My TrailHawk journey

9721 Views 36 Replies 10 Participants Last post by ptrudel, Apr 13, 2016

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · Jul 15, 2015

Figured I'd keep my own version of a log for everyone, and I'll update as I go along. I do roll lots of miles in a year with the commute I have, and let's face it, the TH is much nicer to travel in than my gf's current ride, an 03 Grand Am GT. The TH is the first vehicle I've owned that isn't a car. It's also the first automatic vehicle I've owned in the last 14 years. It'll obviously have a bit of an upper hand compared to anything else I've ever owned.

April 15/15, purchased brand new, and I'm now 3 months in, and sitting at just shy of 11,000kms.

Pro's:
-Love the interior, it gets compliments by everyone that sees it.
-Spacious cabin space, even with 4 adults, there's no complaints.
-Plenty of power out of the V6
-Fuel mileage is very respectable out of the V6
-Just plain sexy (biased opinion)
-Road noise is surprisingly quiet considering the tires
-Transmission shifts amazingly, best feeling auto trans I've driven to date.
-AD2 locker, amazing system, anxious to keep pushing it.
-Off-Road ability. Haven't tested it too hard yet, but am confident in its ability.

Things I'd change(not cons)
-Cargo space; it's better than a car, but not by much
-Ground clearance; an extra couple inches would be great
-Headlight output; it's ok at best
-Tires; They could afford to be a bit more aggressive.

Probably sound like a broken record, but that's kind of where I'm at with it right now. I still love getting into it and driving it. It has yet to let me feel bored of it, which is good. There's a few things on the list that need to be done (rock rails, bumper, lights, basket...the usual suspects) but nothing is stopping me from loving my experience so far.

I'll keep updating as things come up, or as I pass mileage milestones.

Reactions: 5

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ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #2 · Aug 17, 2015

2

Went on a 4ish hour ride with a couple friends yesterday. My buddy wasn't a believer in what the TH could do, until yesterday. He was thoroughly impressed by the capabilities of this vehicle in stock form. From rocky grades up and down, the hill ascent/descent features, the locker, and even a bit of mud hole slaying, he was a believer after yesterday. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the TH up on 3 wheels after a mudhole sucked down the front end, but the passenger door wouldn't open once I was in there, so a picture was never taken.

Here's the route we took. Basically an old logging/mining/hydro line road. It's completely un-maintained, and has a ton of branches off of it going to old mine sites. Knowing what we know now, we're going to go back a bit better prepared with cameras and GoPros.

And the only shot I was able to get...The TH overlooking the beautiful Montreal River:

I did have to run the TH in 4 Low for a good chunk of it, and for those wondering, my trans temps never went over 90*C, which never lead me to believe was above normal, everything worked flawlessly.

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Reactions: 5

TedB

· #3 · Aug 17, 2015

From one Canuck to another, it looks like you had a great trip. We also love the old mines, ranches and ghost towns and recently completed an 1,100 mile on and off-road trip here in BC. What part of Ontario were you in on that off-road? I'm an old (very old) Hamilton boy, spent a few good years in Camp Borden but moved to the US in '60. Moved back to Canada in '99, and am glad to get away from Ontario winters. - Ted
:wink:

Reactions: 1

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 17, 2015

The trip started at my door in Cobalt. The south-most point got us south of Latchford, then back north to North Cobalt. There's a ton of mining history in Cobalt...Lots of old abandoned mine sites, hydro dams, and even an old compressed air generating station known as Ragged Chutes (google that if you're into the older historical stuff, it's pretty neat how that place used to get air to all the surrounding mines)

I think knowing now what's back there, we're going to get a couple rigs together, and do a full day trip exploring all the different parts that branch down closer to the river.

Reactions: 2

taatmk

· #5 · Aug 17, 2015

Nice report and info. Thanks for sharing to the forum!!

imthatguy

· #6 · Aug 17, 2015

Looks like an amazing trip! 5 hours to just get there might be a bit of a stretch for me, but I'll bet it's worth every minute.

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 18, 2015

imthatguy said:
Looks like an amazing trip! 5 hours to just get there might be a bit of a stretch for me, but I'll bet it's worth every minute.

It's definitely a weekend trip...We're planning on getting some people together, run some of the trails, and set up camp for one night, and try to do some fishing...The Montreal River has some excellent fishing, regardless of which part of it you're on.

Anybody is more than welcome to tag along, the more the better!

