Thinking about a MJ road trip

[Jtrux]

So, I bought my MJ a few months ago not running.  I've been getting it closer and closer to road worthy but it still needs some small things.

 

I'm gonna be headed to my mom's in Denver in a month or so and I have been planning on driving my Chevy K2500 but I'm starting to reconsider.  I really want to drive the MANche.  I have a few weeks off during that time so if I break down, I call a buddy and get it hauled back.  Oh, I live in San Antonio, TX, so quite a ways from Denver.  The agreement I have with my friends is that if I break down within TX limits, they will come get me and vise versa.  If I get out of TX, I have a very good friend in Denver (what are the odds?) who will help me out.

 

I really don't want to have to rely on them so I'll try my best to get the MANche as reliable as possible.

 

Here's what needs to be done:

 

 - Change all fluids with the exception of oil since it was just changed.

 

 - Change the cracked headlights out with the new ones I have.

 

 - Install the new shocks.

 

 - Get the AC working.

 

 - Figure out what is causing low vacuum at idle.  

 

The last one could be something simple or something major.  I'm betting on something minor since it was owned by an old man and has only 64k on it.  

 

There are no vacuum leaks anywhere since I've temporarily deleted all non-critical vacuum lines and I also changed the intake/exhaust gasket.  You can spray down everything with starting fluid and there is no change at any point in the idle quality.  Vacuum gauge bounces from 5 - 15 consistently.  Once you crack the throttle open, it smooths out and is even drivable but off idle it is a stumbly @$$ pig. lol

 

I'm gonna start going through all connectors and grounds and testing all sensors.  Hopefully I get to the bottom of this little issue.  It's a PITA.

[neohic]

Best of luck with everything! I'm a sucker for a reckless road trip with questionable equipment. I mean, it's already written in the cards what's going to happen anyhow, right? To hell with what makes the most sense... enjoy that truck!

[Megadan]

I would inspect the brakes if they haven't been checked recently.  Fuel filter if you aren't sure of the last time it was done. Radiator and heater hoses if you are unsure of their age.  Give the cooling system a good flush and fill.  How new are the tires? Any dry rot?  Always take an extra belt, even if it's a cheapie.  

As far as the vacuum leak.  Test the brake booster with a vacuum tester.  I had a vacuum leak I couldn't track down, and after I replaced my brake booster it went away.

[Tykerp]

I always carry a crank sensor in the glove box. I have a coil to but that is just because I found a new one in my garage.

[johnj92131]

Last Saturday I took an 800 mile drive in my Comanche.  But I have owned it for 8 or 9 years and know the maintenance is up to date.  Got 18.8 mpg one way and just over 20 mpg back home.

So check the brakes, the cooling system, check the tires.  All these things have been suggested in previous posts.  Take your AAA card and your cell phone with extra batteries.

 

Then, just have fun!

[Zebvance]

Make sure you bring all the tools you can so you are prepared if something does fail. All of the basic checks just mentioned are all very good. I live in College Station, not sure if you will be coming through the area or not but if you are with in 100 miles and are broke down I'm always willing to lend a helping hand if I can. Send me a pm before you go on your trip and we can exchange phone numbers in case you run into trouble. I have always wanted to take a road trip with my manche but It has never been good enough mechanical state to risk a trip more than 2 hours.

[64 Cheyenne]

Good u joints.

I regularly run the Chief 475 mi one way (Montana is a long way across) and have pulled a 2500 lb gross trailer back full... if you consider that an oil change is +/- 3k mi and you don't have an issue regularly during that amount of time. Have fun, and remember, "a road trip isn't an adventure unless something happens."

[mnkyboy]

A few months ago i drove my Renix XJ from Portland,Oregon to Moab,Utah where i played offroad a little then continued on to Mancos,Colorado.

 

The old Jeep didn't skip a beat the whole trip.

[benjy_26]

If your maintenance is up to date, a MJ can handle anything you throw at it. I'm an archaeologist in the Southwestern US and use my MJ as my field vehicle. This means long interstate drives combined with rough service roads and forays into the desert for weeks at a time. I have seen newer, more "sophisticated" vehicles have issues while my SporTruck keeps chugging along.

[87Warrior]

You know your truck better than us. If you are comfortable with it, DO IT. I had a lot of conversations with folks last year as I drove my ugly truck across Colorado.

 

I'd have absolutely no reservations taking my rusted 190k mile '86 cross country.... well, the radio struggles, the blower motor wails, and it doesn't have AC.

[benjy_26]

[Jtrux]

Here's what I've done off the top of my head:

 

New fuel system including: tank, sending unit, Bosch fuel pump, filter and throttle body rebuild.

 

New tires and wheels - BFG KO2

 

New battery - O'reilly's Platinum

 

Oil - Castrol synthetic (normal maintenance item but figured I'd throw it in)

 

Intake/exhaust gasket

 

Exhaust system - from the manifold back; no cat but a Thrush muffler vs. stock muffler

 

I think that's about it.  I will put some miles on it and build some confidence in it before I fully commit to my plan.  

 

If I do it, I will def snap photos along the way and keep you guys updated.  

[87Warrior]

[rmoore1031]

Best of luck with everything! I'm a sucker for a reckless road trip with questionable equipment. I mean, it's already written in the cards what's going to happen anyhow, right? To hell with what makes the most sense... enjoy that truck!

That's my kind of road trip too!! My friends thought I was crazy for taking the 90 XJ with a homemade trailer from NY to AR when I moved. Even more so when I went back to NY with a small uhaul. My 90 XJ story ends with one last crazy trip. I was unable to pay my last shop bill, so I posted it on eBay. A CC member bought it out of state. I convinced him that I would deliver far cheaper than a shipper. Turns out the shop didn't fix the overheating problem. Ran the XJ on a mostly watered down coolant system. So the last trip was done on almost all water in a closed cooling system. But wait, there's more! About halfway I stopped for more gas to be safe. Turn it back on and all interior and running lights are dead... Checked the fuses and guessed it was the headlight switch. Drove the rest of the way with a flashlight to read the gauges every once in awhile. New owner was fairly impressed by the trip.

[gogmorgo]

I've signed up for a 5000 mile trip to/through Death Valley in my Lada. My buddy's signed himself up with his '74 Mazda that hasn't run for more than a minute at a time in the last ten years.

 

You'll be fine. :D

[benjy_26]

FWIW, I just came back from a week at an excavation. I drove close to 900 miles on this last outing with at least 25% of it over gravel, dirt paths, and sand washes. Not a problem.