My friends and I have been trying to plan a trip to Moab, coming from the twin cities of Minnesota. Trip will be in July of 09 and it will be my XJ and two TJ's. We are planning on stopping at many places in Colorado and then proceeding to Moab. After Moab we will go to Las Vegas to meet up with my best friend who lives there. We will then be moving him back to MN and stopping at more trials on the route home. So thats the plan........
My questions are.......
What things should I do (and my buddies) to my jeep before the trip to ensure a safe and non-problematic trip?
What extra parts should we bring, for the most common break downs on the trails?
What tools should we bring?
Anyone want to meet up along the way to do some wheeling and see the local trails??
Anyone from MN wanna join us??
And any other info we may need for the long and amazing trip??

Thanks guys so much for all your help and info!!!
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Go with routine maint. stuff, check the brakes, change fluids, flush cooling sys, etc., etc.

I'd almost certainly say an extra set of new belt, plug/coil wires, dist. cap, coil, spark plugs, tie rod ends, pickle fork, u-joints, u-joint press, and an expanded set of basic tools.

Oh, don't forget the duct tape, zip ties, a BFH, JB Weld, Bars Leak and vice grips.

haha thanks a lot buddy!!! that helps me a lot!!! some of that stuff has been done very recently.... anything else guys??????

take some PB blaster and a breaker bar. bring as many extra parts as you can fit, like ujoints, or even spare driveshafts. stock up on extra fluids, and anything that will be most likely to break.

Oh DUH! I'm stupid... Took me reading a trail ride post to remember...

HOSES! (clamps and water too, a blanket is a good idea too) lol

Front axle u-joints are one of the most likely things to brake on the trails, and they usually take out the ears on the axle shafts when they do, so having both inners and at least one outer shaft is a real good idea.

Alot of people carry spare axles as an assembly (inner, outer, & unit bearing) then if a joint and shaft does break, it's a quick swap and they don't have to take off the very tight 36mm nut that retains the outer shaft in the unit bearing.

Don't forget to have a 12point 13mm socket for removing the bolts for the unit bearing.

wow thanks a lot everyone!!!! i never would have guessed half of these things!!

anything else?????????????

Dont forget your HI LIFT and some gas cans!!

spare oil... tools/etc....

Sounds like one hell of a fun time !

Also stopping in Cali to do some surfing and babe watching lol Should be great.... thanks guys!! anything these great buddies missed??

Spare CPS.

Sorry kinda new at this.... what is a CPS?

CPS... Crank Position Sensor... Don't typically have a high fail rate but if it ever quits working, you are SOL. I had it happen travelling before, lucky to be carrying a spare (glad I did) I always carry one now because I drive a lot.

thank you, i will carry one.... found one for 30 bucks thanks

A camera for the babe-watching so we all can relive your trip vicariously.