8 Hour Road Trip... tips?

[austin]

Okay guys, I'm off to start college near mid June and I'm planning. Gotta drive from Atlanta to Daytona Beach in the IDI and I'm looking for some pointers on maint stuffs I should take care of before departing.

460 miles from A to B, looking at about 7-8 hours of non-stop driving.

 

[crashnzuk]

If it's well maintained and you already drive it everyday, there shouldn't be much to do except go over it and carefully inspect it. If you find anything suspect, repair as necessary.
Travis..

 

[Dieselcrawler]

just wing it. comeon, i just drove a truck i never even seen in real life before i picked it up, 13 hrs home. no issues.

 

[austin]

If it's well maintained and you already drive it everyday, there shouldn't be much to do except go over it and carefully inspect it. If you find anything suspect, repair as necessary.
Travis..

It was retired about 3 months ago, but was a DD before that. I've never had it on the highway, so I'm still questioning how it will do. All maint has been kept up with, so I'll just cross my fingers as I chug along!

 

[itsacrazyasian]

Just go over it well before you leave. Just because you will make it doesn;t mean you shouldnt take care of future needs while at the comfort of your own home. I remember how pissed i was after Steeda built the rear end of my truck (and i let them do it so i wouldn;t have to worry about it after moving away for college) and the damn rear blew up. I had to rebuild it infront of my dorm in the freezing cold/rain in orlando with minimum tools. I was PISSED.

 

[Diesel JD]

Don't expect to keep up with the folks going 90 on I95 or 75. That Superduty will want to do 60 maybe 65 and even then will be winding up a bit with the 5.13s. Unless something is glaringly awful or you blow the engine or trans or IP you'll be able to fix anything else easily. Also I'm in Gainesville, FL so if you should encounter trouble between Daytona and the state line, here is one person willing to give you a hand.

 

[GOOSE]

My truck had a bad radiator when I got it. Fine around town but plugged up enough to overheat the truck when towing or sustaining highway speeds. Good idea to check that out. Grease all fittings, check U-joints especially. Front wheel bearings serviced? all fluids topped off, including rear diff and trans? Oil change so its not needed at college? Cords showing or dry rotted tires, tools to change them? Glowplug system ok? Return lines dry and not leaking?

I am just thinking out loud and would think some of these basics are already covered. Trips like this are sometimes the easiest miles a truck will see. Good Luck

 

[gonecrazyi]

Just bring some tools and other odds and ends for safety. A spare and good Jack also help A LOT.

Pm me and ill give you my number if you need anything.

 

[austin]

Don't expect to keep up with the folks going 90 on I95 or 75. That Superduty will want to do 60 maybe 65 and even then will be winding up a bit with the 5.13s. Unless something is glaringly awful or you blow the engine or trans or IP you'll be able to fix anything else easily. Also I'm in Gainesville, FL so if you should encounter trouble between Daytona and the state line, here is one person willing to give you a hand.

It's supposed to be a 7 hour trip... I'd judging 8 or so! I'll keep in mind where you are if I need it!

My truck had a bad radiator when I got it. Fine around town but plugged up enough to overheat the truck when towing or sustaining highway speeds. Good idea to check that out. Grease all fittings, check U-joints especially. Front wheel bearings serviced? all fluids topped off, including rear diff and trans? Oil change so its not needed at college? Cords showing or dry rotted tires, tools to change them? Glowplug system ok? Return lines dry and not leaking?

I am just thinking out loud and would think some of these basics are already covered. Trips like this are sometimes the easiest miles a truck will see. Good Luck

Good stuff here. Gotta do the front wheel bearings as well as rear diff lube.

 

[ocnorb]

I keep spare belts, oil, antifreeze and a small tool kit in the truck- other than that its like these guys are saying 460 miles is no big deal, especially with your 5-speed.

Losing the vacuum pump belt in an automatic can make for an interesting day. Particularly when you don't figure it out until you are halfway down the off-ramp!! Only do that once and then you carry a spare!!

 

[austin]

Just bring some tools and other odds and ends for safety. A spare and good Jack also help A LOT.

Pm me and ill give you my number if you need anything.

Thanks, PM sent.

I keep spare belts, oil, antifreeze and a small tool kit in the truck- other than that its like these guys are saying 460 miles is no big deal, especially with your 5-speed.

Losing the vacuum pump belt in an automatic can make for an interesting day. Particularly when you don't figure it out until you are halfway down the off-ramp!! Only do that once and then you carry a spare!!

I know I'm going to end up packing all of my tools in a box I can't get to. It's just gonna happen! I'll make sure to set my bag to the side.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

The possible plugged radiator is a good warning to heed; it is the one problem that can go un-noticed for many years of short trips.


If it is the original radiator, I would just swap in a brand-new one anyway.

I have had a few radiators to catastrophically fail in my driving career and it is never a handy situation.

I am not by any means rich, nor made of money; I just figure it is good insurance against costing me a bunch more in aggravation, inconvenience, and spur-of-the-moment road-side expenses.


Other than that, just make sure all of the common-sense situations are taken care of, as they should be anyway.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

One other idea that will apply to anyone who ventures more than the next county over :


I recently picked up a very heavy-duty tow-hitch, plenty strong enough to haul any ton-sized truck.

I intend to mount matching brackets to the front of all of our trucks.

The hitch itself will be carried on a special bracket made onto the head-rack of my personal truck.

Equipped thus, should I find myself dis-abled along the highway, I can be towed to a better location by some sensible good Samaritan and then tow myself all the way back home if the situation cannot be remedied otherwise, of course after having another truck brought to me.

 

[flareside_thun]

I'm jumpin on the bandwagon with JD and Billy.....Depending on the route you take I can help ya out if need be. PM me and I'll give you my number as well.

 

[1994Diesel]

X3 On the radiator... been there done that. No fun at all.

Another great thing to carry in your truck at all times is a spare fuel filter.

Also something i always carry is a 4x4 block of wood and a bottle jack(makes for quick flat tire changes). I've thanked myself a couple of times for ditching the stock jack.