Long trip maintenance

[Gooseslayer717]

My truck is a 2011 SLE 5.3l Ext Cab 6'6" bed with trailer tow package with 105k miles. When i purchased it at 70k miles it already had a  3" lift.

I am prepping to travel to North Dakota from Pennsylvania and will be towing a 5x8 enclosed trailer filled with waterfowl decoys and hunting gear. I will have 3 guys in the truck along with a dog so it will be a long ride.

I have done most of the 100k mile maintenance such as tranny fluid and filter, new front and rear diff oil, new coolant, new spark plugs and wires, new belt, new air filter and some other minor things.

I was hoping to get information on any other engine parts that would be recommended to change, along with suspension. The 3" is just a body lift and i know that can cause increased strain on the suspension parts.

I have already had to replace Upper control arms (looked like oem) and replaced with an upgraded version meant for 3" lift. I was debating replacing front hubs, tie rods, and rear shocks and was wondering if i should go with OEM or look for better stuff.

This is my daily driver and soon to be just work truck as i look for a car to save the truck.

Edited April 15, 2021 by Gooseslayer717

[Grumpy Bear]

If you are current on maintenance items it's pretty much safety checks. Got enough tread, brakes, suspension tight and aligned, good wipers, washer tank full, lights all work and an oil change, pack it up and get.  She don't know if you going out for milk or to Mexico...

Edited April 15, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

[Sharpz]

blistein 5100's are a worthy upgrade from stock. I am not sure what you have on them now or how long they have been on. Be sure to purchase another serpentine drive belt or keep the old one in your truck/trailer just in case. Keeping fuses in the glove box and plenty of coolant is an essential for those trips. Also a few quarts of oil on hand wouldnt hurt. 

[sefiroxx]

We ran a 4x4 suburban cross country in the summer for a decade.

- new fluids
- early replacement of battery and pads as needed.
- full grease
- heavy wax job the front end

We hit 350k with no problems

[swathdiver]

13 hours ago, Gooseslayer717 said:

My truck is a 2011 SLE 5.3l Ext Cab 6'6" bed with trailer tow package with 105k miles. When i purchased it at 70k miles it already had a  3" lift.

I am prepping to travel to North Dakota from Pennsylvania and will be towing a 5x8 enclosed trailer filled with waterfowl decoys and hunting gear. I will have 3 guys in the truck along with a dog...

That's a milk run, don't worry about it.  If you are going to be off road, make sure the tires are up for the task and consider carrying a couple cans of fix-a-flat and or a tire plug kit.

 

My daughter just purchased a 2012 Sierra unicorn with 6" lift and 35" mud tires  and drove it back from Idaho in three days.

[KARNUT]

My brother in law routinely keeps GM vehicles past two hundred thousand miles. Doesn’t hesitate to take long distance trips in them. His personal vehicle an 05 GMC pickup has 280K. My Avalanche has 178. I’d take it anywhere. All regular maintenance when required.


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