Wish me luck

[juggernautsb]

Thanks for the advice for the soon to be FSJ-er (earlier thread). I am going to be picking up my new ride (74 Cherokee) in California and driving it back to Ohio. Any advice on what emergency supplies I should take (keep in mind I am flying so what I can carry is limiited) or should pick up at an auto parts store before I get on the road? So far I was thinking belts, radiator hoses, all the fluids, and jb weld and of course duct tape.

[skinnyD]

Fuel filters and AAA will also be your best friend! Good luck on your trip!!!

[Mikel]

Thanks for the advice for the soon to be FSJ-er (earlier thread). I am going to be picking up my new ride (74 Cherokee) in California and driving it back to Ohio. Any advice on what emergency supplies I should take (keep in mind I am flying so what I can carry is limiited) or should pick up at an auto parts store before I get on the road? So far I was thinking belts, radiator hoses, all the fluids, and jb weld and of course duct tape.

Most of those things you can buy locally. No need to carry belts, fluids, etc on the plane.

[Gary's Addiction]

Triple A and a cell phone are the bests friend you can have on the road with an FSJ.

Other than that some simple hand tools, electrical tape, duct tape and some wire.

To get an idea of what fluids to pick up to carry with you,... when you pick up the new beast drive it long enough to get the engine warm and then find a nice clean piece of pavement to park over. Let is sit a while and then see where the puddles form.

Good Luck and congrats!:drivin:

[azpackrat]

Temps in Arizona will be over 100 next week, I don't know were your coming from in Cal but if it's from the southern region or even the central you'll get triple digits all across the region. My advice would be to travel the desert at night, I know it sounds stupid, but trust me it would be a lot easier on you and the truck. Broke down in the desert at night is spooky, broke down in the daytime can be deadly.
I would stop by a Jiffy-lube or ? and get the fluids changed, go to Harbor Freight and get a cheap multi-meter and a cheap tool kit, AutoZone fix a flat, Duct tape, hose tape, bailing wire, fuses, starter fluid, a couple of feet of 5/16 fuel line, clamps and hoses as necessary.
Check the tires, you wouldn't believe how fast the desert highways will eat bad tires. Keep your air pressure up, low pressure is the main cause of tire failure 'round here.
Bring lots of water, five or six gallons of drinking water, you can put drinking water in the radiator but you can't drink coolant. Oh yea a tow rope.
I probably forgot some things, just remember you can get everything when you get there.
Have a safe trip!

[Seemer]

I just did the same thing. Flew to Virginia from Boston for a drive back (400 miles). I ended up breaking down...sort of. I had a problem with the alternator and when night time hit, the flip of the headlight switch pretty much did me in. Obviously, just make sure to check everything before hitting the road. Check guages...oil pressure, voltage, gas guage....do they seem right? belt tension, hoses etc. Check all fluids and consider changing them. I was shocked to find that there was no tranny fluid on the stick, the oil was low (and pressure), the coolant reservoir was empty etc. I went straight to Autozone to deal with much of this. Also check fluids at every fill up. I had a serious oil leak and went through 3 quarts over 300 miles. As suggested above, pulling over after she is warm to look for leaks is a good idea.....before starting the trip. Can't hurt to bring the Haynes manual with you too. At least you can read it on the plane and get yourself psyched up.

The guys here suggested I get AAA, which I did and it saved me...

Good luck.

[davidrodriguez6769]

a u-haul and a tow dolly:thumbsup:

[dlowrance]

If it was me I'd be taking the parts that are hard/impossible to find...ICM comes to mind...if the 'brain' on the driver's side fenderwell goes out...you're dead in the water. But if this is your first one you probably don't have a spare.

I've always gone with the boyscout motto...always be prepared. I'd do as above noted and load up on consumables before taking off...6 gallons of water, all belts and hoses (get a universal hose if nothing else), plenty of oil/tranny/PS fluid, a basic toolkit, A FLASHLIGHT, and make sure you have a cell phone charger....I got stuck in Tucumcari NM on a Sunday afternoon a bunch of years ago making the trek from IL to CA in a Cherk...a cell phone that was charged would've been REALLY handy...

And definitely get a full fluid change before you go...I'd do the transmission too if it was me...chances are it needs it.

[DerekTJeep]

Turbocharger to add to the engine so that you can get home fast, very fast out of 100 degree, fast out of mountains into the good old state of Ohio before it stalls on you. Maybe a lot of cash too!! Not many places or tow truck drivers will go by credit card only.

[Gambler68]

If it has a 401, you're welcome to abandon it in Colorado when it breaks down.

If it hasn't been driven lately, I'd pick up a grease gun and hit every zerk you can find underneath it. And hope the wheel bearings have grease in them...anything else will fail pretty quick if bad (hoses, brakes, fuel pump)...

bring duct tape, a sharp knife, some extra old hoses (you can cut them to make a patch), various sized hose clamps, zip ties, couple big C-clamps, small tool set, fixaflat, fire extinguisher, fuses, test light, WD40, flares, oil, trans fluid, gallon of water. Quick run at Walmart or Vatozone should be sufficient.

[InfiniteWisdumb]

Doing quick math here, it will probably be cheaper to have it shipped than pay for a plane flight and all these supplies. :cool:

[Tonka J200]

Doing quick math here, it will probably be cheaper to have it shipped than pay for a plane flight and all these supplies. :cool:

But where's the fun in that?

[Chris P.]

For a '74 he'll need a set of points instead of an ICM.

If it was me I'd be taking the parts that are hard/impossible to find...ICM comes to mind...if the 'brain' on the driver's side fenderwell goes out...you're dead in the water. But if this is your first one you probably don't have a spare.

