Hello all!
First of all -- thanks to the MUD community for all the info I needed to choose a 100 series and then get it fully current on maintenance and operational (including AHC).
I just finished a 2,600 mile trip from St Louis Missouri to Moab Utah including White Rim trail in Canyonlands and Fins and Things trail. My 2003 LX470 is basically stock with 185,000 miles wearing BFG KO2 275/65R18 tires.
Comfort is outstanding. I drove 2 days of 900+ miles and it was effortless and surprisingly not tiring. These are great trucks for long travels.
I'm still a little uneasy about asking too much from the 16 year old AHC system so I left it in "N" throughout most of the White Rim -- the 2 locations I raised the suspension, the spotter indicated it was unnecessary. I never hit anything on "N" throughout the trail.
The rear springs are getting weak and with a totally packed cabin of camping supplies and people the AHC can't always lift into High position -- I found if I was slightly downhill, AHC could lift the truck much easier than flat or on an incline. Until I decide what I am going to do with the suspension, I'll supplement with air bags before the next trip.
I struggled a little bit at first shifting the transfer case between H and L -- struggled in the sense that I was always getting some light gear grinding due to the lack of synchros in the shifting mechanism. I found that shifting smoothly and quickly between H and L without stopping for any delay in "N" cured that.
Fins and Things I thought was a really big mistake but peer pressure got to me. Much to my surprise, staying on 4Low and High AHC setting only caused the trailer hitch to drag a few times. Otherwise, everything cleared and the heavily loaded truck climbed everything. Had a few times where I wished for proper locking diffs but A-TRAC (ungracefully) pulled the truck through every time.
The 4.7L V8 is insanely smooth and quiet. I replaced the timing belt and pretty much every bearing I touched along the way and it is the silkiest and quietest engine I've ever owned. Elsewhere I will post a picture of the low oil pressure gauge that still scares me although enough has been written about this being typical I'm trying to get over it.
I had all sorts of initial plans with aftermarket suspensions and sliders and locking diffs and such but, I have to say, the 100 series is incredibly capable right out of the factory and unless you're trying to keep up with the Wranglers running 35s or have some serious rock climbing planned, I'm not sure there's much that cannot be done with these stock.
Only real gripe is the usual miserable fuel economy and resulting insufficient fuel capacity for long off roading (200+ miles is possible if things sour on you on the White Rim). At 70 MPH, I did get high 14s - 15.0 MPG. At 80-85 it drops to 12-13 Off roading on the White Rim I was showing 9.5-10.5 MPG.
First of all -- thanks to the MUD community for all the info I needed to choose a 100 series and then get it fully current on maintenance and operational (including AHC).
I just finished a 2,600 mile trip from St Louis Missouri to Moab Utah including White Rim trail in Canyonlands and Fins and Things trail. My 2003 LX470 is basically stock with 185,000 miles wearing BFG KO2 275/65R18 tires.
Comfort is outstanding. I drove 2 days of 900+ miles and it was effortless and surprisingly not tiring. These are great trucks for long travels.
I'm still a little uneasy about asking too much from the 16 year old AHC system so I left it in "N" throughout most of the White Rim -- the 2 locations I raised the suspension, the spotter indicated it was unnecessary. I never hit anything on "N" throughout the trail.
The rear springs are getting weak and with a totally packed cabin of camping supplies and people the AHC can't always lift into High position -- I found if I was slightly downhill, AHC could lift the truck much easier than flat or on an incline. Until I decide what I am going to do with the suspension, I'll supplement with air bags before the next trip.
I struggled a little bit at first shifting the transfer case between H and L -- struggled in the sense that I was always getting some light gear grinding due to the lack of synchros in the shifting mechanism. I found that shifting smoothly and quickly between H and L without stopping for any delay in "N" cured that.
Fins and Things I thought was a really big mistake but peer pressure got to me. Much to my surprise, staying on 4Low and High AHC setting only caused the trailer hitch to drag a few times. Otherwise, everything cleared and the heavily loaded truck climbed everything. Had a few times where I wished for proper locking diffs but A-TRAC (ungracefully) pulled the truck through every time.
The 4.7L V8 is insanely smooth and quiet. I replaced the timing belt and pretty much every bearing I touched along the way and it is the silkiest and quietest engine I've ever owned. Elsewhere I will post a picture of the low oil pressure gauge that still scares me although enough has been written about this being typical I'm trying to get over it.
I had all sorts of initial plans with aftermarket suspensions and sliders and locking diffs and such but, I have to say, the 100 series is incredibly capable right out of the factory and unless you're trying to keep up with the Wranglers running 35s or have some serious rock climbing planned, I'm not sure there's much that cannot be done with these stock.
Only real gripe is the usual miserable fuel economy and resulting insufficient fuel capacity for long off roading (200+ miles is possible if things sour on you on the White Rim). At 70 MPH, I did get high 14s - 15.0 MPG. At 80-85 it drops to 12-13 Off roading on the White Rim I was showing 9.5-10.5 MPG.
