| Author | Message | ||
     Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 88 Registered: 10-2002 |
At the end of this month I will be heading up to Colorado for a ski trip! I will be caravanning with friends for the 14 hour drive up to Leadville. The other vehicle is a ford excursion with a monstrous diesel engine and I will be following it. The driver likes to go kind of fast 80-85, so the problem for me is can I keep up. I have a 96D1 that runs pretty well. 265/75 on stock gears and adventure roof rack that I just put 4 hella 4000s on  It was suggested to me that I could take the roof rack off to lessen the wind resistance so I can keep more power for those hills.... I wanted to know what you all think about that. Is the difference in performance going to be worth it? I really like having it on there with my hella's. I'm also planning on getting a flowmaster or magnaflow muffler put on for a little more help too. Thanks. | ||
| thom mathie (Muskyman) Senior Member Username: Muskyman Post Number: 588 Registered: 11-2002 |
nope....you wont keep up. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 1045 Registered: 02-2002 |
Agreed, you won't be able to keep up. | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 601 Registered: 02-2002 |
jesse, the only thing that MIGHT work for you is 4.11 gears. Ho Chung | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 138 Registered: 09-2003 |
You could tie a rope to the Excursion... | ||
| Jim Reynolds (4x4xfar) Senior Member Username: 4x4xfar Post Number: 332 Registered: 05-2003 |
Drafting.... but you will still stick up over the Ford. Jim | ||
| Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2002 |
"tie a rope" LOL well, I'd love to put 4.11 gears on, but I just dont have the $800+ or so right now. =( I'll have to just chug along and have the Excursion slow down a little... Still though, should I take the rack off? I can use my new hellas to flash at the Excursion when it starts to leave me in the dust | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 603 Registered: 02-2002 |
keep the rack. Ho Chung | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 555 Registered: 04-2003 |
You'll be lucky to do 50 on the way up. There's little you can do to change that -- aside from a Darwin Awards-esque JATO rocket strapped to the Adventure rack. Andy | ||
| Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 90 Registered: 10-2002 |
Last time I drove up there in the summer, I was going 70-75 range. I'll keep the roof rack on then. I need a new steering stabilizer so maybe if I buy it from EE I'll get a sticker so I can go faster! Thanks for all the quick replies guys! | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Senior Member Username: Markp Post Number: 258 Registered: 02-2002 |
I'm sure the Colorado State Patrol will slow down the Excursion. Then again a little ice on the road will put it in the ditch. | ||
| Phil deGuzman (Powerslide) New Member Username: Powerslide Post Number: 21 Registered: 12-2003 |
You may want to add a Type R sticker on the rear door. Its rumored to add a few ponies under the hood.;) Seriously, it'll be tough to keep up with the turbo diesels on hill climbs. Perhaps you can install an Eaton S/C or a small turbo. | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 140 Registered: 09-2003 |
You also need the coffee can exhaust:  Or you can make one: http://www.geocities.com/ricerockettombstone/htbyoet.htm | ||
| Chris Johnson (Disco_fever) New Member Username: Disco_fever Post Number: 4 Registered: 02-2004 |
don't forget the neons and body kit either, with those you're good for a 12 second quarter mile. | ||
| Joe B (Denverrover) Member Username: Denverrover Post Number: 143 Registered: 02-2003 |
Jesse - You will be lucky to do 50mph at some spots on i70. Why are you going to Leadville? Are you passing through on your way to Aspen? Don't worry about cops you won't see many....you also won't be seeing the Excursion either after the first hill. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1588 Registered: 02-2003 |
jesse, i'd take the rack off if it's no big deal, you'll probably gain back 2mpg in fuel savings. do the math and see if it's worth it to you. power wise i dont thnkg it's worth it. rd | ||
| Kelly Fristoe (Kfristoe) Member Username: Kfristoe Post Number: 132 Registered: 12-2002 |
I just got back from a trip up there following a Suburban. I've got the same set up as you do.....roof rack with 4 Hella 4000's on top. My life long dream of being surrounded by beautiful women has come true (my wife and 2 daughters) so I had a massive amount of stuff on top which added to the wind resistance. We were pushing a pretty good head wind and I found myself holding the accelerator to the floor the entire time just to keep up at speeds of 65 - 70 mph. While in CO on hills where the speed limits did not exceed 55 or 60 there wasn't really any problems with keeping up. On the way back home there were no issues at all. After all that, my vote for you would be to keep the rack and lights on. It's worth it. Who knows, you might be called upon to help pull the Excursion out of a snow drift or something like that. You wouldn't want that photo op to not include your rack and hellas. | ||
| justin monnin (Ineedthissale) New Member Username: Ineedthissale Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2003 |
