Across North America in Five Weeks!

[drnekFJ40]

Thanks for the great story ,quite sad one but as you said-we have to move on,condolences on your loss .......I have seen you chose the metaltec back bumper...have you seen any advantages comparing it to the Plus 4 bumper?

 

[SMG]

Great story, Sorry for your loss, I will be following along....

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Sorry for your loss...

 

[handcannon]

Hecrod, my condolences on your loss. I can understand your feelings about Alzheimers. My wife's aunt, who had been dealing with Alzheimers for many years, just recently passed away. I had known her for at least 55 years and saw the changes caused by Alzheimers. My cousin is dealing with Alzheimers. I last saw her just over a year ago, and she is just a shell of her old self.

Since you have seen Crater Lake just a couple years ago I can fully understand your reason to plan your route the way you did.

Don

 

[powderjay]

I'll be waiting. Don't blow through Michigan without seeing the Northwest coastline and sleeping bear dunes. You will not be disappointed.

Ten Places Not to Miss in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - MyNorth.com

 

[MJM]

Do not plan to spend a lot of time around Cuyahoga National Forest there is just nothing to see.
I am local in North East OH and it is not a destination there are other places to see.
I second the northern route to Niagara Falls and beyond unless you want to see Michigan.

For the record the only parts that I have had to replace on the road were
Wires and distributor Cap.
Belts
Air pump seized

I drive my 40 for a few trips every summer and the most uncomfortable thing is the heat that radiates off of the firewall.

 

[kevos37]

Wanting to have protection is a good idea, but crossing state lines can throw a monkey wrench in the works. You could always have a couple cans of wasp spray along. Pretty good deterrent for $10. For your rear storage , if you do not find any drawers, tote bins are handy. You can use ziploc bags and smaller containers to separate your items within. I always carry a can of fix a flat. I may have a good spare, but sometimes you don't know what will get thrown at you.

Sounds like a blast! Dont miss Glacier national park !

Kevin

 

[drnekFJ40]

I'll be waiting. Don't blow through Michigan without seeing the Northwest coastline and sleeping bear dunes. You will not be disappointed.

Ten Places Not to Miss in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - MyNorth.com

Sleeping bear dunes are fantastic...I spent my honeymoon there and Isle Royal NP...Don't Miss it!!

 

[Kris]

^^ Absolutely don't miss glacier. Wish I could have spent more time when I was there.

As some one said earlier the Coeur d'Alene area is gorgeous - as well as the entire drive to Missoula from CDA.
Now that I look at it your schedule skips the entirety of Idaho... Lots of beauty there - but i'm biased.

Sounds like an awesome trip. I could do it in my 40 if it was being towed .

 

[hecrod]

On Modifications:

Getting the 40 ready for this trip means that MODS are coming??? My intent is to make any and all modifications “reversible,” meaning, bolt-ons which could be removed (MOD reversed) for whatever reason at a later time. No cutting and no welding... or, if a weld must happen (e.g. modified seat brackets for new seats?), a replacement OEM part should be readily available.

I will focus on MODS that improve safety and security, comfort, capacity and storage. This is not about “add-ons” (e.g. fire extinguisher, GPS, recovery equipment), those will of course be on the truck! This is where I am right now:

• Safety / Security –
  • Winch, D-rings, functional snorkle, etc. – Done
  • CB Radio - Done
  • Tuffy Console – Ordered
    
  • Alarm system - Thinking about it!
• Comfort –
  • Power Steering – Done
  • A/C - Done
  • New Seats – Thinking about it!
  • 12-volt outlet - Thinking about it!
• Capacity / Capability –
  • Aluminum radiator – Done
  • 4-inch lift – Done
  • Dual battery setup - Thinking about it!
    
  • Larger or Auxiliary Gas tanks - A possibility, but leaning against it…
• Storage –
  • Metal Tech rear bumper with storage for 3 Jerry Cans – Ordered
  • ARB Drawers – Thinking about it!
  • Roof top tent - Thinking about it!

