Hello from Reno Nevada...

[grassy]

Used is a good thing. Let someone else take the depreciation hit and fix all the bugs

Think I would throw out the freezer ....

Grassy

[JEEPOHOLIC]

I,ve got several tool boxes on the back and the sides, two 45 gal tanks, 9700 I've worked out the reno union hall (IBEW) so I spent a year there and loved it, back to your truck, it looks like you have a solid foundation to work from, keep us up to date on your build thanks, from San Jose, CA ( at the moment )

[97 Intl 4700]

I got the 4700 LP in the yard today and we started prying on all the bent jockey box covers. Inside one of the big ones was two large propane tanks with a hose going up to the DT466 engine. It has an ATS Torque Pro 2000 Propane Injector system. So, looks like I have to study the best way to use that baby.

The front suspension is over to the right about 2 inches on the passenger side - the big rubber shock mount plate at the rear spring shackle was torn loose and the spring moved out a bit. We'll get a new shock mount plate and pull her back into spec.

It doesn't have a coolant leak - YEA! It has a small brake line leak in the crossover line under the radiator. Must have gotten hit when it went on it's off road adventure. 1 ea. brake line and bleeding. Front Disc Brakes. (haven't checked the rears)

Drove it around a bit - runs smooth, shifts strong. One of the outside duals is flat, so, fixing that. It will just get better after a bit of TLC.

The air ride 5th wheel plate was made by a "team" of people, or so it appears.
The plate is a Binkley 32k. The base appears to be made by ACF, Stoughton, WI. Says it's a Trailer Saver Air Suspension Hitch. It appears to be two bags in the rear and a shock up front. Swivel head, etc... one of the air bag plastic feed lines is broken at the 90 degree joint. Appears to be an easy fix. The air feed controller for the 5th wheel is by Air Lift.

The rear suspension for the truck is air bag. There is a push pull handle that raises and lowers the truck, I presume for backing under the trailer to hook up, etc... works fast!

Tires have lots of tread. Batteries are 6 months old. Work great.

I have found a medium duty bed to replace the messed-up one on the truck. We'll do a swap in a couple weeks when I get done with a work project and get back home. (and find more muny to pay for the thing...

When we do the front suspension repair, we'll also fix the driver's fuel tank mount and get it back up and straight.

That's about it. Should be on the road by May. Searching for a smallish toy hauler now... and a gooseneck or 5th wheel lowboy/stepdeck hauling trailer with ramps.

Do you guys use Propane Injection? Results? Worth it?

Thanks!

[97 Intl 4700]

Oh yeah, the other thing I'm considering is making an aluminum rollback plate that goes over the 5th wheel hitch when not towing, so I can put a motorcycle up there. Anyone seen anything like that around? I see this guy who tows three big rig tractors on 5th wheel plates then on the last one, he has an aluminum deck with his pickup on it and apparently, he drops the pickup down on the ground, drives away with the aluminum plate attached to the bed of the pickup and goes home to start again. Any thoughts?

[grassy]

Glad to hear your assessment.

The air ride 5th wheel plate was made by a "team" of people, or so it appears.

I am thinking they all were. I have read about guys designing there own because this was new territory. Eventhough mine is a McCall, it too has aBinkley plate.

The rear suspension for the truck is air bag. There is a push pull handle that raises and lowers the truck, I presume for backing under the trailer to hook up, etc... works fast!

Cool...mine is controlled with a button in the cab..it is a little slower.

That's about it. Should be on the road by May. Searching for a smallish toy hauler now... and a gooseneck or 5th wheel lowboy/stepdeck hauling trailer with ramps.

My money would be on a 5th...I gather they put less stress on the pin box..
Do you guys use Propane Injection? Results? Worth it?

I don't and since jeep has the same engine, I am guessing no. What does it do..kick up the HP... btw, what are the stats on your engine ?

Sending you a link.

Grassy

[97 Intl 4700]

Grassy - I did some research today on the ATS website and in the literature that came with the truck. It has the complete installation guide, etc...

