302 on long trips?/ towing capability
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302 on long trips?/ towing capability
sorry, another question... I'm gonna be moving in a couple weeks down to florida from PA. its going to be a 1000 mile drive. my truck is my only transportation down there. its a 90 f150 with the 302 with around 106K, its running, but i'm just a little paranoid that it wont make it all the way down there. what would you guys check out and replace before making that long of a trip? I also have to fit alot of stuff in the back, which will weigh me down a lil. do you think its smarter to just rent a trailer and keep the weight off the back of the truck? hows the 302 do in towing?? sorry bout so many questions, i just dont want to break down in georgia in the middle of no where, ya know? any pointers would be really cool. thanks alot.
Dan
Dan
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Check all the hoses and belts. Carry your tools in an easy-to-get-to place in the truck. I drove my truck from Buffalo to San Francisco last year, and it had given me years of reliable service. I get to Des Moines, and the alternator dies. I wound up changing it in the parking lot of a motel in the dark. And it was about 20 degrees that night. Not fun.
I'd also seriously think about a AAA membership.
I'd also seriously think about a AAA membership.
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hey hey hey... i just remembered. I'm also having a problem with my heat gauge. It's telling me i'm always running cool. it doesnt even get close to the N on the temp gauge. I replaced the thermo stat ( that was a pain in the @$$) and i also replaced the coolant temp thingy, the gauge that lookes like a sparkplug sitting right next to the thermostat.
BUT, i'm having no luck. Im just concerned i wont be able to actually tell how hot i'm gettin on this long trip. any pointers?
BUT, i'm having no luck. Im just concerned i wont be able to actually tell how hot i'm gettin on this long trip. any pointers?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: South Dakota
An aftermarket set of gauges are cheap insurance. I don't like the lie-o-meter oil gauge I have on my F250 351. I'll be putting gauges on soon to verify what my motor is doing. If my pressure is actually low I'll put in a pump.
Junior User
Joined: May 2003
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Here's a cheap insurance tip even if it doesn't appear to fit your situation
- radiator cap.
I had the problem on my 1991 where the coolant would boil in the overflow
tank after a drive. I replaced the radiator cap with a $4.00 NAPA cap. No
more boiling coolant! (It was fresh coolant, and a new radiator by the way...)
Hard to believe that the shop would sell me a new radiator with the old
cap. When those caps get old, they don't allow the cooling system to work
properly. Regards, Cliff
- radiator cap.
I had the problem on my 1991 where the coolant would boil in the overflow
tank after a drive. I replaced the radiator cap with a $4.00 NAPA cap. No
more boiling coolant! (It was fresh coolant, and a new radiator by the way...)
Hard to believe that the shop would sell me a new radiator with the old
cap. When those caps get old, they don't allow the cooling system to work
properly. Regards, Cliff
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
With only 106k on the clock the truck is just barely broke in. We tow a loaded box trailer almost daily with our 88 club wagon with almost 300k on it.... I wouldn't worry about it.. The gauge is an idiot light, it stays in one spot unless the voltage in the dash chagnes. It only needs 7psi to read "normal". Our '88 carries 65psi idle, hot, in gear...... but the gauge reads almost on the L.....
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Sumter SC
Hey, my '90 f150 has 145k on it (302, aod, lariat) and we have towed our camper to Daytona and Talladega several times with no difficulties. Just check it over close and again on the road and should be good.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: kalamazoo mich
probably wouldnt hurt to stop at your local catholic gift shop and pick up one of those dashboard madonnas,,doesnt hurt to have the allmighty ridin with ya on your trip!! lol..ok just kiddin...Youll do fine,,,like previous post indicated, check out all fluids and rubber and head on out....have a safetrip.
mine: 93 ford f150 xlt 4x4 119kmiles.
mine: 93 ford f150 xlt 4x4 119kmiles.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
I took a 72 winnebago that was sitting for 4 years...started it up...drove it home...fixed a couple of things on it...drove it around for a few weeks here and there....adn took it to MD (from MA). Had no worries about it breaking down or anything, even though I wasn't even totally sure if the alternator was charging the battery heh. Ya can prepare but...usually you don't have what you need anyway. I wouldn't bother renting a trailer...the truck would have a harder time (now has to pull the weight of a trailer as well). Just load it up and hit the streets 
Postmaster
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From: B/CS, Texas!!
We've gone on 4 1000 miles trips with the truck loaded all to the top. 3 of those times the truck had over 100k miles. Its at 150k now and still running great. Just check fluids and belts, etc... As for the temperature, just one time the Gauge went on the 'N'.
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sweet... i was thinking a trailor might be just a little too much. crossing states alone is gonna be an adventure. never went that far alone, not knowing what to expect when i get down there. its gonna be fuuun.
by the way, anyone know the working situation around Florida. if nothens in florida, i might head back up the coast to SC or something. The Ocean's calling me. construction worker looking for work here. speciality is electric, but i can bang a hammer as good as the next guy, ya know.
by the way, anyone know the working situation around Florida. if nothens in florida, i might head back up the coast to SC or something. The Ocean's calling me. construction worker looking for work here. speciality is electric, but i can bang a hammer as good as the next guy, ya know.
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