The links below have been quite helpful in helping identify meaningful bolt-ons, or just plain motivational... Check them out! (Any others???)

FJ40 long-range use
Long Distance Highway Cruising
Roma’s 78 fj40 gets a refurb
Intro: Ugly Betty(so far)
Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale
West Coast Road Trip in my 'new' 78 FJ40


Now, I truly do not want any opinions on what I should or shouldn't do… but if you feel like wasting your time… go ahead!!!





Current status: Rig is down for a few days to check on and fix existing oil drips... also going through a thorough inspection of all mechanical systems. I have plenty of time (The Day is 1st week of June) but why delay?


Two more pictures of the kid... just because you like 'em!

Wheeling in New Hampshire (and before anyone yells at me, this was an approved use of the power line trail!). With
Yankee Toys | New England's Largest Toyota 4×4 Club...

And in a less civilized setting across the Charles River from Boston... that's the "Salt & Pepper Bridge" front right, with the Massachusetts Capitol (Golden Dome) in Beacon Hill in the distance to the left. This spot is a few hundred feet from MIT and Kendall Square, right behind.

Another update in about 10-14 days!



Hector

 

[Ijimmy]

This looks like an awesome trip, will be following your progress throughout. I'm sure there will be plenty of road trip stories to fill a book. Best of luck and keep cruisin.

 

[hecrod]

Great Links: Want to create an inventory of threads to use for information, improvement, or inspiration! To be updated over time...

Expedition builds / trips:
FJ40 long-range use
Long Distance Highway Cruising
Roma’s 78 fj40 gets a refurb
Intro: Ugly Betty(so far)
Saving The Old Rustbucket--My 1982 FJ40 Tale
West Coast Road Trip in my 'new' 78 FJ40

Generic Improvements:
Building for Alaska/ TransCanada Adventure
My prep/cruise to 30 days in the Alaskan bush.

Fridges:
Got a question about coolers.....
ARB Fridge 50qt vs 63qt - Opinions Wanted
Fuel Tanks: (TBD)

Cruise Control:
My FJ40 hand throttle + crusie(r) control
Best cruise control for FJ40?

Aftermarket Seats:
Which bolt-n-go aftermarket FJ40 seat?
Done to death: best/most adjustable aftermarket seats?
Aftermarket seats.....

Dual Battery Setups:
Dual Battery setup for FJ40
Dual Battery Setup
Dual batteries anyone?

 

[Dianna]

Please document your trip so we can share your journey! I am in NE Ohio, if you have any mechanical issues near me, I'd be happy to help however I can.

 

[drnekFJ40]

I like your thread .great info here...

 

[elkun1]

Looks like a great trip and lots of good info. Only things I can add is a small can of aerosol right stuff, jb weld and duct tape. A rock punched a hole in the radiator in my fj55 on the cassiar highway in canada. jb weld sealed that up till I got home that fall. Same trip the oil filter adapter gasket blew out on the 327 sbc outside of boundary ak. Scratching my head wondering how to fix that when a fella stopped that had right stuff. had never seen it before but worked perfect to make a gasket. have used it several times on other gaskets since. Duct tape has unlimited uses. Was in the breaks of eastern montana when back window shattered, bad. taped an x on it and it held it together till we got home. Cell phone coverage in Montana is limited unless your on the interstates or near a big town. Have fun on the trip and lots of pics

 

[hecrod]

Roadtrippers.com

Ever heard of it? I had not, until this past week (Thanks Nicole D.!) Excellent website for, guess who, road trippers! Where most maps apps (like Google Maps) stop at 10 way points, roadtrippers gives you 60 (!), along with suggestions on places to see / visit within a 30-mile radius of your planned route. Check it out... really an excellent tool!

Below is a screenshot of my current planned track. A few changes, mostly on the 2nd half of the trip, and only after listening to your feedback as to places to go. Distance so far... ~5,800 miles... 33 days. An average of 3-4 hours a day on the road.

