April 2018 – RoadTraveler.net

April 28, 2018April 28, 2018

No Loss Tire Valve Caps

For many years these No Loss valve caps from Extreme Outback Products have been spinning on my motorcycles, cars, and trucks. They are $15 for a five-pack. I love them!

My video tells the story, but more details are available at ExtremeOutback.com. If you order some, tell George that James Langan the RoadTraveler sent you, and that you learned about his product(s) on this blog. George knows me well, as I’ve been a customer for about 15 years.

Remember to check your tire pressures often with a handheld gauge (don’t rely on TPMS displays), and run appropriate pressures for your load and the conditions.

Metal No Loss valve caps

Plastic No Loss valve caps

James Langan

Source: Extreme Outback Products

April 25, 2018

Atturo Trail Blade X/T

Atturo’s Trail Blade X/T finally got my attention

My bias against newer, overseas-manufactured tires has prevented any serious consideration of treads from many of the newer players. I prefer to buy from American companies or at least products made in North America, voting with my dollars. However, a local diesel repair shop, Patriot Diesel, told me they liked Atturo as an affordable, good quality truck tire option, so I decided to take a look.

Patriot Diesel sells more big mudders for lifted trucks than all-terrains, but it was the Trail Blade X/T pattern that caught my eye online, so I decided to take a closer look at the 2017 SEMA Show. The X/T is neither traditional all-terrain nor aggressive mudder, but a hybrid, just how I like my light-truck tires. The outer lugs are deep and beefy, while the tighter, well-siped center puts more rubber on the road. Atturo even won SEMA’s 2014 Global Media Award for “Best Innovative New Product for the International Market” with this X/T design. Okay, I’m no longer ignoring this brand; and certainly not the X/T design.

James Langan

Sources:

Atturo Tires

Patriot Diesel

April 23, 2018

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) filling made easier

Filling the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tanks on my 2014 and 2017 Fourth Generation Ram/Cummins 2500 trucks is sometimes problematic, the DEF filler necks don’t swallow the reductant as well as fuel tanks gulp diesel. It’s worse on the ’17, which has an aluminum flatbed mounted with much less filler neck fall, however filling the DEF tank on the unmodified 2014 crew cab can also be a fiddly, messy hassle. Similar complaints in online forums confirm that plenty of folks have been challenged and frustrated by the design of pickup truck DEF systems.

The videos tell the rest of the story, but I may have found an inexpensive solution, a well designed DEF jug nozzle made by Motorcraft.

Motorcraft DEF filler on Amazon.com

Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler.net

April 20, 2018June 7, 2018

Toyo Open Country R/T 285/75R18 first rotation

(First look video was posted here: Toyo R/T first look)

All Toyo Open Country R/T tires in LT-metric sizes start with 16.4/32″ of total tread depth. This video shows the depth after 3,450 miles on a 2017 Ram/Cummins 2500 regular cab, long bed, with a G56 manual transmission. The reward cross pattern was used.

Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler.net

Source: Toyo Tires

April 17, 2018August 18, 2018

Hallmark Nevada flatbed camper mounting

Minor modifications were made to the headache rack supports on the Hillsboro 2000 Series aluminum flatbed, before placing the Hallmark Nevada camper.

Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler.net

Source: Hallmark Truck Campers

April 15, 2018August 18, 2018

Hallmark Nevada Flatbed Camper, sneak peek

First look, the night before it was mounted on a Hillsboro 2000 Series aluminum flatbed. More to come. Stay tuned here and/or follow me on Instagram: @RoadTraveler.

Copyright James Langan/RoadTraveler.net

Source: Hallmark Truck Campers