What to bring on 1000 mile road trip with a truck I've never seen?

[Run Away]

Hello all, first post!

I've bought myself my first truck, a 1969 Chevy C10 sight unseen over the internets. Here it is:


I'm planning on driving it from Arkansas straight north to my home in Winnipeg, Canada this Friday. Google says this is just over 1000 miles. I might be a little stupid...

What are some things I should be packing with me for my trip? I've never owned something older than 1989.
Here's my list so far:
-standard wrench set
-standard socket set
-phillips and slotted screwdrivers
-sidecutters
-vicegrips
-duct tape
-zip ties
-hose clamps
-fuses (what type would this truck take? glass fuses?)
-lengths of wire
-jumper cables
-knife/razor blades

Once I get there I was going to pick up:
-jerry can
-oil, brake fluid, atf, coolant
-spare tire and jack if it doesn't have one

Any spare parts I should stock up on in case of roadside repair? HEI module? Fuel filter? Electric fuel pump and some fuel hose?
The seller says it's got a 305 engine and it clearly has a newer Edelbrock carb on it.



Any other tips or advice?

[BruthaMan]

Nice truck! Congrats on your purchase. You have a great list so far.

Belts, or change belts before leaving. Definitely an HEI module AND coil. Only time my truck left me stranded, the HEI coil gave out. I now carry a spare in the truck, just in case. Might even bring one with you, would only take a few minutes to swap on before the trip.

When I head out on long trips, I carry a blanket, water and snacks for emergency only.

Be sure to post pics on your trip home! I love to see photos from long trips like that!

P.S. Long trips are a good time to run fuel cleaner too. A few ounces of Marvel Mystery oil in each tank. Might also scout your route to see if there are any extended distances without fuel available.

[leftybass209]

It has an Edelbrock on it so be prepared if it doesn't have a low pressure fuel pump or regulator on it. You may be gassing up and waiting 15 minutes if it has carb boil, vapor lock, or otherwise excessive fuel pressure that floods the cylinders.

[SS Tim]

http://www.google.com/custom?domains...D%3A1%3B&hl=en

[Greasey Harley]

Get a AAA gold card. Cost about a hunderd twenty dollars, and they will tow you 100 miles 5 times per year ( back to back to back to back to back, if nesecarry) they will also change belts & hoses, erc. on the road.
Also bring jerkey, cash and a credit card.
Good luck, I do love an adventure!!

[Mike C]

Originally Posted by Greasey Harley

Get a AAA gold card. Cost about a hunderd twenty dollars, and they will tow you 100 miles 5 times per year ( back to back to back to back to back, if nesecarry) they will also change belts & hoses, erc. on the road.
Also bring jerkey, cash and a credit card.
Good luck, I do love an adventure!!

I assume you are flying in/driving out? I did a trip like that 18 years ago but rode out to the middle of nowhere to buy a 72 Suburban. Only a 300 mile trip though. Great condition they said. Good tires!. I took belts, hoses, coolant, changed oil before we left, air tank, and my tools. But what I didn't have was tires. They were terrible. First one lost all its tread within 200 yards of where we started from. But the spare held air. Did finally make it home, but tires was my issue. The trip included trading wheels (16's on the truck spare was 16.5) and buying used tires for all the cash we had. $37.50 so the tires weren't much...Small town used tire guy took no credit cards and cell didn't work...

I'd go to a Jiffy Lube type place and have all of the fluids changed along with a radiator flush and new hoses and belts put on.

Good luck and keep us updated!

[leddzepp]

Cell phone and a aaa card.

I bought my 68 several months ago and did the same thing. Flew in, drove it home. Not quite as far, but if you get along 20 miles or so you can tell if the truck is running strong enough to make a long distance. The problem I had was the starter getting cooked by the headers while I roared down the highway doing 75 for several hours. When I shut the truck off after stopping for gas the second time it almost fell off the block

[Eliminator540]

Extra coat, stocking hat, gloves, flashlight, funnel, power steering fluid, multi-meter or test light, lug wrench, cheap tarp or plastic to lay on, windshield wipers or rain-x, grocery store jugs of water for you and/or truck, electrical butt connectors, wire nuts and tape will work in a pinch, fuel filter and hose clamps, shop rags, if you can get your hands on a known working HEI distributor - take the whole thing. Check hoses and radiator cap.
Take it somewhere to get the oil changed and chassis greased, and they will probably check trans, rear diff, tire pressure, etc. Take a look at the radiator and condenser fins to see they're plugged up with road debris.
That fuel filter clamp doesn't look like it's all the way on.
Cool truck, good luck!
Oh yeah, and a huge hammer.