General places of focus (very high level):

• West - National Parks - Olympic (WA), Jasper (AB), Banff (AB), Glacier (MT), Grand Teton (WY), Yellowstone (WY), Wind Cave (SD) and Badlands (SD). I am missing ID... may have to do something about that...
• Midwest - Places like Orange City IA (Dutch culture), Winterset IA (Bridges of Madison County), Amana Colonies IA (German culture), Kalona IA (Amish). Will drive Route 66 for a while (mostly in IL into St. Louis), also alongside the Mississippi River, and will visit Springfield (Lincoln!)
• South - Nashville! Louisville! Bourbon and Whiskey in TN and KY (distilleries... here I come!) Coal Heritage Trail and Mountain Shadow Byway in WV (these should be spectacular). Charlottesville (Jefferson!). Fredericksburg (VA), Alexandria (VA) and Gettysburg (OK, this is a bit North) for some Civil War History...
• East - DC, NYC and Boston.

I'm starting to get pumped up here! What am I missing? Willing to adjust here and there. Get ready for some spectacular pictures come June and July...




The 40 Story:

Extra Parts: Have by now extra hoses, belts, u-joints, etc. ready to be loaded up when the time comes. Also JB Weld, duct tape, fuses, jump starter, etc. I'll be ready on this front... no doubt. Will also have a list of contacts (which you guys WILL provide -)) for potential emergency purposes along the way...

Storage: bought four of these ammo storage boxes... they should fit great. I should get them this week... will post some pictures once they are in to show you the fit. May buy some army bags as well to latch onto the cage.

Comfort / Security Improvements:

• Seats - bought a set of 330xi front seats... thanks to your advise here. To be installed soon.
• Tuffy console and Metaltech singout bumper - also to be installed soon. Pictures within a few weeks!

Still to decide on the roof top tent and fridge.

Thanks for all of your commentary and suggestions... I am incorporating them as much as possible. Do keep them up!

Just for kicks, how my 40 looked ~ 5 years ago...

Checking out for now...

Hector

 

[iptman]

You should try to come up the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive in VA, one of the best drives in the country. You'd have to skip Richmond and Fredericksburg but you can swing by Manassas Battlefield, the first battle of the war. When you get to the DC area post up in the CLCC sub forum and we'll meet up with you.

 

[drnekFJ40]

Hecrod if you will be checking those distilleries in TN DONT FORGET ABOUT George Dickel distillery.It is maybe 30 miles from jack Daniel's but it is worth it...Such a great scenery and nice people...Sweet visitor centrum and great almost private tour...I loved it!!

 

[sggoat]

A Small Interlude (on “Moving On”):


My grandmother passed away earlier this week. Granma Sen (pronounced Zen) was born on May 28th, 1928… yes, 1928, right before the Depression. Her Dad passed away in 1933, when she was just five. Can you imagine? What tough times must she have gone through early on! I heard of those, in the manner that those born in those days speak of it… you moved on. “Grapes of Wrath,” that sobering Henry Fonda movie comes to mind. You didn’t complain, you put one foot in front of the other and you moved on. Times were rough, but you moved on. They didn’t have everything they wanted, but they moved on.

She fell in love and married my grandfather at 17, with four kids to quickly follow by the time she was in her early 20’s. What tough times THOSE must have been! Yet she never complained, or at least I do not remember her ever complaining about her lot in life. She moved on. She raised two of her thirteen grandkids herself, and also a great grandkid, and she never complained, she moved on. She moved on through the death of my grandfather in 1999… all the way through December 7th, 2015.

What do I remember the most? The time she took care of me after I got bit in the butt by the neighborhood’s stray dog cheers… being only 6 or 7 at the time. I remember crying my eyes out when she left to live out of State for a few years back in ’78… and I remember how she suffered as she learned of my struggles in college early on.

