BajaNomad

Pre-trip tune-up tasks?

eguillermo - 12-9-2014 at 02:26 PM

I'm getting ready for my annual working-stiff's "quickie" -- 12/19 to 1/5 and back to work on Monday.

That'll still be over 3500 miles driven before I'm done, so I always make sure to stress out over the condition of my 4x4 Toyota Tacoma.

Later this week I'm getting new tires, new battery, and lube in all the lube-able joints.

Are there other things to check out before coming down? Thanks!

Howard - 12-9-2014 at 02:41 PM

In Baja I always travel with:
Duct tape
Some type of baling wire
"Fix a flat"
Extra fan belt
Extra fuel filter
Extra gallon of water
and of course, most importantly, Don Julio


[Edited on 12-9-2014 by Howard]

elgatoloco - 12-9-2014 at 02:42 PM

Bring a tow strap in case you have to get a ford unstuck. :saint::lol:

David K - 12-9-2014 at 03:25 PM

What year Tacoma and how many miles on it?
Making sure the drive belt and radiator hoses are in good condition is wise if near 75,000 miles. If a First Gen (pre 2005) V-6, then the timing belt should be changed at 90,000 miles (water pump too at the same time).
The tow strap works for Jeeps, Chevy's and Dodge's too! :light:

Bajaboy - 12-9-2014 at 03:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by elgatoloco  
Bring a tow strap in case you have to get a ford unstuck. :saint::lol:


Now that is funny

woody with a view - 12-9-2014 at 03:36 PM

:!: :!:

BRING GAS MONEY!!!

:!: :!:

MMc - 12-9-2014 at 03:40 PM

Extra oil and coolant.

SlyOnce - 12-9-2014 at 04:00 PM

condoms

sd - 12-9-2014 at 04:08 PM

Extra bottles of water for road crews. It is always appreciated.

AKgringo - 12-9-2014 at 05:35 PM

I travel with a Stanley 900 amp jump start/air compressor/battery pack and a 12v to 110v inverter. The battery pack has an led trouble light, 12v automotive outlet, and a usb port for electronics.
I can bring all four tires from beach mode (12lbs) to highway pressure and still have power left to jump start someone if needed. I plug the inverter into the battery pack to watch movies on my laptop in camp, then plug it into the car 12v outlet to recharge the pack when I am back on the road.
I have carried it with me the last three trips, and wouldn't want to travel without one.

David K - 12-9-2014 at 06:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I travel with a Stanley 900 amp jump start/air compressor/battery pack and a 12v to 110v inverter. The battery pack has an led trouble light, 12v automotive outlet, and a usb port for electronics.
I can bring all four tires from beach mode (12lbs) to highway pressure and still have power left to jump start someone if needed. I plug the inverter into the battery pack to watch movies on my laptop in camp, then plug it into the car 12v outlet to recharge the pack when I am back on the road.
I have carried it with me the last three trips, and wouldn't want to travel without one.


What are the fill times (minutes to fill) per tire with that?

Mula - 12-9-2014 at 06:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by woody with a view  
:!: :!:

BRING GAS MONEY!!!

:!: :!:


And lots of it!

eguillermo - 12-9-2014 at 06:27 PM

That's funny about the Ford because it is true!



Me and a couple of very friendly Mexican guys put together every bit of rope we had and pulled that sucker out -- I can't tell from the pic exactly what model it was though :)

That rope was knotted for good afterward, too.

David K

AKgringo - 12-9-2014 at 06:41 PM

It is not a fast unit, probably 4 or 5 minutes per tire, and they aren't very large or high pressure (225/75/15 @28psi highway) but having it gives me options.
I also wound up using it to power my GPS for a while when I blew the fuse for the cigarette lighter.

toy

captkw - 12-9-2014 at 09:18 PM

Fuel filter and all rubber under da hood !!! and new tensioners with the timing belt!!

David K - 12-10-2014 at 08:23 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
It is not a fast unit, probably 4 or 5 minutes per tire, and they aren't very large or high pressure (225/75/15 @28psi highway) but having it gives me options.
I also wound up using it to power my GPS for a while when I blew the fuse for the cigarette lighter.


