What should I bring "just in case" for a drive from Atlanta to Miami?

[Mason D]

This Friday night I'll be driving from my home town about 40 miles north of Atlanta to my brothers house in Hollywood/Ft Lauderdale. The trip is about 700 miles each way and I'll have my wife, daughter, neice and 2 year old son. We'll be driving at night so the kids can sleep.

I bought my LX last July and it's been great. The only maintenance Ive really done is ~ bypass the rear heater core when the lines rusted out and replaced all brake pads and repacked the front bearings when they started getting noisy. I don't know the condition of the PHH and I don't have maintenance history so I dont know about the head gasket.

I'm no mechanic but I can turn a wrench and replace hoses, belts and basic stuff so I'll take some tools. What else should I bring? I was thinking maybe a length of hose for the PHH but what size? Do I need any special tools?

Thanks is advance for the help and advice.

 

[7schulz]

A credit card and buy what you need from NAPA if you need it.

 

[jcope]

I have yet to replace my pesky heater hose, but if I had any doubts about it, I would invest a couple hours and get that done before I left. I can only imagine what an incredible drag it would be to have that fail mid-trip. Even if you had the replacement and some tools handy.

I'm waiting for the parts to arrive so I can tackle that project myself.

 

[Mason D]

I have yet to replace my pesky heater hose, but if I had any doubts about it, I would invest a couple hours and get that done before I left. I can only imagine what an incredible drag it would be to have that fail mid-trip. Even if you had the replacement and some tools handy.

I'm waiting for the parts to arrive so I can tackle that project myself.

Are you doing the PHH or the bypass? I'm leaning towards the bypass myself.

 

[jcope]

I'm planning to put it back to original. But if my knuckles get beat up enough, I could easily switch to the bypass strategy. I need to get in and check it all out and see what I'm in for.

 

[skintunes]

Beer...

 

[harrydunn]

I've done it both ways (TWSS) and I'll only go by-pass if I ever have to do it again. By-pass was done in under one hour. Don't ask how many hours the "correct" way took.

Beyond that, strap on some additional fuel tanks for the trip.

 

[Mason D]

I just ordered the bypass kit from 1fzfephh.com. I don't know if I'll have time to install it but I'm hoping Newton's law will apply where if I have it I probably won't need it! On another note, I just checked my spark plug wires and they're dated 1997. Does that mean they are original?

 

[BlackLS1]

^^^ yup thats original, i checked mine not too long ago and mine were original too 1994 dated.

 

[kidglove13]

Credit Card for all the gas you will suck up and maybe a small tool kit with all the right metric sockets and or wrenches

 

[CruiseOrlando]

A good spare tire & jack since Georgia doesn't clean up their roads very well and you might get a flat.

 

[Dibbs21]

Ive used the IH8MUD app on the side of the road two times now. Ill never leave without it.

 

[Impreza]

A good spare tire & jack since Georgia doesn't clean up their roads very well and you might get a flat.

This is good advice for anyone that is about to travel. With these trucks being so old, it's good to check to see if the spare tire even holds air (especially being subjected to under the truck abuse). It doesn't hurt to bring it to the local tire shop, have it re-sealed and put in a brand new valve stem. If the tire is a decade old with plenty of dry rot, buy a cheaper new one and put it back under the truck.

 

[ajax1]

condoms

 

[livinoffroad]

26" of rain from Debby

snorkel and scuba gear

 

[Mason D]

This is good advice for anyone that is about to travel. With these trucks being so old, it's good to check to see if the spare tire even holds air (especially being subjected to under the truck abuse). It doesn't hurt to bring it to the local tire shop, have it re-sealed and put in a brand new valve stem. If the tire is a decade old with plenty of dry rot, buy a cheaper new one and put it back under the truck.

Definitely good advice. I used to work at a tire and rim shop and most older vehicles that would come in would have flat spare tires or an old, blown worn out tire. Especially if it was bought used. I have 5 new Toyo's and since I have aftermarket wheels I keep 6 O.E. shank lugs for the spare.

 

[Mason D]

Beer and condoms will be useful once I get there!

I recharged my AC today and replaced the plastic gear screw cap on passenger seat.

I bought a ScanGuage II to help monitor MPG's and coolant temp. and other vitals.

Hopefully fix shakey DS mirror tomorrow.

Got my tools (mainly sockets, metric wrench set, hammer and flashlight) and a gallon of coolant.

Maybe 2nd mortgage to cover fuel costs

 

[Mason D]

snorkel and scuba gear

I've been keeping an eye that. They got about 6+ inches today! Hopefully it'll blow over by this weekend and not wash the road out.

 

[half k cruiser]

How about a firearm ?

 

[SavGACruiser]

having lived in Atlanta and been to Miami, that was going to be my suggestion too!

How about a firearm ?