Yet, why did I hesitate to go home and see her one last time earlier this week? Why was it hard to postpone meetings, to go to see her one more time? Why is it so easy to forget about the bigger things in life? To equate or confuse the “Urgent” with the “Important”?

Or is it just me? Some questions sometimes have no answer… or maybe we just don’t like the obvious answer…

You see, my grandmother started to forget things shortly after my grandfather passed away. It started with her just repeating herself, forgetting things, starting a pot of rice, right next to the one she had started half an hour before… She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease about 10-12 years ago. When I saw her last three years ago, the smile was there, her kind gaze was there… but she was not there. My Granma was gone. And I guess I moved on?

So I did cancel meetings, and delayed others, and went home to see her one more time. And I’m glad I did.

Granma Sen (with her and Grandpa on each side of me, circa 1975)… may you rest in peace.


View attachment 1174163



On to the planned trip… wow! Awesome recommendations… Thank you all! Thanks for the PM’s as well… I know I haven’t answered all yet, but I will.

I have accepted all recommendations (with the exception of the two listed a little ways below) and will be tracking them over the next 4-5 months via excel spreadsheet (screenshot of it below... tried to attach the actual file but couldn't?).

So far, the main criteria in the spreadsheet are:

• Improvements
• Inspect / Replace
• Spares / Emergency,
• Other, and
• Camping / Hiking

View attachment 1174166


Thanks Dagha Boy, Healey, SRTRDR, 1911, pngunme, roma042987, bikersmurf, kerplunk, Weber Sargefor the help and excellent general advice… And thanks to everyone else for the kudos / thumbs up…

This list is a work in progress, so additional recommendations are welcomed! The items with a question mark (e.g. replace alternator, fuel and water pumps, brake lines) mean that I will make up my mind regarding replacement after closer inspection. Same applies to the roof top tent, electric fan and storage drawers… I’m just not sure yet.


On the "Won't pursue for now list":

1. Irish11. The BMW 3-series seat ideas sounds cool… but I’d prefer to not change my seats. I guess I was just hoping for a possible contraption that would allow for the stock seats to recline back a little… they are a little too upright for my comfort… but they are generally comfortable and look great!
2. pngunme, tls3601 - The firearm recommendation is logical, but it’s a “no can do” based on the places I’m planning to visit. And frankly based on where I live too… many hurdles to jump.

Progress this week:

• Ordered Metal Tech’s rear bumper with three “fuel can” holders. I will use two for fuel and one for water. I should receive it within 4-6 weeks.
• Ordered the Tuffy console. I should have it before the end of the year.

As far as the places I’ll visit, the plan at a high level is to avoid large cities and highways as much as possible… it's a case of "been there done that." I am also aware that I am skipping a great number of awesome parks in the Southwest (handcannon, I did get to go to Crater Lake two years ago… just spectacular!) it’s just that I’ve been to most already… and I do need to get back to the Northeast at some point! J

I will go to Glacier NP, and Badlands, and Grand Tetons, and others. More on this part of the planning stage soon.

And powderjay, thanks for the “get together” offer… I’ll reach out to you as I get closer to “The Day”!

One more ask… I either buy a set of well-designed drawers to put in the back, to help organize things, and to put away those items that I am likely (hopefully) to not need, or get used to a mad scramble every time I need something from back there… any suggestions? I’ve been looking at ARB Outback Solutions… as a potential solution. Any others?

DSRTRDR, pngunme. I’m guessing you guys are probably fun to be around?

Mike And The Mechanics:--"In The Living Years"--sounds like you made it--

 

[sggoat]

Hecrod if you will be checking those distilleries in TN DONT FORGET ABOUT George Dickel distillery.It is maybe 30 miles from jack Daniel's but it is worth it...Such a great scenery and nice people...Sweet visitor centrum and great almost private tour...I loved it!!

X-2 you won't regret this(see if you can get some of their 12 yr old stuff)