What are your must-haves for taking a bump on a roadtrip?

[JDunk]

My 67 F100 with a 352 has long been a highway/around town cruiser for me and has not seen many interstate miles during my ownership.
However, I just got a summer internship across the country and am highly considering taking my truck. I will say, my truck is frustrating to drive above 60. The despite having a supposedly rebuilt power steering box and new steering linkages, the steering is sloppy. Kingpins are on my to-do list of repairs.

If you were taking your bump across the country, what are some of the things that you would do to prep it for the drive? Or would you even be willing to take the drive?

[Johnnewc]

I take my 1969 f100 on 300 mile trips around North Dakota. The engine and trans are rebuilt and the brakes are new. I still run points. I carry two brand new sets of points and condensers. I also carry a new distributor cap and rotor. I keep a brand new fan belt behind the seat. I have locking gas caps on the truck because people are dumb. I have a little tool box with the basic tools in it. The front suspension on mine is probably in similar condition to yours. I drive 60mph max speed because you really have no business driving these much faster when the front suspension is worn out. So I guess you should take a couple of steps back and take a long look at your truck and think to yourself what would probably break next. It will break down on this trip or at your destination. You need to decide if you will have the resources to fix it on the road or in this new town you are going to. Tow trucks are not cheap. You will be driving at 1960s speeds so your trip will be long. But hey they sure are fun trucks.

[ok68crewcab]

My big trips are still less than 100 miles but I carry:
- points and condenser
- extra fan belt
- gallon of water
- kept the old radiator hose that I replaced
- assortment of tools
- jumper cables

[basketcase0302]

BC #16 had two bedside aluminum semi style big tool boxes under the aluminum flat bed.
Both of those boxes would be crammed full every time I left the county I lived in!
But i did the same thing with my $50K airboat even when it was brand new.

Old habits are hard to stop, (Boy Scout thing bout' "always being prepared" for the Murphy Law stuff)!

But at least:
1) one container of all fluids, (oil/coolant/tranny fluid/brake fluid).
2) four way lug wrench / five extra lug nuts and decent floor jack (no bumper jacks on our trucks)!
3) spare ignition (I had Petronix so i kept a spare set of points and condenser for emergency)
4) Good spare cardboard /rug / drop cloth to lay on for wet ground is handy (toss it behind the seat)
5) Some kind of spot light for roadside nighttime emergency, (I had a 12 volt plug in with a 20' cord on it).
6) Tools to include full SAE socket set/combo wrench set/volt ohm meter /
7) One each of the hose clamps used on your engine and fuel piping
One each of every light bulb used in the truck( headlight/parking/brake/instrument panel/interior)
9) Siphon hose / 15' section of rubber 3/8" fuel hose, (and spare gas can-think fuel tank issue having to run an emergency tank to get the truck home)!


And highly suggest a good set of MECHANICAL GAUGES (in lieu of the dash "idiot lights") for any long trip like this as if you start losing oil pressure or any engine high temp incident you need to shut it down so you can repair or get it towed BEFORE YOU BLOW THE ENGINE!

You only live once! I say do it/be safe/start a thread here to update us (or update this thread)
AND ENJOY THE SMILES AND WAVES AS FOLKS PASS OR SEE YOU IN THE BUMP!

[two-bit]

I would have driven my F-100 anywhere.
Extra parts as others have mentioned. A really good tool kit. (Sockets, wrenches, vice grips, pliers, and what not.)
Don't plan on getting there fast. Plan on getting there. Extra fluids a must. Bring an extra 5 gallons of gas too ! FE does not stand for "Fuel Economy".
I would guess you have the "old twin I beam wander", 1/3 of a turn on the steering wheel before the tires react ?
I drove that for years. Just learned it. Above 60 mph it can get annoying. So most times i just drove 55. Right hand lane and took my time.
Most important, how well do you know your truck ? Squeaks, rattles and what not. Know what they are ?
Don't think of this as a drive across the country, think of it as an adventure. Thinking on your feet and making it work with what you have is a must.
If you choose to do it. Before you go, check everything rubber. Change the major fluids. Engine, trans, diff. Check the u-joints, pull the brake drums and peek at the (rear)axle seals, (front) wheel bearings, wheel cylinders and brake hardware. Set your self up with two spare tires already mounted on rims. A good jack with a chunk of good plywood to put it on. (Roadside gravel never plays well with jacks).
Engine tune up. Plugs/wires/hat/spinner/points/condenser. Check it all over. Fuel filter... bring two. A bad tank of fuel can RUIN your day on the side of the road. You may use up your fuel filters in the process, but odds are you will get somewhere to fix it.
Can't cover everything here.
The end decision is yours. What ever you decide. Best of luck to you.
Two-bit

[FLASH 1]

Here is what we carry in our Rollback,, 5 gallons of anti-freeze, gallon of Transmission Oil, rear End Diff Gear Oil, Belts, All Radiator Hoses, Clamps, Turbo Hoses and Clamps, Spare Lights, Starter, Alternator, Water Pump, Clutch Fan Assembly, Thermostat, some minor switches, Power Window Motors, Heater Fan Assembly, Spare Tire

Now be sure you have tools,, we carry 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sets all wrenches, impact tools, sawz-all cutting tools, jacks, flashlights Honda Generator,,
Now that is some extreme but place we go there is no shops/parts houses maybe for 150-200 miles

also bring plenty of water and snacks, if winter Blankets, extra shoes/socks,, have to be ready for anything

[Terry Veiga]

...in addition to everything else, add the following:

1. Duct tape
2. Fire Extinguisher
3. Cell phone
4. AAA card
5. Credit card

[1972hiboy]

Alot of great ideas here. When I have the cabover camper on the truck I tend to over pack. A two night dry camping stay results in me packing the camper like I am going on an African safari for 6 months. I have been known to strategically hide an alternator, starter and new voltage regulator in the bathroom cupboard under the towels. The girlfriend was not amused.

[DisneysPatB]

Alot of great ideas here. When I have the cabover camper on the truck I tend to over pack. A two night dry camping stay results in me packing the camper like I am going on an African safari for 6 months. I have been known to strategically hide an alternator, starter and new voltage regulator in the bathroom cupboard under the towels. The girlfriend was not amused.

[tsherry]

Good suggestions above.

1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" sockets; pliers, wirecutters, vice grips, screwdrivers;
Spares for most of the lamps, including a spare headlight;
Spare wiring, connectors, duct tape, hose clamps, fluids;
Spare ignition parts, including points, condenser, rotor and cap
spare water pump, alternator, fuel pump and starter
Spare fan belt(s), fuel filter, some fuel line

[ToughOldFord]

Credit card with cash back on gas purchases. You'll be poor and rich at the same time.

[sparky72]

No need to pack a spare starter if you have a manual and always park on a decline

[cep62]

My Dad suggested I bring the title.
In case it doesn't make the trip.

B T W It always made it home.

[Terry Veiga]

Metric crescent wrench

[Ohiotinkerer]

My Dad suggested I bring the title.
In case it doesn't make the trip.

B T W It always made it home.

I'm 56 and he STILL tells me that.......

And my vehicles always make it home too....I think it pisses him off because they always do....with some of the junk I've driven long distance I've been surprised a few times....