Reactions: 5

TedB

· #8 · Aug 19, 2015

Wish we could join you on that trip but Ontario is just a bit too far for us. I'm looking at Idaho for next year (too many forest fires this year!) as I checked out the topo maps and was wowed by the number of mines and historical sites in that state. Now I have to start planning, and praying for a wet winter to douse the fires. - Ted
:wink:

Reactions: 1

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 18, 2015

Nothing new to really report. Passed over 18,000kms a couple days ago. Still drives like a dream. Did find a tear on the back of my backseat though where the leather meets the cloth/carpet...Looks like something hit it, not too happy, not a warranty issue though. Gonna have to find someone to patch it so the tear can't get any bigger.

Going on a fair road trip this weekend, should be around 1,500kms or so, so I'll keep an eye on fuel mileage and see what it can do there.

Went camping on labour day, had an opportunity to park like Wrangler owners so I did haha

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ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 13, 2015

After a Thanksgiving long weekend up here, my TH now has 23,5XXkms...I can FINALLY say I'm part of the 9th gear club too! :grin: got to see it for almost 80kms straight save of a few hills, what a difference on fuel economy!

As always, it performed flawlessly, and came back with a (evic calculated) 8.2L/100 kms for the round trip...It's a bit worse than that I'm sure, but I'm very happy with it fuel wise.

Mudman1

· #11 · Oct 13, 2015

I have never seen 9th, and am over 14,300 miles.

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 13, 2015

Mudman1 said:
I have never seen 9th, and am over 14,300 miles.

I was motoring pretty good to see it...maintained speeds of 130kph/81-82mph for it to hold it...Don't normally drive that fast, but I was being passed like I was sitting still, so I wasn't overly worried

Reactions: 4

Mudman1

· #13 · Oct 13, 2015

I normally do 65-70 on the interstates. Where I live it caps out at 65.

Reactions: 1

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 17, 2015

About to roll 30,000kms since April...So far so good, no complaints. Seeing 9th regularly when we travel the higher speed hwys, but always at 75mph and up. Nice to see it working as it should though.

Only have 1 issue to have checked out by the dealership next week, one of my wiper arms seems to be tweaked a bit or something, the passenger side wiper doesn't clear the windshield like it should...Very randomly it'll start to skip over a good chunk of it's path.

Otherwise, still solid, and still lovin' my purchase!

Reactions: 1

sciond

· #15 · Nov 17, 2015

very nice....
glad your having better luck than me...

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 17, 2015

sciond said:
very nice....
glad your having better luck than me...

Thanks...Hopefully yours will be better once you get it back from the dealer

Reactions: 1

sciond

· #17 · Nov 17, 2015

ptrudel said:
Thanks...Hopefully yours will be better once you get it back from the dealer

thank you!

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 3, 2015

Something weird happened last night...I'm hoping it was a one off thing, but made me leary when I could reproduce it..Couldn't do it this morning though...Slowing down about 50km/h, down hill, no brakes, the transmission felt like it was confused and the engine would surge about 500rpms up and down, but nothing happening speed-wise.

I'm gonna try it again tonight, and see if I can reproduce it...If I can I'll get my gf to shoot a vid of it to keep for evidence in case something decides to happen...Not gonna jump to any conclusions yet, but I didn't like it.

Mudman1

· #19 · Dec 3, 2015

ptrudel said:
Something weird happened last night...I'm hoping it was a one off thing, but made me leary when I could reproduce it..Couldn't do it this morning though...Slowing down about 50km/h, down hill, no brakes, the transmission felt like it was confused and the engine would surge about 500rpms up and down, but nothing happening speed-wise.

I'm gonna try it again tonight, and see if I can reproduce it...If I can I'll get my gf to shoot a vid of it to keep for evidence in case something decides to happen...Not gonna jump to any conclusions yet, but I didn't like it.

Mine will do that sometimes. I have never really figured out why. It will do it in Snow and Sport modes. I also notice it when towing my trailer. It is almost like it wants to use engine speed to slow down the vehicle, but won't hold that RPM. Or it wants to downshift yet says it cannot due to some stupid code issue.

ptrudel

Discussion Starter · #20 · Dec 3, 2015

Mudman1 said:
Mine will do that sometimes. I have never really figured out why. It will do it in Snow and Sport modes. I also notice it when towing my trailer. It is almost like it wants to use engine speed to slow down the vehicle, but won't hold that RPM. Or it wants to downshift yet says it cannot due to some stupid code issue.

Good to know I'm not alone in noticing it...I was in Auto, but I don't think the mode matters so much, probably more so the "right" conditions.

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