Ok guys so I used to haul, buy and sell, maintain Equipment as a side gig with a fellow Fireman. I moved south to a more expensive house (wife gets what she wants) sold my Truck, trailers and equipment to get there. Got a commuter vehicle, well as life goes our pay has been frozen for the next few years due to Covid. I need side work, still have the contacts and the opportunity so I’m thinking about it.
Elephant in the room is this is a drop of the hat, load up and go type job, hauling for hundreds of miles and long full day trips and I no longer have a newer truck. I have an awesome but 20 year old truck, I know I was much better 20 years ago, lol. Last thing I need is to try and make money and end up having a break down 6 hours from home with a trailer and piece of equipment.
So overall I’m wondering if I should even jump back in, opportunity is knocking but I’m struggling with the fact I’m going in a new to me truck some years on her with 240k miles. So while I make up my mind, what say you? And what would you put in your Boonie box.
I read the sticky on things to do to increase reliability so here’s where I’m at

Things to do before departure
new upper coolant hose for dual alternators
check passenger fuel line hold down/add insulation
add wire loom and tape to the main harness as it crosses the driver side valve cover towards the 41? big connector there.
check power steering lines where they rub



The kit:
The Diesel orings kit with Hpop seals and fuel bowl seals. A serpentine belt.
Jump pack cause it’s coming anyway
tool box (any odd tools are must haves I need?)


what else and any thoughts Gents? I mean if this truck wasn’t new to me I don’t think I’d have a problem But I haven’t been the one maintaining it the last 20 years. I’m just not sure what to do, am I asking for trouble or am I overthinking it and I need to send it? Only way to gain confidence is to do it!

things I’ve done thus far:
new front end components
power steering pump
bellowed up pipes, new turbo pedestal with no EBPV,
ICP sensor
new Parking brake assembly and intermediate cable with adjustment


sorry for the novel, I know these trucks go 400+ k like it’s nothing. But my luck has never been the best.

 

We travel cross country towing heavy and I would go at the drop of a hat and have confidence in my truck, but things will and do break. The things I pack and carry with us are:

• Cordless impact wrench
• custom made IPR wrench and a axle nut 29mm socket
• OEM CPS
• Road triangles
• 6 large chocks
• Jack
• Jumper cables
• Relay to insert into 7 way plug to flash lights on camper even if truck is detached
• 200ish piece tool kit
• Bungee cords
• Fuses large and small
• 5,000 lbs cargo straps
• Tow chain
• Gallon of oil
• Gallon of ATF
• Flashlight
• Headlamp
• 2' breaker bar
• 2' 3/8" extension (very handy when removing boots on a hot engine on I-85 east going to the beach...
• 7" netbook with all of my 7.3L notes and the Ford Service Manual and FORScan
• 8" tablet with all of my 7.3L notes and the Ford Service Manual and with FORScan Lite
• Samsung S7 with FORScan Lite
• OBDLink MX bluetooth scan tool
• OBSLink SX wired scan tool
• Android head unit with FORScan (not yet installed)
• Spare tire in good condition and PSI checked regularly
• Tire change tools in front
• Impact socket for wheel lugs
• Socket up and down sizers (3/8" to 1/2" for example)
• Spare belt (kept serviceable old belt when installed new)
• My "oh crap, what now" list of parts and sources for that "I need a good part ASAP" moment
• The stuff I forgot...

Things I have done to get the truck to where I feel like I can drive out to a BLM camping site in the middle of nowhere and leave it... Well, that is a big list, but the critical items are ones that will leave me stuck out there with no cell signal and a dead truck.

• AGM batteries
• Denso starter
• Upgraded battery cables
• All sensors checked and replaced if needed
• Hubs and axles serviced
• Brakes serviced and just replaced the front from the hoses to the pads
• T4 turbo
• Hydra on PHP tunes
• Lighting upgrades like relay harness, housings and bulbs
• UVCH's
• Glow plugs
• The stuff I forgot...

Both of those lists are right off the top of my head and I can go back and look at my records and lists if more detail is needed.

The list goes on and on and I think you get the idea. My goal was to get things done that would stop me from leaving a site. Not necessarily that would stop me from leaving the site in less than desirable conditions. Does that make sense? I installed a Ranch Hand grille guard for the same reason. I am not looking to run into or over anything, but hopefully the $600 Ranch Hand I bought will allow me to drive away from an incident instead of being towed away.

