Road trip, your opinion please

[lil hoodlum]

Hello everyone! I am wanting to take a road trip this Thanksgiving to see my parents and family. It is approximately 300 miles each way.

What precautions would you consider for a safe trip?

A little background info. This truck is my daily driver and I believe to mechanically sound. 350 SB, 3 speed manual, no power steering, no power brakes. I do not have any issues, everything works as it should. I don't give a second thought to making a 100 mile round trip in it. This trip,however, would be longer than I am used to making in my truck.

I am planning on replacing both of my front tires as they have some slight dry rot on the sidewalls. I also do not have a spare tire so I would like to get one for emergency use. I also have some new spare parts that I have stockpiled like, water pump, hoses, starter, and alternator. I keep my tools under the seat.

I am thinking about just changing all fluids/ filters and lubing/ greasing the chasis and suspension.

What else should I consider?

Thanks for any input.

Keith

[coloradosean2009]

If your tank has crap in it, I recommend a replacement fuel filter.

[Rat Bastid]

extra belts for alt,fan,ac

[ChevLoRay]

What you say you're going to do, a pre-trip inspection, is common sense for daily drivers, as well as road-trippers.

Honestly, there is no way to pre-plan for every emergency that may arise. If that was possible, then you'd know when you need a car hauler trailer and a spare vehicle. Is that what you are worried about?

If you maintain your vehicle and you drive it like you'll never be able to afford another one, then you should be good-to-go. However, I can identify with your apprehension over making the trip. When our youngest son was barely 19, he was home on leave before heading from central Arkansas to San Francisco. Aside from the '96 GMC having 55k miles on it and having just been subject to a 2/4 lowering and been checked out by my mechanic cousin....we had no idea how it would do on the road. On his 2nd day out, he spent the night in Flagstaff, AZ. We got a call the next morning that his truck wouldn't start. Not much we could do from a 1000 miles away. Turns out his battery cables were at fault...corroded up inside the housings....but a jump and he was running and back on the road. We had no way to know before he left, unless we disassembled the battery cables and pulled the housings back to inspect the cable within the housings. You can worry yourself to death about the things you can't change. What happens, happens. Just plan on being safe when you drive, make sure that all your fluids are where they should be, air pressure sufficient, good spare tire/wheel and go for it. 350 miles is about a 5-6hour trip. Shouldn't be any problem.

[BB72CHEVKT]

no telling what the weather may be like so take some blankets to keep warm, I had my truck break down in very cold weather last year and it would have been nice to have a blanket

[epashhans]

You should be fine. Never hurts to be prepared as well as doing a little pre-trip inspection. I used to never give it a second thought, but the older I get, the more prepared I feel I should be. One thing you have going for you is it should be a lot more cool than mid summer scorching temps. Seems thats when things come apart/overheat/etc. I usually google some parts places, mechanics, taxis at towns along my trip and jot down some numbers just in case, since I don't have AAA. Or just get AAA. You just never know. A spare would be a really good idea. And make sure you have a good jack and tire iron. If you are going to be traveling in the dark at all, never hurts to make sure your headlights are aligned good (I assume they are since its a daily) as well as having a good flashlight/extra batteries along. And have a good trip!

[cdowns]

cell phone and a credit card with a healthy credit line can solve problems

[Rodk65]

It's your daily driver so hopefully anything big that was going to happen should have. This is no guarantee but you can plan for some things. I flew out to Oregon to pick up a truck I bought. Drove it 1600 miles to my families farm in Nebraska. Parked it got into my 2002 Chevy Tahoe and headed for Wisconsin. I thought I had it made making it all the way from Oregon in a 69 K10 I had never seen before. Then I blew a serpentine belt. Go Figure.

[Already Gone]

This past summer I bought a 1979 Blazer K5 from a board member. It was in nebraska which is 1100 miles from me. On the way home form atrip to Chicago I met the seller at a Wal-Mart parking lot in Lincoln, Nebraska paid him for the K5 and drove it home without a problem. If you maintain your truck and drive it sensibly 300 miles is not along trip for one of these trucks.

[Clyde65]

Lil,

Where is mom and dad located? Maybe if there is a BM near and you do run into a problem, they could\would come help you out? I know I would. We could keep our eyes on the road.....Also, always bring a blanket and water in your vehicle, hot or cold, it could save your life or someone else!

