Road trip! Emergency kit?

[TXCurtis]

In two weeks I'll be flying out to Boise, ID to see family and I'll be driving my Grandpas old 1971 F100 with a 302 home to Dallas, TX. He purchased the truck 1 year old, with about 300 miles - I have many great memories tied to that truck.

I'll probably put new tires on her before the voyage (this'll be decided once I've had a chance to look at them) and I'll only travel between 6am and 9pm - the truck has been in service up till this summer as a general parts getter/ kick around town truck and has presented no mechanical issues - I have no worries that she'll make the trip without a hiccup. That said, I'd be a fool to not have some kind of "emergency" kit together which comes to this post: what should said kit contain?

So far, I'm thinking:
1. Blankets for if something does happen.
2. Sand - weight for traction, it'll also give some bite if I should hit a slick spot and get stuck.
3. Cell phone/ cash - to tow to the nearest U-haul should a catastrophic failure occur and I need to tow 'er home the rest of the way.
4. Flashlight
5. Gloves
6. Basic tool kit (one of the $40 auto house "mechanics" tool set jobbers unless someone recommends something else)
7. Water (around 5 gallons) - drinkable but main purpose will be for if something major happens.
8. A small kit of parts that'd need replacement to limp into the next town - this is where I need some help. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I'm not familiar enough with these cars/engines to know what'll strand me if it decides to go tits up.

Thoughts?

Also, my route will be Boise-SLC-Albuquerque-Dallas (I think I'll have better roads that way than going through Denver, no?) - if there's any must see sights, name em. I'll have my 8 year old daughter in tow, should be a fun trip.

[68 Ford Stepside]

If i were in your position, i would for sure carry along a set of points & condenser. Wouldn't hurt to have a good fire extinguisher also. Check the spare tire & insure there is a jack & lug wrench in the truck. I have traveled the same route you are planing & there are some lonely stretches out there. Good fortune & Have A Great Ford Day!

[68 Ford Stepside]

Attached are some of the lonely stretches i was speaking of. Check out the drunk bumps on the edge of the road. They will wake you up, i know from experience. Have A Great Ford Day!

[TXCurtis]

Another thing, for such parts as points/condenser - is there a good internet source for these parts? I know the average (non napa) parts store will need a couple days to order and due to the timing of my trip I wont really have that time.

[Ranchero50]

AAA is great insurance for $35 or so for the road.

Pre-trip inspection list:

U joints
wheel bearings
brake shoes, drums, hard / soft lines, master cylinder
fuel lines (soft and hard)
oil levels
coolant system (antifreeze, belts, hoses, radiator or WP leaks)
windshield wipers and washers
lights and charging system
basic tune up (points / plugs / filters and do a compression check)
tunes for the road.

Then run the piss out of it for a couple days to get everything loosened up and find any trip ruiners before you leave...

One thing, the old girl isn't going to want to spin over 2200 so it's probably cheap insurance to drop in a 3.00 or even a 2.79 3rd member.

I did a cross country trip in my old '68 Fairlane coupe, 289/C4 2.79 gears and it was fun just cruising along at 65 or so. A rolled up bath towel makes great lumbar support for your sore back or under your right leg to help with the 'cruise control'. Beef jerky and red Gatorade kept the rest stops to a minimum. Just remember to relax and have fun.

[Ranchero50]

Another thing, for such parts as points/condenser - is there a good internet source for these parts? I know the average (non napa) parts store will need a couple days to order and due to the timing of my trip I wont really have that time.

Take a spare set and make sure you have two decent straight screwdrivers to set them each morning. I had to reset mine each morning on the trip because the locking screw got buggered and wouldn't lock down tight.

[ford4x4fun]

It isn't to expensive throw a U-Joint in your tool box and some belts. One you will have them when you do need to replace them and if you do lose them on the trip they are easy enough to replace and save you the tow/shop fees. I would strongly suggest some steel fiber epoxy. I repaired a radiator with it and it lasted almost 3 years.

[68 Ford Stepside]

Another thing, for such parts as points/condenser - is there a good internet source for these parts? I know the average (non napa) parts store will need a couple days to order and due to the timing of my trip I wont really have that time.

Any parts house can have them next day. There is a charge for that. I have bought a good bit of stuff next day from autozone & they can ship it anywhere. You could have it shipped to where you are picking up the truck next day.

[TXCurtis]

Talked to a co worker and he recommended an alternator/belt, radiator hose(s), starter solenoid and the good ol bailing wire and duct tape...

Keep those suggestions coming if there's more - I probably wont have everything on the list but I'd rather think of as many things as I can pre-road trip. Good thing about an old ford is I'll probably have plenty of warning... most things that'll come up will give notice early enough that I can limp to the next town if need be.

[FreakysFords]

One thing to consider is to always carry a little 10g wire and electrical tape. I tend to carry a little assortment of 12" hoses as well.

[guerra]

Good luck on the trip.. If you need anything in the Midland-Odessa area let me know.. PM me for my number if you want it.

[sargentrs]

Some method of logging into Fordification.com! If you get in a bind, put out an SOS and one of the members is probably close to you with all the spare parts you'll need. And for the emergency, and don't laugh, I'm serious, a couple of coat hangers and some duct tape. My shifter linkage rod's spring clip came off one day and a coat hanger got me home.

[TXCurtis]

Some method of logging into Fordification.com! If you get in a bind, put out an SOS and one of the members is probably close to you with all the spare parts you'll need. And for the emergency, and don't laugh, I'm serious, a couple of coat hangers and some duct tape. My shifter linkage rod's spring clip came off one day and a coat hanger got me home.

I rarely do things half way...
I "claimed" this truck many years ago, though I think I've only driven it once. I did have a ran to **** 84 f250 with a diesel and my first car was a 53 Plymouth (purchased from same grandfather... retired john deere mechanic that has a stable full of driver antique cars... that said his maintenance isn't what it used to be but is better than most).

Coat hanger isn't a bad idea- duct tape is a given.

I'm toying with the idea of putting in'lectronic ignition pre trip- with the cost of points and condenser I'm part way there anyways...

[72greenie]

One tool that I dont believe has been mentioned yet for a road trip......A firearm. Since you will be travelling through some gun friendly states and seeing how you are from Texas. Don't for get to take it!

[Montana71-F100]

You didn't mention how many miles that are on your truck. I drove my '71 from Montana to Texas and back. A rod bearing went out not long after that when it had about 125K on it. I'm glad that didn't happen on the trip. I think AAA is a good idea.