What do you guys think? 1,987 miles round trip can I do it?

[JohnBill53]

Pardon me reusing this crappy pic haha but anyway. Spring Break is coming up for me and my boy's here in Norman Oklahoma. I have come to the harsh reality that I may need to take my baby on this trip. I'm just worried about her. she's an 01, 210,xxx, spidertrax, original engine, tranny, a/c. Do you think I can make it from norman to destin (880mi) destin to austin(735mi) and austin back to norman(372mi). I honestly don't know I've never made a road trip this far in the runner haha. plenty of trips from norman to dallas and back. as well as austin and back. I just don't know if it'll make it, and if I do decide to take her, what do you guys think some good precautions to take would be?


Oh yeah the reason I'm going to have to have a car of my own there is to get to austin for the last week of spring break. everyone else has full cars / is undecided about going. SO that's that...I've been saving for gas for a while now so don't give me any sh!t about that hahaha

 

[4Runner4TW]

I haven't taken my 4Runner on any long trips yet, but in my last car I traveled across the country (AZ to ME, ME to AZ) 7 times and that car is in way less shape than my 4Runner. I even did it on junk yard tires one time (do not recommend!). But if your truck is sound, no leaks, and hasn't had any major problems i say go for it. Just take your time on the highway, these things are not racers and don't let your buddies talk you into pushing your truck when your so far away. I usually pack tools, fluids, etc just in case. I only had one problem in all my road trips and that was taking out the thermostat on the side of the road to find that my overheating was from a broken radiator cap..

 

[seoulstice]

When is Spring Break again?

Have fun in Austin, stationed at Ft Hood so I am down there often

 

[JohnBill53]

ours starts on the 17th I do believe maybe 16th I'm not exactly sure

 

[TRDteen]

You're talking about a 4runner here dude. these things can do pretty much anything! I think you'll be totally fine. Before you leave just make sure the truck is all good. If your within a couple hundred miles of a engine oil change, do it now. Make a check list and go through it. Will you be towing anything? how many homies are you taking? (think about the weight capacity)

-engine oil
-tranny fluid
-engine coolant (antifreeze)
-tire pressure
-battery is charged
-brake pads are in good condition
-air filter is clean
-windshield wipers are good/windshield fluid is full
-lights all work. headlights, blinkers, tail lights, brake lights
-spare tire, and a jack!
-emergency kit (band aids, jumper cables, tire iron, tire pressure gauge blankets, flashlight etc...)
-maybe some extra CASH if you need anything extra.

if you want to go a little further, you can check your alignment/suspension.

It should be a fun trip! Have fun my man!

 

[habanero]

If she sounds good now and you've kept up on maintenance including timing belt etc. and your tie-rod ends and ball joints aren't stock why couldn't you? You look to have decent tread. Check your fluids and tire pressure at all gas stops (check overflow, not radiator if hot) and pay attention to what the truck's saying when you're rolling.

 

[JohnsD90]

As long as any wheel bearings aren't going bad you have good tire tread, no major leaks, decent brake life left, and change your oil right before the trip I wouldn't worry about it. And change the water pump if its close to due. And get AAA, and upgrade to the 100 mile tow plan.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I'd recommend installing an external tranny cooler before the trip. Cheap insurance against Pink Milkshake. Other than that, oil change, check it over and enjoy spring break.

 

[jc1kz]

A round trip...you can make it no problems....so long as you have beer money and gas money...Party on bro.....:thumb3:

 

[TRDteen]

I'd recommend installing an external tranny cooler before the trip. Cheap insurance against Pink Milkshake. Other than that, oil change, check it over and enjoy spring break.

How much do one of those go for? And how hard/easy is the installation?

 

[jc1kz]

How much do one of those go for? And how hard/easy is the installation?

I've owned my T4R for ever since 2003 and have towed with a car carrier @ different times and have even towed cars from California to TX and never changed the tranny fluid or had the pink milkshake...I just finished a round trip to Claremore, Ok in a day and not a single bit of trouble....I have 163000miles on the clock...
The tranny cooler is made for heavy excessive towing/or any hard driving with heavy loads....so unless you are going rock crawling around Austin ?....these trucks were built strong....:beer:

 

[habanero]

I've owned my T4R for ever since 2003 and have towed with a car carrier @ different times and have even towed cars from California to TX and never changed the tranny fluid or had the pink milkshake...

....yet.




That or it's a stick.
If it's auto who knows, maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. Seems to me given the number of milkshake threads an engine and/or tranny would cost more and be a bigger bear to argue with than an oil cooler....

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I've owned my T4R for ever since 2003 and have towed with a car carrier @ different times and have even towed cars from California to TX and never changed the tranny fluid or had the pink milkshake...I just finished a round trip to Claremore, Ok in a day and not a single bit of trouble....I have 163000miles on the clock...
The tranny cooler is made for heavy excessive towing/or any hard driving with heavy loads....so unless you are going rock crawling around Austin ?....these trucks were built strong....:beer:

Umm, you've been lucky. (Hopefully you're not still in the original radiator).

Do the external cooler. It is the ONLY way to guarantee you won't get the milkshake.

 

[jc1kz]

Umm, you've been lucky. (Hopefully you're not still in the original radiator).

Do the external cooler. It is the ONLY way to guarantee you won't get the milkshake.

Yes it is the original rad, orig timing belt, orig everything...except oil, brakes,wheels and tires......I did recently replace the shocks frnt and back and upper/lower/inner/outer tie rod and ball joints....

 

[twitchee2]

Change the oil, make sure all the fluids are topped off and run it! mines got 205k and i wouldnt think twice.

Oh make sure tire pressure is good.

 

[Blanco]

What everyone else has mentioned above...fluids, tires and brakes are the big ones on my list. I do a lot of long distance in my Runner and have no problems whatsoever. MPGs could be a hell of a lot better though. Have fun!

 

[Kredence]

I just picked up a Runner with 208k on the clock. I'd add another 2k without thinking about it. Besides the obvious fluids, belts and hoses...how are the tires, honestly? Any cracks, shakes and so on? Are the CV joints looking good. Any leaks from the radiator? If no..then do it! You'll be fine.

 

[nyvram]

Went out west with my kids... 6000 miles and 19 states in 10 days.

Drove entire Shafer and white rim trails in canyonlands national park.

Went on every unmarked 'road' in 4 corners az.

When i got back I took it in for an alignment. Shop said it didn't need one.

I refell in love with my truck that day.

 

[Ronin1082]

Took a 2006 Nissan X-Trail (wife`s) from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada to Chicago, IL with no issues and plan on making that trip BOTH ways with my 98 SR5 with 134,xxx miles.

 

[farmerjon]

How much do one of those go for? And how hard/easy is the installation?

Never done it, but there are several awesome install guides - the cooler's run about $50-60 for a good B&M.