81runner
New member
I find this topic kind of entertaining. To see all the things people bring for long trips, I can't help but wonder, are these things actually breaking on you? A belt should be inspected before a trip, same as hoses and clamps and fluid levels. Trans fluid is moot with a sealed trans, if you wind up needing it, you're probably already broken. I would say a thermostat and some water, since it's hard to predict when the plastic thermostat will fail. If you're burning oil, you already are aware of this and bring oil accordingly. If you smacked something that cracked and leaked, are you going to fix a broken casing in the sand and dirt and drive it out of there? Axles? Ok, do you have jack stands, a pry bar, a hammer, a seal, a big socket (35mm) a torque wrench, and a couple quarts of diff fluid? Not to mention a high lift jack and a point to hook it up? Or an impact gun, since the axle nut is factory torqued to 170 ft/lb? If your answer is no, I don't see you having much success replacing your axle in the field. That is a lot of extra stuff to bring for what if.... Better advice would be, remember that you are planning to drive this truck home and don't drive with the intention of breaking anything. I've only ever wiped out a CV boot, haven't broken an axle and I do plenty of off road driving, lots of black diamond trails. Hard to enjoy yourself when you are driving around with 250lb of extra stuff IN CASE you break down. (It's not a Jeep)
Have a pre-trip check list, and go over it starting 3 week prior to leaving. Belts, boots, ball joints, hoses, fluids, torque your suspension components, etc..That gives you 2.5 weeks to fix anything that seems suspect. Ounce of prevention BEFORE a trip is better than 5lb of cure DURING a trip. As a personal rule, I NEVER go wheeling or on a long distance trip if something is questionable, not worth ruining a trip on potential break down or worse.
It's a yota! Have fun with it! Just my .02
Have a pre-trip check list, and go over it starting 3 week prior to leaving. Belts, boots, ball joints, hoses, fluids, torque your suspension components, etc..That gives you 2.5 weeks to fix anything that seems suspect. Ounce of prevention BEFORE a trip is better than 5lb of cure DURING a trip. As a personal rule, I NEVER go wheeling or on a long distance trip if something is questionable, not worth ruining a trip on potential break down or worse.
It's a yota! Have fun with it! Just my .02
Last edited:
