What did you do to the X today?
04-11-2015, 09:46 PM
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Location: North Bay Ont Canada
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04-11-2015, 09:48 PM
Fleet Mechanic
Decided to start installing my front springs in my driveway today. Wish someone had told me what fun removing the track bar would be. Came to the sad conclusion the PO of my Ex was a bit of a hack. 
Looks like I'll be ordering some aftermarket manual hubs and plugging some vacuum lines. Discovered the right axle U-joint is junk, so if the knuckle has to come apart .... might as well plan on ball joints. I'll find out what's in store for me on the driver's side tomorrow. At least the weather is supposed to be good.
Looks like I'll be ordering some aftermarket manual hubs and plugging some vacuum lines. Discovered the right axle U-joint is junk, so if the knuckle has to come apart .... might as well plan on ball joints. I'll find out what's in store for me on the driver's side tomorrow. At least the weather is supposed to be good.
04-11-2015, 10:11 PM
Lead Driver
Got the bumper pulled and the grill installed in about 30 minutes (was messing with other stuff too. Also my headlight connectors came in the mail so I can drive at night again 
04-11-2015, 10:12 PM
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04-11-2015, 10:13 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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04-11-2015, 10:13 PM
Lead Driver
Wow, you have got to be happy with that paint, get it sealed.
04-11-2015, 10:54 PM
What a day!
Figured out that yes in fact I did need to run the reverse wire to the head unit to get it to automatically turn to the camera when placed in reverse. I found the wire like mentioned under the drivers side rocker cover (sill plate?) it was a black wire with lavender (purpleish) stripe. I did not install a switch because I would have to also run the wire back to the camera itself to come on with the switch.
I hooked up the camera and started looking exactly where I could put it to see the hitch and behind the X. I originally wanted to put it in the third brake light but soon found out that I would not be able to see the hitch at all. So I had to put the camera in the trim piece that the lift gate handle is part of. Someone else here also put their camera in the same spot, sorry I forget who right now.
I trimmed the dash panel to fit the head unit, cleaned up the wiring a bit, got everything put back together and ready to go. I just need the ground loop isolator and I can stick the head unit in the dash and be done for now.
I have a second rca at the trailer plugs for an additional camera on the back of the TT for backing up and to watch the boat when in tow. For this camera I will just manually select "2nd video input" on the head unit. But I am wondering about the camera power itself, is it ok to leave those small cameras powered all the time while in tow? I am thinking of having the TT camper powered strait off the 7 pin so as soon as I plug in the TT the camera will be powered until I unhook it again.
No pics yet, to much going today, I'll get some when it is all done.
Figured out that yes in fact I did need to run the reverse wire to the head unit to get it to automatically turn to the camera when placed in reverse. I found the wire like mentioned under the drivers side rocker cover (sill plate?) it was a black wire with lavender (purpleish) stripe. I did not install a switch because I would have to also run the wire back to the camera itself to come on with the switch.
I hooked up the camera and started looking exactly where I could put it to see the hitch and behind the X. I originally wanted to put it in the third brake light but soon found out that I would not be able to see the hitch at all. So I had to put the camera in the trim piece that the lift gate handle is part of. Someone else here also put their camera in the same spot, sorry I forget who right now.
I trimmed the dash panel to fit the head unit, cleaned up the wiring a bit, got everything put back together and ready to go. I just need the ground loop isolator and I can stick the head unit in the dash and be done for now.
I have a second rca at the trailer plugs for an additional camera on the back of the TT for backing up and to watch the boat when in tow. For this camera I will just manually select "2nd video input" on the head unit. But I am wondering about the camera power itself, is it ok to leave those small cameras powered all the time while in tow? I am thinking of having the TT camper powered strait off the 7 pin so as soon as I plug in the TT the camera will be powered until I unhook it again.
No pics yet, to much going today, I'll get some when it is all done.
I have a bu camera built into a high quality license plate frame. It is powered all the time w key on. It is viewed thru my edge cts.
Normally the camera only powers up when it gets a reverse signal, and the edge knows when you go into reverse and it all comes on and is viewable at the same time.
I, like you, wanted to see the camera at any given time so it's powered off the key and I have the edge set to view camera the first 30 seconds after I start the truck regardless of shift lever selection.
On the fly I can view the camera as well. It also comes on when I engage reverse gear automatically.
I hook up to trailers on average 4-5 times a week in the summer months and still several times a month otherwise. It is one of the most useful things I've done.
Re hooking 2nd camera mounted on your TT.
If I understand you correctly you would tie it on the pin that gets 12v from your truck right? If that's the case even when the trailer is unhooked if your batteries on the TT are connected it, they will back feed to that plug and keep power on the camera full time. Is this what you had in mind?
Obviously you could disconnect the battery cables when not towing.
Mine has been installed for around 6 months with 12k miles and the key on power hasn't affected it yet.
04-11-2015, 11:12 PM
Posting Guru
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Idaho
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Orofino, Idaho to SLC, Utah totaling about 1250 miles.
I didn't get to use the Excursion on this trip, but I got to give the 7.3 y'all are all raving about a try. It's Dad's '99 F-350, 272 K miles, so I don't know if it's actually worthy to put on the EX side of the forums, but I think it applies as a 7.3 PSD test.
Great motor! I love the way it sounds and how it drives. I am now wanting a 7.3 Excursion.
The fuel mileage isn't really as good as I've seen claimed on here though.
04-11-2015, 11:30 PM
Ordered everything in my wish list on RiffRaff for the rig today... 38R, and billet wheel, high flow CVD's and banjo's, delete pedestal, and bellowed up-pipes. There are no leaks now but the trans is coming out soon so makes preventative sense.
VA disability back pay came in unexpectedly and I may have gotten a little spend happy....
VA disability back pay came in unexpectedly and I may have gotten a little spend happy....
04-11-2015, 11:45 PM
Lead Driver
I didn't know you were a disabled vet too, bad *** man! 
04-11-2015, 11:56 PM
Well, I did a temp fix on my driveway...its a real mess after all the work we had done last spring. Absolute mud pit, can't keep anything clean..ugh
Detailing my Grandpas '08 Sport Trac Adrenalin for him. My stuff just sat in the driveway dirty.
Drove the Oldsmobile with the new and fixed radiator, no leaks! decided to sweep out my grandparents garage, then i did the driveway because the HOA STILL has not come through with the sweepers to clean up all the gravel off the road..ugh
(not everything in the driveway)
Gravel for DAYSSSSS
Detailing my Grandpas '08 Sport Trac Adrenalin for him. My stuff just sat in the driveway dirty.
Drove the Oldsmobile with the new and fixed radiator, no leaks! decided to sweep out my grandparents garage, then i did the driveway because the HOA STILL has not come through with the sweepers to clean up all the gravel off the road..ugh
(not everything in the driveway)
Gravel for DAYSSSSS
04-12-2015, 12:29 AM
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04-12-2015, 12:43 AM
04-12-2015, 02:52 AM
