Roadtrip Ready?

[YoungFluff03TJ]

So I'm doing something fun. I'm driving my TJ (with 3 people in it and a mini trailer) 3300 km out east in August.
I'll let you know how incredibly comfortable it is later.

Thus I am inspecting the hell out of ol' jeep and fixing left right and center with the help of Jrama.

Next thing I am trying to fix is a shimmy in the steering wheel when i hit 80-90 km/hr. This is a recent development and I have 2 ideas so far:
1) Tires have thrown a weight. Most likely according to preliminary research on internet.
2) The toe-in alignment I did yesterday was not great. The shimmy was there before the alignment but I can not comment on if it was as bad as it is now

This is not death wobble. Same idea (steering wheel going cw/ccw rapidly) but no where near as severe. Both front hub bearings are new as of Sunday.

I'm at work right now so I'm trying to gather ideas as to what to check tonight. thoughts?

03 TJ sport, 33's, currie steering

[jkrubi]

Rotate the tires and see if it get worse for the shimmy.
Get a proper aligment, it's cheep compared to the cost of new tires, or find a set of highway tires for better milage( keep the mt from wearing out to bad).

[GreenMachine]

I had a bad wobble at the same speed, and went away after 100-110, only on mud tires, on road tires I had no vibes, I had lots of suggestions of stuff that was wrong, the tires were in rough shape, got new ones, balanced, it was good to go,

Also took the jeep to Vancouver, 3 guys and every extra square cm was packed with stuff, it wasnt to bad... Corners through bc had to slow right down, and my friend almost tipped it thinking he was still in his mustang on a couple corners,  hard on gas, and slow, but I would do it again,

I have to drive it out to Sudbury in another month or two, I did that drive in a mustang in April in 28 hours of driving, not looking forward to doing it in the jeep, again slow and hard on gas, but you will get there

[WagoneerXJ]

Maybe throw on some stock tires for the trip. Your jeep will hate life with 33s, 3 people and a trailer.

[Spinalguy]

That is not going to be fun at all.
i have done 2 trips pulling small trailer. One 1800kms to Tellico and 1800 back. The other 1800kms to Moab and 1800kms back. For the driver, no problem. Passengers, have fun with that and stop and stay over often.
:laughing:
PS, i did it on 33's and a 2.5cyl to Tellico, 37's and 4.0 liter to Moab.
i used a LOT of gas. NEVER let the tank drop below 1/2. More gas stations are closed nowadays and you will burn more gas than you can ever imagine.

[dunl]

I wouldn't.

I really wouldn't.

We have driven out to PEI a few times.....kids in the quad cab Dodge, and three dogs in the back.  Non-stop driving mostly....left on June 27th at 5:00pm one time, and arrived at 4:30am on July 1st. 

Dogs were least of our worries....they travelled in the cab of the truck very well. People get cramped inside the vehicle, with lots of room.....four of us, 6 seats, and lots of cramping. 

I can only imagine, and I WILL only imagine, the joys of doing this in a TJ.

[Mikes offroad]

I am getting everything ready for the JK Experience I was invited to that takes place on Sept 1st. I am hoping it won't be that bad, 2007 Jk Unlimited, two guys, clothes for 14days and a bunch of spare parts (tools also). According to google maps I am looking at 4390km trip one way. The other thing is the Jeep is sitting on 37" tires, should be fun (I hope)

[YoungFluff03TJ]

Hahaha this is going to be a good one. Im heading to Detroit for 4 years so the jeep is coming! At least its only one way. I will make a fun documentary about it... I have a feeling my secret anger is going to poke its head.

I am planing on selling my 33's (look out for em soon ) and have my stock-ish tires for the drive. Probly have a few jerry cans as well.

On the technical side - did the alignment again and it is bang on. Drove it, no fix. Rotated the tires front to back and voila, wobble gone. Saw a place where a weight may have been so that is the likely cause. Not worth fixing as I will just put the roadies on this weekend.

Thanks for the help, any roadtrip advice - keep it coming!

