Road Trip Prep-South Ga to Maine and back

[ga12r1]

In a few weeks I'm planning to take my 2000 LX on a 3000 mile road trip from South Georgia to Bar Harbor Maine and back.
I picked up my LX earlier in the year with 148K miles on it and all service records up to date and all major service and minor service performed by Toyota\Lexus. I'm now sitting at 160k and have been doing any service needed since myself (engine oil, AHC Flush, cabin air filter, drivetrain lube, etc). I changed the F&R diff oil and it looked new, so I went back and looked at the records only to find it had been changed by Lexus recently and I had over looked it.
I will be replacing heater Ts this weekend.
My question is what else should I look at/check before the trip? The Lx looks new and drives great. When I bought it I'm pretty sure it had never seen a dirt road. I thought about taking the wife's 2016 Highlander AWD but I just couldn't imagine not doing it in the LX. What do you guys think?

 

[Mike6158]

I had my 2000 LC for less than 2 weeks when I drove it from about 90 miles west of Houston Texas to Panama City, FL to swap a lens for a camera and some cash and then back home again the same day. The next morning I headed out for Friendship, ME. I spent 10 days up there and then drove back home. I never had a problem with it. I changed the front diff, transfer case, rear diff, and engine oil when I got it. Heater T's is a good plan. Check your coolant level and quality <--- AND QUALITY. I found out that mine was mostly water when the radiator started leaking but not leaving a trace of coolant anywhere. I was in Death Valley when that happened. That was around 160k but my LC spent of a lot if it's life riding the roads of southern Mexico.

 

[collk22]

@ga12r1 Honestly, it sounds like you're all set. Just get in it and drive.

I bought a '98 LC virtually sight unseen in Seattle and immediately drove it to Denver after a brief inspection / test drive. Vehicle ran, and continues to run flawlessly.

 

[bctlex]

In a few weeks I'm planning to take my 2000 LX on a 3000 mile road trip from South Georgia to Bar Harbor Maine and back.
I picked up my LX earlier in the year with 148K miles on it and all service records up to date and all major service and minor service performed by Toyota\Lexus. I'm now sitting at 160k and have been doing any service needed since myself (engine oil, AHC Flush, cabin air filter, drivetrain lube, etc). I changed the F&R diff oil and it looked new, so I went back and looked at the records only to find it had been changed by Lexus recently and I had over looked it.
I will be replacing heater Ts this weekend.
My question is what else should I look at/check before the trip? The Lx looks new and drives great. When I bought it I'm pretty sure it had never seen a dirt road. I thought about taking the wife's 2016 Highlander AWD but I just couldn't imagine not doing it in the LX. What do you guys think?

Check the spare tires. If it is the original spare, you may consider replacing the tire. Also check brake pads to make sure there are enough material left. Have a safe trip!

 

[JonD]

In a few weeks I'm planning to take my 2000 LX on a 3000 mile road trip from South Georgia to Bar Harbor Maine and back.
I picked up my LX earlier in the year with 148K miles on it and all service records up to date and all major service and minor service performed by Toyota\Lexus. I'm now sitting at 160k and have been doing any service needed since myself (engine oil, AHC Flush, cabin air filter, drivetrain lube, etc). I changed the F&R diff oil and it looked new, so I went back and looked at the records only to find it had been changed by Lexus recently and I had over looked it.
I will be replacing heater Ts this weekend.
My question is what else should I look at/check before the trip? The Lx looks new and drives great. When I bought it I'm pretty sure it had never seen a dirt road. I thought about taking the wife's 2016 Highlander AWD but I just couldn't imagine not doing it in the LX. What do you guys think?

I bought my cruiser sight unseen in AZ and drove it back to Maine no prob. One thing I would say with snow coming down as I type this- tires. I wouldn't suggest winter tires for this one trip, but if you were planning to do tires soon anyway, would be nice to have something snowflake rated with good siping. Roads up here have been pretty nasty and I have seen 10 or so accidents already this year do to snow / ice.

 

[ga12r1]

I bought my cruiser sight unseen in AZ and drove it back to Maine no prob. One thing I would say with snow coming down as I type this- tires. I wouldn't suggest winter tires for this one trip, but if you were planning to do tires soon anyway, would be nice to have something snowflake rated with good siping. Roads up here have been pretty nasty and I have seen 10 or so accidents already this year do to snow / ice.

I'm actually running 295/75/16 KO2s that have the snowflake. They only have 8k miles on them and I'm looking forward to see how they perform, but being a Ga boy I wont be out driving if the roads are too bad. I know not to push it with my limited experience.

 

[Couvi]

I'm actually running 295/75/16 KO2s that have the snowflake. They only have 8k miles on them and I'm looking forward to see how they perform, but being a Ga boy I wont be out driving if the roads are too bad. I know not to push it with my limited experience.

How do those tires ride on the road? I'm thinking of putting those on my 04 land cruiser? Did they lower your MPGs much? Thx.

 

[JonD]

I'm actually running 295/75/16 KO2s that have the snowflake. They only have 8k miles on them and I'm looking forward to see how they perform, but being a Ga boy I wont be out driving if the roads are too bad. I know not to push it with my limited experience.

Perfect. New KO2s should serve you well just go slow. The real problem is other people on the road driving the same way they would on a hot summer day with bald all-season (no-season) tires. Maine-iacs! Also in my experience 4wd doesnt do much but get people overly confident in bad weather. Great for getting out of a ditch or starting on ice from a stop, but I would take winter tires on a 2 wheel drive rig over 4wd on all-season tires any Maine winter day for highway driving.

 

[Mike6158]

4WD increases the speed at which the impact occurs

 

[ga12r1]

How do those tires ride on the road? I'm thinking of putting those on my 04 land cruiser? Did they lower your MPGs much? Thx.

My Lx is my daily driver and I commute 60 miles on the HWY daily. I get around 14mpg but I set my cruise at 55(60 on the gps) and there isn't much stop and go.
I love the KO2 for what I do with my LX. I resisted buying the KO2s for awhile because it seemed everyone and there brother was running them. Now I know there is a reason for that. They ride good, look good, and are super quite.
I have 315/75/16 Cooper STT Pros on my 80 and I have 285/70/17 Goodyear MTRs on my 4runner . For off-road I prefer the STT Pros, they are awesome off-road and not too bad on the hwy. I don't wheel my LX (that's what my 80 is for) but the KO2s are simply awesome on the Hwy. So quite and smooth. I don't think you can go wrong with them if you are on the HWY mostly.

 

[Greenbean]

Be sure your windshield washer fluid is good to go! As in rated for cooler temps.

I had a stupid rental Pathfinder back in like 2002 on a family trip from NC to NE and back and some a$$hat at the rental place basically filled it with water. Argh! Trust me man, a windshield on the freeway being splattered by wet tires from the folks around you and you finding your washer fluid won't pump really blows.

Yeah it was a crappy experience when we figured it out.

Others have it all covered though, good call on the heater "Ts"

 

[Greenbean]

4WD increases the speed at which the impact occurs

Hahahaha, in WNC that seems to be for the Scooby drivers, lol...

 

[tiptoez]

If I were to add anything it would be either change out the cam shaft in the ignition switch or have the tools to turn the truck on if it breaks.

Good luck on the trip. I just got back from Rochester NY, the 100 did great.

 

[ponytl]

lots of things to worry about on that trip but none of have to do with your truck... man take as much of the blue ridge parkway as you can... stop in and see the Waltons and john boy.... I drove our 2001 lx470 from memphis to DC this summer only planned the trip 2 hrs before we left... drove it str8 through both ways wife son & dog... I just don't seem to get tired when i road trip in a 100... the best stop i made was the Air & space museum (happen to like airplanes)
side note... I did try premium fuel... no ethanol fuel.... just to compare mpg back to back... I never gained much more than 1mpg at a 60-80cent a gallon premium... 87 was just as good and 2/3 the price running 75-80mph was the norm with the flow of traffic 14mpg was about average
enjoy your trip and don't worry about your truck

 

[ponytl]

If I were to add anything it would be either change out the cam shaft in the ignition switch or have the tools to turn the truck on if it breaks.

Good luck on the trip. I just got back from Rochester NY, the 100 did great.

pretty dog

 

[Couvi]

My Lx is my daily driver and I commute 60 miles on the HWY daily. I get around 14mpg but I set my cruise at 55(60 on the gps) and there isn't much stop and go.
I love the KO2 for what I do with my LX. I resisted buying the KO2s for awhile because it seemed everyone and there brother was running them. Now I know there is a reason for that. They ride good, look good, and are super quite.
I have 315/75/16 Cooper STT Pros on my 80 and I have 285/70/17 Goodyear MTRs on my 4runner . For off-road I prefer the STT Pros, they are awesome off-road and not too bad on the hwy. I don't wheel my LX (that's what my 80 is for) but the KO2s are simply awesome on the Hwy. So quite and smooth. I don't think you can go wrong with them if you are on the HWY mostly.

Thanks, I appreciate it. My brother has Yokohama Geolandars on his 05 LC and I like the look of those as well.

 

[tabraha]

You are fine, but yes do the t's as they need to be done anyways. We did SC to Bar Harbor, dirt roads & trails through the North Maine Woods into Canada and back 2 summers ago with over 230,000 on the clock pulling an expo trailer. Didn't skip a beat.

 

[ga12r1]

Yeah, because everything looks so good under the hood with no discoloration, the heater Ts were fairly low on my list. Then a few weeks ago I decided to do a major cooling overhaul on my 80. Replaced the radiator, hoses, T-stat, PHH, fan clutch etc. When I went to remove the firewall heater hoses the heater control valve just crumbled. It was one of those "WOW" moments. Right then and there I ordered the Ts for the LX. Heater Ts went from back burner to #1 priority.

 

[tabraha]

It's a very under the radar weak point too. Many service managers are unaware of how fragile they are. The ones I've talked to who decided to check them all made it a standard practice to replace them with the tbekt or water pump service after they saw them.

 

[nissanh]

Land Cruiser is the most reliable truck on the road with 100% mark!
I drove my truck 222K miles with zero service history from west TX to Tampa and back (3000 miles) without any issues. After getting the truck, I did all the maintenance even the T-fittings and a Denso radiator/hoses etc.,
Expect 13 MPG (at 80 MPH) on highway but you will love the ride. Road noise is zero!
Make sure the tires are good for snow with deep groove threads. Take a shovel with you just in case and have the coolant checked for freezing weather.
Good luck and enjoy the trip.