preparing for summer road trip.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
preparing for summer road trip.
So we are planning on a road trip this summer from indiana to Florida and back. About 18 hours one way. The plan is to purchase and pull a travel trailer. This will be the first long trip in my 88 e250. Want to see what you guys think of my plan to get ready.
Already done: new ip/injectors timed to 9.5*, elec fuel pump, diff fluid change, gauges installed (coolant temp, trans temp, egt, oil press), brake controller.
Items waiting for install: trans cooler, fan clutch, new exhaust, thermostat, battery cables.
Other maintenance to do: trans and coolant flush, brakes all around, bearing service, oil change, alignment, fuel filter.
Anything I am forgetting
Already done: new ip/injectors timed to 9.5*, elec fuel pump, diff fluid change, gauges installed (coolant temp, trans temp, egt, oil press), brake controller.
Items waiting for install: trans cooler, fan clutch, new exhaust, thermostat, battery cables.
Other maintenance to do: trans and coolant flush, brakes all around, bearing service, oil change, alignment, fuel filter.
Anything I am forgetting
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 48
From: California
So we are planning on a road trip this summer from indiana to Florida and back. About 18 hours one way. The plan is to purchase and pull a travel trailer. This will be the first long trip in my 88 e250. Want to see what you guys think of my plan to get ready.
Already done: new ip/injectors timed to 9.5*, elec fuel pump, diff fluid change, gauges installed (coolant temp, trans temp, egt, oil press), brake controller.
Items waiting for install: trans cooler, fan clutch, new exhaust, thermostat, battery cables.
Other maintenance to do: trans and coolant flush, brakes all around, bearing service, oil change, alignment, fuel filter.
Anything I am forgetting
Already done: new ip/injectors timed to 9.5*, elec fuel pump, diff fluid change, gauges installed (coolant temp, trans temp, egt, oil press), brake controller.
Items waiting for install: trans cooler, fan clutch, new exhaust, thermostat, battery cables.
Other maintenance to do: trans and coolant flush, brakes all around, bearing service, oil change, alignment, fuel filter.
Anything I am forgetting
might want to check the quality of your brake fluid, and your steering fluid too. If you need new tires, look into the LRR tires to save some MPG's
some small things that are easy to replace and cheap, if you already haven't:
New Volt Regulator, new belts, check your tire pressure and tread depth, check your door strikers for cracks and replace if necessary, check your blinker/brake/indicator/head lights, replace air filter (a pain for us van guys), etc.
Also, rotate your tires and make sure they are balanced very well.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
If you are draining the tranny, and don't already have one, you should install a universal drain plug in your pan. Also, you might as well change the tranny filter.
might want to check the quality of your brake fluid, and your steering fluid too. If you need new tires, look into the LRR tires to save some MPG's
some small things that are easy to replace and cheap, if you already haven't:
New Volt Regulator, new belts, check your tire pressure and tread depth, check your door strikers for cracks and replace if necessary, check your blinker/brake/indicator/head lights, replace air filter (a pain for us van guys), etc.
Also, rotate your tires and make sure they are balanced very well.
might want to check the quality of your brake fluid, and your steering fluid too. If you need new tires, look into the LRR tires to save some MPG's
some small things that are easy to replace and cheap, if you already haven't:
New Volt Regulator, new belts, check your tire pressure and tread depth, check your door strikers for cracks and replace if necessary, check your blinker/brake/indicator/head lights, replace air filter (a pain for us van guys), etc.
Also, rotate your tires and make sure they are balanced very well.
My plan is to complete the work a couple of months prior to the trip and take the trailer on some 2-3 hour trips to insure things are working right before heading out to Florida.
Of course the wife is "Uncomfortable" with taking the van. According to her it is going to break down because it's old.....even though it only has 140K on it (which is 30k less than her reliable Sienna). All of this because I had to replace the batteries on a trip last fall. My gut said to replace them before hand, but I didn't listen.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Of course the wife is "Uncomfortable" with taking the van. According to her it is going to break down because it's old.....even though it only has 140K on it (which is 30k less than her reliable Sienna). All of this because I had to replace the batteries on a trip last fall. My gut said to replace them before hand, but I didn't listen.
Girlfriend and friends were all saying how crazy I am taking that old beaten van on such a long trip, with no cell phone nothing. I left at 4am and came back home at 10pm, not a single problem. Love my old beaten up van
It was a long trip sitting on those short back rest vinyl bucket seats tho, hearing the 6.9 screaming over 3k RPM for 18 hours, good ol' C6 with 4.11's!
All I did was check all fluids, check tires, made sure I had all my basic tools I always keep in the van, and took off. I always keep on top of maintenance so I never really have a huge checklist to do before a long trip.
