i agree about the apocalypse comments. check your fluids and change if needed, air pressure and hoses/belts. bring some jumpers, a blanket some water/snacks and a tow strap. just in case. if you have triple A, make sure its paid up and the card is with you.

i understand preventative maintenance but bringing a ton of spare parts in case you break down? all these extra parts add up and become unnecessary weight and take up space.

also don't get me wrong. i don't have a problem wrenching on my truck and when the time comes, i will.
i also wouldn't drive my truck across the country if i was having a ton of problems with it.

I've got 70,000 kms on my truck and i am starting to think about what is going to go wrong soon. my battery died last night. i left my lights on. i was able to get a jump but i had to wait a little. my cables wouldn't do the trick, they are 10+ years old and probably have a short somewhere or are not a large enough gauge. before i go on a trip i'm gonna replace those.

 

Set tire pressure! You will has nitrogen in the new set :)

 

can't say i have, ive changed tires in parking lots before, but bearings no. i have dropped a caliper bolt before, but i have free towing with my insurance company and my truck was stil under warranty.

your truck is the exception

my as well just tow a spare car. haha

well yeah i agree if your near to an oil change or something, just do it.

 

You guys do pack alot of stuff for a trip. Pre trip for a long trip I'd check the spare tire for air, check the oil, and tire pressure. Besides bringing snacks and something to drink, I'd bring a big coat incase you break down, normal tools that I already have behind the seat (I seem to use them more on other people's vehicles), and maybe a big jug of water cause you can drink it and also put it in the radiator incase you spring a leak. The truck already has a tire iron and jack in it that do just fine. If you guys need all of this stuff to go somewhere, then I wouldn't be driving the vehicle on a long trip.

 

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3GS)

Ok nobody but me needs all this crap only my Friday afternoon built truck

 

Better to have it and not need it...........

I always bring a bunch of tools with me.
1 you never know what may go wrong
2 you come across a friend that desperately needs that wrench you stowed away .

Mr. Murphy is always lurking around the corner.

 

The stock jack wont lift my truck high enough to change the tire, I carry a 4x4 to level my sub that needs to be used to get the height out needed to get the tire off.

 

I used the board divider in my bed to put under the jack. Works perfect.

I have enough tools to fix stuff but I'm not about to bring the whole garage with me like it sounds some of you guys do. Yes you never know whats gonna happen but with proper maintenance and car you shouldn't have to worry about driving somewhere.

Sorry Dave, your truck is the exception to taking the whole garage. lol. I don't know why you have such bad luck.

 

My tool box is always completely full of tools anyways because I use the truck basically for a tool shop. I have everything I need in the truck and I have AAA. The only thing I take on long trips up north, say to big twenty, is a couple spare tires and a handy-man jack because of people dropping frigin nails on the road. I don't over due it but in northern Maine you don't leave a couple parts or oil you might need behind because half the time I couldn't even explain to the AAA guy where I am. I think that for the couple MPG's you might lose it is also safer to have everything in case you need it. Everytime i leave something behind like a spare tire or something i get a flat

 

I've done the coast-to-coast gig in my beater truck almost a dozen times on business. Just make sure you stock up on essential fluids, a spare radiator hose, and make sure your spare tire has good pressure. The biggest problem my truck has ever had on the road is the back splitting pain the seats give me :(

 

He already went on the trip and had tons of problems. There is another thread on it.

 

This guy comes so prepared, he even brings extra seats...

 

Aw woops. Just saw that... Kinda feel like a jerk now. Considering he rolled through my neighborhood and I would have been happy to help.