Long trip tow vehicle maintenance

Drbolasky wrote:
True enough. However, on our last extended voyage in 2009 I packed my own oil, filter & container for the used oil for a change I knew I'd need to maintain the warranty. We found ourselves in Las Vegas when the change needed to happen - I was astounded to find the local dealer did the oil & filter change for me for less than I paid for my own stuff. Go figure.

I don't necessarily trust a shop just because it has an automakers sign out front. I know with Ford at least, the dealership often has a "Quick Lane" business, which is nothing more than another Jiffy Lube type business. You can't even be sure they are using their own brands. They use whatever is cheapest. But I can't speak for all brands or even all Ford dealerships.

proxim2020 wrote:

I perform all of my maintenance on my vehicles, but I would never even think of performing an oil change in a campground. Even if the rules didn't strictly prohibiting it. In my driveway with fairly large catch pan sitting on top of an even larger drip pan, I've still have had some pretty bad unexpected disasters. It only takes one gust of wind and your oil is spraying everywhere. I once had a car that immediately sprayed out 2.5 qts of oil because of a bad seal on a new filter (no more STP filters after that day!). At the first rain in a campground, that stuff's running into some water table or some nearby lake or stream. If it's really necessary to change your oil, do it in the parking lot of the store where you buy the oil from. They're probably more adequately equipped to contain a accidental spill than you would be in a campground.

It's pretty simple on my truck. A 5 gal bucket fits under there without lifting the truck, and I have a Fumoto valve, so no tools are required to drain it. I actually use those kitty litter buckets, which are about 4 gallons and are disposable. The perfect size for most diesel pickups. Just drop the whole bucket off at any lube shop nearby. You would have to screw it up pretty bad to make a mess, but you could knock over a bucket. Things can and do happen. I think the riskiest part is driving with the bucket to the drop-off place. I would tape that lid down well if going far. Never had to actually change it away from home, so this is all speculation. But if you think about hot-shot drivers for example, they have to deal with this every week or two if they are racking up the miles. The few that I've known have all insisted on doing their own maintenance, for financial reasons as well as trust in a job done right.