Pre Road Trip Prep

[4Runner4TW]

I'm going on an approximate 4600 mile road trip from Phoenix to Orlando and back with my girlfriend. My grandma rented a house for our family to stay at. I've been looking up plane tickets and they are way too high so it will be cheaper to drive and we can bring our dog.

Anyway, I bought the following items to prepare for the trip and make sure the truck is ready. Any thoughts or extra's would be great! Thanks!
Everything is OEM, I ordered it from Camelback Toyota which is just miles from my house
Plug wires
Spark plugs
PCV valve with grommet
LBJ for both sides
I still plan on getting new wipers and the bolts for the LBJ's. Also, air filter is new, tires are good, brakes are new, fuel filter is new. I've driven across the country 8 times, but never with the 4runner.
What do you think?!

 

[robb1887]

While getting an alignment I'd try to find a shop with a roadforce tire balancer... depending on when your last one was. 4600mi with a small vibration from tire imbalance in the steering wheel would drive me nuts!

I'd check all your fluid levels as well. Oil, PS, Coolant, Trans, diffs, etc.

Driveshaft lube.

You might consider doing UBJs (PITA but worth it) and OTREs at the same time as LBJs. I did UBJ, LBJ, and OTRE's and it tightened up the steering amazingly.

Extra light bulbs

 

[Ruiner]

id check and replace belts, hoses, and radiator cap

 

[Jon]

Get the rotors turned while your at it. Much smoother breaking at hwy speeds. If you have any vibes while breaking, which is pretty common.

 

[iamadam1122]

How many miles are on it?

 

[BillIam]

4600/ 17mpg = 270x 3.45 a gallon = 933$ + hotels/ food/ and anything that may happen? im all for flying+ less miles on my 4runner

 

[02_SE_Runner]

Hotel? Sleep in the car!!! Haha... But tickets can be expensive for flying and not being able to have some freedom like bring a dog (for free), or bring all that you want free of charge.

 

[lilsid112]

Factor in the price for renting a car while he's in orlando as well.

 

[4Runner4TW]

It has 160,XXX

After running numbers we figure driving is still best. We are only stopping in New Orleans on the way there for a night. We have never been there and look forward to seeing it, even for a short amount of time. Other than that we will power nap in the truck. And like 02_SE_Runner said, the freedom of driving will be worth it.

Well all the parts arrived this morning. Now I need to find time to install them. We dont leave until June 21. Thanks for all the posts! I will updated during and after the trip to tell how the 4Runner does. Which will be awesome of course!

 

[JWaldz]

A little off topic, but I tried to say the title of this thread 5 times fast and failed lol

 

[93cr250]

An obvious one would be tire pressure but also check all brake pads/shoes and brake hoses too maybe.

 

[Drcoffee]

considering the stress on the trucks cooling system driving constantly for that many miles and the rate of radiator failures and subsequent transmission failure for the 3rd gen, I would buy a new TYC or Koyo radiator and flush the coolant and transmission fluid. I'd also add a B&M 70264 trans cooler. Other than that and checking brake pads, and fluid levels and a fresh oil change. I'd leave the rest alone.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I just flew from San Diego to Orlando for less $500 round trip. Why is driving cheaper? You'll probably be paying at least $4 / gallon.

It is at least 4300 miles round trip. That is going to be about $900 in gas assuming you get 18 mpg (best case) and all the gas is only $3.75 / gallon.

Plus the extra 4k miles on the odometer definitely lower the trucks value by at least a few hundred.

 

[Drcoffee]

This might be a little off topic but maybe having his GF groped by the TSA is worth the gas money and mileage. Mr. Janet Napolitano is looking high and low for terrorists these days.

 

[JEL]

I'd drive just to bring my dog as well. I'd change all the fluids before going with good synthetics, along with what everyone else has said. Of course if you just did the diffs, transfer case, brakes, and radiator recently then I'd not worry.

 

[JEL]

This might be a little off topic but maybe having his GF groped by the TSA is worth the gas money and mileage. Mr. Janet Napolitano is looking high and low for terrorists these days.

My blonde-haired GF always gets singled out by the TS.S.A when we travel, I swear they just do it to make a point.

 

[4Runner4TW]

Cheapest tickets I have found are overnight flights, no stops for just under $500. But I have to buy 2 tickets which makes it come out to almost $1000. We are going to keep looking just in case we can find a deal, but we're both excited to road trip. A few years ago we went from AZ to St. Louis, then to ME, then to Chicago, Denver, then back to AZ. This will be the first with a dog.
Feels nice that most of the things you guys said are all new on my rig or I have already done them. The previous owner babied this thing.
As far as TSA, I have worst luck than her! I had to get pulled aside one time because I left Maine Maple Syrup in my bag. It was a gift for a buddy of mine in AZ. I had to get searched and they sent my bag twice through the scanner. I guess it doesn't help to have a black beard and be tan skinned trying to leave the Northeast in the winter when everyone is pale haha.

 

[88xtraSR5]

Would love to take a road trip like this... think everyone has covered the basics for your per road trip prep. Thousand dollars doesn't seem like much... But you have to add all the luggage fees, the new carry-on fees, the hassle of the T.S.A., not being able to take your dog, paying to leave your car at the the airport ( praying nothing happens to it) or having someone drop you off. Then when you arrive at your destination, you have to hope your luggage didn't end up in New York and rent a car. So with all that said... drive... take plenty of pictures and enjoy.