I'm going to be taking my family on a trip to the Davis mountains in a month. Going to be towing my 8500# TT with us. About a 1200 mile round trip. What should I do to the Ex in preparation for this trip? I plan on changing oil and filter, and new fuel filter before leaving. Thinking of replacing the external trans filter as well. Any other suggestions?

The Ex is an 04 limited 4x4 with 6.0PSD and 155k on the clock

 

Fill the tank and keep the credit card handy.

 

Check tire pressure on Ex and TT. Check you'r lights. Have a great trip.

 

Use your scangauge to monitor fan speed, oil and water temps. check the bearings and tires on the trailer. Proper hitch setup. Check for radiator obstructions. Brakes on the truck too.

 

Thanks for the suggestions

 

Yw.... I'd add that you should check your batteries and any chaffing areas. We did a 4500 mile trip last summer and our rig weighed 21000 lbs.

 

Brakes!!!!!!!

 

Think like a Boy scout "be prepared". I tow heavy and here's what I do and have.... these items are from experiences. 95% of my trailering issues were with tires or hubs.


Tire repair kit
Small air compressor
Tire gauge
Digital thermometer (for checking hub temperature)
Spare trailer tire and hub
grease gun
Two Jacks and jack board (your truck jack may work)
head-strap flashlights
hand coil of 14 ga. wire and connectors
Big ty wraps
Good duct tape
Three warning triangles
Wheel chocks
Work light (small wobble light)
Emergency light (I have a strobe)

Hook up your trailer and make a trial run for 5 miles (minimum) trying to simulate your trip as best you can. Hubs should run 25 deg. F over ambient.... higher in stop and go. Check hub temperature every time you stop with your thermometer. Do not over fill your hubs with grease 'cause the grease must have some room to expand. Wheel bearings need the grease to become viscous to work/lubricate... over filling will overheat the bearings.

I also carry a means to secure the trailer from theft if I must leave the trailer somewhere unexpected. In addition I've broke an axle spring and secured the axle to the fame and slowly drove with one wheel removed. I used ratcheting straps to hold the axle.

Tires are the most important thing to check... and recheck. I like Maxxis tires with one rating higher than the axles is rated. Get rid of tires at 5-8 yrs range.

Have towing insurance that covers the trailer.

 

We went to Disney from NY in 2010 and had a few overnight stays along the way. Every morning I checked the tire pressure on the TT and Ex to ensure they were at maximum pressure for that days travel. At every stop I felt the hubs for excessive heat and did a walk around the TT and Ex to ensure everything was secure. I used a locking hitch pin to ensure no one was able to mess with my hitch when I left it unattended.
Before we left for the trip I did have the tranny serviced and the fluid changed.

 

I add air to my spare tires so that I can bleed them down to the proper spec when I need to use them.