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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
I’m planning a roughly 4000 mile road trip in my 69 gmc 1500. I’m gonna throw the camper on and boondock in as many national parks as I can find.
I’ve made a list off all the parts I intend to carry: Belts Water pump Spark plug wires Wire. Battery cables Thermostat and gasket Oil Water. Brake fluid. HEI module/ distributor Wheel bearings. Lug nuts. Fuel hose/ filter Air element Gasket maker. Battery Fuses. Hose clamps. Jerry can Ignition cylinder. Alternator. Headlights. Besides all the tools I’ll need, any other suggestions? The truck has a fresh crate motor in it and just about everything but the sheet metal has bee replaced In the last few years. I think the yoke seal on the rear end and the wiring is the only thing I haven’t replaced. Oh and it has power disk brakes now. Has anyone else gone this far in one of these old trucks? Any tips, stories, or cool pictures of these trucks camped out? Thanks fellas. Posted via Mobile Device |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Gods country East,Tn
Posts: 8,545
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Tire plugs and a couple cans of fix a flat could save you a long walk .
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![]() 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Whitehorse yukon
Posts: 1,218
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
I picked up a 70 sb 4x4 in Carlsbad drove it to the yukon enough basic tools a meter oil change check suspension brakes tires etc roughly over 3000 miles
Last edited by gmc684x4; 02-09-2021 at 02:41 AM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: So Cal
Posts: 658
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
The furthest I drove my 71 and 72 is about 1,250 miles over two days. On one trip the water pump failed on the 72 in Central California on I5. On that trip luck would have it my wife was following me in her car. We located a new one nearby and I replaced it on the highway exit. A thousand cars probably went by, one guy pulling a boat stopped to ask if I needed help. (Him and a CHP who ran my plates ....)
We drove the 71 from Portland to So Cal, about 1,000 miles towing my CJ5. The truck developed a misfire and mileage was very poor. (Even worse than normal if that is possible.) Turns out a spark plug wire came loose. Snapped it back on and it ran like a champ the rest of the way. Sounds like you have everything covered. Be aware of where you park, rest when tired and give yourself plenty of buffer between gas stops. If you don’t have roadside assistance I suggest getting it. Check with your insurance carrier. Also double check your spare. Ask me how I know that is important step on a long trip. Have fun!!! Doug
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71 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne 4X4 SB |
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Quote:
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Spring Valley, Ca.
Posts: 1,112
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Might want to check into getting a membership to the National Park System. Being an old fart I was able to get a life time membership awhile back. Could save some on individual entrance fees and I think there are other perks as well. Happy Motoring and have a safe trip.
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Smitty '71 Short Fleetside Spring Valley, Ca. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 3,081
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
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I would be thinking more along the lines of road hazards and carrying multiple spares! Grumpy's got a good plan too, but nothing is quicker than bolting on a full sized spare. Other than that... Lots of good snacks and tunes... Cold Snacks for the relaxing evenings by the fire! Enjoy the good times man. -klb
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67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold |
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#9 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Turlock, CA
Posts: 8,645
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
This should be called the YOLO list.
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Please help my sister in law with her battle with cancer https://gofund.me/902f6fce Project "C10 Fever" (68 factory black 396 swb) Project "Little Sister" (70 c10 blue original paint refresh) Project "Blue Bomb" (70 c30 blue original paint refresh) SOLD Project "Vitamin C" (71 c10 orange original paint refresh) SOLD |
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#10 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 588
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
From Northern California to Colorado and back! Elk hunt, last November. It was a blast!
Pat |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Waterford California
Posts: 2,516
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Drove my 72 SWB 4x4 to Missouri and back in 85, the year before another guy and I drove his Bronco to the Yukon and back....that was a good trip.
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ca. <-> Ma.
Posts: 5,709
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
I’ve road tripped these trucks several times
A cell phone And AAA card is all you need Go where the wind blows you ........ Take A Lot Of Pictures If you end up in wine country Napa / Sonoma Ca. Please Pm me I’ll share some wine and trucks with you Have a wonderful trip Please start a thread on your adventure Have fun ![]() |
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#13 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Carrollton, KY
Posts: 1,211
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
From to Kentucky to New Mexico and back in a 71 C20, I used to own. A lot of things on your list I took care of before I left as periodic maintenance, and had no troubles on the road at all.
