Getting a FG

[iandraz]

Not sure if this was a good idea or not, but I just bid and won a 2004 Fuso FG in a Ritchie Bros auction.

Now I've got to fly down, pick it up, and drive it back! Hopefully no issues with the truck, I don't know much about the truck besides running the carfax.

[mcgovski]

Awesome.
I am always scanning RB Auctions for the Fuso Fg fit for my future rig! I used to live right by the one in Olympia, Wa...I drooled a lot

Update how things go with your new Fuso

[WantedWolf]

Nice find:victory:and its already the perfect color. Lets hope its in good cond.
I know youve yet to touch it but what are your plans?
Keeping the service body?

[Tree]

Sweet man! And automatic to boot! Update us when you get it

Oh yah look at this

http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1969845&guid=7D60FD733638401E9534C3A03B757751

They are not the same but are similiar in color, auto, age and mileage.

[kerry]

My FG was also previously a Sunbelt service truck. You might be able to sell the service body to another expedition FG owner who wants to use it as the basis for a camper like I did.
I'm guessing that Sunbelt routinely buys FG's and lets them go when they reach the 175k warranty range.
I'm in Denver, are you coming thru here? Last time I came back from Florida in the winter I drove up thru Texas, (Dallas, Amarillo to Denver).

[iandraz]

By the way, does anyone have/know how to get the service manual for the 2004 FG? I figure that would be good to have along for the trip.

[whatcharterboat]

Well done Iandraz.

Looks like a great buy. It's a 3.9 turbo right??

In Oz in 2004, you had a choice. You could still buy the 4.2 naturally aspirated or the newer 3.9T but we were never offered the auto ever.

Either way, congrats. BTW What happened with your old 404? I thought it looked pretty neat too.

John

[kerry]

I'm not sure the 4.2NA was ever sold in the US. At least, I've never seen one for sale.

[FusoFG]

By the way, does anyone have/know how to get the service manual for the 2004 FG? I figure that would be good to have along for the trip.

The Fuso dealer in Portland should have it CD

[iandraz]

Yeah...$300 for the service manual CD is pretty steep though...

[kerry]

I think Brent (bajaroad) has a copy of the CD manual that covers the 2004.

What's your route home?

[FusoFG]

Yeah...$300 for the service manual CD is pretty steep though...

I bought one for my 2004 from the dealer in Portland in 2006 for $149

when I bought the paper manuals for my 1994 they were about $300.

[jagular7]

Congrads on the purchase as well.

But wow, what a trip you'll have, corner to corner. Got a route yet?
Be nice to see what actual mpg you'll get. You might want to bring a bike cable and use that as a cruise control.
Send a package of tools, and whatever else heavy you may need but can't carry on the plane, to the sale site so that you have something on the road.

Didn't they have a shipping service providing the calculator to determine a cost?

[kerry]

I looked into shipping mine from NC to CO. It was considerably cheaper to fly down and drive back. I took my tools with me on the plane. The drawback is that I'm always a little nervous picking up a new vehicle a few thousand miles from home and having to drive it back. The upside is that you have a lot of time to get to know the vehicle. My only problem was a flat tire. I'd see if I could talk the seller into providing a spare. Mine didn't have one and my service body didn't have a set place to carry a spare. I took my tools with me on the plane. If you carry them on, there is a length limit (8"?) for each tool. Also look closely at the tire pressure/weight chart I posted here. You'll probably need to lower the tire pressures substantially from the fully loaded limit to get a tolerable ride home. I got around 15mpg with the AC on all the time.

There's a simpler cruise control mechanisms for FG's--a brick. :D:D

[Tree]

There's a simpler cruise control mechanisms for FG's--a brick. :D:D

LOL so true!

[iandraz]

I checked and the shipping estimate was $2500-3000! One way plane ticket was $135 and I figure diesel will be around $500. I agree it's a bit risky but it's also a big cost savings if (if!) everything goes smoothly. I will be taking tools and the service manual in case of issues.

[kerry]

This advice may come too late, but I've flown a number of times (intending) to pick up a vehicle. I've learned to buy a round trip ticket.

