any advice for cross country in a first gen?

I got a new taco, new to me anyway. It's a 4wd 2000 extended with manual and 4:10 gears. I'm driving from the mexican to canadian border just about. wondered if anyone had some road advice concerning the dynamics of the vehicle. gotta get the cruise control working.

 

This one's a little older than my other, feels more like a truck. I'm hoping it can cruise in fifth at highway speeds. Haven't even got it there yet.

 

I moved from from ga to louisiana a while back over 800 miles mine drove fine on the interstate. I have the 4 banger and 5spd and maintained 70 easily no cruise control as mine never had it

 

I love road/camping trips in my 1st gen. Been all over. I put 3200 miles on it in 8 days just 2 weeks after I did the motor swap. Mine is a 6cyl/5speed.

 

Have fun!! I wouldn't worry about driving my '04 anywhere and would jump in my old '99 and go cross country in a heartbeat if I didn't give it to father in law.

 

Moved from Connecticut to Colorado in 2015 in my old xj sport and the cruise control was in and out after the 2nd day. I think suddenly using it for 7+ hours a day after never even touching it before worked it a little too much

 

I drive from TN to CA and back all the time. Cruise makes it easier but not needed. Wouldn't worry about anything unless you know there's a problem.

 

I think you should be fine. My 1996 has never been on that long of a trip but I wouldn't hesitate to go on one. I'd just make sure to take some tools you might need along the way as a precaution. My cruise didn't work when I got my truck and it was just that the plastic bumper on the clutch pedal that pushes the safety switch had broken. I'm sure cruise will be helpful for that long of a drive.

 

Ahhhhhh, I dig the Casita. Superb lightweight camping trailer.

OP, you should be fine driving cross country. As long as the drivetrain, brakes, and tires are good, not much else can really go wrong on these, it seems.

 

Buy a scan gauge so you can monitor your Mpg and other functions.

 

Drove my 99 300,000 mile, 2.7ltr back and forth between southern Fla and Ok many times. I normally carry basic "just in case" items as a jug of water, belt, a qt or two of oil, can of fix a flat, etc. Also a few tools to get by. Not enough to rebuild the truck, just enough to get me to the next town if needed. Funny thing, I never used any of it for myself. But, more than once I helped a fellow motorist who wasn't driving a Toyota.

 

Drove from Oregon to Virginia and back in my 97 single cab. The clutch and throw out bearing were noisy on some of the big hills after 5-6 hours but other than that it was perfect. Good luck

 

Looking forward to this. Just got an alignment and tires rotated. Did oil change, bought a cassette adapter for the stock stereo for mp3 tunes. Tinted windows max. I took out the passenger seat and installed my fridge there. Still working on the dual battery changeover from last truck. There's a steel rack on this one with headache rack and full bed surround. I bolted a job box in the bed, 2 odyssey batts will go either side of it. I'm gonna use a huge road sign for a tonneau over rest of bed with angle iron supports. A solar panel on a tilt frame will go on that, and a cargo cage. I bought a pull-out awning and tent to put on the drivers side. Designing tailgate locks, doing a blinker relocation and fog light install, putting led backups in bumper.

 

I have an 03 ext cab v6 4x4, 5 speed. I moved from South Fl to Western NC, moved again from Asheville to Dallas. I drive to work in Louisiana pretty often. My bucket list is to get a camper shell, turn it into a mini apartment and travel the country. As long as you go through your truck... complete tune up, change out all the oils, your tires, brakes are good, I say go for it!

 

I was planning to install a single din CB in there with a single din stereo above it, then a firestick in front of the driver's side mirror. I like the idea of listening for speed traps. Was also considering a jammer.

 

Speed traps, jammer?
These trucks don't do speed

 

Any car does speed. Just depends on the driver

 

Sub'd for pictures when you get all that done! Sounds awesome and good luck!

 

6 times across and back the USA from Cali to Virginia, then up to Prince Edward Island in Canada, down to Florida, most of the time hauling a trailer. As long as she runs good, you will have no problems, 313,000 and counting...

 

Sounds about right. I made sure and bought what looked to be a well maintained vehicle, even though it has a fair number of miles - 160k. It was either that or resurrect my 91 wrangler, but that thing could well have left me stranded. I want to do things right this time. It's no fun to drive cross-country in a rig you think might have problems. I'm wondering if maybe the manual trans would appreciate some fancy synthetic, and probably doing the rear diff with it. I greased all zerc's, topped up toyota red in cooler, brake fluid. These fluids are all new and shiny looking - a far cry from my other truck AND NOTHING LEAKS!