Truck and Cabover 1400mile trip ...crazy?

[alvald83]

I was thinking about taking my '69 on a 1400 mile roundtrip from San Jose,ca to Phoenix,Az carrying my cabover. Do you think that i am crazy for such an old truck. My truck is in great running condition, used a couple of days a week around town. The longest that ive driven it is about an 75 miles round trip when i picked up my camper. My plan is 250 miles first day then 500 the 2nd day.
The tranny,engine brakes were serviced recently. I just replaced the steering box and will be doing front end bushings and tie rods. Anything else?

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[Ranchero50]

The only thing that makes me leary of that setup is how it'll handle in an emergency. Sway bars, big disc brakes and great load rated tires?

My uncle has a similiar setup on a newer '04 or so F150 and travels all over during the fall - spring time looking for 'STS' (shorts / T shirt / sandles) weather. I forget the wieght of his box but it's up there for a F150 and he found out it really didn't like some of the dirt roads around the grand canyon last year.

Jamie

[Montana71-F100]

I hauled something that heavy from Montana to Texas and back in my '71 F100 4wd then from Montana to Colorado and back. You'll have a great time! Check your u-joints, give it a grease job, check the fluids. Get AAA just in case. Packing your wheel bearings would be a good idea if that hasn't been done in a while. Give her new points, plugs and condensor and check the hoses and belts.

[1972hiboy]

I took my f250 and cabover on a 12 hr 600 mile trip this last summer. no sweat. just get it checked out. all the suggestions are sound. give your self some room for braking. THat should be a fairly easy drive. your gunna head south then head east?

[Kurt Combs]

Before any long trip in any vehicle I would check the belts, hoses, and battery water level. Vehicles usually fail at start-up; you have few start-ups on a long trip. Hoses can blow from the greater amount of heat and maybe pressure. If you feel safe driving 75 miles, 500 should be do able.

[Ranger72]

At 30 years old, my truck was making the trip from SoCal to Alaska with a slightly bigger camper than that one, and towing an 18' Larsen. My truck has probably over 200,000 miles on it and is rusted in just about every place that can rust. Yes, your truck should handle a little jaunt to Phoenix without issues.

Two points were already brought up here: safety and maintenance. Safety is the more important IMO, and first thing I always do is CHECK THE TIRES! Make sure they are properly inflated. Use a good gauge, not those junky pencil ones. When you stop for a bite, or gas, or to pee, put your hand on the tires. If one (or more) of them is really hot it's time to take a nap in the camper. I would also limit your speed to about 60-65. If you stop on the roadside to pee, leave your engine running.

Also, don't drive tired. The thing is kinda top heavy and a little bit of swerve can quickly turn into a butt-clencher. I spent a lot of time rolling through the desert on the I10 at night, and it will put you to sleep faster than Nyquil. The best place I have found to take a nap is tucked in with all the semis under an on/off ramp overpass. I wouldn't sleep in one of the rest stops along the way, unless you want to get robbed.

Take some coolant and oil with you, as well as a few tools. I blew a radiator hose once and would have sold my soul for 15 minutes with a flat-head screwdriver.

[Ranger72]

Crap, I forgot about the wind. Sometimes there are notices posted about winds. While you can ignore them in an unladen truck, with a camper acting like a sail they can become perilous. I have seen an 18-wheeler get blown off the road.

IIRC, however, the windy season is from Winter to Summer, so maybe it's not even going to be an issue for you.

I'm sorry if this seems like very basic, common sense. These are just the things I wish someone had told me before I discovered them the hard way.

[sargentrs]

Duct tape and wire coat hangers. Saved my butt several times.

[alvald83]

I do indeed like to maintain my cars as to avoid problems later. One thing that i was considering, was to replace the ujoints and the bearing that seperates the driveline, just because they are about the only things that i havnt replaced. My truck performs well for daily driving around town and hopefully can handle a long trip.