[beautimus]

My advise is leave extra early, break it down into about 3 - 100 or so mile legs. in other words, find a place about every 100 miles or so and stop, stretch your legs, and let the truck cool down for 20 minutes or so. look under the truck for leaking fluids or other sign of trouble. take a cell phone with you, and check in with your folks when you stop. That way, if you do have a break down in a area with no signal, someone will know where to look for you.
Stash a few munchies in the glove box, just in case. Make sure your proof of insurance is up to date. Cops like our trucks too and will pull you over to check out your truck, but then they are obligated to check registration and proof of insurance. Treat your truck like a baby and you should be fine.
Best of luck to you. Tony

[stich626]

a milk crate in the bed (bungy cord to the corner)
with aft/oil/antifreeze,watermix/ duct tape (to fix a leaky hose)
and a blanket or two..
a flash light and extra batteries..
and electrical tape, and a few spare fuses
a small peice of plywood, so in case you have to jack the truck up on grass,
bandaids

[Stocker]

Lots of good suggestions so far. You mentioned fluids, be sure that includes gearboxes, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid w/antifreeze. A few clean rags and an extra quart of motor oil. How long since the wheel bearings were packed, and are the brakes good? You should be fine, if the truck's good for 100 miles it oughta be good for 300 miles. Have a safe trip!

[72BlckButy]

Get AAA...

Just kidding! IMO, it looks like you're taking the right precautionary steps but with these old truck, you just can't ever tell when something is going to go awry.

One recommendation... join the Emergency Contact list so that in the event your truck would give out on the trip, you might have a few board members close by to assist.

[Legolas894]

All good advise hear. Heck, most of my breakdowns have been about a mile from home when I've "fixed" something!!!

My gas gauge still decides to act up every once and awhile so I carry a gas can, jumper cables, oil, fan belt, tool box, blanket, spare fuses, tire iron, jack, flashlight, electrical and duct tape etc....

Better yet, have the folks come and visit you!

[bigguy69]

both of the ones here get drove reguarly. i will admit that i am bad to check the oil and trans, water. and head out.

[Bullseye54]

The only things that were ever a real problem to me in all my years of traveling in old/high mile vehicles were a rearend carrier bearing & a driveshaft center bearing. I've had several small things like belts,hoses & tires that were a pain.When you do your fluids change your diff fluid if you don't know when it was changed last & check/lube u-joints....................Bob

[barry h.]

Highway miles are not as bad as city miles

[68 IRON]

Where is this emergency contact list? Thats a great idea. I know I would use that, especially in Texas! A lot of members down there. Its tough to trust something when you are doing something you havent done before. Listen to the music of the motor and enjoy the scenery and weather (good or bad). A "classic" trip. Have fun.

[cam.man67]

You should be ok. Just bring oil, antifreeze, extra belts, a fuel filter, get a spare tire like you suggested, check all your levels and you should be good to go.

If in the off chance you do get stranded, here's the info for the emergency contact list:
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=159313

[lil hoodlum]

Clyde65, my parents live in Brownwood, Texas. I would be traveling south on I-35W through Fort Worth, hook up onto Loop 820, and then south on US 377. The only notable town along the way is Stephenville. I will copy down some phone #s of boardmembers from the emergency contact list.

I'll replace the two tires and get a spare tire, change motor oil & filter, bring extra fuel hose w/ clamps & extra fuel filter. I'll check my wheel bearings. Also check and top off all fluids and bring extra. I've got some other spare parts I will be bringing as well.

I'm sure I will make the trip just fine. I just wanted some sage advice from those who have done it before me on what else I should think of.

It would be alot easier and cheaper to get a car rental but where is the fun in that?

ChevLoRay, my main concern is how will everything hold up barreling down the highway 65 MPH for several hours. I guess if my fuel, cooling, charging, and lubrication systems are working as they should be, then I shouldn't hopefully have any problems.

Good advise all, thank you for the input! It is much appreciated!

Keith

[Hubscrub]

yea i would at least get the spare and a fuel filter and tools like you mentioned, i have always been a rental car guy to scared to drive my daily stuff but last month i drove my 97 with 180,000+ on a 2,000 mile road trip and so maybe i'm gettin better you will do fine i'm sure

[Rat Bastid]

modual for distributer is a MUST! ive had my rig die right in the middle of a crusie.no warning at all,just died

[lil hoodlum]

Originally Posted by Rat Bastid

modual for distributer is a MUST! ive had my rig die right in the middle of a crusie.no warning at all,just died

That's a good one. I wouldn't get very far if my old one dies.

I have been down this route to my parents several times, I just know that if I do break down I might be stranded for awhile before help arrives. Then I'm not too comfortable thinking about how I would get some parts if I needed some. It would just be easier to bring along some of the more common parts that may decide to die on me.

On a lighter note, a radio in my truck would be nice to listen to.

Radio! We don't need no stinkin' radio!

Keith

[darush01]

I may be new to driving (only 3 years) but im not new to breaking down Ive had trucks catch on fire both electrical and fluid induced. One night I threw the belts off my ranger parked it got my 83 custom deluxe then threw all the belts from it ran it hot and almost blew it up, I had my fuel pump relay go out on my 88 ranger while hauling brush up a big hill Ive had my rear end break loose from my 72 c20 and come out from under it, I said all that to say that you cant think of all that might go worng sounds like you got everything covered all I can add it bring a fire exstinguisher it hopefully wont be needed but Ive had several trucks catch on fire 2 of which were complete losses just make sure its running god when you leave and bring parts and you'll be fine