I'm aware of the dual voltage system and now the starter relay issue (which I think is what you're referring to with the "run on starter issue"). Or is the starter solenoid itself prone to sticking? I might replace the relay as PM, carry an extra starter should that prove the culprit, and make sure I know which fuse to pull should it become an issue since they're there in the cab. I've pulled cars with inop fuel gauges. My DD didn't actually come with one from the factory and I've kept it stock; it uses a kick-over reserve tap. The strategy there is to know the vehicles range, subtract a percentage suitable to the status of the vehicle (usually 50% as a safety), and fuel up by miles until the reliability of the fuel gauge is established. I definitely always have a pretty healthy electrical kit after replacing the rear of the harness I referenced earlier. I'll need to add some modern American-style fuses and connectors for this one. Thank you very much, Recovery4x4
Stickies on this and other applicable forums have been read thoroughly and multiple times. Additionally, most of the TMs have been read cover to cover with the last one to be consumed between now and departure. Thanks. The Youtube video I posted represents the approximate mentality; I've been doing this since long before that show has been around. It's fun. If/when something goes wrong, that's what MAKES it fun. It's not an adventure until something goes wrong. A 1000 mile road trip across the middle of the country is pretty freaking boring, and I love wrenching and solving challenging mechanical puzzles. Call me crazy. I would say my wife thinks so (and usually she does and is correct), but she's been with me on some of these trips and she totally gets it. It combines her desire to travel with my desire to play with machines, and we generally meet interesting people along the way. In fact, the engine swap in a hotel parking lot I referred to was on our honeymoon. If things get really bad, we've had to reach out to the enthusiast community for help, and meeting these people is always a blast and makes for fantastic friendships; I'm getting the vibe that may not be an option with this vehicle niche, but it is what it is. I guess there aren't a lot of long distance MV road trips going on. Too bad.
In lieu of a production crew or sponsor or what have you, I typically bring a willing accomplice (most of the time anyway) and something on the order of 100# worth of tools and parts in a duffel big enough to carry a body. Some things are bought upon arrival, like fire extinguishers, probably a hi-lift jack in this case, and other vehicle specific things that can be purchased on site and/or are too big/heavy to check at the air port. Included in that bag is usually an entire top end at the very least, because the sorts of cars I usually do this with aren't the sort where you can just walk into any FLAPS and get parts due to age, obscurity, or both. On some cars I'll bring the majority of a brake system, but I don't think that's a weak spot on these save maybe dry rotted soft lines. I'll probably do the same here versus attempting to buy/rush order anything simply due to the time constraint. There are special parts to these militarized trucks, and those will be accounted for (M1009 Newbee, I'll probably take you up on the loaner parts since I don't intend to keep some of the parts you're offering in their stock configuration), but they're really pretty common trucks; especially when you consider GM's parts bin strategy in the 80s.
At most with a vehicle like this, I'll end up with one, maybe two issues that might affect the trip in question, though many others would undoubtedly surface should I not perform the requisite PM and just continue driving it as is. If I'm prepared for them, it makes that second day necessary and fun. If not, it can add a few days; I'm self employed, so I can take a few days off if and when I want or even work from the side of the road with grease up to my elbows, NBD. If I check all the PM boxes right, I'll have a very uneventful trip, listen to an audiobook maybe, and be able to start stripping things down from the comfort of my shop on that second planned day. The whole reason I started this thread was to figure out what PM boxes are worth checking upon arrival and what boxes, if any, are worth paying someone else to do before I get there. I think I have a complete enough picture, and will be properly prepared. Thanks to all.