[Chuck Burg]

-spare tire and jack if it doesn't have one

I'll add, make sure the spare tire holds air, Also if it has wheel locks, make sure there's a key to wheel locks, can of fix a flat.

[5150.4.67]

Every tool you can feasibly bring. And twinkies.
A trip you will not forget anytime soon. Congrats on the purchase!

[Boog]

Coming to Arkansas to take one of ours back huh? Lots of good suggestions above. You could never take everything you MIGHT need with you . cell phone charger is a must have and ipad or laptop could be useful. You will no doubt be going through some winter weather so wiper blades need to be checked. Warm clothes too. Enjoy the adventure. Pics along the way.

[Ironangel]

Nice score with factory air! Winter storm crossing the Mid-West this morning, so be ready for that if your traveling I-29 North...I'm 25 miles west of marker 79 off I-29. If you break down along the way from Kansas City to Omaha, give me a shout (If thats your route) and I'll come with tools, parts and/or a trailer... "Say, you Canucks dont need AC up there do ya?" Have a safe trip and enjoy the adventure! ~Michael~ 402-245-5327

[cla511]

Makes sure you check the oil regular. When I drove mine back from Maryland she used 2 qt per tank of gas, and did not smoke.

[Stranny64]

A chase vehicle with a flatbed trailer! Seriously, everything above is great. Love the AAA card idea. If something does happen, reach out on here right away. There be members not to far away to give you a hand if needed.

Good luck and keep us posted.
P.S. Bring us back pictures along the way.

[steelhorse]

Don't forget a bit of luck and a camera to take pics.

[HSRACER]

I have done what you are doing two times. One was uneventful and the other was not! Picture yourself stranded in the middle of know where at 2am with no light no cell phone reception and no traffic to help you. Bad deal.

I eventually limped into a Walmart parking lot and went in to buy the following things. I would recommend you go to a similar store and purchase these before you start your trip.

In the automotive section they had a perfect compact mini hydraulic jack with 4 jack stands built into a plastic carrying case with a nice handle. I still use this setup when I do the hot rod power tour. I also bought a cheap case of assorted tools that are self contained in a plastic case and a really good flashlight. The last thing I bought was a quick fix electrical kit that included terminals, ends, and wiring pliers.

I carry all this stuff anytime I am traveling over a couple of days so you won't be buying things you will never use again.

My bad trip included a burnt starter wire at the starter in the black of night and a rear u joint the next night. After getting the above tools I could repair the truck myself after it was on the stands everything was easy to get to.


Here is hoping for an uneventful trip with the exception of great memory's!

[Already Gone]

Have you done your paperwork because US Customs requires you to have the paperwork done 72 hours before you arrive with the vehicle at the Border Crossing. Are you coming back through Emerson Crossing, straight south of Winnipeg? As far as making sure the truck is roadworthy maybe a bord member in the area where you bought the truck would be willing to have it independent mechanically checked before you pick it up.I bought a truck in South Dakota last fall and a board member offered to then took the truck and it checked our for me. It was an 875 trip one way home with no issues. I will PM you my phone number and feel free to call me as I can help you with the Import stuff and probably save you some money on Broker fees.

[1971_CST_C10]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Have you done your paperwork because US Customs requires you to have the paperwork done 72 hours before you arrive with the vehicle at the Border Crossing. Are you coming back through Emerson Crossing, straight south of Winnipeg? As far as making sure the truck is roadworthy maybe a bord member in the area where you bought the truck would be willing to have it independent mechanically checked before you pick it up.I bought a truck in South Dakota last fall and a board member offered to then took the truck and it checked our for me. It was an 875 trip one way home with no issues. I will PM you my phone number and feel free to call me as I can help you with the Import stuff and probably save you some money on Broker fees.