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Dave R. 1972 K20 1972 C20 Highlander 1967 C10 |
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ca. <-> Ma.
Posts: 5,709
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Drove this truck with my son from North Carolina to California
Mostly on backroads zigzagging 4800 miles home First pic — Wheels Through Time in NC Chevrolet museum ( I think somewhere in IL ) Frank Lloyd Wright’s , Taliesen in WI Crazy Horse Badlands http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=717185 |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Joggins Nova Scotia
Posts: 1,598
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
the longest roadtrip i've done was about 20 years ago,where did 20 years go??from Halifax,Nova Scotia to Encinitas,California by plane to LAX,an Amtrak train to Encinitas,CA to meet up with a fella there from Utah but working in California, to pick me and my buddy Tommy up.i bought a 71 big block longhorn truck from him with about 90,000 miles,hauled a camper all it's life,solid as a rock but sunburned as you can see,we went out to eat,stayed the night and left in the morning to start out on a 3700 mile drive home with a detour to a swap meet at a desert drive in movie theatre parking lot along the way.the airlines had lost my luggage and all i had was what i had on.i was lucky,at the swap meet,i was able to buy some
t-shirts,jeans,socks,toothpaste,a toothbrush,everything i needed and a big bag of oranges we ate all the way home.one stop shopping.then onto to Peoria,Arizona to buy a trailer and load on the 72 torino a friend of mine here at home bought and i hauled it home for him.then a search for an auto parts store that might have a carb kit.the truck ran horrible.everywhere we stopped, could have one tomorrow but tomorrow is no good,we'll be 100's of miles away.i did finally find a store that had a kit and when me and Tommy stopped for the night,he went for his daily run,i went to the parking lot,made the tailgate my workbench and dismantled the carb.soon i found the spring under the primary power piston missing,went to the front desk,asked the nice lady if she had a ball point pen i could steal,she had a bucket of them so i took a dozen pens apart til i found a spring i thought would work,repaired the carb,re-installed it and on the road in the morning to Colorado Springs for 2 more trucks,a 68 and 72 that didn't run, that Tommy had bought.once there we loaded everything up in a trailer place yard where Tommy had bought a trailer, started for home.not far up the road,i looked in the mirror,no Tommy so i slowed a little,no Tommy,stopped on the side of the road,no Tommy so i went to the next exit,turned back.there was Tommy on the side of the road,hood up,not looking happy.when i got back to him and asked what happened,he said the motor wasn't happy,sounded terrible so we limped back to the trailer place we had just left.they were great and let us stick the truck in the corner of the shop and use their tools.i determined we had a dead cylinder and tore off a cylinder head.it was on the floor before they closed and it was still warm.i can't remember where we were,Kansas maybe? but anyway they recommended a machine shop,Dennis Saum i think it was and they did mostly race car stuff but we took this broken screwed up head to the shop,they were great too,stopped they were doing and a set of zillion $ set of race car heads to fix this busted up old head.i think i read about Saum's passing a few years back?back to the trailer shop,put the old girl back together,said goodbye and thanks,on the road again.the rest of the way home was uneventful,just the way i like it.once we got home,i took the truck to a local swap meet,loaded full of parts and had a guy start to torture about the truck.i told him it wasn't for sale but eventually he caught me on a day i didn't have much patience and i said,listen if you want that truck,it's going to cost,and i don't remember what i said but i figured it was enough to scare him off.it wasn't.i've had 3 longhorn trucks,2 big blocks,1 350 truck.all original paint and too stoopid to hang onto at least 1??well it's taken 20 years but i finally have another,not a longhorn but that's ok,from the same guy now living back in Utah,a 1972 Cheyenne Super 20.big block,built in Freemont,Californis,sold new at Hoffman Chevrolet in LA,74,000 miles,1 owner and in storage since 1997.I'm anxious to go get it but can't with the covid mess,the border is closed between Canada and the U.S for everything but essential travel.i'm looking into,but haven't found anybody yet,to having it hauled to friends in Ohio or even to Maine,so that when the border opens,it won't be so far to go get it.it'll all work out i'm sure.that's only 1 of my adventures but certainly the longest.take care.Greg |
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#16 |
Old member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S.
Posts: 19,936
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The Hot Rod Power Tour is been a long week trip that I have done several times in my 71 C-10 and once in my 56 Bel Air. The first one I did I had the old 305 TPI & 700-R4 combo in it. I put 3800 miles on it that week. Not one problem. When I got home that combo had a little over 300,000 on it so I pulled out and did my LS swap.
