddle road--and it plowed right throught them with the traction recaps.

I do have 35" chains that should fit.

That's a long drive in the Baker bus I bet! Test fit those chains first, not when You need them. Ha ha You said "corn"!

[SanDiegoCJ]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

One move was family. The other was my daughters' day care.

....and the best thing: I didn't have to help load, haul, or unload either time!!!


I refueled last night. 20 gallons and 152 miles. Roughly 7.5 mpg loaded. Probably lower on the night of the tow test.

We get between 7 and 8 with our Renegade, depending on terrain. The terrain
seems to have much more to do with mileage than whether I'm towing or not.
We are a bit faster than yours though.

[montanatrout]

Looks sweet shawn!!! jake just told me about it. I want one now damn it!

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by MT-Toy

That's a long drive in the Baker bus I bet! Test fit those chains first, not when You need them.

Absolutely!!! That's exactly why i'm doing things like the test towing now...a long time before KOH so I have time to fix or upgrade as needed.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoCJ

We get between 7 and 8 with our Renegade, depending on terrain. The terrain
seems to have much more to do with mileage than whether I'm towing or not.
We are a bit faster than yours though.

thanks for the feedback. you've got a big Detroit or something in it, don't you? manual or auto??

Never thought about terrain.....of course it would make quite a bit of difference since the truck itself just weighs a lot, and you have to drop a lot of gears to get up hills...generally, the load isn't as big a percentage of total weight as it is with a light truck.

[SanDiegoCJ]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

thanks for the feedback. you've got a big Detroit or something in it, don't you? manual or auto??

Never thought about terrain.....of course it would make quite a bit of difference since the truck itself just weighs a lot, and you have to drop a lot of gears to get up hills...generally, the load isn't as big a percentage of total weight as it is with a light truck.

The motor is 12.8L Mercedes diesel. 450hp, 1550 ft/lb tq. The trans is an
auto-shift 12sp manual. The reason terrain makes the most difference for
us is it will drop down gears for steep grades and run the rpm's up. Once we
get over 1300-1400rpm it starts sucking LOTS of fuel. Our Renegade has
a GCVWR of 62,400 lbs. and the trailer we have now maxs out at 7000 lbs.
which is a small percentage of the total.

[MT4Runner]

Thanks. I need to get a tach setup and start running miles at a given (as much as possible) RPM and start figuring out the best rev's.

You going to have that F-Flatfender done to tow behind that Renegade for KOH?

[SanDiegoCJ]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Thanks. I need to get a tach setup and start running miles at a given (as much as possible) RPM and start figuring out the best rev's.

You going to have that F-Flatfender done to tow behind that Renegade for KOH?

I wish, but I doubt it. I probably won't be a KOH though because our clubs
big event is the weekend after KOH and our pre-run is the week before.
Kind of hard to squeeze in KOH.

[MT4Runner]

Not much to report on the build/conversion.

We took it to KOH in February. Didn't track our fuel consumption very closely, but I'm guessing we got about 7-7.5mpg the whole trip. We hauled the #53 MasterCraft race Jeep buggy in the back and Manson's 4Runner on the trailer on the way down.

On the way home, we put Manson's 4Runner in back, and my FToy and pyrozuki's Yamaha banshee on the trailer. We dropped down to 3rd gear for most of the passes, and were only running ~30mph through CA and into NV. Made a lot better speed through Utah, ID, and MT. The big passes really, really, really slowed us down.

• Pic of the rig the first night in Missoula, MT
• 2nd night in Mesquite, NV
• the Warthog passing us on the big hill West of Primm
• In camp @ Johnson Valley
• We ran a consistent 65mph on the flats and mild grades

[jtr]

That thing is awsome! I am getting real tired of towing with my Class C Ford. It has a 460 and does well for what it is but having a RV that can handle the weight would be nice. Head winds kick our butts....how does yours do in the wind?

[MT4Runner]

I had a Class C Chevy 454/T400 that was an absolute turd. The 3-speed auto couldn't get out of its own way....its top speed was maybe 45mph empty, or 55mph downhill with a tailwind.

Driving to KOH, we were on I15 South climbing toward the Monida Pass on the MT-ID border. Not a real steep climb--maybe 4%, but we had at least a 30mph headwind, and we were slowed down to about 35-40mph for about 10 miles.


....and we had 3 passengers, the 3,500# race car, Manson's 5,000# 4Runner on a 1,500# 16' car-hauler trailer, and a shitload of camping equipment. We were easily 23,000 GCVW going down the road, so I wasn't disappointed in the least.

We were slowed to 25-30mph on the bigger 6-7% grades in CA.
We maintained a good 60-65mph on the 3-4% rolling grades in central Utah.


I could be talked into a CTD for a towrig for shorter/quicker jaunts where one could maintain 65-70mph on the interstate without regard for hills or wind....but you could never talk me into an older Class C again. For the $5-6k, there's simply no comparison in my eyes.

[Rcworld89]

what kind of temps does it run down the interstate on a warm day. also how many miles do you have on it and what kind of oil pressure does it have when at idle and warm

[ironpig70]

nice GH seeing how i work for them will definetly have to tell the boss. she loves to see them after uhaul is done with them. if you go to www.uhaul.com you can get the specs of all the trucks

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by Rcworld89

what kind of temps does it run down the interstate on a warm day. also how many miles do you have on it and what kind of oil pressure does it have when at idle and warm

It runs right around 185-190º. Outside temps don't seem to affect it as much as really lugging it or revving it going up long hills. The temp warning light and buzzer comes on about 195-200º

I don't think mine has an oil pressure gauge; just a warning light. I should toss an oil press gauge on it...I have one I won at a raffle!

Originally Posted by ironpig70

nice GH seeing how i work for them will definetly have to tell the boss. she loves to see them after uhaul is done with them. if you go to www.uhaul.com you can get the specs of all the trucks

Donna Lee? I owe her some more photos.

I need to update this thread, as I have added two more windows over the wheel wells. Mrs. MT4Runner thought it was a bit too dark back there, and I had a couple left that had good frames from the rolled camper trailer; just had to reglaze the side windows.

I had UHaul truck sales send me the maintenance log for the past 8 years.

[surveyboy]

hey runner.

what's the frame like on that truck? standard channeL

thinking of getting one and stripping off the box and flatbedding it and putting a hitch in to tow the 5th wheel?

[mbryson]

Originally Posted by surveyboy

hey runner.

what's the frame like on that truck? standard channeL

thinking of getting one and stripping off the box and flatbedding it and putting a hitch in to tow the 5th wheel?

There's one at the Uhaul near my house for sale (Bountiful, UT). $3K? Missing the box. I'll take a gander at the frame on the way home if you'd like. I'm 90% sure it's big "channel", though. I've been trying to figure out how hard it would be to add a "crew cab" body and do what you're saying.

[surveyboy]

Originally Posted by mbryson

There's one at the Uhaul near my house for sale (Bountiful, UT). $3K? Missing the box. I'll take a gander at the frame on the way home if you'd like. I'm 90% sure it's big "channel", though. I've been trying to figure out how hard it would be to add a "crew cab" body and do what you're saying.

I'd love a crew cab, doubt that'll ever happen though.

also, what the Reg. fees on something like this?

[shortystowing]

It has two frames, the truck frame is thick C channel frame, the box has it's own frame that is basically plate bolted to the truck frame... well, that's what my IH 89 26er looks like.