Propane Injection in a diesel helps burn the diesel more completely, (from 60 - 70 percent to 90 - 98 percent) so, cleaner, more efficient (power gains per gallon of fuel) and runs COOLER and CLEANER. Like propane only engines, they last longer and are super clean inside.

Diesel Propane Injection helps in many ways, and as you boost the Propane input the power goes up. My system has settings from basically 3 to 8 from the cab, you can run it all day dialed down low, then boost it for hills, heavier loads, etc... The truck has a Pyro Guage and an Boost Guage, so, I'm sure watching the Pyro on long hills is important. I'll call ATS tomorrow or next week and see what data the have on how to use it. Good and Bad, and what to look out for. The tanks were behind the big hit jockey box door on the passenger side of the truck right behind the cab, and there's not a scratch on them, although the feed hose broke off at the valve - I'm amazed there was no FIRE!!! It does feed from the Liquid side, so, that may have been the saving grace. If it was from the Vapor side, I think the truck would have burned to the ground. The system atomizes the liquid propane right before it goes into the air feed pipe just in front of the Turbo Cold Side. Shoots it through a 3/16 hole. It stops atomizing when you shut it from a dash switch, or whenever the ignition is shut off. Uses ignition power.

Stats on the engine: DT466, 230 hp 800 ft lbs. @ 2200 rpm Allison World Trans.

[97 Intl 4700]

Getting into it now. The front suspension is definitely some sort of aftermarket soft-ride rubber mount for the rear of the front axle leaf springs. Instead of the usual shackle with a bolt through the frame and a bolt through the spring hole, this massive plate is installed with a large rubber "shock" on a vertical platform. It's like a motor mount, only vertical. One of the rubber shock mounts was torn in half during the accident, and I need to replace it. If any of you know who makes it and where I can get replacement parts, that would be cool. I'm going to post this on a new thread as well. Thanks!

[grassy]

Propane Injection in a diesel helps burn the diesel more completely, (from 60 - 70 percent to 90 - 98 percent) so, cleaner, more efficient (power gains per gallon of fuel) and runs COOLER and CLEANER. Like propane only engines, they last longer and are super clean inside.

This has me intrigued ..would this be a possible upgrade ?

[97 Intl 4700]

It's definitely an add on kit. ATS Turbos in Salt Lake City makes mine. My truck came with it, so, I can't compare, but I've heard of other pickup people using it. Uses heater hoses to supply hot water to vaporize the liquid propane just before it's injected into the turbo air intake. There are automatic controls for the amount of propane injected based on turbo boost pressure, etc....

[grassy]

Looks more like a pick up thing.. but with anything that can increase your power / mileage and decrease costs it is going to have cheer leaders and detractors.

It is a $s upgrade as an aftermarket item and will take many miles to break even.

What I read is watch your pyro and don't pump too much in..

[97 Intl 4700]

Yeah, it's supposed to be automatic based on boost pressure, but you can also raise and lower the baseline settings. The kit cost the previous owner $1459 installed, so, it's not too big of a cost, and it supposedly keeps the engine cleaner and running at a lower temp, so, may give the engine longer life. Time will tell. I'm going to contact the owner this week and see what his opinion is, although he had it running at the time of the accident and had it for 75k miles, so, looks like he didn't hate it. I always watch the pyro gauge, especially on long hills.

[JEEPOHOLIC]

4700, my extra weight in in the tool boxes on the back, only thing in the back seat in my lunch box, boots and hard hat, we look at an extended cab and thought no way, we need a 4 door so my wife can take a nap in the back, cause when I got some where to go I'll drive 16 hours a day to get there

[JEEPOHOLIC]

lowering the back of the truck is so if you had a goose neck trailer you can drop the back and drive out from under it, and reverse when loading it, just raise the truck, I for one would not even consider converting a fifth wheel to a goose neck, they are not rated for the extra strain

[JEEPOHOLIC]

Think I would throw out the freezer ....

Grassy[/QUOTE]

X2 on what grassy said