I will be moving next week to PA from CA and I was wondering if there is anything I need to do to the Excursion. The wife and kids will be flying out but I will be be driving the Excursion pulling our 25' travel trailer. My Excursion has the 6.0L so I was wondering if I need to prep her for cold weather. I changed the oil and the fuel filter but is there any additives, things to look out for, cold weather care, etc? I added the engine block plug below the bumper, 285 BFG ATKO, but I am unsure how to deal with a diesel in cold weather. Thanks for any advice!

 

You should not need to do anything to your Excursion for the type of weather you will see in PA.

Just drive it and enjoy your new home.

Lou Braun

 

I moved from AZ to PA (15mi east of Pittsburgh) a couple of years ago. It was a long drive but with the nav and the dvd player, I managed to (safely) keep myself and the wife entertained. If you have a nav unit, it will make the drive much nicer, then you can plan your gas stops etc.

Weather right now is pretty decent considering the time of year. High's in the 30's/40's with low's hittin' the 20's. I see you have 6.0 so I can't offer any advice other than to keep an eye on those gauges. You might want to get some undercoating done to your truck before you leave. My '00 F250 is completely rusted underneath (bought brand new in AZ)...

What route do you plan on taking? Coming from AZ (east of Phx), we took 40, to 44, and then 70 the rest of the way. What city are you moving to?

 

I will be stopping in Gilbert to pick up my dad to help me drive. We are planning on taking the same route. I will be working in downtown Philly but will living in the Downingtown, Chester Springs, Exton area (about 40 miles NW of Philly). Where would I go to get undercoating?

 

That's funny, I lived in Gilbert for almost 30 years, Gilbert Rd. and Elliot area.

Not sure where you could get the undercoating done at out there, the places that do it out here aren't nationwide places. Maybe check the yellow pages and see if you can find a bedliner shop, they might be able to do a similar coating. Otherwise, I'd get it done as soon as you got out here, the salt on the roads really eats these trucks up.

Good luck with the drive!

 

Chester Springs is a nice area, @ 15 min from me. I would make sure you get yourself some PowerService in the white bottle from any Wallymart for anti-gel. For that long trip and for the colder temps here it would be worth getting the larger bottle and a smaller one, use the small bottle first then fill the small one from the big one- easier to pour the smaller into your tank. Gray bottle is for summer/ warmer temps. Probably some spare fuel filters just in case also.Just my .02, have a safe trip!

 

haven't had to plug mine in yet this year. Only had a few nights that were in the 20's. Most of the fuel is treated for antigelling. Play it safe and throw some in the tank when you hit cold weather.Sold in almost all truck stops and parts stores.Enjoy the ride and have a safe trip.

 

Y'all giving him advice on weather conditions where you live. He will be seeing all types of weather between point A and point B. There could be chances of seeing below 0 temps on the way.
I would definitly use an additive all the way along your trip. You could fill up in say Joplin, MO. at 50 deg. and 100 mi later, cross a cold front and be in the low teens. I would suggest (everyone has thier own opinion on this) using Power Service diesel additive. Can be had at Walmart, truckstops and such.
Second, I would make sure your cooling system has been serviced and the proper SCA's are added.Use these to find out if you have the prpoer SCA's They have a 4 strip pack for less than $10.00. Can be bought at Heavy duty truck parts dealers and International parts dealers. The part # is CC2602A (cc2602 is the 50 strip bottle).

Of course make sure your spares are good and have the right pressure. There are website http://www.flyingj.com/fuel/diesel_CF.cfm?state=US from the major truck stops that advertise their fuel prices. Check those before you leave and plan your stops according to the fuel prices. Like the difference between Cali fuel and Arizona fuel is 14 cents a gallon at the Flying J travel centers, plus at Flying J's, they usually have dedicated RV islands. Get enough fuel in Cali to make it over to Arizona to fuel up will save you 5 - 6 dollars, Theres lunch paid for with the savings. If you plan your stops along the way, you can save some serious money. Oklahoma city is usually the cheapest along the way.
If you do use the truck lanes, there is a courtesy we drivers use when fueling, when done, pull foward to let the guy behind you start fueling. It will give you enough time to go in and pay for fuel and take a leak. If your gonna be longer than that doing other things, pull off the island and park. Most RV'ers know this, but there are some that don't and it irretates us truck drivers.
On the routing from Gilbert AZ. to Chester springs, PA. that route 40, 44, 70, etc is a good way to go. But, if there is bad weather up there, there is an alternate route that truck use more. That route is 40 all the way to east TN and then up I-81 to Harrisburg and then jump on the turnpike to destination. That route is only 115 miles longer

2 cents from a truck driver.

 

Small world. I grew up in Gilbert. My family lived just east of Gilbert Rd. and north of Guadalupe Rd. then we moved to Gilbert Rd just north of Williams field. I spent about 26 years there in Gilbert. Things have changed in Gilbert over the years! I remember when Gilbert Rd & Guadalupe was a stop sign!

 

Haa haa, right over by the jr. high huh? (went there for 7th grade ('89), then moved to Mesa for a few years).

When I sold my house (which was right around the corner from the police station SE corner Gilbert/Elliot), there were strip malls popping up on every corner. I know they're keeping up with the growth, but in my opinion, Gilbert sold out, went all corporate on us... Now there's a Chipotle/Applebee's/Cold Stone creamery on every corner.

Anyways, as not to be completely off topic here, good luck and drive safe!

 

When you get to Philly go to Geno's in S. Phily and have a cheeseteak. Best chioce you will ever make. I was born and raised in Philly. (Kensington/Fishtown) Don't miss it a little. Now living in South Florida.

Don't drive the Ex downtown.

 

Did you read what I wrote? Pretty sure I said the same thing you did. And also try Tony Lukes around Front and South, usually swing by there before Flyers/ Phillies games, but Tony Lukes also has a shop at the ballpark.