STAGE 2 COMPLETE Agile Offroad Pickup Day
So after a night of tossing and turning I got on the road at 8 am and made it El Cajon and Agile before noon. Place was going nice today and they had a beauty Silver RB SMB on the lift getting 4x4. John and I took a spin and went through the 4x4 paces. Quick check on a thing or two and I was on my way!!
Quite honestly, I have never really driven a lifted vehicle and all my trucks are stock. I was pretty tentative heading home in heavy traffic in a vehicle that handles differently than anything I have driven. At highway speed it does very well. It reminds me a bit of my wife's old Audi A6 that had sport suspension in that if you hit a bump or dip the vehicle returns to neutral very quickly. With the steering dampened it you still get some steering feedback here and there on the awesome california freeways. I was befuddled by some sway but then I realized the wind was absolutely howling over the passes near Fallbrook, but it handled it great. Couldn't really open it up too much in the packed highways. It is a big old lifted rig though!!
I had planned to drive dirt roads the last 20 miles home, but a late start and heavy traffic ruined that as it was dark. Hopefully soon I can get out and learn my way around the dirt. Soon!!
When I brought it in I had told John that it is fast!! The V10 winds out the 5 speed pretty hard. He agreed and one of the other guys, George I think, theorized that it may have had a tune the way it shifts. I lost a bit of acceleration with the big tires, but so far my choice to keep the 3.73 gearing seems pretty good. Time will tell though when I put another 1000 lbs on it and take it offroad. I do think that it needs some breaking in, maybe it was me, but it seemed to do better as the trip went on and the tires and suspension settled. John said it would find it's spot, especially the rear springs.
I will say that my experience with Agile was 100% positive. John took a lot of time with me going over things and educating me. Our emails started before I even bought the van. I professed to him that I am not a motorhead and have never really offroaded in a serious fashion. Just today he showed me how they valve shocks, how a locking hub works, planetary gears, alignment cams......and anything else laying around that I could take a look at. Amazing experience and I am glad i didn't have to hurry out of there. All the folks down there are top notch. Great crew!
Time and miles will tell on the conversion, but I love it so far and any reservations are just me getting used to the new characteristics of the vehicle and getting comfortable with it.
PhoTo
Linear Mode
