Has anyone gone on a road trip?

[philo_beddoe]

I carry a leatherman wave, a jack, jumper cables. I guess i should add a few basic tools. Maybe some gorilla tape and a small socket set.

[Irish_Alley]

lol yes got some tape and a few lengths of hoses

[78 Chevyrado]

These old trucks will do it, heck thats all there used to be was these old trucks.   I just a month ago or so towed a car hauler 300 miles to help my friend move all his stuff up here to move in with me.  in my 78.  took two trips, no problems.

know your trucks faults and be ready to fix em on the road, make sure the spare tires aired up, also non-OD, stay under 70MPH.  65 if you have a load.

I've driven my 78 from GA to the gulf coast, SC, TX, KY...  all over.  its not cheap, but it never let me down yet.

Heck, I don't even have a spare.   It leaks oil at freeway speeds, so all i have is a couple quarts of oil, and the key to my wheel locks on a road trip. 

[philo_beddoe]

I do have my factory spare ready to go. I guess i can add a few small items to the list. Tape, hoseclamp, hose, adj wrench, flathead/phillips. I keep it around 55 on hwys, folks pass me like im standing still. I remember when 55 was the limit, folks wouldnt go over 60-65. Now they avg about 80. But todays cars can handle it. I'd rather break down in a classic than own todays car, they all look the same, like a equinox. So plain and boring. However, i wouldnt mine owning a brand new truck, or a challenger or camaro,,,just to have.

[dhoelzer]

Not 500 miles but 350 yesterday. Had my 1976 back home for the winter while we restored it one more time. I have owned it for 30 years. Driving it back to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan yesterday I left in a hurry and did not bring any tools with. Made it half way when a fan belt started screeching. Ended up grabbing a hotel Wednesday night and got it to a shop in Manitowoc Wi the next morning. They said it was belts and replaced them and off I went. That lasted 5 minutes and screech returned. If I kept it under 53 mph it was quiet, anything above and it sounded like it was going to rip itself apart. Finally stopped North of Green Bay at another repair shop. He came out and quickly diagnosed a bad water pump. I was under the hood with this guy and the classic fan wobble was going on. His shop was swamped and he couldn't get to it till late and I had to get to our cabin to meet folks. The guy asked me how much further I was going and I said about 150 more miles. He winked and said these are mighty tough trucks and motors, take it slow and you will make it. LOL. I did just that. By the time I got to Iron Mountain Mi I could not go over 40 without it screeching but I made it to a buddy's repair shop and he loaned me a car to finish the last 25 miles of my trip. Truck should be repaired and back tonight! Fun ride!

[bd]

Great story!

[philo_beddoe]

That IS a great road trip story. Could you have grabbed a pump from a parts store and a few cheap tools, enough to do the job in hotel parking lot?? Of course some anti freeze as well.

[big_al273]

These trucks are great, driven 428 miles between the last two weekends and no issues or hiccups, even managed too get 253 miles on a single tank of fuel with the 454 

[philo_beddoe]

Not bad for a big 454!

[big_al273]

Tank isn't empty yet either, it's close but not empty, ill have to wait till i fill it up but my guestimation has me at 12.5-13.5 MPG 

[philo_beddoe]

How many gallon tank?

[big_al273]

dual 20 Gallon tanks but i do believe I've been having an issue ( http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=33264.0 ) so i can't count on any MPG figures from the 253 mile tank