"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
10/07/2019 at 10:19 • Filed to: Truck Yeah, gambler 500
7
11|
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
10/07/2019 at 10:19 • Filed to: Truck Yeah, gambler 500 | 7
| 11 |
Another Gambler completed! This one was a bit different, in some ways unexpected. There will be a full post later, but here are notes:
- The Ranger drank about $200 of fuel, the smart would have had only $50 to drive the same distance. In fact, the smart went to Tennessee, Gambled out there, and drove back. Only cost me $93. Unfortunately, these fuel costs mean I will never want to take the Ranger to a Gambler outside the Illinois, Wisconsin, and Northwest Indiana areas. This sort of crushes my dreams of a long term cross country Gambler vehicle that isn’t little Tucker.
- The transmission really hated doing 300 miles in one go. CEL for Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid and Shift Solenoid D. Thankfully I was able to adapt and get around gearchange issues and the truck got me home without a single breakdown.
- One of the parks we camped at was an ATV park where cars aren’t allowed. The owner made an exception for us. Unfortunately, ATV trails are kiiiiinda tight and rough for cars. Everything took a massive beating, with the worst victim losing their entire rear axle. The Ranger gained a front end that clicks during articulation (CVs?).
- With my new tires, the Ranger was unstoppable. I only had to use 4wd once. Otherwise, I just locked it into first gear and the darn thing just crawled through everything. I didn’t even have to pick a line nearly as much as the smart. Just point, click, go. Honestly, I found this boring. I like being challenged.
- Did my first real burnout. The Ranger laid down a satisfying black mark.
- Drove a manual car for the first time in ten years. This thing was a Festiva kart that dropped like 500 pounds. It was ridiculously fast and stupid fun. I want this car so freaking much.
- Didn’t lose my ditch lights. :P
- Didn’t need a skid plate.
- The Thornbirds up front remain the worst tires I’ve ever owned. They have amazing grip offroad, but frankly they don’t belong on public highways.
- Drove a 4 cylinder Ranger. Loved it. The little truck was so gutless, but you just yeet the thing through everything my 4.0 Ranger basically idles through.
- Distributed short of three cases worth of White Claw.
CobraJoe
> Mercedes Streeter
10/07/2019 at 11:08 |
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- Drove a manual car for the first time in ten years. This thing was a Festiva kart that dropped like 500 pounds. It was ridiculously fast and stupid fun. I want this car so freaking much.
Got any pics of the Festiva kart? Sounds like my kind of insanity.
vicali
> Mercedes Streeter
10/07/2019 at 11:20 |
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Sweet! T hink your roof rack might have killed what little mpg a v6 pickup had.. 300mi round trip would’ve cost the Taco $174 - so you are not way in the weeds there.
Clicky cvs are probably just getting used for the first time..
Sounds like fun weekend.
shop-teacher
> CobraJoe
10/07/2019 at 11:53 |
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Yeah, me too!
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shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
10/07/2019 at 11:54 |
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This just in! 4x4 trucks with mud tires, use lots more fuel than Smart cars! More at 11!
:P
Glad it went well! Wish I could hav e been there!
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Mercedes Streeter
> CobraJoe
10/07/2019 at 12:27 |
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You will when if/when bring it home! xD
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Mercedes Streeter
> vicali
10/07/2019 at 12:31 |
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Oh I used 4wd offroad before and they weren’t clicking then. I think they got damaged from binding.
I averaged 13mpg for the weekend, worse than expected but understandable considering what I've done to the truck.
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Mercedes Streeter
> shop-teacher
10/07/2019 at 12:33 |
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You could have done the whole thing on your scooter! I definitely did no more than like 2 0 miles offroad.
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shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
10/07/2019 at 12:43 |
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I would take my scooter offroad. It has dual sport tires, and loves gravel roads. It wa s just too far away for me to be comfortable doing it. If it was during the summer, that would be another thing. I really could not miss last Friday or this Monday.
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CobraJoe
> Mercedes Streeter
10/07/2019 at 13:41 |
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Well, here’s hoping it all works out!
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Mercedes Streeter
> CobraJoe
10/08/2019 at 17:55 |
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It didn’t! However, I can just build one myself.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
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CobraJoe
> Mercedes Streeter
10/08/2019 at 23:20 |
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Sad news, but now you have the freedom to build whatever...
P lease post pics if ever you start this project!