Buying an fj40 plan to drive it 850 miles home what should I check?
- Thread starter forestderp
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
You a lucky man, road trips do not get any better then this!
The wife and i caught a train interstate to drive our 45 home when we purchased it. That was around 400miles.
Lots of good suggestions, i have one which i dont think has been mentioned before and IMO i would not leave home without it!
A multimeter. It will make fault finding much easier on the side of the road if you do have any sort of electrical problem.
Check the battery voltage every now and again to make sure it is getting charge.
Travis.
The wife and i caught a train interstate to drive our 45 home when we purchased it. That was around 400miles.
Lots of good suggestions, i have one which i dont think has been mentioned before and IMO i would not leave home without it!
A multimeter. It will make fault finding much easier on the side of the road if you do have any sort of electrical problem.
Check the battery voltage every now and again to make sure it is getting charge.
Travis.
It will need insurance, and most offer tow services for very little more. Enjoy the road trip, take it slow and enjoy. If it makes it the first few miles no reason it cannot make it all the way, but as with any vehicle a backup plan is a good idea.
Time!
I love road trips, my experience has been that the most successful ones such as "Saving the old Rust Bucket" are the ones that you plan/bring extra time. If you think it will take you two days, plan for four. Damn near drowned my family when I failed to bring extra time along for a boat trip. When I'm rushed on a road trip, I don't enjoy the Moose Drool moments, I don't pull over when I'm tired and I don't always listen to what the rig is trying to tell me. Maybe I've been lucky, but usually the various rigs I've driven let me know something is not right before they fail, such as the disappearing fluid in Sea Knight's story.
If you bring along extra time, you'll be less hurried, the trip will be more enjoyable, you'll be more in tune with your rig and you'll arrive home more relaxed. Besides, a great road trip is one of the best ways to start a relationship with your rig, it just seals the connection. Rush it and you may arrive home mad that you spent all that cash on a rough, noisy beast. Congratulations by the way, take photos and notes, then share when you get home! Would love to read about it when you get back!!!
I love road trips, my experience has been that the most successful ones such as "Saving the old Rust Bucket" are the ones that you plan/bring extra time. If you think it will take you two days, plan for four. Damn near drowned my family when I failed to bring extra time along for a boat trip. When I'm rushed on a road trip, I don't enjoy the Moose Drool moments, I don't pull over when I'm tired and I don't always listen to what the rig is trying to tell me. Maybe I've been lucky, but usually the various rigs I've driven let me know something is not right before they fail, such as the disappearing fluid in Sea Knight's story.
If you bring along extra time, you'll be less hurried, the trip will be more enjoyable, you'll be more in tune with your rig and you'll arrive home more relaxed. Besides, a great road trip is one of the best ways to start a relationship with your rig, it just seals the connection. Rush it and you may arrive home mad that you spent all that cash on a rough, noisy beast. Congratulations by the way, take photos and notes, then share when you get home! Would love to read about it when you get back!!!
Bring:
-5 gallon Fuel Can
-iPod with Speakers
-cell phone charger
-Leatherman/Gerber Multi-Tool
-3 gallons Water
-food for 24 hours
-comfortable/durable boots
-Coat/Hat/Gloves
-GPS
-5 Hour Energy x 3 bottles
Enjoy!
-5 gallon Fuel Can
-iPod with Speakers
-cell phone charger
-Leatherman/Gerber Multi-Tool
-3 gallons Water
-food for 24 hours
-comfortable/durable boots
-Coat/Hat/Gloves
-GPS
-5 Hour Energy x 3 bottles
Enjoy!
There's a lot of wisdom here. I have at least a dozen road trips under my belt in various FJ40's, ranging from 400 miles up to 4,000 miles. I've broken down only three times. None were serious and all led to memorable experiences. My philosophy may differ from some here, but I'd never ship a truck that was driveable, for the reasons Oso Flaco cites above. Allow yourself plenty of time, get out there, and feel the road.
Take fortitude, no hard turns, you kinda feel the pants coming off every time a big rig sails past you, you are hoping they can tell you're not going more than 55, and don't go faster than that. If brakes aren't disk, trust that the brakes will eventually pull you to one side. Careful with the death roll, don't think of doing any lifting to the suspension prior to taking it out. Good luck, oh, be sure the defroster works, if not buy one of those sprays.
I would assume these 850 miles are going to be on major roads and not through the mountains where you are days from the nearest store. But that would be good info as to your route. If on very isolated road then the food, water etc, if on the highway probably not so much. Plus if you will were major winter weather could be or not would impact that as well.
take your time and run 50mph for the best fuel consumption. My wife and I drove a 40 from Alaska to Panama back in 1993 and it was an experience I will forever charish. 11,000 miles each way.
would I do it again....? yes, but not in a 40 at my age.
listen to all the suggestions above as each and everyone of them has value!
would I do it again....? yes, but not in a 40 at my age.
listen to all the suggestions above as each and everyone of them has value!
Bring/buy a small pillow or towel for your lower back.
Also, some trucks that burn no oil in town will burn a ton on the freeway, so check the oil after 100 miles and again after 200, etc. If it's going through a lot, buy 20w-50 and add that for the rest of the trip.
Buy a few gallons of drinking water at Walmart both for yourself and for roadside cooling system issues.
My cross-country trip was driving my '78 FJ40 to Michigan and back from Colo. in 1992 - 4000 miles total. Best laugh was getting pulled over and getting a written warning from a cop for doing 59 in a 55 zone in Omaha, NE. Most miserable part was driving an FJ40 in 106 degree weather on the highway for several hours.
