2014 Ram/Cummins, cold testing for a Canadian Arctic trip
Canadian Arctic adventure countdown…we are less than four weeks out! Does it look cold? It was, but it’s nicer when the sun is out and the wind isn’t blowing. This was during a recent cold camp and drive test in Northern Nevada. The VisionX 4.5″ Light Cannons, Factor55 UltraHook, Fairlead 1.5, and a HitchLink 2.0 secured by a BOLT receiver lock, all look good mounted on the aluminum Buckstop bumper, which protects a Talon 12.5k Superwinch. Hard to see under the truck is an AEV front differential cover that completes the beam front axle. Surely the lights will see regular use on our big trip to the North. Hopefully the other stuff is not needed often.
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler. All Rights Reserved.
Amalgamated’s 2.5 gallon jug of TDR-WDA additive. Well worth the $97.
Got Diesel? Got cold temps? I’ve been using Amalgamated’s TDR-WDA additive for several months, and just bought another 2.5 gallon jug before heading to the Canadian Arctic in a few weeks. Prevention vs. repair and downtime is the goal.
WAGAN Tech’s BRITE-NITE rechargeable LED lantern. 220 lumens on high.
This is WAGAN Tech’s BRITE-NITE LED Dome Lantern, the rechargeable USB version, which has high, low, and flashing modes. Just during the initial fondling and photos I was impressed with this bright, little light. It exudes quality, and can be employed in several ways using the powerful magnets (portable, wireless rock light?), or the built-in swiveling hooks. My intended initial primary use is as an interior cab light, to augment the one, only fair, centered OE dome light in my 2014 Ram Tradesman.
After more use, a detailed review is planned. My upcoming monthlong adventure to the Canadian Arctic should help it get a proper break-in.
WAGAN is new accessory company to me, discovered recently when I bought their SlimLine 1500 inverter to power an electric heater in my camper while underway. They make lots of cool stuff!
Power Tank’s BKT-2287 bracket for 6-pound aluminum Worthington bottle
NEW from Power Tank, I don’t think it’s even on their website yet! Power Tank part number BKT-2287, a stainless steel bracket for a Worthington aluminum 6-pound propane tank (#299494), and part of my endless Arctic trip prep. Surely I will use extra fuel keeping the camper thawed, and until now I’d not found a practical solution for carrying extra propane. Since 2007, after the purchase of my AT Overland Chaser trailer, I’ve used one of these Worthington bottles. Though not large, some extra propane beats none. Power Tank’s roll bar mounts are backordered, but once they arrive I’ll test my mounting location.
Recently a friend emailed this miles-per-gallon question:
I’m scratching my head here on fuel and mileage numbers. If I do the math for gallons of fuel consumed (fuel filter life % gauge) and odo I get about 16 mpg.
But the Ram’s EVIC dash display says 11 MPG.
With 4.30:1 gears and 37-inch tires, I know ALL the numbers are inaccurate.
How do I figure this out?
My reply:
I’d be very surprised if you are able to routinely obtain 16 mpg with your Ram/Four Wheel Camper setup, unless you are driving 55 mph. I never trust dash displays. They are almost always overly optimistic, though in your case because of the tall, 37-inch tires, it may actually be a little pessimistic. My built, 2006 4Runner mpg display is slightly low most of the time because the car travels further on taller tires than the ECM calculates.
The fuel filter life gauge is not a good source for mpg data, I think it’s really only useful for when to change the fuel filters. I’ve done similar calculations using the oil life percentage numbers (it probably uses the same ECM algorithm) after doing oil changes. The numbers literally do not add-up to the actual odometer distance traveled (neither indicated miles or the known and measured inaccuracy). To state the obvious, the only way to get accurate fuel economy readings is to have good numbers for the math; how many miles vs. how many gallons at fill-up.
I don’t think your gearing change matters. Most late-model vehicles calculate the speed from wheel sensors… as long as that’s the case on the new Ram (easy to test) then it is only the tire diameter that matters. I’ve tested many sets of 33, 34, and 35-inch tires on my 2014, but no 37s yet. My guess is that your odometer is about 8-10% slow, compared to the actual miles you are traveling.
My method of testing tire-induced odometer error is to compare actual miles traveled to odometer readings. California doesn’t use highway mile-markers most places anymore, but Nevada does. With two columns on paper, I reset my trip odometer at a mile-marker, and then log the indicated and mile-marker distances. Data gathered over more miles will be more helpful. For example, a 10-20 mile test can be better than nothing, but the initial error percentage will drop if you make a longer run, like 50-100 miles.
If you’re on a long trip you can use indicated GPS miles instead of mile-markers. Recently I compared GPS to mile-marker data over a 70-mile route, and was surprised that they were just slightly different.
Good luck.
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler. All Rights Reserved.
Now for a little something on the actual “Loneliest Road in America”.
Heading home from the Overland Expo West event several years ago, after an unseasonably warm April in Amado, Arizona, I camped at Hickson Petroglyphs Recreation Area/Campground, in one of Nevada’s numerous mountain ranges. At 6,500 feet, there is always the possibility of snow, including during spring.
Eezi-Awn Series 3 1600 rooftop tent, atop a 2006 V8 Toyota 4Runner.
The Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area, managed my the Bureau of Land management, lies at the north end of the Toquima Range, along U.S Route 50, about 24 miles east of Austin, Nevada. Several Native American petroglyphs can be viewed on a self-guided, half-mile walking tour.
There is so much history here. Get away from the big cities and see what the rest of Nevada has to offer.
Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler. All Rights Reserved.
