Long trip must checks?

One more, I hear this is a nice thing to keep in the e-kit as well if you're 4WD. Supposed to make quick work of removing a CV axle and yeah, I'm sure you could improvise your own with rope if that's your thing.

https://www.gzila.com/products/cv-removal-tool

 

Re: LBJs...

You can check them if you have a long (18-24") screwdriver or a long (24-36") crowbar. Google "check lower ball joints on 1998 Tacoma" or something like that to see how to use the tools. Takes less than a minute to check each one after you jack the front end up.

 

Check your spare tire air pressure before you leave. It it hasn't been checked in a long time it is probably very low.

 

Just picked up a 2019 spare... current is 2004 original
Thank you

 

How big of a road trip?

 

1000 each way

 

Giving some thought Changing a CV axle in the woods is one thing .

Lugging an extra CV axle and needed tools as well.

Doing anything along side of a busy interstate I would bite the bullet and get a roll back.

Been there and said no thanks. Any more some places anything more then a tire the troopers show up and insist the vehicle be moved.

I did carry Towing and Road Service on my insurance when I drove out of state for work the cost then was not bad .

Have a safe and good trip

 

What kind of road trip determines what you need to take. An off-roading trip needs different things than a road trip on major highways visiting major cities.

 

1000 mile road trip to get to the mountain west to do some hard core exploring!!

 

I did a 3000+ mile road trip a few years ago. I hit 300k on the way home. The only thing I needed was a foot of electrical tape to hold my corner light in place. It popped out when I was driving around St. Louis.

 

In most cases the thought of being away from home is frighting !!

Being close to home driving 5000 miles and never open the hood is done by many.

The only real difference is the long stretches of driving in the heat of the summer.

Allowing drive train parts to see long term heat soak.

 

That trip was from FL to CO and back during the summer.
Two summers before that, I drove from FL to Utah and back. A lot of exploring. If I remember correctly, that one was well over 5000 miles. I had one issue. A bad coil. Due to it being a Sunday in Salt Lake City, I had to wait for Toyota to open on Monday. I didn’t get the new coil until Tuesday. Because of that set back, I didn’t go to CA as planned. Instead, I went to Moab instead. Then headed back to FL from there. No complaints.

 

Check the battery. Summer heat kills more batteries than winter cold

 

I just did an eleven hour roundtrip to Jacksonville through Orlando heavy traffic in 110 temps. I had the truck looked over by my mechanic and did a synthetic oil change. Tire pressure, topping off fluids would be top of the list.
I brought some tools and a quart of oil just in case for good measure. It is always good to check everything before a long trip just in case.

 

A 1st gen with 67k miles? You don't have to worry about anything. Our trucks are tanks!

 

It would come down have all the rubber parts been changed ..

20 plus year old hoses maybe belts could prove exciting.

Give me a well maintained vehicle 20 years old with 250,000 miles rather then 67,000 miles.

 

Trip out with no incident.

Belts were all changed.
Plugs
Oil change
Air Filter
Newer (2019) spare, tires checked.
LBJ checked
Hoses checked
Lights n brakes checked...
MPG concerning at 20-21...
AC recharged, might be an issue to investigate upon return...

Thanks everyone!

 

Glad to hear things went well .

Many never think members all over the country always for the most willing to help.

 

Check the u joints and greas all the zerks .
Take a tire plug kit