BINGO.................I am going to SECOND this quote.... make sure this is DONE if its not you will be sitting on your butt at the border until paperwork arrives or until the 72hrs goes by and if the paperwork arrives they will charge you a fileing and process fee as well.... have all your paperwork done and also make sure its FIT to come into Canada they can charge you up to $800 for an Inter Border Crossing inspection and STILL have to get an Out of Province when you get home. Dont forget you WILL get charged the PST and GST on your purchase price as well as we dont have free trade any longer with USA. if you try to go through without claiming the truck or get through where there is no crossing and there are places as soon as you go to try to register it up here they will ask for Border paperwork and if you dont have it they will make you take the truck back to the border just to get it and it has to be in the truck you bought.... Yes I learned the hard way can you tell... hahahaha..
have all your T's crossed and I's dotted and you are good to go...
Darren.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by 1971_CST_C10

BINGO.................I am going to SECOND this quote.... make sure this is DONE if its not you will be sitting on your butt at the border until paperwork arrives or until the 72hrs goes by and if the paperwork arrives they will charge you a fileing and process fee as well.... have all your paperwork done and also make sure its FIT to come into Canada they can charge you up to $800 for an Inter Border Crossing inspection and STILL have to get an Out of Province when you get home. Dont forget you WILL get charged the PST and GST on your purchase price as well as we dont have free trade any longer with USA. if you try to go through without claiming the truck or get through where there is no crossing and there are places as soon as you go to try to register it up here they will ask for Border paperwork and if you dont have it they will make you take the truck back to the border just to get it and it has to be in the truck you bought.... Yes I learned the hard way can you tell... hahahaha..
have all your T's crossed and I's dotted and you are good to go...
Darren.

He PM'd me and had all his paperwork done. What is an Inter Border Crossing Inspection, I've done lots of importing and never heard of such a thing. Are you talking about the RIV Inspection for vehicles 15 years old and newer? Sounds like you may have had a bad experience while importing something.

[Already Gone]

He should be on the road now. I hope he posts along the way.

[1971_CST_C10]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

He PM'd me and had all his paperwork done. What is an Inter Border Crossing Inspection, I've done lots of importing and never heard of such a thing. Are you talking about the RIV Inspection for vehicles 15 years old and newer? Sounds like you may have had a bad experience while importing something.

Yes a bad time bringing a 1970 el camino across from the usa to canada. I got to the canadian border crossing and declaired the car and its stature and had all the paperwork but had a jerk at the window who flagged me for a vehicle inspection to check for fitness to be able to drive and import it. they said the 4 tires had insufficient tread depth left and a crack in the windshield that impeeded my vision as it went from drivers side to pass side in the line of vision. I felt like telling him I see shattered windshields on the road and mine was nothing to worry about but figured at this point that wont help, and the same thing I had no side mirrors or rearview mirror which I cannot safely do lane changes and had a marker light out as well as a headlight yet is was 10am ?? anyhow without going anymore painfully into this they jammed me with a $800 fee for the inspection they did and to allow me to continue my journey home yet still with what they thought was a vehicle with less than adiquit safety but not unsafe to drive ??
yes so just a bad time but could see them possibly being sticklers on his truck.
Darren.

[68shortwide]

Doubtful, but if you come through the STL area and need help, call and ill see if I can come help. Unless its during school ill do my best to help ya.

[cooperhw]

Truck and trailer.

[57larry]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

Truck and trailer.

that's what I was thinking because you have not seen the truck in person or driven it around the block

[GASoline71]

There used to be a list on this forum where if you were stranded almost anywhere in the US and Canada you could get ahold of a forum member and they could come to your aid. If it's not here anymore it might be a good idea to post your intended route. Then see if there are cats on here that would be willing to help in an emergency.

If you were coming through Washington State, I'd volunteer in a heartbeat.

Bring small stuff you won't think about... like lots of Zip ties, duct tape, black electrical tape, a spool of "baling wire", a few small spools of different types of electrical wire, wire terminals, power steering fluid, brake fluid, tranny fluid, couple quarts of 10w30, jug of water/antifreeze.

I also have spare U-joints in all my rigs. Been stranded twice because of U-joints over the last 30 years. I changed a U-joint on the side of interstate 5 just outside of Williams California. It was in my 1971 El Camino SS. All I had was a bumper jack, a set of pliers, a crescent wrench, and a big rock for a hammer. It was not pretty but I got it done. The stock bumper jack was pretty spooky as the front of the car was in the air and every tractor trailer that zoomed by, the car would sway back and forth. I was only 20 and didn't know any better at the time. The dumb stuff you do as a kid.

Gary