I'm trying to change the title of my original message because the pictures of my finished truck are here now. Thanks to Ron, I wanted anyone interested to see how I finished my bare chassis. This is just another way these great trucks can be used to suit your needs. I'll soon see (two weeks)if all the money, time and effort was the correct decision when I head West for the first time with the 5th wheel. Flash or no flash I'm heading out!!


Does anyone know if the chassis cabs need the latest flash being talked about. I've noticed some hesitation in shifting at low speed but don't know if this is normal or something I need to address. I only have 980 miles on truck, and no load yet. I really don't know what is normal or abnormal concerning shifting regimens.

 

Jim,
I heard from a mechanic at work that one is coming out in the next few weeks for the turbo lag issue. I'll try to get more information and confirmation about it.
Rich

 

Hi Rich. I know there are differences between turbos, engine programming, and emissions to name a few between the pickup and chassis cab versions. I do notice a little hesitation in accelerating from a stop sometimes, but I drive like such an old grandma that this is more a curiosity than an annoyance to me. Also don't have a 1,000 miles yet. I will be hooking on to the 5er in the next three weeks, I guess I'll know if it is a real problem then. I guess if it is I'll have to wait until I get to California to do anything about it. The Ford dealer at Dixon worked on my 6.0 two years ago, they seemed like a good dealer. If you hear anymore about this issue in the next couple of weeks, let me know. I sure would appreciate any info you get. I guess you work with your chassis cab, I just look at mine!! Did you get the pictures I tried to send you??

 

Pictures? Did someone say pictures? I haven't seen any pictures. Has anyone seen any pictures? Don't be holding out on us here Jim.

You must be getting close to leaving on your trip, huh? Wow, I bet you are excited. Sure hope you take a laptop along to stay in touch with us.

BTW, I might have missed it, but, what is your total fuel capacity now with the extra tank?

 

I got some good pictures of the before and after process of the bed. It's hard to believe it all took 5 months, but it did. The RDS tank is 60 gal. We drove it today, have 1100 miles on it now. We transferred our first load of fuel from the aux tank to the main tank. The Airtex pump works beautifully, and the Aerometer gauge in the cab is very handy. Boy this is going to be really handy on our long trips to California. I don't know how to put pictures on this site, but sure would send you some to your email. Send me a PM or you can just send to my email which is

jlharmon@sutv.com

I got the Pullrite hitch installed in the well that was fabricated in the bed and backed under the 5er. I think everything is going to be OK there, may have to raise the hitch a little. We are leaving in 3 weeks. I sure hope this darn thing is going to tow the 5er the way I'm hoping for. I asked my mechanic about any flashes for the chassis cabs, and he asked me if I was having issues with the truck. I guess I don't. No warning lights or anything out of the normal. It does seem to hesitate a little sometimes from a stop. But, I've read so many things here I think I'm looking for something to be wrong even if there isn't. I just don't want to hook on to the 5er then find out I needed to get a flash and didn't. This darn thing sure is quiet going down the road. And it's more comfortable than our 04 F250. Should be a nice trip to California. Let me know how to send you some pictures....

 

Jim,

I sent you an email. You will soon find out that I too, am computer illiterate. I still struggle with emails. LOL! I have learned a lot on this forum tho. It's been an excellent teaching aide.

Regarding your truck, I bet you will come across more than a few FOMOCO shops on your journey west. I wouldn't be too concerned about all our whimpering here on FTE. If you have the time, what about taking the truck and trailer for a couple hard pulls before you leave town? Make her grunt a few times and get a feel for how she will react. Good Luck!

 

Ron, I read this forum every evening. It sounds like a lot of CEL's , what is that? Codes, where do those show up, on the computer screen. Boy, I'm so in the dark about all this. I wouldn't know something could be wrong with the truck except from all I read here. Like I said, it does seem to hesitate or lag a little sometimes when taking off from a stop. I'm not 100% sure about it, maybe it's normal I don't know. I'm not going to have time to do any towing before we leave. I guess if something is wrong, I'll get a rude awakening. I do know in what little I've driven it I'm very happy with how quiet the engine is vs my 6.0. I didn't think it was noisey, but I can hardly tell this thing is running. I don't have 400 hp or 800 ft/lbs torque, just a wimpy 300 hp. I'll soon be finding out how it does towing.

 

Most of the CEL's have been related to the nox sensor, which monitors the nitrous oxide emissions. Another CEL is tied to the diesel exhaust fluid, (DEF) system. I thought I read somewhere on here about an airbox sensor issue. I think that one was mainly cold weather related. Freezing moisture and air flow restriction due to snow plows. There are also some DEF pump failures. That is what happened to my buddies truck. I don't think it is very wide spread tho. I bet you're going to do fine.

 

Ron, what does CEL stand for? I havn't seen the DEF warning yet. These chassis cab tanks are 6 gal. My dealer said he filled it so have no idea when that will need to be filled. I bought a 2 1/2 gal jug the other day to take with me when we head West. It only took 45 minutes to transfer 40 gals of diesel from aux to aft tank. It was kinda cool watching the gauge on top of the dash go down as the gauge in the dash went up. I'm filtering the aux tank fuel thru a 12 volt shutoff then wix fuel filter/separator then to the Airtex pump. It took me forever to make all the mounts for all that then mount it to the bed frame and behind the drivers's side underbed box. Of course I work really slow in my old age. I've loved every second of the project.

I've learned an enormous amount of good stuff reading this forum. Most of these guys are way over my head when it comes to knowledge of these very complicated machines. I am interested in knowing how some of the issues concern me, but I never know for sure if the pickup engine issue applies to my chassis cab engine. There are differences, and not nearly as much chassis cab specific help. That's why every once in awhile I ask these chassis cab specific questions. Usually not too many replies. I think most of the chassis cab guys are business users and are to busy to put info here. I don't know if anyone else is a retired guy just using a chassis cab to tow. It will be the only time the truck will even be out of the garage. Let me know if you hear of any issues I might need to address with my truck before heading to California.

It's great to hear from you as always. Did you get my pictures??

 

Hi Jim,

Yepr, I got your pics last night. I'd be proud to driving that beauty. I fired you back an email. As for CEL, that stands for, check engine light.

Click on this link and it will take you to a thread that has a whole bunch of acronyms and abbreviations often used here.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...n-acronym.html

 

Thanks Ron, gotta get myself educated. The rest of these guys are college grad truck geeks, I'm second grader.

Jim

 

Jim,
Here's some pics of your baby online. Hope this works for you, buddy.

 

Wowl, thanks Ron. That was really nice of you to do that. I was lucky just to get pictures to you. I have to admit she looks pretty good huh??? Like I said it's a purpose built truck. RV pulling is all it will be used for. I went to the station and filled the aux tank and topped off the aft tank. I wasn't sure if the attendant or me was going to have the first heart attack. It was the first time to fill them both. Oh well a long way between fill ups now, less time waiting at the one and only RV pump at most stations. I got the hitch and pin box adjusted, now time to start serious packing of the 5er. I can't wait to see how it does with a load on it. Thanks again!!! I'm going to ask my mechanic about this latest flash one more time, then I'm going to quit looking for something to go wrong and start driving WEST.

 

My pleasure my friend.

 

Jim,
I haven't been able to access my email since you sent the pictures to me. All I can say is wow, what a nice looking truck. You've done a great job!
Just to give you an idea on how long the DEF tank will last, my truck went 6500 miles before the 800 miles to empty message came on. Of course it all depends on how hard the truck is used to how long the DEF will last.
Rich