Problems Encountered High Altitude

[maxdog1969]

Mates,

Did a 5 days Overlanding trip to Coyotes Flat near Bishop, CA.

Problems encountered at 11,500 feet

1. While climbing, gas tank pressure increased to the point that gas shot from gas cap. Had to wait for 10 minutes for pressure to decrease. External temp at base about 95F, long climb about an hour. Had to be in 4 low to use the extra torque band.

2. I tow an off road trailer about 2,500 lbs. gross weight, AHC off indicator started flashing and remained in low permanently until the next day, then returned to neutral the next morning but Hi mode unavailable.

3. Back at 6,000 elevation and AHC works again.

Seriously thinking of traditional suspension now but will miss the plush ride that AHC offers.

Other than that this area is beautiful.

And last of all cracked the trailer tongue weight, field repaired and made it to town, sitting at welding shop for repair. While at shop both leaf springs collapsed.

All worth it, let's do it again!!!!

 

[patrickfinley]

Cool trip. How did everyone else's vehicles do at Elevation? How high did you camp?

 

[maxdog1969]

11,300 ft on ridge and a lil lower 10k+
All rigs did well.

1. 2006 e350 v10 quigley hi top
2. 2000 e350 quigley 7.3 diesel
3. 2013 Nissan nv3500 4wd conversion with Colorado camper top

No problems at all except my LX. They laughed at me this time.

Took my lump.

 

[TXLX100]

Great to see you are getting out in the wilderness. It's not a bonafide trip unless something breaks.

Do you have bigger springs or airbags for the rear suspension or is it stock?

 

[maxdog1969]

Suspension completely stock.

 

[maxdog1969]

Camp set up
View attachment 920193

Awesome trailer repair job

Just waiting around to go home after repair finishes.

 

[maxdog1969]

Aquacube portable shower performed flawlessly at high altitude for those wanting to get one.

 

[larryt]

I've traveled up that hill with another LX that had the fuel pressure issue. Did you top off in bishop? By that I mean top off with more gas after the pump stopped.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[maxdog1969]

I topped off, but drove to Fish Creek camp ground on our first night and scaled sine serious grade, must have easily burnt a gallon before acceding Coyote Road the next morning. One theory was that it was quite hot at base around 98F and I scaled it quite fast reaching to 7,500 ft., not enough time for pressure to adjust?

I saw fuel shooting out at cap, I panicked and untwisted the gas cap and took a large spray of gas on face and all over. Luckily I wore my shades.

At the same time AHC stopped working.

I was in Lo AHC rest of trip, camped at Funnel lake overnight and AHC returned to Normal with no ability to raise to High.

New experience learned.

 

[larryt]

There are some other threads on the altitude fuel pressure issue. I wondered because I've climbed it several times under those conditions with no problem. My buddy topped off his LX pretty well and he had it happen to him. Must be more complicated than that though.

Glad you had a great time despite the setbacks.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[SmoothLC]

@maxdog1969 Nice trip. Sorry about the set backs.

You mentioned the Aquacube.

Mind sharing a little more insight? Leaning towards getting a Zodi Extreme SC for our needs but haven't spent some time researching much about the Aquacube (if not here, post up in Camping thread if necessary.)

 

[paflytyer]

Pretty common problem with pressure build-up, especially at altitude. It's an issue with the 80 as well. Your charcoal canister is getting overwhelmed with fuel sloshing around, high temps and high pressure. The vapor isn't venting like it should (the system is designed to recycle and burn off that vapor) and when it has no where else to go, it finds its way out the gas cap.

It's best to try and not fill up all the way, and never top off after the pump shuts off. I've heard people say that once the charcoal in the canister is saturated, it will never dry out. But I quit filling up all the way for a long time and mine seems to have mostly gone away.

 

[SouthFork1]

Maxdog, did you fill up in Bishop right before going up? If I do, has leaks as I go up in altitude.

 

[maxdog1969]

I did at the Shell gas station next to the Ace hardware store, but we drove up to Fish Creek camp ground to camp over night and en route I used up at least a gallon climbing grade before accessing the Coyote road trail head the next morning. Any top off would have been depleted by then.

 

[SouthFork1]

I was just up in the area and filled up in Bishop and then when I got up a ways started smelling gas. It was coming out of the cap. A quick venting by opening the cap helped.

If you stopped overnight and still had that happen I am not so sure anymore.

Beautiful area isn't it!

 

[maxdog1969]

Over night things sorta adjusted. Pressure no longer an issue. Yes beautiful area, can't wait to go back.

Got skunked on Funnel lake, no bites.

Coming back!!!

 

[maxdog1969]

Next on list will be lower transfer case gear, towing that trailer took away the rig's ability to engine brake descending terrain.

 

[SouthFork1]

I have towed our lifted popup trailer up there and was thinking the exact same thing on the lower gearing. To my two boys disappointment, we also never caught anything at funnel lake, but still had a great time and even threw in a long swim since there didn't seem to be any fish that were hungry. We did have good luck at Baker lake though.

 

[maxdog1969]

What were u using as bait? I tried worm and power bait. Even paddled out in an inflatable but zero bites.

 

[SouthFork1]

We usually just go for the standard: worms and the assortment if panther matrins.