[dlowrance]

For a '74 he'll need a set of points instead of an ICM.

Good point Chris...missed that...

And Wisdumb makes an excellent point...I've gotten 2 rigs from out west shipped to my house, overall it was a MUCH better/cheaper/safer/etc idea than driving them...adventure aside of course...

[Seemer]

If I were to do my purchase again...I would def. have just shipped. But that is of course b/c in the end my whole ordeal cost more than it would have to just ship....

[Gambler68]

Just think of all the man points you're earning by driving it home, though. Driving cross country in a crappy old jeep (no offense) is an experience we all should be able to have.

That said, the 700 miles I drove mine was more than enough of a bonding session. Good travels and good luck!

[fulsizjeep]

ROAD TRIP! :drivin: Best of luck with the drive. :thumbsup:

[Seemer]

We need a mobile blog or something for these kinds of trips so purchasers can keep IFSJAers (sitting in the safety of their homes) posted on these great journeys...could work with an iPhone or other.

Something like:

Hour 3.5, mile 180: engine temp now above blue, outside temp. ~100. Pulled over for hour pit stop to cool down. Met hot chick at middle of nowhere gas station. We talked over Coke and Doritos. She was into me until she saw what I was driving.

Hour 16, mile 750: Its 3 a.m., no one on the road, almost hit a deer. Otherwise Jeep is finally running great, but PO never told me about how bad she pulls to the right.

You get the drift. At least I would enjoy reading this crap.

[lost1]

lol! That'd be all sorts of entertaining. I used to do that sort of thing in a notepad, then look it over the next time I got the urge to roam.

[CarlBraun]

what is the route?

I am near san diego and could act as a pre-race staging point. Set up your rig here and then head east on the 8 or the 10. Plan on driving through so cal and AZ in the night to avoid the ugly heat. I drove from SD to PHX and it was 117 outside. My 80 wagoneer ran great but the mech fuel pump crapped out twice. I brought along a cooler full of water to pour over the pump to get me back on the road...it only got hot when I stopped for gas.

Who else can help along the way?


We need a mobile blog or something for these kinds of trips so purchasers can keep IFSJAers (sitting in the safety of their homes) posted on these great journeys...could work with an iPhone or other.

Something like:

Hour 3.5, mile 180: engine temp now above blue, outside temp. ~100. Pulled over for hour pit stop to cool down. Met hot chick at middle of nowhere gas station. We talked over Coke and Doritos. She was into me until she saw what I was driving.

Hour 16, mile 750: Its 3 a.m., no one on the road, almost hit a deer. Otherwise Jeep is finally running great, but PO never told me about how bad she pulls to the right.

You get the drift. At least I would enjoy reading this crap.

[babywag]

Yeah, listen to the advice above about nightime through the desert!
I gassed up in Barstow and even that night it was ~100*

I drove mine to MN and back in '05...pretty much uneventful except CO @13,000' (vaporlock) on the way home.
4000+ miles of fun:thumbsup:

Brought a huge plastic tub filled with all my tools/spare parts.
Barely used a single one of them...
If I had not brought them, I bet a breakdown in the middle of nowhere would have happened?

I was armed with a cellphone and a AAA card.

Bring a small gas can with fuel in it along just in case you get nailed by vaporlock!

Where are you picking it up/heading out from?

[azpackrat]

I'm a mile and a half off I-10 in Phoenix if needed, what route are you taking?

[2ToneBluJ10]

Good luck! Safe journey! Enjoy the trip!:thumbsup:

[bigun]

Good luck post your route then those along the way could PM phone numbers in case of need or maybe a stop to BS along the way

[jeeperjoe]

how many states do you want to see?

[juggernautsb]

I am going from near Ontario California to Columbus Ohio. According to mapquest it is 2215 miles. I will be taking I 15 north to I 40 East. I will take I 40 all the way through to Oklahoma city and then pickup I 44 and take it Northeast through Indianapolis. I will pick up I 70 in Indianapolis and take it East through to Columbus. So far everybody but 2 people I work with think I am nuts , but I am looking forward to it :D .

[jeeperjoe]

youll get lonely crossing the plains, enjoy the corn, best on the planet, take lots of fsj location pics, good luck!

[davidrodriguez6769]

heres an idea, IFSGA cross country run, we would need someone to drive a an eighteen wheeler full of jeep goodies for a support vehicle. :dancingbanana:

[will e]

yeah, instead of the 'Cannon Ball' we can call it the 'Wrecking Ball'. LOL

I will repeat Gamblers good idea.. fire extinguisher. Either one BIG one or a couple of small ones.

[juggernautsb]

The road trip is over before it ever began :(. I kept emailing the seller trying to lock down the location of the meet and get the rest of his contact info for when I arrive. I spoke to him on the phone for the first time tonight and he advised that the jeep had gotten impounded (don't ask) the night before. He said he would make good on it. If not I will file a dispute with ebay/paypal and get my deposit back that way.

I appreciate everyone's advice and don't feel it was wasted, I will be back in the market once I get my deposit back and may end up on a road trip after all.

[bigun]

Bummer I was getten ready to call the kith and kin in NM and tell them to watch out for ya!

[DerekTJeep]

Was this the truck you bought??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JEEP-CHEROKEE-CHIEF-/120564715730?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1c123790d2

If so, then assuming that you do go through with your purchase, I would suggest going the safe way. Go with a reliable auto transporter.

[lycanthrope]

hope that wasn't the truck. that one has been on CL for a while. i don't think that one would have made it out of california. it's about 15 minutes from here on a high enforcement CHP route. not surprised about the impounding.
his ads smelled like tweeker.

but there are several FSJs in nuevo, including a j10 golden eagle.