Just completed first 1000 mile trip with 04 PSD Excursion - Diesel Forum

camperman · 07-22-2004, 12:46 PM

Took the wife, kids, greyhound and parrot for a two week camping trip with the truck fully loaded and pulling a 5000 lb RV. Truck performed flawlessly and got about 16mpg overall on relatively flat terrain and mostly all interstate driving. Running with the Predator in 65HP mode the truck had more than enough passing power on two lane roads.

Very pleased with the performance and MPG.

Regards;

David

jpeacock · 07-23-2004, 06:58 AM

In exactly 20 days, I'll be using my 01 PS-X to take the family from Annapolis, Md to Daytona Beach, Fl to visit with my parents. That's at least 1k miles and 12-15 hours depending on traffic. For the past 3 years we made the trip using wifey's Expedition. The Expedition is big, but; not big enough for 6 people and all the stuff for 6 people. I'm anxious to see how the X handles the trip. I was going to do Bilsteins and a Helwig to improve the over the road ride and handling, but; I was outvoted and the money I set aside for that is now going to installing a DVD.

mike650 · 07-23-2004, 09:52 AM

The DVD player is probably a good call for such long trip especialy if you have kids!! I think back to what my parents went through with me and my two brothers when all we had was a station wagon with an AM radio, oh man!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Have a great time!!

Zaphod · 07-23-2004, 12:35 PM

I still think that laptops are a good substitute if you're not dealing with small children. Even if you are, making a jig to use a laptop gives more value than many of these systems. Most laptops > 1Ghz will play movies just fine ... and that can be very cheap (and useful outside the truck). As a bonus, it will likely play games, too.

On my last big trip (Toronto -> Vancouver -> Toronto) with 6 people, we had 4 laptops (and associated inverters and extension cords, etc) and a "book" of about 400 DVDs. With only one person sharing (or reading a book) ... everyone got to watch their own media. I even got some work done.

CHPMustang · 07-23-2004, 04:40 PM

I think we got an average of 15 mpg bone stock driving from Sacramento to LA to Phoenix then to El Paso to Dallas for the first 1,800 miles loaded to the gills towing bout 8,000 pounds.

Could have used the LCD monitors for that trip!

The long trips are so much more enjoyable with everything done [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

-BILL

jpeacock · 07-26-2004, 06:34 AM

Funny you should mention lap tops. I have one and that was my first thought, but; the family wouldn't have any of that and 3 years ago the kids and wife made me but a 9" TV with built in DVD player. We've had that thing in the Expedition for the past 3 trips to Florida. It sits on the console and is held there by a sling that hangs between the 2 front seats. It takes up way too much space and the speakers are right next to me and the kids play them loud so they can hear them. For my own sanity, the cost of installing a DVD system will be worth the price. AND it will have HEADPHONES so I can drive without earplugs!!

jpbrake · 07-26-2004, 07:22 AM

YOu can get individual DVD Players for less than $200 at most electronic and discount stores. Get a few and let everyone be happy.

And it even gives you money left over for more mods for you!

Zaphod · 07-26-2004, 11:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]
YOu can get individual DVD Players for less than $200 at most electronic and discount stores. Get a few and let everyone be happy.

And it even gives you money left over for more mods for you!

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't really understand why the builtins are still running over $1k when the portables are so cheap. With a laptop or personal DVD player, you can watch DVDs when you're not in your 'X, too.