What would you do? Decision time, let me explain: We're planning a trip in early June as far as Washington state and wanting to take my truck and camper. Here's where it's getting hard to decide, do we take it out or take the wife's Jeep Cherokee with only 12,000 miles on it and tent camp/camping cabins? Probably the big reason is trust in my truck with 308,000 miles on it. I know it's running very well now with zero issues, brakes been upgraded and the tranny been flushed. I just want our trip to be worry free. Comments welcome.
Later, Bill

 

I just booked a mammoth trip at the end of July. With 250k on the clock, 30ft toyhauler in tow and 350 miles one way... Can't wait to use my truck

 

The big question is-Does your wife like tent camping?

 

That's a "sometimes" no.. We have good pads, but that time of year we're bound to run in to some cold weather..

 

350 miles, really? You don't get out much do you.

 

Sometimes no-means take the truck and camper.
My wife and I could tent camp with the best of them in our 20's and 30's,now in our 50's it's tow the trailer or we're staying in hotels.

 

Worrying is a waste of energy. It won't prevent an issue, It'll just keep you from enjoying your trip.
No one knows your truck better than you, and as long as the obvious items (belt, hoses, fluids, tires, brakes, u-joints etc) have been checked/changed drive it and enjoy your trip.

Anything mechanical can break at any point including the Jeep.

I pulled my 36" fifth wheel from Florida to Oregon, back to Florida, and then to Ohio starting with 310k on the clock. Sitting at 328,000 today.
The only issue (other than 1 flat tire) was the water pump leaking when I arrived in Ohio. And I was waiting for it to go being that it was on the truck when I bought it 6 years ago.

Our trucks haven't even had a mid life crisis yet...

I worry more for the early 6.0 and 6.4 guys I pass on the highway than I worry about my 7.3. Just sayin...

 

Haha...with work and coaching daughters soccer team..nope. But we do, do the river and desert when in season

 

honestly, do what makes you and the wife happy (happy wife happy life) but seriously I worry more about the 6.4 and 6.0 guys I pass with out second thoughts on the motor ways...oh and we pass with ease half the time while they are chugging up the mole hills here towing there toy haulers...

 

I'm with Frank. If the 7.3 is in good shape, there's just as much a chance the Jeep will break down (possibly more since it's a Dodge/Fiat).

The real key on a long trip is, take a credit card for the unexpected, then pay attention to any odd noises or feels along the way.

You're familiar with the 7.3 platform, so not much will go unnoticed. Can you say the same for the Jeep?

Besides, with the 7.3, you'll be towing a place to sleep just in case.

 

Jaime just nailed it, I wouldnt worry about the mileage either ,if all is well on the truck why worry. We have some gassers at work with a heck of alot more miles than your truck and I wouldnt hesitate to take one across the country towing my tt.

 

Get an OBDII scan tool of some sort, check parameters before your trip and during... and enjoy the camper.

 

About 5 years ago my wife and I traveled the country to the tune of 10,000 miles in just over 30 days. We did a big loop of the entire U.S. and it was a lot of fun. The best part of this story and the one that relates to your thoughts is that we drove a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and camped, slept in the Jeep, etc...

This past summer we took a very similar trip from GA to Seattle and back totaling almost 8,000 miles. We took our 2000 F-250 in my signature block with 240,000 miles and towed our 30 ft Keystone travel trailer. The truck did not have any of the performance mods listed below at the time.

The point of this information is that we had a lot more fun and a lot better time with the truck and trailer. During our travels when we stopped (even at a rest stop on the interstate) for the night, within 15 minutes we were chilling out in our own living space and relaxing before our next day of traveling.

 

Y'all been thinking about the same as myself, just two years ago we went to Wyoming and back, no issues at all. And is a comfort when we can go almost anywhere and be settled in, in a matter of minutes. An extra bonus is fuel prices are much lower.

 

Bill I think you should take the truck !
These guys pointed out many great reason why you should and I agree with all of them. Besides if you started having a problem you have FTE brothers all over the country.

I myself have a 3000 mile road trip coming up and I actually only had to replace the up pipes but I did some other things like replace the HPO lines, fuel pump and add steering damper just so I could feel all warm and fuzzy about it.
So change a couple parts if it will make you feel better if you need to. If not pack your tools and a couple spare parts and "Go for it! "