First 40 - How to prepare for 1300+ mile road trip

[Bama4door]

I've got a flight booked for next Tuesday, July 24th to fly direct from Birmingham, AL to Denver, CO to pick up a new to me '71 40 series from a fellow MUD member. It has a 2f & 4 speed swap on 33x10.5's and has been his DD for the past few months.

The plan is to fly into Denver, pick up the cruiser, spend the night and then hit the road Wednesday morning to Telluride to meet up with some buddies who are making the road trip to CO from TN/AR starting this Friday. The drive from Denver to Telluride is a bit over 6 hrs, where we will spend Wed-Fri camping and riding trails (Black Bear, Imogene, etc). This has been a bucket list trip for me for a few years now and the fact that I get to fly out and buy my first 40 and then take it on these trails is a dream come true.

However, seeing as the whole truck is an unknown to me, I want to be prepared for anything. Luckily, my buddies who are driving out to CO will be bringing a lot of tools, fluids, etc, but I want to make sure I have anything that may help out. After we get done camping/trail riding, we are leaving Saturday morning for the 1324 mile trip home.

So the question, anyone with long road trip experience in a 40 (new to them or not), what all did you do to prepare for your trip? Any advice or suggestions are welcome.

Tools/fluids to bring:

-54mm Hub Socket & snap ring pliers
-Brass Drift and BFH
-Vise Grips, cresent wrench
-Ratchet straps, gloves, tarp
-Jack/Hi-lift
-1/2" socket wrench with 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm sockets
-Engine Oil, gear oil, brake fluid, coolant
-Tire Repair Kit
-Truck does have a good spare tire on it currently

Basics:

-Tent, sleeping bag, pillow
-Rain jacket, sunscreen
-Phone/GPS chargers, 12v cig plug and USB outlet
-HAM radio/charger

I will be taking lots of pics on the way and hopefully keep this thread updated throughout the trip.

 

[tls3601]

Dialysis for after the trip. I think mine drives and rides really well, but NO way would I want to drive it that many miles on the Highway. That said, good luck with the new rig!

 

[Birk]

 

[OR tojo]

I did something like that. I flew to Riverside, CA and drove my '64 home to NW Oregon, about 1100 miles. I would recommend a competent assistant driver. I invited a farmer friend I know who can keep things running.

Basic tools you mentioned sounds good. Grab a fuel filter. An empty credit card and a strong will to succeed are handy as well.

It sounds like you are going to have a trip that will be a lifelong memory, whether things go smooth or you experience some bumps.

Have fun!

 

[kevos37]

Tools-
Good time to start a permanent tool roll, buy a nice roomy one on line and fill it up.
Tow rope- pick up at harbor freight , good to get jeeps un stuck, but you never know....
Zip ties & electric tape
Box end wrench 8mm to 19mm
12" Knipex adjustable plier (button release, my favorite)
Flashlight, get one that you can place on the ground and direct the light to illuminate what you are working on.
Nylon rope 1/4 inch
Couple gallons of bottled water
2" of electric wire, never know when you will need to make a repair or jumper.

Sounds like a GREAT trip!

 

[tyama]

I would figure you'll find out any problems when you do your trail ride in telluride. If the rig has fairly new components and good fluids, the only problems I can think of would be with wiring & electrical issues that seem to pop up randomly, so a multimeter and some basic wiring parts may be good. Check all around after doing trails. It's gonna be hot so watch for heat issues for the truck & you as well. several hours in a hot rig with 100 plus heat index can be pretty bad.

good luck!
ty

 

[White Stripe]

It will be a pretty hot and humid drive. I would worry about leaks, especially tcase leaks since they don't hold a lot of fluid and a trip like that will empty a leaking tcase. Brake and clutch fluid leaks would also be a concern. Engine cooling would be a concern too if the radiator or water pump is old. I do a ton of maintenance on my 40 and I still have issues on road trips. No way I would bring a unknown 40 onto telluride offroad trails. If a brake hose gives out the chances of falling to a fiery death are high. Not trying to piss on your parade, just being realistic.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Fire extinguisher.
First aid kit.
Jump box, for jumping your battery. Halo Bolt is great... 300+ jumps in one charge.
@kevos37 said, "2" of electric wire, never know when you will need to make a repair or jumper."... I think he meant 2'... I'd take a roll of 14ga wire.
A roll (25') of soft fuel line.