That's pretty fast actually. The pumps that clip onto a battery I have used (General Pneumatic and Tsunami MV50) put 5-6 pounds of air per minute into my tires, taking 3 minutes per tire. The Coleman cigarette lighter pump I used to have took 3 times longer putting only 2 pounds of air per minute into the tires. Thanks for the info.

4x4abc - 12-10-2014 at 01:22 PM

I have tried many compressors over the years

cheapest is an upright (T-handle) bicycle pump - volume is the secret guys. You can pump up 3 tires while your dinky plug in compressor hammers away
most plug in compressors die in the field when you need them most

here is the one serious off-roaders and expedition guides use:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-volt-1-5-gal-air-compressor-Puma-...

I have had it for about 5 years and it has been the Baja investment I have ever made.

most comparison tests focus only on the (expensive as hell) brand names. This is the smallest of the professional Puma tire compressors. No brand name $500 compressor can do what this one delivers

chippy - 12-10-2014 at 07:44 PM

You drive a MB suv right?

4x4abc - 12-10-2014 at 07:48 PM

yes, among others, G500




[Edited on 12-11-2014 by 4x4abc]

chippy - 12-10-2014 at 07:52 PM

Tire size?

4x4abc - 12-10-2014 at 08:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
Tire size?


295/75R16 BFG AT

Tioloco - 12-10-2014 at 08:09 PM

Beer money and a can do attitude.
Whatever happens is part of the adventure! You already sound more prepared than 95-97% of the population... Margin of error is plus or minus 3.2%.

4x4abc - 12-10-2014 at 08:17 PM

back to Pre-trip tune-up tasks

some trucks will give you trouble no matter how much pre trip tune up you perform (foreplay?)
but it's like relationships - some guys are asking for abuse

assuming you picked a dependable truck:
don't leave home with a battery older than 2 years (1 year if you are anal)
use tires you can depend on (BFG)
start with fresh fluids

carry:
starter
fan belt
CPS (crank position sensor)
valium
tire plugs
air compressor
fridge for cold beer
sat phone (buy or rent - it's cheaper than you think)
enough beer
a camera that makes sharp pictures

mtgoat666 - 12-10-2014 at 08:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by eguillermo  
That's funny about the Ford because it is true!



Me and a couple of very friendly Mexican guys put together every bit of rope we had and pulled that sucker out -- I can't tell from the pic exactly what model it was though :)

That rope was knotted for good afterward, too.


You just need to learn a new knot, some are easier to untie than others, like a bowline or carrick bend.

chippy - 12-10-2014 at 08:29 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  
Quote: Originally posted by chippy  
Tire size?


295/75R16 BFG AT


Hand pumping those tires CMON MAN!:?::lol:

4x4abc - 12-10-2014 at 09:15 PM

sounds like you have never done it - know anything about physics?

chippy - 12-11-2014 at 03:51 PM

I donīt need burro physics;). I get enough excersize.

BooJumMan - 12-11-2014 at 05:17 PM

I'm a truck nut myself and go wheeling often in the desert, mountains and obviously Baja.

Keeping your fluids fresh is always a good thing. ATF, coolant and oil.

Those year of Tacomas are known to have a failure in the radiator which allows coolant to mix with ATF and creating a strawberry milkshake like concoction which ruins your transmission and in some cases overheats the engine. If you are over 150k, I'd look into replacing the radiator. (If you got a manual transmission, you can ignore all this).

Other than that the 3.4L V6 are great. I have owned 3 of them and never had to do anything besides give it oil and gas. Even if the timing belt were to fail, it wouldn't cause any damage to the motor (if pistons and valves not timed, it wont make contact). I'd probably not worry about it.

Another common failure with those trucks are (front) lower ball joint failures. They aren't that hard to replace. Buy OEM Toyota if you plan to replace them.

I'd bring extra water, oil and gas obviously. Ratchet straps are always helpful. A good box of tools, hammer, duct tape, 2 part epoxy, JB weld...

Probably the main thing would be to make sure your coolant system is in good condition... If you don't know, it would be easy to replace the thermostat, check the coolant quality and level, and make sure there isn't any coolant dripping from the water pump, or the pump isn't making any noises.

4x4abc - 12-11-2014 at 06:00 PM

usually the water pump (and other things that fail) start making noise some days into the trip
and noise does not necessarily mean they are dead - but don't ignore that warning sign