Also, some trucks that burn no oil in town will burn a ton on the freeway, so check the oil after 100 miles and again after 200, etc. If it's going through a lot, buy 20w-50 and add that for the rest of the trip.
Buy a few gallons of drinking water at Walmart both for yourself and for roadside cooling system issues.
My cross-country trip was driving my '78 FJ40 to Michigan and back from Colo. in 1992 - 4000 miles total. Best laugh was getting pulled over and getting a written warning from a cop for doing 59 in a 55 zone in Omaha, NE. Most miserable part was driving an FJ40 in 106 degree weather on the highway for several hours.
- Thread starter
- #33
Was not expecting this many posts with such helpful information!
I leave on saturday the 11th and will commence my little road trip saturday afternoon, the plan is to drive until it gets dark, then I am getting a hotel room somewhere.
I will try to take lots of pics, sadly I am in need of a new camera. Evidently "shock proof, water proof, freeze proof, dust proof" Does not mean fall out of pocket while loading a kayak on my roof rack of my volvo proof.
I leave on saturday the 11th and will commence my little road trip saturday afternoon, the plan is to drive until it gets dark, then I am getting a hotel room somewhere.
I will try to take lots of pics, sadly I am in need of a new camera. Evidently "shock proof, water proof, freeze proof, dust proof" Does not mean fall out of pocket while loading a kayak on my roof rack of my volvo proof.
Had a blast I drove mine from pinedale Wyoming to cullman al non stop more or less and didn't miss a day of work. Drove 80 miles Fri slept than non stop from sat morn till I got home 7pm Sunday. I brought a tool bag full of tools as well as a universal length vbelt and radiator hose repair tape. Brought my glock too since I had my girly with me. Didn't need any of the tools ended up using a lot of gas and two quarts of oil. Mine was unrestored but all original. 800 miles should be a breeze just stay at 55 and keep an eye on your gauges and oil level.
I just drove from Asheville, NC to the Chicago metro area (~730 miles) with my new-to-me 1976 FJ40 about a month ago. I picked up a few of the above mentioned items as I left and already had AAA club membership. I took two days to get home. I only got to southern Indiana before I started to get tired and a little cold (drafty soft top at 35 degrees) the first day (didn't leave until about 2pm). I found a nice little hotel just off the interstate and got some sleep. The next day was beautiful and the traffic coming through northeast Indiana was moving along great. I tried very hard to keep my speed right around 60 mph, though I had to depend on the GPS app in my iPhone since the speedo reads about 10 mph low on the expressway.
By the way, I averaged about 14 mpg. That is with a de-smogged 2F, 4.11:1 gears, 35' BFG MTs and a soft top. The last leg trough northern Indiana and into Illinois was over 15 mpg, the early legs in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee were closer to 12 mpg. (Yes, I know the mountains in that area are much lower than those in Colorado, many of them not even as high as Denver itself)
By the way, I averaged about 14 mpg. That is with a de-smogged 2F, 4.11:1 gears, 35' BFG MTs and a soft top. The last leg trough northern Indiana and into Illinois was over 15 mpg, the early legs in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee were closer to 12 mpg. (Yes, I know the mountains in that area are much lower than those in Colorado, many of them not even as high as Denver itself)
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 713
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
I woulld head straight for the hardware/tractor supply store and buy an adjustable tow bar and the appropriate sized ball/reciever before you leave town. Then if the FJ40 breaks down, you can just bolt it up and flat tow it with a rental truck/SUV from Enterprise.
Doc
Doc
just a thought, but I would drive the truck for a while before I put on ear plugs or ear phone's, just get a feel for the truck.. and listen, besides its great time for reflection...take in the sites and as said before here just enjoy the ride... dont rush it and dont over think it, a 40 is a great thing and "most problems are fixed pretty easy. it helps if you have a manual, and a couple numbers to some friends. I hope it is fun for you.
- Thread starter
- #38
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2010
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 713
- Location
- Southern Iowa
- Website
- www.springtailsolutions.com
It may not be a bad plan to just flat tow altogether.
More comfortable
Not very expensive (considering)
probably get better fuel mileage
Just order a pickup truck or a Tahoe...it will come with at least a ball hitch if not a 2 inch receiver. There are no questions on the Enterprise form about towing....I would not volunteer any info and go.
Doc
More comfortable
Not very expensive (considering)
probably get better fuel mileage
Just order a pickup truck or a Tahoe...it will come with at least a ball hitch if not a 2 inch receiver. There are no questions on the Enterprise form about towing....I would not volunteer any info and go.
Doc
I have to agree on the AAA. I have the 200 mile package since I have been with them over 10 years. A few weeks ago I twisted my rear drive shaft about 90 miles from home while wheeling. Made it back the 5 mountain road miles to a friends cabin with only the lockered front axle (not fun on up hill corners when throttle is applied) and parked it. Went back up last weekend for a nice day trip to the mountains, met AAA and the guy loaded it on a flat bed. Spent the rest of the day goofing around in the clean air and when I got home, my 40 was in the the driveway. Sure I could have grabbed a trailer, drove back up (with the added stress and gas needed for a trailer and loaded it and drove back...lots of additional gas and less enjoyable than just jumping in my DD and driving up the hill).
Can't beat AAA. Worth every penny.
Can't beat AAA. Worth every penny.