Just completed 5500+ mile trip

[BJandOreo]

Fresh back from a trip that took us from north central Texas to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Galcier National Park, Waterton National Park (Canada), back down to Salt Lake City and across the salt to Wendover NV, back across Monarch Pass and back home. No tow, just an 18 ft canoe strapped to the top and a whole bunch of gear inside.

Just me n' my wife, we took out the third seat and layed down the middle seat. Then we put a double-bed sized air mattress in the back (fits perfectly) and put our gear (icluding the Coleman electric cooler) where the middle seat was, leaving just enough room to crawl in and out of the bed.

I have a rather heavy foot but still we managed 18 mpg in the mountains and 20 mpg on the prairies. Overall trip mpg was about 19.5 mpg. I sure do like the 800+ mile fuel intervals. Although I did get a little watery fuel in Kalispell, MT (little bit of white smoke on startup), the rest of the trip was uneventful.

I kept the tires (Firestone Steeltex A/T) at 65 psi when on the highway and dropped them to 35 psi when on the logging roads within Glacier.

We passed lots of other X's along the way but ours was the only PSD.

Engine knock at idle disappeared when ambient was below 90F. Interestingly enough, the backup sensors also started working when the ambient dropped below 80F.

Also noted that the fan clutch engaged frequently throughout my rather fast ascent up Monarch pass (averaging 50-60mph) even though the ambient was aaround 40F.

On a sad note, our only incident was after returning home and I was butt-tired and a too close run-in with a corner fence post. Ouch! No, the back up sensors were not working when it happened.

------------------
2000 Excursion Ltd 4x2 built 2/19/00 delivered 3/18/00 7.3PSD Estate Green/Parchment
everything except heated seats (don't need em in Texas) and TT mirrors (reg mirrors look nicer)

[AJ'sDad]

What speeds were you driving in the mountains and the prairies?

Was there any snow on the top of Monarch? I've never been over it in the summer.

[BJandOreo]

Only snow we saw fell Tues and Wed nights on the highest peaks inside Glacier. Everythin else was bone dry.