Long trip ahead... suggestions encouraged

Hi all,

A week from today I will be making a 10 hour round-trip to Snowshoe Ski Resort in West Virginia. I am fully confident that my truck will make the trip no problem, but I want to be proactive considering it's approaching 160k miles. Is there anything in particular that you all would be sure to check, change, maintain prior to making the trip? I'm getting a VA state inspection done tomorrow and plan to tell the mechanic to look it over good, but no peace of mind is like that of your own after you've done your own investigating.

Suggestions encouraged!

 

Check that all fluids are at appropriate levels and not out of date, brake pads in good condition...
and a bump for more useful info from others...

 

As long as your scheduled maintenance is up to date and it runs fine... Just have a safe and fun trip.

 

It's only a 10 hour drive. That's a day trip out here.

 

yeah as long as it is up to date with maintenance you should be fine
i am about to do a 9 hour one way drive
ill probably be stoping half way to do an oil change on the side of the road

 

I regularly made 20 hour trips to school, you'll have no problem. Just make sure scheduled maintenance is up to date, air filter is clean, and most of all your tires. Tires are the biggest thing, making sure lugs are tight, and I have a lot of modifications done on my tacoma so I just made sure everything was torqued down properly. Kept an eye on hub temperature and tight lug nuts when I stopped for gas.

Wouldn't hurt you to check your belts if you haven't changed them recently. I had my u joints start to go bad in the last 2 hours of my trip once, man that was nerve wrecking haha

 

Your joking right?

 

Just did 2 13 hour trips in my 22 year old FZJ80. Proper maintenance and you're good to go. Only your ass will hate you.

 

If it's been properly maintained, there's really nothing to do but go.

I do make a last minute check of fluids under the hood, tire pressures (don't forget the spare).

You do carry a kit of handtools, right? And an extra qt of oil isn't a bad idea on a longer trip.

Since it's winter, I'd be carrying at least the basics to survive 24 hours if you find yourself stranded on the side of the road.

 

no i have odd when it comes to wanting the oil change at exactly 5000 miles ill be hitting that about 2 hours into the trip so i may stop for lunch and do an oil change it only takes 15 minutes

 

Wow

 

what?

 

Yeah, retardation setting in. 15 mins? Just drain it on the side of the road? In the ditch? Nice.

 

Bill beat me to it.

If you are traveling through winter weather, would recommend blankets, water, some protein bars, flashlight, batteries, matches/lighter, good GPS, tools. I travel up North a fair bit to my families ranch and pack like this. Small bag, not much room but you never know.

Also, let others know where and when you will be.

 

I think he said 'wow'. And I agree.

Road miles are easiest on oil there is. Stable operating temps.

You're already short cycling your OCIs. So just change it when you get back.

Know you probably won't, but in all honesty, you're wasting your anxiety/OCD over nothing.

 

its doesn't take long to change the oil once you've done it a few times and if you have the proper tools its easy

no I wouldn't drain it into a ditch i would put it in an oil catch and dispose of it properly

yeah no I'm not going to change my oil in the middle of a trip I will do it as well as a few other maintenance things the night before I leave but I'm not going to do it during the trip

but if I was going to I would do it properly and dispose of old oil

i just can't help but troll a little

 

As long as your maintenance is up to date, just go. You'll spend more time prepping for the trip and the "what if's" especially since it's winter.

I've got 173K on my 09 DCSB and no doubts I can pack and go on a 10 hr road trip without any worries.

 

I'm set up now to where i can go on a week long road trip in less then an hour and not worrie

 

Extra jug of washer fluid won't hurt.

 

As said, maintenance up to date, no problems. Pack for problems, extra windshield washer fluid, warm clothes, a shovel, flares. Water and snacks.