2. Diablosport i2 tuner/programmer

3. New camper tires

I have to live up to my screen name, so I have some new tech on my current road trip.  

First up is the temperature gun.  I always check my tire and hub temps when I stop, now I can do it high-tech.  The back of the hand works well, but now I can compare the actual temps from wheel to wheel.  I even checked the temps for the guy parked next to me at a rest stop since he was having a hard time getting around with a bad hip.  Any excuse to shoot the laser at something.  Works on my forehead too.  

I've mentioned the Diablo tuner in other threads because I've had it roughly 6 months, but this is the first hard test of the performance tune on steep, long grades.  The biggest reason I bought it was to adjust the fan temperature settings.  I now have it set to turn on the fans on high above 214 F, where the factory doesn't do that until 235.  I'm still seeing a rise in engine temps on the harder grades, but the milder grades and flats it keeps the engine temp solid at 210 now.  Less engine heat keeps the oil cooler, which keeps the oil pressure up.  As for the tune, as I've noted before it is better than the stock tune.  I haven't tried customizing the engine parameters yet other than the fan settings.  I did try firming up the transmission shifting but didn't like it so that is back to stock.

Why are camper tires on the list?  My camper came with bias tires.  Last year I replaced them with bias tires since that is what it had before.  Two of 4 failed on a trip last month, and this time it got radials.  The difference in handling is huge.  I actually feel like the WDH can keep it solidly straight in the best of conditions now, but before I was always fighting it.  Today I encountered decent winds half the day but could keep my speed at 65 (where before I had to slow down) and fought it less than I did before at the best of times.  I don't know why, since radials have more sidewall flex.  I know my pod towed very comfortably with its radials.  I'm happy to have the improvement, whatever the reason.

Hot box detector.  Yes it uses infrared detector "eyes" like the guns.  Arrrrr-arrrr-arrrr railroad stuff.

I've just been comparing my own 4 wheels and so far my tires are around 110 and hubs around 95 with ambient air temps in the low 80's.  The exception was a stop in the rain where they were all close to ambient in the low 70's, which makes sense since water is a good heat sink.

The tuner worked well, I tested 2 of the tunes and ultimately stuck with the 87 octane tune for 2/3 of the trip since we spent so much time in/around the Rockies where 91+ octane isn't always available.  Plus the difference in power (compared to the 91+ tune) just wasn't evident at the higher altitudes where it was needed the most since the limiting factor is the lack of air and not fuel.  Lower octane gas vs. higher octane gas had a noticeable difference in power, as it was in the past when pulling the pod.  Using the 87 tune I got about a 5% increase in mpg compared to the 91+ tune.  Towing last year with 87 octane and the factory tune gave a 1% increase in mpg compared to this 91+ tune.  I need to do a long tow with the factory tune and high octane gas to get a comparison.

The new tires rode and wore well.

When I worked for a living we always used check lists.

Most of the time I flew it was boring....lol that's good.

Terror...well you get it

Use a check list if you're not sure.

Make up a list before you leave...

I.E. Use a neumonic list

GUMPS  for airplanes is a very simplistic one.

 Gas On / Off, Undercarriage- Down and Locked,  Mags Both On,  Pumps - All Fuel Boost Pumps On,  switches  -All heat as required, radios set etc. etc... i think you've got it by now

So for a trailer make one up...

Every time you roll, use the check list.

Every time you stop check the variables and eliminate the uncertainty..

Makes it fun and more important ...Safe for everyone 

Happy Trailering,

Duer