Just did 5000 mile trip.

[Kevin 007]

Just took the 84 loaded with a camper and gear to the northern Yukon Territory and Alaska for a few weeks. Just a hair over 5000 miles and she did really well. Pulled many steep grades and travelled MANY logging that were anything but in good repair. Towed out two tourists stuck in mud with cars etc..

Truck did very well, never had to turn a wrench on it, got somewhere around 17-18mpg. or about 14l/100km in our metric world up here. Burnt 2 quarts of oil. A bit of stone drill damage to one of the tires but thats expected after that much gravel. Replaced that tire.
No matter how remote we were, I did not doubt the old girl for a min; nor did I doubt the fact that I could likely repair most of what could possibly breakdown if that did happen. Really makes a guy wonder about how reliable the new stuff actually is with all the electronic voodoo. A guy wouldn't have a hope in hell of getting one of them running if a pile of sensors took a dump in the middle of nowhere.
Just thought I would share as I always enjoy reading succsesful trip stories


Only thing that I lacked was an overdrive obviously, but I now have a ZF from a 92 in my possesion, so you know what my next project will be That would have helped out with the fuel bill for certain.

 

[icanfixall]

What a great sounding trip you had. Glad you were able to help others. Thats what all of us should do but many wont for fear of silly things happening. Our mechanical injection engines are so simple to repair on the roads compared to the all electronic controlled diesels of today. But if you have the diesel scanners and know how to use one plus you carry spare sensers. then they are not too hard to fix. But have an injecter issue and your sol.

 

[dgr]

Great picture of a great looking truck. How did you factor your fuel mileage? Canada has 4.5 liter gallons; Alaska has 3.8 liter gallons. Where's the ubiquitous picture of it covered with the famous road dust from the Alaskan highway?

 

[towcat]

good to hear.
I felt pretty proud of my '92 last year when I did CA-MI-TX and back to CA. I was one of the older vehicles on the open interstate, but she never let me down. bunch of small hiccups, but nothing leaving me stranded.

 

[typ4]

Nice trip. And as for electronics in the wilderness, lets just say I hate all the electronics on this new construction equipment.

And as a side note, the injectors are bad in the 6.0 I drive for work and I cooked the starter today getting it running. arrrrgh

 

[Kevin 007]

This picture was on the Stewart Cassiar hwy (hwy 37), alternate to the Alaska hwy. Picture was taken a Gnat lake. Great fishing every evening.
Im using the canadian gallon. I admit that I am starting to stray from the MPG and going with the flow and using L/100km. Sorry guys lol. Usually get 11l/100km unloaded and babying the truck. And I was getting about 14L whenever I have my welder and tools in it, or the camper in this case.


Russ, I feel the frustration myself when I read your post regarding cooking a starter due to bad injectors. thats just stress that nobody needs.

Great picture of a great looking truck. How did you factor your fuel mileage? Canada has 4.5 liter gallons; Alaska has 3.8 liter gallons. Where's the ubiquitous picture of it covered with the famous road dust from the Alaskan highway?

 

[rob93]

Good looking truck. How do you like that front tire carrier? Any problems overheating in the summer? Is it a PITA to reach around while working under the hood?
Any other pros/cons you can think of?
I like the look right there and that it doesnt take up bed space, plus maybe the extra weight on the front will make my truck ride a little better

 

[Wicked97]

I would love to do a trip like that.

 

[pedro_8149]

Ive been to gnat lake quading and fishing a couple times and driven the hwy 37 many times into stewart, beautiful scenery. Im in terrace one hr west from the junction at kitwanga. Sounds like you had a great trip up there, did you end up going out of your way into stewart/ hyder or just headed north on 37?

 

[OLDBULL8]

Beautiful country up that way, was up there in 08 for 3 months. Diesel fuel in Canada was $7.50 a gallon, Alaska was $5.50. GF thought we ran into some cheap diesel in Whitehorse, she filled the truck up, about 25 gallons, but it was Reg. gas. By the time we got to Carmac (120 miles) the PSD wasn't running to good, lots of banging knocking smoke. Ten smoking MPH up the hills back to Whitehorse, only thing that saved the engine was 2 gallons of ATF. Sixty thousands miles since then and still running strong. BUILT FORD TOUGH.

Somewhere in the Yukon, I think Carmac.

 

[Kevin 007]

Good looking truck. How do you like that front tire carrier? Any problems overheating in the summer? Is it a PITA to reach around while working under the hood?
Any other pros/cons you can think of?
I like the look right there and that it doesnt take up bed space, plus maybe the extra weight on the front will make my truck ride a little better

I have only had it on for about a month, has not been too hot here but the truck didn't even think about getting over 205 degrees on any hill; usually runs around 190. This is with a 192 motorcraft t-stat and a original rad that has quite a bit of deposit build up. No, its not really in the way of anything except for the hood opening latch. Actually, I like to sit of kneel on it when wrenching.

Pedro, yeah I went into stewart, telegraph creek, cassiar, but not into hyder this trip. To be honest, I forgot there was a oilburner member in Terrace, or I would have looked you up. Next time!!!!!

 

[texcl]

Awesome! I hear ya about the electronics, as long as you have gone over these trucks, they are super reliable and easily field repairable.

 

[gdhillon]

....you also forgot about making a stop in PG to haha. Glad your trip went well, it is always cool to read stories of guys taking these trucks on multiple daylong trips and not having troubles.

I couldn't imagine working on one of the newer diesels with about as much spare room in the engine bay as a mitsu 3000 gt lol. I love being able to fit a pipe over rathcets for those nuts and bolts that need some extra leverage.