Road Trip! (MI to FL) What mantinence should I do?

[BrianDye]

So at the end of May were gonna drive to Florida, Port St. Lucie to be exact. All the way from Monroe, Michigan...

I remember going years ago (when I was 6 or 7) and its about 1200 miles...

Im fully confident that my explorer can make it, but what would you guys reccomend doing before we go?


Im thinking so far:
-Oil change
-New brake pads, possibly rotors if I have the money
-Coolant flush
-Drop the trans pan, let that fluid out, and add new fluid to top it back off
-Rotate and balance the tires
-Power steering fluid flush/change

Possilby a trans cooler too.

And obviously, checking, double checking, and rechecking the spare, and jack LOL.

Anything else you guys might reccomend?

 

[Blazepet7]

check fan belt, diffs, and carry your
survival kit...
extra coolant
Flashlight or worklamp
extra fan belt
fire extinguisher (small)
Tools
BFH
full socket set 3/4 inch drive
breaker bar
all other basic tools
screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches etc...

A girlfrield or wife helps alot but theres another kit you have to bring to keep them tuned correctly, probably more maintnence than the truck

good luck, safe drive...let us know how it went...

 

[BrianDye]

LOL @ the gf part, its gonna be me, my gf, and her sister drivin in my explorer.

Im about due for an oil change, so I figure in the next week or so ill get one, then that'll be perfect timing right before we go to get another one.

I plan on taking HUNDREDS literally HUNDREDS of pictures lmao, and about 80% of them will be of my explorer in varios places like on the beach, and anywhere else LOL

 

[brownbagg]

look at your ball joints, brakes . belts

 

[Sbyrne97]

A girlfrield or wife helps alot but theres another kit you have to bring to keep them tuned correctly, probably more maintnence than the truck

haha...

Brian just make sure you have basic road side emergency tools you never know when you might have a snag. Also bring some lots of water for you, your mates, and your truck. Make sure your sensors are clean so you can get good MPG.

 

[Blazepet7]

Nice... i just got back from a rather short trip upstate to syracuse (600 miles back and forth) im due for a nice long drive to a new place if you really wanna know what to take with you "just in case" follow the offroad checklist in the offroad planning forum, I carry a bunch of the stuff on those lists at all times...its good reference guide, and dont forget if you get your oil changed before you go then you drive, what, about 2500-3000 miles your gunna have to change the oil again before you come home...thats gunna be a fun trip though i was thinking about a trip to the west coast stopping of corse ...

come on fellas what would you/have you brought with you on a road trip

 

[BrianDye]

haha...

Brian just make sure you have basic road side emergency tools you never know when you might have a snag. Also bring some lots of water for you, your mates, and your truck. Make sure your sensors are clean so you can get good MPG.

Lol yea, thats a good point with the sensors, I plan on doing a custom CAI, I thought id have to buy a K&N expensive setup, but I found the parts for under 40$ at Advance Auto, so that should boost MPGs a tad. (Also means the MAF will get cleaned)

Nice... i just got back from a rather short trip upstate to syracuse (600 miles back and forth) im due for a nice long drive to a new place if you really wanna know what to take with you "just in case" follow the offroad checklist in the offroad planning forum, I carry a bunch of the stuff on those lists at all times...its good reference guide, and dont forget if you get your oil changed before you go then you drive, what, about 2500-3000 miles your gunna have to change the oil again before you come home...thats gunna be a fun trip though i was thinking about a trip to the west coast stopping of corse ...

come on fellas what would you/have you brought with you on a road trip

Yea lol, well its about 1200 each way, so ill be good with one oil change before I leave, and when I get back home.

But when im not living here anymore (with my mom LOL) I would love nothing more than a huge planned out road trip all the way to California, to spend a week or two there (week+driving time lol)

This trip makes me miss my 4 door...SO much more room, bigger backseat, bigger cargo area, man this is gonna be a tight trip LOL.

 

[Electrohacker]

I just did a chicago/maryland/michigan loop this past summer (concert)

my truck drives all over

basically like everyone else says, keep up on the maintenance and pack tools
good to check your air filter, fluids, battery and so on
and clean the interior out good (clean truck makes a nice trip)

 

[gijoecam]

Hey, neighbor! (I live in Newport).

Couple of notes... If you enjoy getting messy, go ahead and do the trans fluid and filter like you described. If you like to stay clean, take it to Doug's Transmission on Detroit Ave (off Dixie and 75) and let them do it. They do mine every 30k and do a good job. For $75 it's worth it to not have to spend hours cleaning up the spilled trans fluid all over the garage floor.

Don't worry about the trans cooler. You already have one and it's more than sufficient for a road trip.

This time of year, make sure you take a tow strap and know how to attach it safely to your vehicle. Going through the mountains, you never know what weather you'll run into.


If you see me 'round town, be sure and give me a flash or two. I've got a white 98 2-door with a pair of KC Daylighters mounted on the bumper... You can't miss me.

 

[BrianDye]

Lol why's your info say Trenton? Are you around Monroe? We live in Brest Bay off Point Aux Peaux.....

I don't think I've seen you around before man lol I remember just about any explorer that's not stock around here lmao...there's a Sport Trac around here, white with big tires and black wheels, I see him at Krogers alot lol

 

[JCat]

AAA membership

My buddy blew a head gasket at Cumberland Gap on a Sunday evening. He had it towed to my house in Atlanta. LoL

 

[gijoecam]

Lol why's your info say Trenton? Are you around Monroe? We live in Brest Bay off Point Aux Peaux.....

I don't think I've seen you around before man lol I remember just about any explorer that's not stock around here lmao...there's a Sport Trac around here, white with big tires and black wheels, I see him at Krogers alot lol

I just haven't changed my profile info in the last 6 years... I'm in Newport at the east end of Post Rd.... just the other side of Fermi from you... I've probably seen you a few times. Aside from the Daylighters, mine's otherwise-stock.

AAA membership

My buddy blew a head gasket at Cumberland Gap on a Sunday evening. He had it towed to my house in Atlanta. LoL

LOL! I forgot to mention that one... For the price, if you use it once, it's paid for itself!

 

[BrianDye]

My gramma bought me the gold membership last May lol

Yea I'm just a couple miles away from you lol
I work at the krogers on Dixie, if you ever shop there you've probably seen me before lol

 

[gijoecam]

My gramma bought me the gold membership last May lol

Yea I'm just a couple miles away from you lol
I work at the krogers on Dixie, if you ever shop there you've probably seen me before lol

Cool! We're in there at least once a week.

 

[BrianDye]

Lol yea between goin for my mom or my gf's mom were in there at least every other day, I don't work until Friday at 6:30 though thank god haha

 

[goshawk1]

Check the basics;

Serpentine Belt (I carry a spare)
Hoses
Fluid Levels
Tire Pressure-spare too
Lights
Glass and mirrors
Carry basic handtools, jack and lug wrench, and maybe duct tape, mechanics(bailing) wire, and tie wraps (I also carry a qt of oil, atf, ps fluid, and water)

Obviously, don't leave with it if you know it can't pass a safety inspection- balljoints, tierods, brakes, tire condtion etc....

Have fun ! (which would require getting there safely)

 

[96eb96]

Change both idler pulleys, there are many failures noted on mid 90s exes. Do it before your trip! Its a timebomb after 15 years.