Just thought I'd report on my first trip in the TE, which was from Seattle to Anchorage, or abut 2400 miles. I picked up the red TE in Seattle and, after a week long conference in Seattle, started back to Anchorage on the 23rd. I took 5 days to get back, although more hard core folks could have done it in 4. My comments:
I LOVE THIS TRUCK! I read lots of articles on this forum before picking up the truck, so I had some ideas about things that others did not like about it, but I'm not sure I can object to the way it is, other than to say it is just different than my old '96 Cherokee. Specifically,
1. I didn't mind the cruise control. On the major 4 lane highways it worked fine, and held its speed up and down hills. On the two lane roads (Alaska Highway) it didn't always work so well. It seems that if the truck only has to downshift one gear going up hill, the cruise control will not run in to an overspeed. But if it has to downshift two gears, then you might get a slingshot effect that easily goes over the set speed. When this occurrs at the top of a hill, you will zoom over the crest and easily go well over the set speed. Once I figured this out, it was fairly easy to take the rig off cruise so that there was no overspeed. This does not mean I won't take a fix if it comes down the road, but I'm aware of its shortcomings and am OK with that.
2. Brakes: They seem to have quite a bit of pedal movement before they start to work, then they seem to actuate even more at the end of the stroke, making one back off the brakes just before you stop to keep from getting a head snap! Maybe it's because the brakes are new, or maybe I'm so used to bad brakes that I can't tell the difference!
3. Man, I love satelite radio! I got reception up to about 200 miles from Anchorage before it got so spotty that I switched to the iPod. I see that a subscription is not available in Alaska, which is too bad . . . maybe one day they'll expand their service area!
4. Dura Tracs: I had the stock tires switched out before I picked up the truck at the dealers, so I have only seen/driven the rig with the DTs installed. I was told they were aired up to 40 pounds by the dealer, but didn't check it first. I didn't notice anything in the handling in the Seattle area, but I wasn't pushing the truck then. Later, on the Alcan, I thought the truck felt uncertain in curves, especially if I was right at the recommended speed. Others have described the feeling in different way, but I think I understood what they meant then. When I checked the tires I found they were only aired up to about 35 pounds. I aired them up to 40 and immediately noticed a difference. They are load range C, 265/70/17s, and the additional air pressure helped greatly. At the same time, the truck still must be driven at all times as it likes to wander a bit, and even more so with a cross wind.
5. Moon roof: I will have to remember (as it is almost snow season here) that while the moon/sun roof is great for letting in the sunshine, it also lets in everything else out there! I got bugs, dust and smoke on the trip up, so much so that I have already had to vacuum out the inside after I got home. But it was a new experience being able to take pictures of mountain goats, still on the mountain, through the roof! Very cool!.
I'm still getting used to the new ride, but I think I'll keep it.
I LOVE THIS TRUCK! I read lots of articles on this forum before picking up the truck, so I had some ideas about things that others did not like about it, but I'm not sure I can object to the way it is, other than to say it is just different than my old '96 Cherokee. Specifically,
1. I didn't mind the cruise control. On the major 4 lane highways it worked fine, and held its speed up and down hills. On the two lane roads (Alaska Highway) it didn't always work so well. It seems that if the truck only has to downshift one gear going up hill, the cruise control will not run in to an overspeed. But if it has to downshift two gears, then you might get a slingshot effect that easily goes over the set speed. When this occurrs at the top of a hill, you will zoom over the crest and easily go well over the set speed. Once I figured this out, it was fairly easy to take the rig off cruise so that there was no overspeed. This does not mean I won't take a fix if it comes down the road, but I'm aware of its shortcomings and am OK with that.
2. Brakes: They seem to have quite a bit of pedal movement before they start to work, then they seem to actuate even more at the end of the stroke, making one back off the brakes just before you stop to keep from getting a head snap! Maybe it's because the brakes are new, or maybe I'm so used to bad brakes that I can't tell the difference!
3. Man, I love satelite radio! I got reception up to about 200 miles from Anchorage before it got so spotty that I switched to the iPod. I see that a subscription is not available in Alaska, which is too bad . . . maybe one day they'll expand their service area!
4. Dura Tracs: I had the stock tires switched out before I picked up the truck at the dealers, so I have only seen/driven the rig with the DTs installed. I was told they were aired up to 40 pounds by the dealer, but didn't check it first. I didn't notice anything in the handling in the Seattle area, but I wasn't pushing the truck then. Later, on the Alcan, I thought the truck felt uncertain in curves, especially if I was right at the recommended speed. Others have described the feeling in different way, but I think I understood what they meant then. When I checked the tires I found they were only aired up to about 35 pounds. I aired them up to 40 and immediately noticed a difference. They are load range C, 265/70/17s, and the additional air pressure helped greatly. At the same time, the truck still must be driven at all times as it likes to wander a bit, and even more so with a cross wind.
5. Moon roof: I will have to remember (as it is almost snow season here) that while the moon/sun roof is great for letting in the sunshine, it also lets in everything else out there! I got bugs, dust and smoke on the trip up, so much so that I have already had to vacuum out the inside after I got home. But it was a new experience being able to take pictures of mountain goats, still on the mountain, through the roof! Very cool!.
I'm still getting used to the new ride, but I think I'll keep it.
