ADVICE. 1000 mile road trip, just a little concerned.

[Dittrich31]

I am about to embark on a journey from chicago to colorado in about a month but am a little concerned how my rig will hold up considering it has 150,000 miles and the furthest its gone at one time about 150 miles round trip and now it will be drivin about 1200 miles one way. Before i leave on my trip i am installing a re manufactured transmission, a new clutch, gonna put in a efan with dc controller, also uprading to 4.88 gears(since in on 31's figure it would be nice at highway speeds and not worry going though the rockys). I am hoping that my jeep will know how much I am spending on her and will be considerate and not leave me stranded, but just in case what should I have checked out before i go just to ensure nothing will go wrong. This is going to be my REAL road trip with her so any advice that you all could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fish!]

Nothing specific but:

Don't be in a hurry. I've done a ton of cross country stuff and almost every time I've broken down I was going faster than the speed limit. I've come to the conclusion you can get almost car anywhere if you don't go over 45mph.

Don't tackle fixing anything right before you leave. Lost a car in Texas once because I wanted to get the oil changed before I left. Shop put the drain plug in wrong.

Bring extra cash (but not too much).

Get towing insurance if you can.

Remember that people are actually a little nicer than you'll give them credit for and genuinely want to help people in trouble.

 

[jeepmedic4]

Just a few things I am sure you have already thought about but I always make sure I carry; a dependable flashlight with spare batteries, a spare serp belt, and at least a gal. of water and antifreeze. And of course a basic tool kit.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Order the DC Controller now if you haven't already, they've been taking a month or longer on delivery. Well worth the wait.

 

[Dittrich31]

Ive had the DC controller for abuot a year now, when I was originally going to install the efan.....

 

[Dittrich31]

A couple of other questions have jumped in my mind jsut now. With going to 4.88 gears is it going to effect my speedometer, I have looked into new speedo gears and they dont make a gear for 4.88 and 31's. right now on just 31's and stock gear my speedometer it isnt off by much.

i was thinking abut an aftermarket cruise control. Any ideas about that would help too. Price, ease of install, and how functional are they, do you think that after my gear upgrade the cruise control will be able to hold speed?

 

[William1982CJ7]

Yes the 4.88 gears will effect your speedo and your freeway RPMS alot. I would wait until after your road trip to drop those puppies in.

 

[Dittrich31]

why would you wait for the gears until i get back, one of the main reasons why im getting them is to help me get through the mountains at highway speeds. Ive read alot that the 4banger gets a little dangerous when trying to get through the mountains and can barely hold 30 mph.

 

[EarthCruzn]

Just a few things I am sure you have already thought about but I always make sure I carry; a dependable flashlight with spare batteries, a spare serp belt, and at least a gal. of water and antifreeze. And of course a basic tool kit.

I would also take along some plastic zip-ties and duct tape, lost a linkage gromet in the woods and the "mend" got me home, take extra oil also.
Take your time drive the speed limit and enjoy the ride!
Last but not least bring a fire extingusher!
Jimmy

 

[superj]

Last but not least bring a fire extingusher!


best thing listed yet!! you wouldn't believe how many times we've seen vehicles burn up on the road between corpus christi and san antonio and that road is only 120 miles of flat prairie land

 

[William1982CJ7]

why would you wait for the gears until i get back, one of the main reasons why im getting them is to help me get through the mountains at highway speeds. Ive read alot that the 4banger gets a little dangerous when trying to get through the mountains and can barely hold 30 mph.

Because your RPMS are going to be way high and your gas mileage will be way low.

 

[jfrabat]

As I mentioned on the PM, I would make sure to break in the R&P before heading out; mine had some install issues, and I had to get the rear one changed. Also, it is ussually advised not to get over 45mph for the first 50 miles after the install, and you should change the diff oil after 500 or so miles to get rid of the metal shavings that are sure to pop out.

I would also take along some plastic zip-ties and duct tape, lost a linkage gromet in the woods and the "mend" got me home, take extra oil also.
Take your time drive the speed limit and enjoy the ride!
Last but not least bring a fire extingusher!
Jimmy

I would add some 50/50 radiator mix in there, and probably would take an extra belt and a coil (in my case the coil because I already burned one on a 600 mile trip; luckily, I had 2 on hand, so 15 minutes later, I was rolling again). Also a flashlight and some basic tools (pliers, knive, screw drivers, sockets, etc.) and other tools you would normally take on a trail ride. Better safe than sorry!

Because your RPMS are going to be way high and your gas mileage will be way low.

This coming from personal experience? Because when I changed from 4.10 to 4.88 (with 31's at the time), my MPG actually went up. I also noticed with 4.10 and 31's that I got better mpg if I did NOT use fifth gear. This makes sense when you consider that the power band in the 2.5L actually starts at about 2,500RPM's. Oh, and by the way, at 75mph or so, I never did go over 3,500RPM, and the little four banger just LOVES being up there in RPM. A bit different from the six cylinder...

Felipe