[LLYJ]

We did Southern Ontario in the YJ - 3600km each way - Northern Ontario hwys were a complete mess, it seemed like ever other KM had been milled for new pavement.  I think a little bad luck was involved but his was the list of carnage - BTW Myself, the wife and our elkhound all shared the front seats all the way there.....on 33's
1) Canmore - starter went....yep, 1 hour in, should have taken that as a sign....
2) Swift Current - front driveshaft U-joint came apart - toss it in the back
3) Northern Ontario - shocks blown completetly
4) Catalytic came apart inside
5) large pothole impact resulted in Broken windshield - drivers side mirror fell off
6) Broken T-case mount outrigger thingy
7) Espinola - toasted t-case extension bearing, oil seal and output shaft bearing - all had to be replaced in a motel parking lot (Pre-SYE)
8 Sudbury - heater/defrost blower died -
9) Kitchener - Serpentine belt broke.

Made it to family home 3 days late due to t-case rebuild - After a week of always having to find a hill to park on I finaly changed the starter, installed new shocks, hotwired a toggle switch to blower motor and turn out the catalytic was a factory recall so got a new one for free from a dealer.  

On the way back
10) Sault Ste Marie - exhaust manifold bolt broke - had to be the one next to firewall too
11) Thunderbay - Motor mount broke
12) Regina - heater core started leaking
13) Calgary - Pass side front hub toast

To add insult to injury I forgot the front driveshaft at my sisters, and by the time I got home and asked her to send it out, she had thrown it away already. LOL

Crazy thing is we did a much tougher trip with tons of wheeling outings in the YJ that included the Oregon dunes, Calfornia coastline, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Moab and only had two minor issues that whole trip - a broken window crank and the shifter came unseated.

I personally loved both adventures, the wife, ahhh not so much - weve done the Ontario thing in a mustang, a tacoma and a dodge as well but at this point she says she will only fly now..

[GreenMachine]

Stay on the right white line anytime it's a non divided highway, I can't count how many semi's were on the wrong side of the highway coming around blind corners, and over blind hills, 3 times forsure they were half way on the wrong side, driving on the white line kept me alive.

[morerpmfred]

Done way to many road trips. 20 + trips from Yellowknife to either Edmonton, Calgary or Bonnyville. Always left with two good spare tires, not trail spares. Blew two tires within 15 minutes on gravel roads half way between Fort providence and Rae-Edzo. Lovley.
 Last trip out from there was a slight detour. Into to YK then Bc then Alberta then northern Sask, back to northern Alberta then last stop Calgary. All camping. Some motel. Left the mellowlife July 8 and arrived in Calgary after Sept long weekend for work tuesday morning. Lots of gravel roads. Damage? Multiple shock mount repairs and flat tires. Changed wheel bearings and ball joints after getting settled in here. How long ? Do not know. Did two oil changes on the road.

[Mikes offroad]

Isn't that a lovely drive from Yellowknife to anywhere in the south. I have lived up in Yellowknife for 40+ years and I hate that drive more every year.

[morerpmfred]

Yup. Lovely. 1st flat tire was when i passed the grader,s fresh windrow of graded crushed gravel. And the second flat tire was when I passed him again. Lol . Damm sidewalls.  Prevous trip hit a black bear at speed. Got lucky. He was not.
Done every combination coming back to Canada. Through Ft chip on through Mcmurrey on the ice roads in the winter.  Throgh Red Earth, regular way Gp and Peace river and one year went through Zama (bring lots of extra gas) take backroads go west and out through Ft Neilson. Do not know if you can do that one anymore.  And the last extra long trip took the northern route up and out through ft laird then of through Yukon. .

[jkrubi]

How big of a trailer are you towing? Have you done all the fluid changes? Buy more for road side stops, what about the cooling sys? Have you done the therostate, rad cap, pressure tested it? Same as all belts and hoses? Keep the old ones as road spares. Lol.
Keep all the oil/tools/grease somewhere that is easy to get to, you don't want to be unloading on the side of the road looking for that stuff! same goes for the cooler for you guys. Keep it easy to get at.
I know it's all easy stuff but you'd be surprised at how many people forget that kinda stuff when packing. As well keep a good flashlight and make It easy to find and get at.

[Mikes offroad]

I am not pulling a trailer as of right now (that might change). Went through the Jeep and changed all fluids, installed a aftermarket tranny cooler new ball joints. Have all the spare parts I need (JK Experience requierment) Will be carrying a full supply of tools and liquids just in case. We will see how it goes lifted 4.5" and on 37's will be the fun part I think. Was worried about the tires but I just got an email from Teresa at Off Road Evolution stating that NITTO Tires one of the sponsers for the JK Experience are giving a set of tires to every guest this year (any style any size) Thought that was super cool.