**** Road Trip advice/please help ****
 

At the end of February, just after my 41st birthday, my girlfriend, her 140lb Newfoundland Ziggy and I are road tripping down to Key West Florida from Rhode Island. My question is this......What are the 5 (more or less) things I should do to my 2016 4Runner TRD Pro for a smoother ride down mostly I-95 highway. Please share any or all advice. Thanks in advance. Happy New Year!!

If all the maintenance is up to date i.e fluids, battery, tires, brakes and wipers good then just hit the road and enjoy the trip.

Nothing for your 4Runner. Ideally, a crashworthy dog harness if you can find one big enough. Know the ER vet locations where you will be if needed. Or just find a dog sitter instead.

Ziggy will be at risk of heatstroke. Bringing a newfie from winter to 85 degrees, sun and humidity is maybe not the greatest of ideas. Even my white GSD struggled with that change. I can't imagine an even thicker-coated, and (likely) dark colored, heat-intolerant breed of dog dealing with that. Careful with hot sand and paws obviously. Sorry for the downer opinion that you didn't ask for, but I'm a vet so I couldn't skip replying. If you do bring him, download the Bring Fido app! It's great for finding dog friendly restaurants and beaches. There are a number of dog friendly restaurants in Key West but not much else in the area and shade is limited. Your 4Runner will be fine :wink2:

If as mentioned all maintenance has been done.....then just avoid any potholes for the smoothest ride down I-95.

Do yourself a HUGE favor and go West a little to avoid the stretch of 95 from Baltimore to at least Fredericksburg. I used to live there many years ago, and DC traffic is the worst. It once took me 5 hours to drive from Springfield to Fredericksburg (in VA).

Enjoy the trip!

Thanks for your advice all of you.

Great advice there. I was picking up parts from the DC area and made the mistake of driving back to NJ in rush hour traffic :rant:

Once you hit 95 in NJ (NJ Turnpike) I'd exit off at the Newark/Elizabeth area and take 78 W through PA then 81 through MD (pretty short drive), VA (nice mountain views before Roanoke), and the Carolinas.

Ensure tires are properly inflated, if not a little over door sticker PSI, for better mileage

Tire plug kit and small compressor, a some cash in case card readers don't work at the gas station, extra water. Flashlight and spare batteries.

Make sure fluids are topped (especially wiper fluid, you'll hit a TON of bugs once you're in the Keys), tires are balanced/rotated and inflated at the right PSI. Once that's all done make sure your playlists are in order and enjoy the ride!

Do this! 78/81/77. 95 is boring as hell and if you hit certain areas at the wrong time, you will be PISSED.
Do NOT speed in VA though.
Going down that incline into NC is fun and a gorgeous lookout around the Fancy Gap area if you go up in the local roads. You'll know if you go that way.


Tire plug kit, and a pump.
Dog bowl. Bottled water. Some tap water tastes like pure crap in some areas.
Avoid buying gas in GA,NC,MD,DE,NJ,NY if you can.
Every other state had cheap gas until NJ raised the gas tax.



EDIT: BE CAREFUL... If you TRY to get a hotel for a night, you may run into issues due to the Covid nonsense.
Out of state, travel restrictions and all that jazz.
Ask me how I know.

Not sure if you're towing anything but follow the rules with weight distribution or you're gonna have a bad day.

Back in 08 my friend and I took a trip from PA to Quebec. At the time I had a Toyota Solara with 150k miles. Aside from passports I made sure I had gas.

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