Long road trip.

Ok so I’m going to Michigans upper peninsula in a few weeks. Almost a 10 hour drive. Is there anything I should add or change about my 08 manual regular cab? Like anything for comfort, gas mileage, or even incase of emergency. Is there anything to be mindful of like common failures? Don’t quote me on this, but the CV axles like to just explode? I just wanna get a list down, so I feel like I’m as prepared as I can be.

 

How has she treated you so far? Mileage? Last oil change? Tires look good?

These are very capable, reliable trucks. I wouldn't think twice about its ability to go for a 10 hour road trip unless something was actively wrong with it...

 

Check the battery, fluids and tires, fill the gas tank and go

 

Get yourself a jump box. Mine has been invaluable. I do a a ton of road trips and have had my battery tested prior to all and yet I found out that I needed it on two different road trips. Once for a bad battery and the other just for using the accessories too long while camping. We were dispersed camping with no one around. I also carry a small bag of tools as well.

 

Check fluids and tires.

Take along jump pak, portable compressor, tire plugs, tool kit, spare belt and fuse assortment, oil & coolant. Zip ties, duct tape, tie wire. Bottle jack and couple pieces of 2x6. Some type of ground cover to sit/lay on.

Few hundred bucks in 20's won't hurt either.

Personal security system is a must too these days.

 

where in the UP are you going and are you taking it off road while there? otherwise its just like any other road trip, fluids, tires AND spare, snacks, and a decent radio station...

 

Great so far. 83,000 miles, oil change was 1,000 miles ago.

 

Sounds great! I think the truck will be good to go. Lots of other good general road trip advice being offered here as well...

 

For the most part, just a lot of old state roads and logging paths. About 1 hour south east of iron mountain.

 

Nobody has had CV axle problem? I’ve just seen lots of videos online, of them kinda just deleting themselves.

 

Big keys to avoiding CV problems:

1. Don't use 4WD on dry pavement.
2. Don't turn on the front locker (which you probably don't have) while turning.

 

That’s it? Drive like a normal person? But in all seriousness thank you.

 

Are you planning on wheeling fairly hard on this trip?

Do they explode at random just driving down the highway? In my experience no..

I have a feeling videos of cv axles not exploding don't get many clicks

 

Not at all, I baby my stuff, and try not to beat on it. I just remember seeing one vid in particular of a guy going up a hill, and they kinda just went out.

 

hour SE of iron mountain is in the lake! If ya stay the night up near the bridge, give me a shout, I live in Cheboygan. If you need dispersed camping areas along the way in the Hiawatha NF, let me know that as well as I worked on that forest for 4 years and know the good spots

 

I just looked, it’s 43 minutes, and no it does not put me in the lake. I should have specified, it’s basically by Carney.

 

Have fun! I'm up in Marquette, it's starting to get nice but expect some chilly nights.

 

And duct tape, never forget the duct tape....

 

I always keep a 'go bag' in my vehicles with basic survival gear. Never know when you might have to do some walking in all kinds of weather.

 

Duct tape saved me when I smoked a deer in my old CRV. Had to drive a little over 2 hours back home like this