Long Distance Travel Maintenance

There seems to be a number of folks here who have experience with long distance travel - 5000 mile+. We are about to join that club.

When I go on long trips I usually make sure the tow vehicle is in tip/top shape.  If I'm going to be more than a few hundred miles past a due oil-change I'll go ahead and change prior to leaving. 

Make sure all u-joints are in good shape, tires properly inflated, all fluids topped off (motor, trans, tcase, axles, brakes, wipers, etc.).  Also give all the grease zerks on both the truck and trailer a few shots of grease.  If it hasn't already been done for the season I'll re-pack bearings on the trailer axles and make sure everything is tight on it suspension wise. 

Tires should be replaced at around 5-6 years of age, I think blowouts are usually related to old tires that aren't properly inflated.

I usually carry whatever hand tools I can get to fit in the truck box, up until tomorrow I've usually had my Jeep with me as well and it has on-board-air so I haven't carried a compressor but I will start to now.  Tire plug kits are great to have as well as a quart or two of oil, some brake fluid, gear lube, etc.

I am an avid wheeler so I usually go "prepared".  All RV'n I have done so far has been with our old pop-up mounted on the 30' flatbed with the Jeep strapped down behind it. 

Hopefully I've sparked some thoughts and haven't just rambled on...

Jim

As I live in the Western US I"ll echo Doug on not passing a gas station when going into "remote areas" on less than 1/2 tank. Even on I-70 and I-80 there will be signs "no services" 100 miles. Pulling the Pod as we all know cuts down on your fuel mileage. Duct tape is a must and for those who are okay with the concept some type of "personal protection" might make you feel more comfortable if remote. I carry a breaker bar as I have found by personal experience lug nuts could be problematic in getting off particularly if the tire has not come off for a while. 

All great suggestions. Thanks.

we did almost 11,000 miles last fall during a 10 week trip .  One major thing I did before leaving was to upgrade my tv headlights. I also used Rain-X on the windshield and front windows. New windshield wipes are a must buy and install. Keep your existing ones as a spare set.  We got an oil/filter change (synthetic oil) at the recommended interval at a local dealer as we passed through. we always carried a 5 gallon canister of water.  we used an electric cube heater as much as possible to save propane.  we took a small propane grill.  we keep drinks , fruits and some vegetables in a ice chest in the tv to free up room in the refrigerator.  we had a small hand axe for firewood splitting/cutting. we took an electric kettle for heating water if we had electric services. we took laundry detergent and dryer sheets in premeasured ziplocks. we went to a laundromat or campground laundry about once a week to keep our clothes to a minimum . we also washed our sleeping bags several times during the trip.


I took a 3/4" drive breaker bar, torque wrench, ratchet and sockets. normal small hand tools(screwdrivers, adjustable,wrench,pliers, electric tester, etc). I bought a second drinking water hose, a 25' 30 amp extension cord.

those are the main things that come to mind-I'm sure you can try to take way too much.  the hard part is what not to take.

Vann