Preventive Maitnenance for Overlanding trip

Have a trip from June 8th thru June 12th with some 4Runners. My Tacoma has 184k miles on it....just trying to think of things to PM beforehand...Battery was replaced last month.

Alternator
All belts/hoses
Water Pump

I'm thinking these 3 are the ones that can be done pretty easily.

What are your thoughts?

 

Sub. Also curious!

 

Ever replaced the brake fluid? Not that this will ruin your trip, but it will get all your wheels off so you can check brake lines and hoses,check gas lines,look for leaking seals on tranny and engine. Take a look at the pads and shoes while the wheels are off. Take a good look at the exhaust mounting points, engine and tranny mounts. Lower spare ,check pressure, inspect cable and winch, lube where necessary. Check CV boots, the band on both ends of the boots, no holes or rips or leaks. Check shocks for leaks .while under the truck check every fastener, rubber bushing, known wear parts, inner fender shields and mud flaps for secure fasteners. After putting the tires back on, but before lowering, spin each wheel, listening for unusual noises and / or vibration. Jerk wheel up and down and back and forth looking for any play or noise. All four of them.
Well , that's all I got, good luck and have a blast!

 

Don't overdo replacing things that don't need to be replaced. You may end up poking the bear.

 

Your local service manual will assist you in these matters.

 

yeah, just had all of that done when my new frame put on. shocks are good...need to check the CV boots.

 

specifically where? I just checked the online version and nothing. Nothing about PM on the parts mentioned.

 

The Owner's Manual Maintenance Guide will call out the specific components/systems to be inspected/serviced/replaced at specific intervals, usually over a period of miles/months.
The Service (maintenance manual) will explain how to inspect/service/replace the components and or systems.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and this: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/scheduled-maintenance-2nd-gen-30-000-60-000-90-000-miles.30893/

 

I think you know what I was getting at. Yes, the Owner's Manual will give you specific times and what to check, etc...but I was specifically asking those that wheel their trucks for an extensive period of time...In my case 5 days hundreds of miles away...what would possibly break down, and what I could do to prevent that. Trying to get their experience on what they've had to deal with.

 

We went on a 5000 mile road trip just about a year ago. I had 168,000 miles at the time and had done very little to the truck. I took it to an independent mechanic I trust, told him where we were going and to do what needed to be done.

The factory plugs and serpentine belt had been replaced and what I had was still good. He replaced all fluids in both axles and the transfer case. Transmission fluid was tested and was still good. I still have the factory hoses and coolant. He checked everything else including brakes and called it good.

I specifically asked about U-joints and he thought they were OK. On the 3rd day, on the last leg going to the Grand Canyon I felt a vibration, by the time we got to the Grand Canyon I could hear an audible sound and knew what it was. This was just before dark on a Sunday. Left my wife at the Grand Canyon and drove 80 miles to the closest Toyota dealer in Flagstaff. It cost me nearly $300 and most of a day. I knew I was going to get screwed on price, but being 2000 miles from home figured I'd likely get screwed worse taking my chances with an unknown independent shop.

In the year since then I've put another 20,000 miles on the truck. I took it back to the same shop yesterday and told the guy the same thing. Inspect it and do what needs to be done. I was getting some vibration when stopping and he turned the front rotors. Nothing else needed.

 

Thanks...this is the kind of info I'm talking about. Luckily I have a mechanic that is trustworthy.

 

Make sure your maintenance is up to date according to the manual. Test the battery. Replace the serp belt if you haven't already and if the old one is good without cracks keep it as a spare. Inspect the hoses, if good I'd leave them personally.

 

Don't go replacing things like alternators that aren't broken. Your 179k mi altinator is probably more reliable than the $99.99 autozone special you are thinking of replacing it with.