roadtrip and a few things I learded this weekend

Odarkthirty I mount up in my new to me 2005 F250 with trailer and head to mid Michigan to retrieve a parts donar CA. In Lancing, I discover exit ramps closed and no detour provided. Arrrgh! GPS is also confused. OK, I overcome that obstacle, with loss of about 40 min's, but back on track. I arrive at fellow forum member site we quickly get tractor loaded, BS a bit, great talking to you Ryan, and I'm on the road again. I don't get far and the trailer wants to swap ends with the truck! 'bout soiled meself, but by the grace of God, and some manual trailer brake, I get it gathered up and pull over. I suspect I don't have enough tongue weight, although the tractor was slightly forward of the center of the two axles. I move it forward about 18" and tie it down, and away we go. not long before I hit a bump on a alight turn, at 60 MPH and the trailer starts violent weaving again, not as bad as last time but not funny! again, some mostly trailer brake, I get things back in order, and pulled over. I consider pushing this thing off the trailer and making a beeline for SWPA! OK, so shaking that thought out of my head, I once again pull the tractor forward, the rear tire is now slightly forward of dual axle centerline. Michigan State Patrol stops by to check on me! Quick conversation and He's on his way. (but when he leaves, he took off like a scalded cat! I thought that odd, but quickly dismissed it) Hop in and away we go.....problem solved, truck, trailer and tractor happy. Within a few miles, I find my new friend alongside the road with a lady, and her car all smashed in the front, coolant all over the road. Nothing around to have hit, I suspect she collected her venison with the car. It's not long before I realize I'm going through gas a lot quicker than I used to with my 2000 F350 with 6.8 V10. Humm, maybe this truck has a smaller tank. Nope, next fuel stop confirms we are using more gas than the 6.8. Stupid 5.4! I also have noted that I must run higher RPM to maintain speed, than I did with the 6.8! stupid 5.4! Maybe a different axle ratio, I don't know yet.
Anyhow, Im moving along quite well know, albeit sucking more gas than I would like, and not running as fast as I used to in the 2000, but moving along.
Then, all of a sudden the dash lights up like a Christmas tree! that can't be good! rest stop 3/4 mile up so I head for there...temp gauge pegged hot, dash flashing 'check gauges' (well duh!), engine stumbling and loosing power.
After putting two gallons of antifreeze in it, only to walk around the truck and find it all on the ground (I had checked hoses, serpentine belt, etc). I suspect that I might have an antifreeze leak, but I do not see where.
I suspect it is the coolant hose that Ford so wisely routed under the manifold, so we aint fixing it here.
slept in the truck last night, had truck hauled home (Whooowee, $100, plus $4.50/mile) called son to come and get the trailer.


Things I've learned....GPS is nice, but when all else fails, it's nice to have my Truckers Atlas with me!
The 5.4 is a gas guzzling dog! I had better performance and better mileage with the 6.8.
Apparently, some truck/trailers like more than the recommended 10% tongue weight.
Tow trucks are expensive.....really expensive
Michigan State Police are great guys

OH ya, and I forgot to mention, somewhere, the trailer was hit by a big truck. The removable strut(s) that holds the ramp(s) up was severely bent, but was straight when I left home. Bent high up, so it had to be some sort of large truck, while I was parked in truck parking area during pit stops. no real damage, just another mystery!


and that was my weekend

Edited by LouSWPA - 27 Oct 2019 at 9:24pm

Had weeks as this, just wanted to crawl back in the sack and sleep the nightmare away. Wishing you better luck from here.

Momma said there'll be days like this!  Some times ya gotta wonder why too
 I found out, if you don't do ANYTHING, things might not go bad. That just ain't now way to live though.

Where did you break down at Lou?  I'm in SE MI i might have been able to help you.  Just north of I96 right off of US23.

steve(ill) wrote: I had a 2001 5.4 motor ...... yea, they are no power house... At 150K miles it blew a coolant gasket under the intake manifold by #1 cylinder... There is a CROSS OVER pipe there and it is bolted to the bottom of the PLASTIC manifold.. Got to remove the manifold to replace.... and its NOT a gasket, it was an O-ring and the groove failed in the Plastic manifold... so you might need a new manifold..

yep, you are on it Steve! it's either that, or the coolant line going under the manifold from, I think the thermostat housing to the cabin heater housing. either way, the intake must come off. I know those plastic intakes are problematic

JohnCO wrote: How far were you from home when the excitement happened with the engine?  Is the 6.8 the same as a 460?  I only get about 4.5 mpg with my F550 bucket truck with a 460, gonna put a 5.9 Diesel out of my '92 Dodge that I could never get the title for. Although it was an expensive, exciting adventure, at least you got home in one piece!

hundred miles John, One hundred miles short. Like Maxwell would say, 'missed it by this much'! the 6.8 is the 10 cylinder version of the 5.4.
you're right, I arrived alive, all else is no big deal.

I really love road trips. I usually invite my wife, but she does not enjoy the trips and I generally let her off the hook...… truth is, I like it better alone

Edited by JW in MO - 28 Oct 2019 at 8:30pm

JW in MO wrote: Hey, was David Maddux riding with you?  That sounds like one of our trips, I blame him. Glad you make it back ok.

No, David was not with me, but I have heard rumors!

shameless dude wrote: do I need to say anything? (poke,poke)

Oh, common now, don't hold back on us now!