Relief from the "Driveway Blues"

thejumpsuitman · September 20, 2011, 10:16:50 AM

After a long hot summer with a frustrating schedule we were finally able to take a short but sweet trip with "Big Red". She performed beautifully with no problems at all. in about 1,000 miles she did use/leak about a gallon of oil, but that's acceptable to me.

Best I can tell we got about 7 mpg taking it easy at 55-65 mph.

The only goofy thing that happened was that as we started home I began hearing a clanging noise coming from under the right side up front. I pulled over and poked around all up underneath but could see nothing amiss... But just as soon as we took off it started clanging again. From a dead stop I noticed it coincided with the tires turning, so I jumped back out and tugged on the front wheel cover. That was the sound. All of the stainless lug nut covers had started backing off enough to allow the wheel cover to make a sound like a cymbal every time the wheel turned.

I pushed them all back tight but within a few miles the sound was back. Then we would hear an occasional bang like something dropped into the stairwell. It turns out the lug nut covers were being thrown off one by one and they were hitting the wheel well. We lost 5 lug nut covers in about 150 miles. Weird. Next fuel stop I bought some nice new tight replacements and that solved the problem. Roads were pretty bad from Raleigh, NC to Richmond, VA, so maybe that had something to do with them coming loose. Who knows.

Anyway, for now she's back in the driveway but we are itching to hit the road again very soon!

Highway Yacht · September 20, 2011, 01:34:34 PM

Glad that trip was better than the first trip.. I know what you mean about I-85 and I-95 from Raleigh to Richmond. I made many trips last year up to Glen Burnie, Maryland and know the condition of the roads up that way are bad enough to cause anyone problems. They arn't much better north of Richmond either.

Jimmy

thejumpsuitman · September 20, 2011, 05:45:59 PM

Jimmy, "First trip?"... what "first trip"? I had almost blocked that nightmare from my memory, thanks for reminding me.

fraser8 · September 20, 2011, 06:24:36 PM

Interesting story, a little worry some figuring out the noise I bet. It's great to be on the road isn't it, even a short trip makes having the bus all worth while. All the best on future runs..

thejumpsuitman · September 20, 2011, 07:10:43 PM

Yes, It is great to be on the road!... Of course it's much more exciting to be driving away from home rather than coming back.

pabusnut · September 20, 2011, 08:16:47 PM

Drats! When I read the title I was thinking there would be a YouTube music video!

...R&B ....from the Jumpsuit Man---you know what I mean?!

Steve Toomey
pabusnut

JackConrad · September 21, 2011, 04:41:00 AM

Mark,
Are ya'll going to join us at Kyles Non-Rally at Palmetto cove in October? Jack

artvonne · September 21, 2011, 06:14:31 AM

Quote from: thejumpsuitman on September 20, 2011, 10:16:50 AM
Best I can tell we got about 7 mpg taking it easy at 55-65 mph.

After 5 years getting 6 and 7 with the bounder, always foot to the floor and flat out running 70 plus, with fuel so high and just to see if I could, I was able to squeeze slightly better than 10 out of it this summer, but doing 50-55 to get it. I compromised and stuck to 60 as tight as possible and got 8-9. Cant wait to get out with Da Bus.

Glad to hear your enjoying it, thats what its all about.

thejumpsuitman · September 21, 2011, 07:11:46 AM

Quote from: JackConrad on September 21, 2011, 04:41:00 AM
Mark,
Are ya'll going to join us at Kyles Non-Rally at Palmetto cove in October? Jack

Hi Jack,

Actually I think we will try to make it. Sounds like fun!

thejumpsuitman · September 21, 2011, 07:19:14 AM

Quote from: artvonne on September 21, 2011, 06:14:31 AM
Quote from: thejumpsuitman on September 20, 2011, 10:16:50 AM
Best I can tell we got about 7 mpg taking it easy at 55-65 mph.

After 5 years getting 6 and 7 with the bounder, always foot to the floor and flat out running 70 plus, with fuel so high and just to see if I could, I was able to squeeze slightly better than 10 out of it this summer, but doing 50-55 to get it. I compromised and stuck to 60 as tight as possible and got 8-9. Cant wait to get out with Da Bus.

Glad to hear your enjoying it, thats what its all about.

About 8 years ago we had a 1987 32 ft. Bounder with a Chevy 454 and it got 8-10 mpg. More recently we had a 27 ft. Georgie Boy with the same engine and we consistently got 9.5, but at 50-55 mph. Sure would be nice to travel without having fuel cost being at the top of the list of prohibiting factors.

Ed Hackenbruch · September 21, 2011, 08:13:08 AM

If you take a pair of channel locks and give those caps a slight "squeeze" they will stay on better. Had the same thing happen to me a couple of years ago.