Seems like you have your self pretty much covered for your first long trip with it.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 691
Likes: 2
Jayro you beat me to the punch!
I have a similar plan, except the fiance and I want to head to Maine for our honeymoon, in the club wagon with the dogs of course.
I'm the nervous one though, van hasn't been tested and that'll be quite the way to break her in.
I'll be watching this to see what everyone thinks, I won't be able to put a ton of new stuff in (gauges, injectors, etc) but I'm working on getting all new fluids in her and making sure maintenance is up to date
I have a similar plan, except the fiance and I want to head to Maine for our honeymoon, in the club wagon with the dogs of course.
I'm the nervous one though, van hasn't been tested and that'll be quite the way to break her in.
I'll be watching this to see what everyone thinks, I won't be able to put a ton of new stuff in (gauges, injectors, etc) but I'm working on getting all new fluids in her and making sure maintenance is up to date
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 48
From: California
Of course the wife is "Uncomfortable" with taking the van. According to her it is going to break down because it's old.....even though it only has 140K on it (which is 30k less than her reliable Sienna). All of this because I had to replace the batteries on a trip last fall. My gut said to replace them before hand, but I didn't listen.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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Thanks. Forgot to put that on my "Already Done" list. Wired it up before I hauled the car to the track last summer.
That's why I bought it in the first place. Gonna drive it for another 400k miles.
But you forgot about the part where with my wife "No amount of facts or logic matters".......drives me nuts sometimes.
But you forgot about the part where with my wife "No amount of facts or logic matters".......drives me nuts sometimes.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 691
Likes: 2
Since we have everyone attention (and Jayro I hope you dont mind me asking in your thread, hoping to keep the clutter down) is there any "must do" mods or upgrades before going on a long trip?
I was thinking about a couple gauges to monitor vitals (engine oil pressure, coolant temp, trans temp).
I have a big trans cooler installed in series with the factory cooler
I was thinking about a couple gauges to monitor vitals (engine oil pressure, coolant temp, trans temp).
I have a big trans cooler installed in series with the factory cooler
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
Since we have everyone attention (and Jayro I hope you dont mind me asking in your thread, hoping to keep the clutter down) is there any "must do" mods or upgrades before going on a long trip?
I was thinking about a couple gauges to monitor vitals (engine oil pressure, coolant temp, trans temp).
I have a big trans cooler installed in series with the factory cooler
I was thinking about a couple gauges to monitor vitals (engine oil pressure, coolant temp, trans temp).
I have a big trans cooler installed in series with the factory cooler
I would say that the gauges are a good idea so you can monitor things. The ones you mentioned are perfect. I also got a voltage gauge that plugs into the cigarette lighter that works very well.
Flush all the fluids, make sure the tires are good, check the coolant hoses, replace the belts. Keep an eye on the voltage while you DD to monitor the battery/alternator. While DD it look/listen for any signs of brake issues or bearing noise.
I would definitely recommend timing your IP. It can make a big difference in power and mileage.
Then set out on your adventure and have a great time.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 691
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Thanks jayro,
I figured since we basically are thinking along the same lines, might as well put it in the same place lol
I'm really thinking about doing the timing, but the tool investment is something I'm not sure I can pull the trigger on right away lol. I'm sure it could benefit from an adjustment and the tools would be a good investment IMO (especially having 2 IDI's now lol) but I want to compile a list of what I feel should be done and see what kind of costs I'm looking at
I figured since we basically are thinking along the same lines, might as well put it in the same place lol
I'm really thinking about doing the timing, but the tool investment is something I'm not sure I can pull the trigger on right away lol. I'm sure it could benefit from an adjustment and the tools would be a good investment IMO (especially having 2 IDI's now lol) but I want to compile a list of what I feel should be done and see what kind of costs I'm looking at
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 21
Thanks jayro,
I figured since we basically are thinking along the same lines, might as well put it in the same place lol
I'm really thinking about doing the timing, but the tool investment is something I'm not sure I can pull the trigger on right away lol. I'm sure it could benefit from an adjustment and the tools would be a good investment IMO (especially having 2 IDI's now lol) but I want to compile a list of what I feel should be done and see what kind of costs I'm looking at
I figured since we basically are thinking along the same lines, might as well put it in the same place lol
I'm really thinking about doing the timing, but the tool investment is something I'm not sure I can pull the trigger on right away lol. I'm sure it could benefit from an adjustment and the tools would be a good investment IMO (especially having 2 IDI's now lol) but I want to compile a list of what I feel should be done and see what kind of costs I'm looking at
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Yep that is "icanfixall" on oil burners