[Coley]

Well, with very little effort and insight and forethought you can eliminate probably 90% of the failure points in these trucks if you intend on stretching out past a 50 mile drive.
That is the great thing about them.....super simple so problem points are usually easy to see or hear....and arguably fix and replace.....unlike new vehicles.
We could probably all get together and organize a 'Top 10' list of upgrades or pre-checks to set the odds high that the trip will go well.
hmmmmm:
1) Fluids...check the fluids. ALL OF THEM...engine, coolant, transmission, differential, grease the lower end...ALL OF THEM...and while you under the truck look/check for trouble...muffler? mt clamps? broken wires or lines or?
Also, what condition is your radiator in? original?....small? leaking? ...don't know?....lol
2) Ignition...Plugs? Wires? Points? (hope not..lol), condition? new? 10 years old? ...never touched it? or?
3) Charging System: working? wires tight? frayed? checked? when was the last time anything was replaced?....1995? lol
4) Starting System: slow?.....sometimes? never a problem?
....ok, there are certainly more (fuel/carb/etc) ....but those are a quick few...but you would be surprised that well over 1/2 of the guys who have these trucks do not, in all likelihood...check or go through this stuff....lol.....at least on some occasion, ...ask me how I know, lol

All good
Coley