The following year with the LS combo I did 3400 miles, no problems. If you come this way to Upstate SC give me a ring we get together and maybe have you place to spend the night. There are several places not far from here to check out. Hazard stuff: Nice floor jack. Something to lay on when under the truck. Wheel chokes. Batteries and nice flash lights. Battery box with car charger ports. Keep it plugged up when the truck is running and at night use it for phone charging. ![]()
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1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 ![]() Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs. Last edited by Andy4639; 02-09-2021 at 11:01 AM. |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Austin
Posts: 749
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Quote:
Tires Fuel pump Ignition module (it seems you converted) hoses Belts. So, plan for those scenarios. Having extra wire and electric tape is always a good plan. A water pump usually just leaks but wont strand you. Take tools. Last edited by Davidf; 02-09-2021 at 04:19 PM. |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Catskill Mountains,NY
Posts: 8,468
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Seems like a lot of stuff . I took tools, hoses, water/antifreeze belts on a 2200 mile trip last year with my 77 Burban but I did check all fluids and packed the front bearings prior . This is my thread on the trip
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=809102 And I ain't easy on the trucks either both very accurate
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Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary. Last edited by 72c20customcamper; 02-09-2021 at 07:09 PM. |
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Turlock, CA
Posts: 8,645
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
I haven’t done anything that far, but I did a 1,000-mile run for the blue bomb. Made it a little get away for my wife and I. Beautiful scenery from nor CA to Bend, OR. I’m itching to do another trip!
__________________
Please help my sister in law with her battle with cancer https://gofund.me/902f6fce Project "C10 Fever" (68 factory black 396 swb) Project "Little Sister" (70 c10 blue original paint refresh) Project "Blue Bomb" (70 c30 blue original paint refresh) SOLD Project "Vitamin C" (71 c10 orange original paint refresh) SOLD |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: TN
Posts: 263
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Wow. Super cool stories from everyone. Thank you guys for the invites. My plan is to drive from Dover Tn to the Grand Canyon and then head north and check out all those parks in Utah/Colorado. I would I like to get up to yellow stone if time permits. I’ll add posts to this as I add my sleeping and storage quarters to my camper shell and any other projects I do to it for the trip. You guys are awesome.
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Newton,N.C.
Posts: 317
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
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#22 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Bradenton, FL
Posts: 1,036
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Cell phone and AAA
With all the traveling we have done I have only broken down twice One in NJ flat tire Once in FL Hot starter ( Ford starter solenoid fixed that problem) First pic ready to go to Houston Second pic ready for Cali Third pic just Got to Indiana for the second time We live in FL And have been to CA,IN, NJ,NY,WI KS And a few more i cant remember Had truck Painted when I was in TX Still have the same truck but it doesnt see much use now I guess we are both retired now All I can say is if the truck is in good condition and serviced regularly u shouldnt have much of a problem plus u can get just about any part u need on the road.
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1970 CST/10 402,700R4,3:73 posi,AC,PS,PB,TLT,PW,Buckets with heaters |
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#23 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,385
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
In one shot, slept two nights going and coming. I went to "A" school in Great Lakes in '73. Left ~ LA and slept the first night in Colorado Springs, second night in Lincoln, IL. Then a short trip to the base. On the way back, slept in Supulpa, OK the first night and Gallup, NM the second. I didn't bring any tools at all, and drove fast. There wasn't much room for tools in a '69 Camaro, anyway. I did have to replace the transmission while I was in Illinois. Saginaw 4 speed to Muncie M-21. Lucky nothing broke en route, considering the speeds! 2043 miles each way, but separated by 10(?) weeks of skoolin'.
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~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#24 |
BlahBlahBlah
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wa.
Posts: 19,863
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
Ive never road tripped very far at all in any of the classic style cars or trucks Ive owned. Id love to, but I have a serious trust issues lol.
I have road tripped on my motorcycle, pretty new at the time, of over 4 thousand miles and another of over 7 thousand miles. Wish I had a classic car or truck I could trust like something more late model.
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Russell, Iowa
Posts: 2,009
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Re: Longggggg Road trip tips. What is the farthest you’ve gone?
I am so jealous, this is on my bucket list! Good advice from the veterans!
Good luck on your trip the stories will be great to hear. Thanks Russ |
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