Extra fuel filters... the tank and lines may have crap in them.

Extra brake fluid - for brakes and clutch.

A gallon of 85-90w gear oil

Motor oil

ATF - if you have power steering.

Coolant and plenty of water - in case the cooling system isn't holding real well - or for an emergency.

Plenty of drinking water.

Maps.

Common sense.

A lack of taking risks and taking chances.

 

[4Cruisers]

See Post #478 here:

My Costa Rican BJ40 search begins

 

[spotcruiser]

Has anybody mentioned a AAA membership? All it takes is one tow to more than break even for the yearly membership.

 

[JHeffner]

I recently drove my rig across Canada 6300km (4000 miles). Before that it was in a barn for the past 20 years. I had a chance to drive it for a day before I embarked on the trip. I brought it to a lube place and had them change every single fluid in the truck. For the record I didn't have time to do it myself as I was on a tight schedule (9 days to catch the ferry to Newfoundland). This is a list of what I brought.

-$50 tool set from Canadian Tire (metric sockets, wrenches and screw drivers.
- crescent wrench
- 5 gal jug of fresh water (I was worried about overheating going over the Rocky Mountains - It stayed cool the whole trip)
- sleeping bag
- Tent
- Air mattress
- Water jug
- Small cooler for road snacks and food
- 3 changes of clothes, but lots of socks and undies ( I smelled like stale farts, exhaust, beef jerky and black coffee)
- Axe
- Knife
- Head lamp
- Fishing pole and gear
- zip ties
- Black Tape
- Duct tape
- Bailing wire
- Rain X - (This saved my life I'm sure a few times. The wiper motor gave up 5 days into the trip. Rain x did the work for the rest of the trip)
- Bose Noise Canceling Headphones
- IPhone with lots of podcasts loaded on it, and a charger
- Lots of room on my credit card for the numerous gas stops (beef jerkey)
- A bottle of Jack Daniels Whiskey
- Rub A535 (For my right knee that never got a rest during the trip. God was it sore...
- Oil
- Brake Fluid - I used more of this then anything else due to the failed clutch slave cylinder

The truck only broke down twice. First breakdown was the mechanical fuel pump. I was able to limp it to a parts store and install a electric fuel pump since no mechanical fuel pumps were available in Canada. Second breakdown was the clutch slave cylinder. parts stores didn't have that either but I was able to jerry rig one up using a piston out of a T-100 P/U (which Napa had in stock) in the old cylinder.

The truck will hold up fine bud, there is a reason they have the reputation they have. Just enjoy the trip and have a drink for me!

 

[scott fasken]

I have airplane headsets and an intercom cut the thumping in a long day.

If you have issues vail to Telluride call me, 970-210-7321 happy to help I am in Grand Junction, Colo.

 

[BRShap]

A credit card.

 

[ginmtb]

AAA card and some musicians ear plugs to take the edge off the high volume in the cab (even with the radio off). Your ears won’t be ringing afterwards and you will feel a bit more fresh.

 

[eman375]

Oh, wow! You will definitely earn your stripes on that trip. Enjoy the adventure...

 

[tls3601]

Seriously have a great trip! Going to see some spectacular areas, just be prepared. These things are old!

 

[Catfish28]

I'd expand that list of sockets to include everything from 8mm to 25mm. And the same wrenches. Multimeter. Fuses. And a heavy dose of patience.

 

[Catfish28]

And this.

 

[sproggy]

Haynes manual.

 

[tstepp920]

A camera or plenty of space on your phone....share afterwards