[iandraz]

The Portland Fuso dealer doesn't have any 2004 manuals in stock, so if anyone has a CD copy they can forward it would be much appreciated! Even a manual for a different year would be okay for reference. PM me.

[kerry]

PM Brent (bajaroad). He was able to transfer a file of the 99 manual to me. I'm pretty sure he also has the 2004 manual. He used transferbigfiles.com.

[iandraz]

In case anyone's interested I'm going to try to upload pictures during the trip to my blog:

http://www.iandraz.com

Leaving tonight!

Jacob

[Tree]

Good luck man! Hopefully everything goes to plan

[kerry]

Looks like he's on the road! If you come thru Denver, get in contact with me. Perhaps we can get our two FG's to mate and reproduce.

[kerry]

Jeeezuz man, it looks like you are having too good of a time. Instead of posting pictures of yourself laying on the beach we want pictures of that FG blasting over the sand dunes. Get to work!:sombrero:

[Tree]

we want pictures of that FG blasting over the sand dunes.

Do it!:smiley_drive::victory:

[kerry]

If you're truck didn't get salmonella from the giant peanut and you make it safely across I-40 to Amarillo and you like archaeology and early North American history, there is a cool flint quarry north of Amarillo called Alibates Flint quarry. Flint was quarried there 13,000 yrs ago. You can take a hike to the flint deposits, see the mining depressions, and watch a flint knapper if the quarry is open. There's also a cool volcano (Capulin) just off the road which cuts up from I-40 to Raton NM if you take that route.

[iandraz]

Finally made it home! No issues with the truck besides a little confusion about the starter initially...someone at the auction site had pulled the fuse for the starter solenoid....which was a little scary when the truck I just bought wouldn't start! Fortunately once this was all figured out, it was a simple matter of replacing the fuse.

Averaged 11.5-14.5 mpg for all the fill-ups....the main factor affecting the mpg seemed to be speed...55 mph was noticeably better than 60 mph. Wind was also a big factor.

I'll write up some more and maybe load some more pictures when I get a minute.

[kerry]

Great. I was confused on my own starter when I first got it. I didn't realize the transmission needed to be in neutral in order for the starter to engage.
I'm kind of surprised at those mileage figures. Perhaps it is the winter diesel. I never got less than 14.x mpg on my drive back to Denver from NC and I was pushing 65mph with the AC on the whole time. Yours is an automatic though I think.

[iandraz]

Yeah I was surprised at the mileage myself....I figured with the lock-up clutch the automatic wouldn't be too different from the manual on the freeway. I'm going to give the whole truck a once over and change all the fluids when I get a chance, so maybe I'll find something fixable.

[iandraz]

I weighed my truck on the scale at work today:

Front axle on scale: 4360 lb
Rear axle on scale: 3310 lb
Both axles on scale: 7700 lb

Also, I got my Oregon plates....no problems registering it as a truck, in the 8000-10000 lb GVW bracket. Just can't be over 10000 lb. (cost is based on weight, so this is cheaper than rating to 14000 lb) They said once the RV conversion is complete I can re-register it as a motorhome.

Sure is a fun truck to drive around, I can't wait till there's a camper on the back!

[kerry]

I weighed my truck on the scale at work today:

Front axle on scale: 4360 lb
Rear axle on scale: 3310 lb
Both axles on scale: 7700 lb


Hmmm?? Mine weighed 6920 with the service body, oil tanks and pumps. Where are you getting the additional 800lbs? What is the brand of your service body?
How was the ride across country? How much air were you running in the tires?

[iandraz]

Hmmm, that is interesting. I know the scale is good, it's calibrated pretty regularly. Maybe the service body is different. I'll have to check the brand. I don't think there is a substantial difference between the 1999 and 2004 FG? The GVW rating is different, 14000 lb vs. 12000 lb.

The ride cross country was a bit bouncy! I think the tire pressure was fairly high, I didn't really check all around though.

[iandraz]

Finished uploading some better quality pictures and video from the trip:

http://www.iandraz.com

Now to get to work on the camper!