I want to take my 85 6.9 pickup on a trip that is about 800 miles in all. My motorcycle would be in the back and my wife and 2 young children would be with me.

Normally we would take our mini van on this trip but I want to take my motorcycle. My wife seems to think we will be stranded if I attempt this, and she may be right. So before you answer, let me tell you about my truck.

I have had it for almost a year. When I bought it, it was basically a completely un-maintained pile of junk, but it did run.

Since I have had it, I have done the following:

rear axle drained and refilled with coastal 80w90
rear axle seals replaced
rear axle aligned so truck tracks straight
rear brakes completely gone through, replaced everything except drums
replaced some brake line
replaced both rear E-Brake cables
rear shocks replaced
new fuel pick ups and sending units
replaced bed
drive shaft center support bearing replaced
all new u joints on rear drive shaft
trailer hitch installed
transfer case drained, seals replaced, filled with ATF
motorcraft glow plugs installed with push button relay setup
replaced some leaky return line T's and hose
replaced starter solenoid
cleaned battery cables, placed in loom, used large clamp style connectors
air filter
oil change and filter
fuel filter
replaced the bailing wire with a junkyard antenna
tinted glass
repaired A/C (compressor clutch, belt, 134a conversion,cools to 39 degrees now)
turbo blower fan mod
new cd stereo head unit
new pioneer speakers
repaired power windows
repaired power locks
new Ford emblem installed on grill
front axle topped off with 70w90
replaced at least one belt
flushed cooling system, filled with correct coolant and SCAs
replaced lower rad hose
replaced steering gear box
replaced power steering pump
new heater core
numerous interior repairs, glove box latch, remounted fusebox, etc
replaced and repaired probably 10 or more other things that I can't even remember right now
2 new BFG KM2 Mud Terrains in the back


transmission fluid looks good and it shifts as it should

So it has come a long way

Here are the things that are potential issues...

one of the glow plug holes has messed up threads, I ended up just driving a glowplug as far into it as I could but I couldn't thread it all the way down. It seems to leak a little bit apparently though bc it blows some tiny bubbles in fuel that had puddled around it.

the dang transfer case still leaks through the splines

the power steering leaks still even though I have replaced a lot of it

the engine has blow by and low idle oil pressure

some hoses are in questionable condition (heater hoses and transmission cooler lines mainly)

the front wheel ujoints are trashed

the front end sits on the bump stops from bad shackle bushings or maybe just worn springs

Unknown mileage

So if you read this far, then I want to thank you for being so patient. Now, tell me if you think it is trustworthy for 800 miles in triple digit heat, with wife and little ones???

Luke

 

its a ford it will make but that decision to take the truck is up to u if u think it will make it or not

 

Sounds a lot like what I have driven daily for years I'd say if you trust it, change out the questionable hoses, throw a few spare parts and tools in the bed and take off.

 

take the minivan and go without the bike Luke.
enjoy your time away.don't end up beside the road and kill your time off.
im sure shes a nice truck for around home......but that's a long way from home.

 

Wow....ummm... you defenently replaced alot of stuff on that thing!


I've always went on longer trips with older vehicles, mostly had good luck, but did happen at times where I had to stop and redneck fix something the best I could to make it somewhere where I can properly fix it.

But i'm always well prepared in any old truck I drive. Anything that breaks etc. most of the time, I can fix something up and get going again. (no way in hell i'm paying a tow truck)!


Stuff to carry on long trips:

- Belts
- Hoses
- Extra starter (if your truck is an automatic witch it is)
- Couple fuel filters
- Chains
- Booster cables
- Powersteering fluid (since yours leaks)
- Couple quarts of engine oil
- Duct tape and brush wire
- And some basic tools



Now for your low oil pressure. Do you have a real gauge or are you depending on the dash gauge? If you don't have a real gauge, install one! The dash gauges are borderline useless!


I wouldn't worry about the transfer case leak, as long as it's a slow leak. Make sure it's well topped up before you go and you should be fine.


Really the only thing I see worrying is the U-joints (witch ones exactly? the ones in the axle or on the driveshaft?)


And your questionable hoses/lines, witch if I were you, I'd replace right now, takes a couple minutes to do so....

 

The transfer case leak can be fixed quickly behind the yoke nut there is a rubber washer type seal, remove the nut change out the rubber and re-install tighten the yoke nut to 130ftlbs

 

Triple digit heat is no place to sit on the side of the road with family.......

Take the van and get a trailer for the bike next time..... win win situation.

 

If you have to ask people you don't know if your truck might be dependable enough for a trip, THAT alone should answer your question.

You don't trust that your truck wouldn't break down.

Going your self is one thing. Taking the biscuit burner and rug rats along is something else again. You would also never hear the end of it if you got to spend vacation and extra money sitting in a motel room waiting to get the truck fixed.

Take the easy way out on this one!

 

I would have no problem taking my idi on a long trip no questions asked. I may be taking it to western new york state to visit a friend who has been interning up their. The only problem i see is my rear tank is out of commission.

 

ya ....like with the wife & kids on va-ca- she'll let you go for a ride!!!!
you may get onthat bike you draged 800 miles , and if the truck breaks down on the way home-----hornets nest-ride

 

last weekend i took my 88 on about a 400 mile round trip out to indiana pulling a trailer. ill warn ya though, it'll be slow bumpy and loud, so to keep the better half happy, and to keep you from wanting to leave your kids on the side of the road it may be wise to take the van

 

I have a regular stock gauge, at hot idle it shows little or no pressure, on the highway it reads halfway.

the bad u joints are the front ones on the wheels, so as long as I don't need 4x4, I should be ok. The aren't broken, but they have a LOT of slop in them.

 

The biscuit burner, that's freakin hilarious!

 

I can add to the list now too!

installed spare tire carrier
replaced passenger side sun visor
replaced broken ac vents
replaced throttle cable
replaced some more leaky fuel return lines
"installed" some Lucas power steering stop leak

 

I thought I needed to drain the case, drop the shaft, pull the flange, clean splines, RTV the crap out of the splines, reinstall, and refill.

How does this rubber washer thing work? I am confused.