CGRotorhead' 6x10 base camp build

[CGRotorhead]

So I mounted the wind deflector to my truck today, I just bolted it it to the rack.


And with it mounted, it's the perfect width of the rack




I also replaced this battery that I was using

[nunrleft]

I have a Thule deflector. They do seem to help reduce noise and drag if you've got a roof rack mounted. I haven't tried it with pulling a trailer though.

[lrrowe]

Please let us know how the deflector works on the road. I am certain I could benefit from one. But first I have to replace my tonneau cover with a truck cap with the roof rack. I have the cover on CL with no interest so far.

[Spotman]

I have the cover on CL with no interest so far.

Umm, Bob, put up the CL post, haven't seen it!




Bob

[lrrowe]

Bob, I cannot find it. They must have deleted it as I lost track of time.
I will PM you pictures.
Bob

[CGRotorhead]

Got some new smaller tires and steel wheels for my trip down to San Diego this summer. I think these will help my power and mpg while towing my trailer.


Still plenty of tred on them

Comparison between my 285/70/17 and the 245/75/16

[desertrat222]

If i missed this i'm sorry but i'm curious if the air deflector saved you any MPG or if you can feel less drag. i only have a 6x12 and i'm surprised at its wind drag.

[professorkx]

Got some new smaller tires and steel wheels for my trip down to San Diego this summer. I think these will help my power and mpg while towing my trailer.

The smaller tires will change your effective axle ratio, so you should see a power improvement.

Gas mileage is a different issue, especially on newer vehicles with electronic automatic transmission. Since the shift points are controlled by the computer, changing to smaller tires means your transmission is shifting in the wrong spot to maximize efficiency, so you can actually see lower mpg...much lower in some cases. As a result, if the vehicle is automatic and new enough, you would need to buy a programmer that would allow you to change the tire diameter for the computer. Of course, going smaller, even on newer vehicles, isn't as bad as going to a larger tire diameter. Very common problem on the post 2008 Jeep Wranglers.

The good thing is that if you have a manual, you control shift points, so increases in mpg can be achieved. You will need to test your speedometer after the change with a GPS to determine the adjustment that will need to be made for miles traveled to get a proper mpg computation, but that's a simple process since most phones can access an AP that will allow GPS speed monitoring.

[CGRotorhead]

What you said is partly true. But, you have to take into consideration that I have larger tires on my truck now are not factory size. So as they are larger than stock the trans tends to hunt for gears and down shift more often raising the rpms. So by going back to the factory size tires i will be back to the factory ratio improving my gas mileage compared to what I have now. The engine will not have to work as hard to get all that rolling mass moving, like it would with my larger,heavier and wider tires that I have on now. Smaller skinnier tires will take less effort from the engine to get the rolling mass of the tires moving.

[CGRotorhead]

Finally installed my new roof vent, but it was a pain for sure. All the hardware on the trailer is some weird sizer torx bit, it's not a 15 and it's not a 20 . So I went and bought one of these as scene on tv screw extractors . And I was very happily surprised that it work very well

So I put my new one in with self taping screws with a 3/8" bolt head.


It's nice to have a working vent now


I also installed my smaller tires for towing. Man am I not used to having small donuts for tires

[Padilen]

Try a square bit and see if it fits. But make sure it's a new bit or one without rounded corners.

[Rainier70]

This isn't a very good picture, but if you screws look like these, a #2 square bit fits. It is a double square rather than a torx. Most of the trailers have them. I think it is an inside joke on the part of the manufactures. They like to see us scratching our heads when nothing normal fit it!

[guardcompany]

Enjoying your build thread. I am also towing with a 2nd Gen Tacoma with a shell.

[Wookie97]

Installed the Fan on my trailer today as well. Youre right, the torx bits do not fit. The Square drive bits fit perfect though.

[CGRotorhead]

Thanks for the input everyone:thumbsup: I'm pretty sure I tried the square #2 right after I tried the torx bits and it wouldn't work. I seriously had no problems using the screw extractors though and would recommend them to anyone esle. Maybe I'll go look for a different brand of #2 square