Home Forums Truck Camper Adventure Forum Preparation for Cross Country Trip

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    • #30000
      Coly Hope
      Participant

      In a month I will be headed to Texas to pick up my Capri camper then head out east for a couple of weeks to visit family then head back to Colorado. I will be gone about a month. I would like some advice on how I should prepare my truck for the journey.

    • #30001
      ardvark
      Participant

      I do all the recommended stuff in the owner’s manual on schedule so it is always in good running condition. If it is nearing a scheduled service interval I go ahead and do it and I guess I look things over before traveling, but other than that, even for 2,000 miles treks we really don’t do anything special.

      Steve and Andra
      2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
      Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
      2019 Northstar Laredo SC

    • #30028
      Anonymous
      Inactive

      After the first 2-3 miles of travel be sure to re-check your tie-downs, and occasionally after that.

    • #30117
      Coly Hope
      Participant

      Thanks for the advice.

    • #30363
      Freespool
      Participant

      Sounds like a good time Coly. I would consider in addition to the above advice fuel filters and possibly a radiator flush, fresh coolant is cheap insurance. Have you ever serviced your transmission, if not, it could be the best 100 bucks you have ever spent. Last but not least monitor your tire pressure. Take a good quality tire gauge in your tool box. Having just spent a 100 yesterday on a new battery that only lasted 35 months I would make sure yours are not to old. Have a good time and share your adventure with us.

    • #30374
      Don
      Participant

      Year, make, model of truck please.

      Don
      US Army Retired
      2019 F 350 CC-LB King Ranch
      Hill Country of Texas

    • #30749
      Coly Hope
      Participant

      2015 Ford F-250 4×4 with a 6.2L V8 engines.

    • #30750
      Don
      Participant

      Been faced with this many times:

      Shoes: When was the last time you inspected your tires, last rotate and balance

      Basic maintenance: Oil change, air filter etc. Far better to do before you head out then needing to do out on the road. If you can make the trip and not need fine, but if coming due, do before you go.

      magic mile maintenance: Everything has magic miles or hours. Dig out your mileage maintenance schedule. Are near the 12.3 Million mile maintenance point? Will you cross the threshold on the trip, if so go ahead and do in advance. Beats finding out you need to replace the chrome muffler bearings out on the road.

      I shoulda take care of that: You have noticed that sometimes when you make a right turn the truck turns left instead, does not happen all the time….get it in now to be looked at rather than on the trip.

      Win/Fail on the road: Some dealers will drop everything to get you back up and running if you hobble in on the back of a wrecker. Other dealers will BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Come Again). New F 350 and headed out, burned 15 gals of Def in only 1400 miles, When to BIG Dealer in Nashville Tenn. Gonna take us 3 days to sort out, but we got a rental car for you. Week later I paid the $300 rental car bill and was told “normal break in for Def”. Def burn did not slow, got back to home dealer and “no such thing as DEF break in, this is NOT normal”. Anyhow they kept it overnight and returned it to me the next day fixed, some minor issue, forgot what. You need to be careful on the road it can be a win or a big fail!

      Don
      US Army Retired
      2019 F 350 CC-LB King Ranch
      Hill Country of Texas

    • #30801
      Coly Hope
      Participant

      Thanks for all the advice. When I bought the truck the fluids were all checked and changed and my tires are in good shape.

    • #30802
      Wheeldog
      Participant

      In a month I will be headed to Texas to pick up my Capri camper then head out east for a couple of weeks to visit family then head back to Colorado. I will be gone about a month. I would like some advice on how I should prepare my truck for the journey.

      I have been running my camper from AK to AZ and back in the winter for quite a few years. Do whatever it tells you to do in your owners manual and don’t worry about the rest. I am usually gone for 6 months or so. Never had any problems getting stuff done to the camper or the truck while I am gone.

      If you need something, there are the same stores/dealers you have in your home town as there are on the road.

      2016 3500 HD Durmax

      1994 S and S 9.5' Camper (SOLD)
      1999 S and S 9.5 Camper

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