have your disco shipped and ride in the ford. you will get there when he does. the discos are great but slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooww | ||
| Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) Senior Member Username: Deanbrown3d Post Number: 1424 Registered: 02-2002 |
Jesse - On my trip out west I was measuring people's fuel consumption, and it seemed that the discos with a roof rack used approximately 25% more fuel galons, based on everyone filling up to top at the same fuel stations. This was travelling 75-80 mph west, basically fighting the wind. Coming east the wind is with you, so the difference is not so big. Dean | ||
| Ken Rountree (Krountre) New Member Username: Krountre Post Number: 10 Registered: 01-2004 |
I saw this pulse jet they made on junkyard wars out a metal tube; one on each side of the roof rack should work. Maybe a jerry can of JetA straped next to it. As for the trip back, rig a sail! | ||
| Chris Browne (Chris_browne) Senior Member Username: Chris_browne Post Number: 629 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'd lose the rack.. been shocked the few times I've carried big things up there how much extra wind resistence it creates. | ||
| Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'm actually going to a ski place in Leadvill, Ski Cooper its on Chicago ridge I think. Its pretty small but, season passes in advance is just over $100 and the slops are usally empty. Its nice for people like me who still arn't that good.... I can crash in the snow and look up slope and see nobody! We go up through Raton pass, so most of the Colorado driving will be like Kelly siad, 55 or so. Just a couple hours on i70 then We cut through westcliff, Salido(sp?), BuneVista which is all windy so you cant go that fast any way. It sounds like the consenus is that taking the rack off is more of a mpg savings and not any power. So I'll just have to think about that. But, my truck dose need it incase of photos | ||
| Joe B (Denverrover) Member Username: Denverrover Post Number: 144 Registered: 02-2003 |
Jesse - The drive to Copper Mountain is a breeze on i70. It's one of the easiest resorts to get to. You've still got at least an hour to go (in the summer) before you reach Leadville. The only part on i70 that you should really have a problem with is right after the Eisenhower tunnel. There is about a 7% grade and you will be going slow. Ask your Ford friend to slow down at this point & you will be fine. I think the grade is only about 6 miles or so. After that it is downhill. Those roads are pretty crappy right now - lots of snow and ice & the sidewinds are pretty bad. Leave the rack on!! It won't make any difference after you get into the mountains anyway. The only problem with Copper is that there is zero nightlife. You will need to drive a few towns over, like Breckenridge, to get some beers. And hey if you can't ski the hard stuff there is nothing wrong with going down on your rear end for a while until you can get back up. I personally believe that March is a little late in the season for Copper. It is pretty low in elevation. Cruise over to Vail & you will see plenty of bikini tops going down the slopes. I've skiied there in a tee shirt & bibs in March. Happy skiing, keep the rack. joe | ||
| Andrew Vick (Afv) Member Username: Afv Post Number: 74 Registered: 02-2002 |
Joe: He's going to Ski Cooper, not Copper Mountain. And if you think Copper has no nightlife, try Ski Cooper | ||
| Kai Dussling (Kai) Member Username: Kai Post Number: 112 Registered: 06-2002 |
Have you ever thought about just telling the dude to slow down? | ||
| Matt Anderson (Disco01) Member Username: Disco01 Post Number: 224 Registered: 10-2003 |
Realistically you should be able to keep 60. Some people said 65-70 but you dont want to keep it floorboarded the entire way. I go skiing out there every year sometimes twice (lots of skymiles and free accomodations). I have always enjoyed testing out the rental units and rent four wheel drives. I have rented most everything from D2 to Montero, even a Subie outback. They all seem able to go as fast as is safe, and I think your Disco will too. To put this in perspective, I was coming from either Steamboat springs or Snowmass back to Denver in a 95 4Runner (back in 95) and with four people and luggage we were on the floor doing 45-50 around Rabbit Ears Pass. To its credit, though, the temp gauge stayed put. Oh, take the rack off if you wont need it, as any little bit of extra fuel efficiency helps. | ||
| marc olivares (Pugs) Senior Member Username: Pugs Post Number: 341 Registered: 12-2002 |
jesse, i don't know that i would want to follow within a mile of a noisy powerstroke. nothing worse that listening to the low drone of a diesel exhaust. so if you're back far enough not to hear the exhaust, then is shouldn't matter how far back you are. no you won't keep up, but that's not the issue. the issue should be "at what distance will my ears not ring when following a powerstroke?" diesels? who would want one? bunch of lousy, stinky, noise makers.......... have a fun trip | ||
| Jesse Lessard (Jlessard) Member Username: Jlessard Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks again for all the replys. Its more of a family ski trip so the night life isnt too mutch of a consern. I'll tell him to slow it down and wait for me And yes that powerstroke is exteamly noisy! |
