Getting ready to head up to Michigan City Indiana on Friday for a week long camping trip. My truck has 139,000 on the clock and I am picking up a Ford CPS today to have in the glove box. Question is should I just change it now and put the old one in the box as a spare? I have know idea if it has ever been changed.

Truck is a 1996 F250 zf5 extended cab long bed.

 

My first thought is to leave it alone but when mine failed a couple weeks ago I had a heck of a time getting that 10mm bolt loose. I was worried about rounding it off or breaking it off on the side of the road.

 

Okay well if I have time then maybe I will just change it out. Better at home than on the side of the road.

 

Change your oil, trans fluid (if not already changed) take tools, CPS, IPR, ICP, a spare serpentine belt, a tensioner, maybe add to the list a vacuum pump with pulley,and a spare.

 

Dang I don't have the cash to buy all those sensors. I will get the CPS, oil and tranny fluid have been changed and new coolent in the past 3 months. I checked all my pullys and they seem tight. Will probably pick up a spare belt though, that never hurts.

It's about a 240 mile trip one way and we have some family between home and the camp ground.

 

Hell, I'd just drive it with those miles and rely on AAA if anything went wrong. A AAA membership is pretty cheap. Maybe take a CPS since they are cheap. People worry too much. Just drive it. You'll be fine. A new 6.7 can leave you starnded quicker than an OBS can. You aren't even going far enough to use a fuel fill-up.

 

I like the way you think Byron. I'm not too worried I just like to have the basics covered. Yeah I plan to make the whole trip without a fill up. I can get 20 gal in my front tank and I got 40 in my 38 gal rear tank.

Curious to see what kind of fuel mileage I will get. Haven't been on a long trip with the camper yet. Plus most of the roads are just two lane state hwys.

My biggest concern is going to be my wife bitching about the ride quality the whole way there and back. I did get a weight distribution hitch with a friction sway bar and that made everything ride much much nicer so maybe she won't complain too much.

 

after driving my F350 for over two weeks my 09 CCLB 4x4 Taco feels like a Cadillac


Even after hooking up my 7000# 5th wheel, ride was still a bit stiff up front

 

With that low of miles, just drive it! I hop in my truck with 400k on it and drive several hours from home without any worries. I also have a bad habit of not taking parts/tools with me

 

At a 108K I thought the same thing until I was on the side of the road for two days in 90° plus heat. TAKE LOTS OF SPARES or visit a stealership, your choice!

 

I hear you Glenn, but was this before or after the major thrashing of swapping all parts? If it's untouched, my guess is tht it will be just fine. Again, AAA will tow you anywhere you want to go, including the lot of a parts store for simple repairs that could leave you stranded.

 

I'm with Byron on this one. These trucks are reliable except with Glenn tries to come to RRE.

 

I don't even think my truck would be warmed up by the time i finished your trip.

I'd bring some basic tools and go for it. I know breaking down sucks, but you're really not that far from home.

 

Post #19674 page 1312 if you missed it Byron! I had more breakdowns before I ever modded the old mule.


You got that right Phil. I'll be in my grave by the time I make it ! Maybe I'll take flying lessons and land on the fair grounds !

 

Wouldn't stress a bit stocking up on parts... It's a reliable system and motor. Toss a CPS in the glove box for safe measure, it takes about five minutes to swap on the side of the road... You'll likely loose a minor accessory before a sensor . Yes when you do 3-4K miles in a week or two towing heavy, then throwing a few more parts in the truck box is worth it. You can't drive a truck in worry of a few hundred mile trip setting you back, towing or not... Have a good trip! It will go well.


Cmon guys you all boast about the 7.3 reliability.. Believe in it... Towing heavy 20k miles around the US every year, in all the failures I have had ironically were loose lugs on a front wheel, a plugged CCV in the winter.... and some starter bolts that backed out and disappeared, thank god for small town gas stations in MT and sweet hardware racks!