Prep for cross country drive

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:30 pm

Hey all,
May be driving across the country in the next month or so. The first time I did it the Jeep was pretty new. Now its four years old. So...trying to get a checklist of things to check on it before the drive...especially since I will more than likely be doing it alone this time.
Things to check
brakes
fluids
belts
change oil/filter

just got new tires, so those are fine.

things to carry along
spare gallon of gas
blankets
flashlights
tools for changing tire
spare headlight bulbs

ok... anything I am missing?
Thanks

oh also... I am doing the southern route if I do it this time. so I40 and 44 then to 70. Any places that I should stop along the way?

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:45 pm

Do you go through quite a few headlights? If you are on I-70 in Frisco, CO, stop by a BBQ joint next to the A&W rootbear called Q4U. Best BBQ I have found west of Gates in KC.

Budke · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:17 pm

Bring your usual tools. Socket set, wrenches, vise grip, crescent wrech, hammer, screw drivers, duct tape, and peanut butter.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:25 pm

^...............and Bumper dumper if he is going anywhere near Utah. Hardly any gas stations there.

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:54 pm

BVCRD wrote:

Do you go through quite a few headlights? If you are on I-70 in Frisco, CO, stop by a BBQ joint next to the A&W rootbear called Q4U. Best BBQ I have found west of Gates in KC.

Not with the regular standard bulbs, but with the zenon I have had both burn out on me with in a short time. Some roads I took last time had no lights and animals all over the road. So...just probably an unecesary precaution but makes me feel better having back up.

kskj · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:21 pm

BVCRD wrote:

Do you go through quite a few headlights? If you are on I-70 in Frisco, CO, stop by a BBQ joint next to the A&W rootbear called Q4U. Best BBQ I have found west of Gates in KC.

I stayed inn Frisco for a few months when a was working in the area. That is one of the best places to eat in town. The guy that runs the place is from KC.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:48 pm

extra water, food.....hopefully never get stuck in the middle of nowhere, but could happen.

I know you said you were checking the belts, but a spare serpentine belt couldn't hurt.

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:24 pm

If you got to san francisco try eating at Chow http://www.chowfoodbar.com/

we had dinner there when visiting my cousin in college. that place was great. was on Rachal Ray's list of places to eat for $40 a day

Neatus · **Posted:** Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:27 pm

Gas, sunflower seeds and a sandwich should get you there.

stevebaz · **Joined:** Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:25 am **Posts:** 10

If it were me I would carry a spare serpantine belt, Complete Tensioner/ Idler assy, And a spare belt that you can bypass the Air conditioner. 2 gallons of water, A stick of epoxy putty to patch a radiator leak, Duct tape. Pay up your auto club tow to at least 100 miles.
Check you lower ball joints, front wheel bearings, and both drive shafts assuming your 4X4. If this checks out your good to go if not get it fixed now. Carry the spare parts even if you dont fix stuff yourself. Waiting 3 days to get replacements in BFE really sucks. This should keep you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception.

durangotang · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:52 am

stevebaz wrote:

If it were me I would carry a spare serpantine belt, Complete Tensioner/ Idler assy, And a spare belt that you can bypass the Air conditioner. 2 gallons of water, A stick of epoxy putty to patch a radiator leak, Duct tape. Pay up your auto club tow to at least 100 miles.
Check you lower ball joints, front wheel bearings, and both drive shafts assuming your 4X4. If this checks out your good to go if not get it fixed now. Carry the spare parts even if you dont fix stuff yourself. Waiting 3 days to get replacements in BFE really sucks. This should keep you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception.

Holy sheebeez.... not sure I'd worry about going that far for travel on the interstates...

BVCRD · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:29 am

Just take what you need to camp. Check everything out before you go. Kitchen sink is an option. :roll:

Boostedxt · **Joined:** Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:58 pm **Posts:** 348

porn...and lots of it. if you are driving cross country with a girl a whole bunch of condoms... :wink:

joe

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:43 pm

Haha...lots of good and some pretty funny replies here. I gotta confess...I did something extremely stupid on the way across the first time. I was going through Badlands National Park. Decided to take a little dirt road that showed up on my gps that would get me to the interstate very quickly. I was hauling a 12' trailer at the time. the dirt road quickly turned into some pretty gruesome off roading very quickly and it dropped off on both sides making turn around not possible. Got stuck...my brother and I freaked out and started thinking out what our deaths will be like haha... the only thing around was the sound of wind and rattle snakes. I managed to get unstuck and got to a place with enough cell reception to call a ranger. He helped us get get to a place where we could turn around and I could follow his lead to make it back to the paved road without getting stuck again. He told us they only travel that road every three weeks or so so we would have been stuck there for quite some time. Perfect example why city folk do not go off the beaten path on their own! Lesson learned.

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:45 pm

Also...I go up to San Fran fairly often so I will have to check those restaurants out. Unfortunatly if I do the cross country drive this time though Im going to have to stay south

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:47 pm

I'll be heading back to Pittsburgh PA... Ill be pretty close to you wheelin Ohio guys :JEEPIN:

Maybe I can actually go off road again without the fear of death

BVCRD · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:39 pm

surfRenegade wrote:

Haha...lots of good and some pretty funny replies here. I gotta confess...I did something extremely stupid on the way across the first time. I was going through Badlands National Park. Decided to take a little dirt road that showed up on my gps that would get me to the interstate very quickly. I was hauling a 12' trailer at the time. the dirt road quickly turned into some pretty gruesome off roading very quickly and it dropped off on both sides making turn around not possible. Got stuck...my brother and I freaked out and started thinking out what our deaths will be like haha... the only thing around was the sound of wind and rattle snakes. I managed to get unstuck and got to a place with enough cell reception to call a ranger. He helped us get get to a place where we could turn around and I could follow his lead to make it back to the paved road without getting stuck again. He told us they only travel that road every three weeks or so so we would have been stuck there for quite some time. Perfect example why city folk do not go off the beaten path on their own! Lesson learned.

I hope you went to Wall Drug.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:32 pm

kskj wrote:

BVCRD wrote:

Do you go through quite a few headlights? If you are on I-70 in Frisco, CO, stop by a BBQ joint next to the A&W rootbear called Q4U. Best BBQ I have found west of Gates in KC.

I stayed inn Frisco for a few months when a was working in the area. That is one of the best places to eat in town. The guy that runs the place is from KC.

Gary, it's time to hit some BBQ in KC again. I should be back in KC this summer, pending I don't move back to New Mexico.

kskj · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:55 pm

Just let me know when and I'll be there. :lol:

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:04 am

surfRenegade wrote:

I'll be heading back to Pittsburgh PA... Ill be pretty close to you wheelin Ohio guys :JEEPIN:

Maybe I can actually go off road again without the fear of death

Just north of Pittsburgh on I79 is a town called Cranberry. Stop there and get directions to peneme brothers. There sandwiches are AWESOME. Don't look at the waitress's butt though, Her boyfriend gets jealous, than he ends up with a headache. LOL had to be there.

Prep for cross country drive

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