Just thought I'd share that my Explorer is getting new shocks tomorrow. My dad is paying for it, so I'm just getting whatever the store puts on there. He said they're Mountaineer 3s or something. Oh well, they're free, thanks Dad!

Reason I knew I needed shocks...I had a little glass/crystal star hanging from my rearview mirror...now it's basically a glass blob because it has chipped so much from bouncing off the windshield!

Hey, I'm taking my Explorer on my back-to-school road trip (2600 miles) in a week! Anything you guys recommend I do to prepare? Check oil, check wiper fluid, check tires, check gas...anything else? :eek:

Hey Gina

You're talkin' to the king of road trips here. I have driven four times now to and from Los Angeles CA and Ann Arbor MI for school (about 2500 miles). The Explorer is a great car for long trips! Things I would suggest:

1) Check all fluid levels and tire pressures, especially the spare.

2) Make sure that all your tire changing components are accounted for (jack, gloves and lug wrench in the rear compartment and jack handle under the hood).

3) Take some spare fluids with you. I have a crate of stuff including oil, brake fluid, trans fluid, power steering fluid, gaskets, spare hoses, hose clamps, etc. that I take with me.

4) Have a cell phone with you.

5) AAA card (not trying to scare ya, as mine has never once had a problem or broken down on the road, but just in case).

6) Check the oil at every gas stop. I find I typically consume about a quart on my trip.

7) Good tunes :D

8) Get ready to spend some serious time scraping bugs off when you arrive. I'd suggest you hit up one of those self-service car wash places and power-wash them off.

Have fun on your trip! I love driving cross-country. I'll be driving back to Ann Arbor in two weeks. What route are you planning on taking?

Oh, and where is Rochester MI and what school do you go to? I go to University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (if you hadn't guessed ;) ).

peace

Mike

Originally posted by Mike 92 XLT
Oh, and where is Rochester MI and what school do you go to? I go to University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (if you hadn't guessed ;) ).

Thanks for all the info Mike! When I was little, my family drove out to Montana for vacation and all I can remember from the trip was all the smashed bugs on the front of our Taurus!

I'm going to Oakland University, and Rochester is hmm a little North of Detroit...I-75, Exit 79. Little past Exit 69 Big Beaver Road :D I'll be driving basically straight on I-90 from Seattle until I hit Chicago and it gets all confusing, but I end up on 94 right through Ann Arbor! Do you normally drive straight for 20-some hours, or take it slow for a week or so? This will be my first time driving out there, and I've planned it for 6 casual days. I've learned from my mistakes...
One 3-day weekend, my boyfriend and I decided to take a road trip to...Myrtle Beach...from Detroit. Well, we thought we could drive back in one day, but we liked the beach so much we didn't leave until 1PM Sunday. Long story short, we didn't get back until 10AM Monday Morning, just missed my Math Test then fell asleep through the rest of my classes! Darn... :o

Just wanted to add my road trip experience. I transferred to University of Calgary, and had to drive up north from San Francisco,CA, to Calgary,AB,Canada. Total driving time was about 30hours, and i did all that in 5 days. Decided to take it slow and enjoy the freedom of driving...and never coming back the same way. It was one of those "once in a lifetime" things. Now when i think of taking a trip back down for a vacation, i just think of the drive and i can't imagine how i managed to do it alone.:eek: LOL!

BTW, if i don't get to say it before you leave...Bon Voyage! :)

Originally posted by PLRBEAR
Now when i think of taking a trip back down for a vacation, i just think of the drive and i can't imagine how i managed to do it alone.:eek: LOL!



Oh man, IMHO, the best way to do a road trip is alone :cool:

Gina, I do mine in about four days. First and last days are half-days and the two middle days are 13-hour or so days. Last year I made it from Denver to Illinois in a day. Rolled out of Denver at 7 in the morning and into Illinois at about midnight. I have never been so tired in my life! Anyway, have fun, be safe, and wave at Ann Arbor as you pass it :D

peace

Mike

P.S. Don't you love that Big Beaver Rd. exit? There's a town just past Kalamazoo on the 94 called Climax. One of these days I'm gonna steal that sign.