We can only do what we can do to prepare or prevent the inevitable breakdown. At least with this truck, you will be capable of repairing most of it yourself where with a "newer" truck, that is not the usual.

Also, most of us don't mind a long post with details. This only aids us in helping you instead of asking open ended questions to find the true nature of your questions or journey. We are a great community of people looking to help each other wherever possible.

 

Thank you Sir for your detailed post.
I also thought about adding AAA Premium, that would add 200 miles of free towing to my house for only a couple bucks a month (not sure if they cover the trailer towing). I haven’t read all the details on it but that would give me piece of mind to a degree.

 

Oh ya... That too. Look at CoachNet and see if it will suit your needs. We were with Good Sam for 5 years and used their services only once with little complaints from us about their service. Just this past October our GS policy expired and I had been interested in CoachNet based on customer reviews and overall feel of how they may treat us as a client.

When I called GS, they offered me a deal on the 5 year policy, but I had to sign up right then and there. I managed to talk them into giving me until the end of the day...

I called CoachNet and spoke to a representative. I was completely honest with them about being a GS customer and satisfied with their service. I was concerned about the cost increase with CoachNet and managed to get the price for a 5 year policy to nearly match the GS policy. Also, they told me that deal was available until I signed for it or until I decided not to. No deadline... That right there gave us a warm feeling about their service.

My wife and I spoke to the representative for a good while and were very specific and clear about or use of our 5th wheel. We like to boondock in the west on BLM land, 50 miles away from a paved road at times. We were very specific and the representative answered all of our concerns and was very honest about what was covered and in what cases we wouldn't be covered. They will tow the truck and 5th wheel as far as it needs to go (no mileage limit) in order to get it home or to an authorized service station. Not Jim and Bills Fly By Night repairs. They have contracted tow services for the truck and trailer, not Fred and Bonnies Towing By The Mile.

If you like, I can get you in touch with our CoachNet representative if you think it is something you may be interested in. AAA would not work for us and we got burned by AAA many years ago and I don't plan to ever send my money to them. I mean, we selected Good Sam over AAA...

Let us know Rye, most of us have been right where you are now... We have been there and lived it, more than once on some occasions. You know from being in the USMC, being prepared is all you can do, but dealing with the unforeseeable is part of what makes you who you are.

 

Thank you and great advice. I’ll do my research over the next few days and if I have questions I will PM you. We were so close to buying a 5th wheel and using GoodSam but the Warden decided she’d rather have a new home. I’m not familiar with Coachnet but if you say they are good I trust them.
I appreciate your time and responses, this is really an amazing site.

 

I have aaa premier with trailer coverage call you local rep for the trailer details as it varies from location to location. Once my rear driveshaft came off 200 plus miles out another time a Hpop line blew out over 400 mile tow didn’t cost me too much I don’t remember the price just the ride. Upon finding out the tow driver assistant just got out of jail and wanted to meet his “brothers” probably gang members at the casino and needed strip club recommendations in my home town. I took the opportunity to give my finest recommendations and say well sure you party animals don’t mind me picking up some road beers for myself when we fuel up lol Another time my high pressure steering hose went out I was able to locate the part, Uber from the side of the highway and make the repair roadside. Other times I only needed the help of FTE!! Always make a post if you go down when possible may have a photo of my load out will post if I can find it.

 

@Sous , can I get in on that CoachNet info too please?

 

Text with details sent.

 

The Answer is 42.

Yes at the shock tower and on top of the PS box. People forget that one sometimes.

If you want a longish but great read try the Failure Prevention Thread.

Sounds like a great opportunity, and you have the rig to capitalize. Go out there and be American.

 

I just want to point out that there is an entire industry that makes a very good living repairing vehicles under warranty that break down. That being said, newer vehicles don't guarantee trouble free. Watched a video one time "Best Diesel Pickup". Conclusion? The one you own.

 

This is an affordable and easily attainable IPR socket. I believe 1 1/8" extra deep 1/2" drive socket works as well.

Santa brought me this fir our travel tool kit today as a backup to my custom 3D printed IPR wrench.

 

I prefer a Jump N Carry over jumper/booster cables, if I'm in the boonies you may not find another vehicle to jump off of.

Sous' list is exhaustive.