Long trip tow vehicle maintenance

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

So, we're still newbies with a handful of trips / one year experience in the world of TT camping /traveling. So far our longest trip has been about 1000 mile round trip. We are now planning for a big trip that will end up being well over 3K miles, maybe closer to 4K depending on how it goes.
So what do most people do for regular service / oil changes on the tow vehicle in this scenario? Service it right before the trip and just let it run over the regular interval 'till you get home? I'm sure this is fine for our expected length of trip, considering the number of "never changed the oil in a gazillion miles" stories you hear around shops / vehicle discussions. I guess I'm just kinda thinking out loud that I wonder if some might take time out of a trip to tend to the vehicle a little and which way they do it?

[lbrjet]

rbpru wrote:
I thought it was odd that I had over 6K miles and the oil change light did not come on. About 4K was in tow haul mode.

I usually go 5000 miles between changes. My F-150 e-boost has 6 quarts of oil, maybe that is why.

If your Ford is like my Ford the OLM doesn't care if you are towing or not. It is simply based on 7500 miles.

[majorgator]

proxim2020 wrote:
The technology has changed quite a bit. Modern OLMs now monitor several environmental variables and engine parameters like temperatures and engine load. In essence, it knows when you're towing and begins to penalizes the service interval. Edmunds did a test comparing the OLM to the results of an actual oil analysis. They showed that the OLMs tended accurate, but conservative (2000 mile left on actual life). They also showed that the OLM is capable of remaining accurate even with a change in conditions. If you really want to know what's going on in there, an oil analysis is always king.

Apparently technology moves faster than me 😉
This is very impressive.

[rbpru]

I thought it was odd that I had over 6K miles and the oil change light did not come on. About 4K was in tow haul mode.

I usually go 5000 miles between changes. My F-150 e-boost has 6 quarts of oil, maybe that is why.

[legolas]

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Why not get it serviced wherever you are?

X2, just back from a 6 week trip from Asheville NC to Flagstaff AZ and back. Had the oil/filter/27point etc at the Chevy dealer in Flagstaff.

[Community Alumni]

The technology has changed quite a bit. Modern OLMs now monitor several environmental variables and engine parameters like temperatures and engine load. In essence, it knows when you're towing and begins to penalizes the service interval. Edmunds did a test comparing the OLM to the results of an actual oil analysis. They showed that the OLMs tended accurate, but conservative (2000 mile left on actual life). They also showed that the OLM is capable of remaining accurate even with a change in conditions. If you really want to know what's going on in there, an oil analysis is always king.

[majorgator]

Mr. C wrote:
GM included 2yr/24K maintenance with this truck--basically change the oil and rotate the tires. They will change it when the computer says 20% oil life--the oil change light comes on after about 7000 mi. I'll get one more service from them before the 2 yrs is up, then switch to Mobil 1, and a shorter change interval.

Just a word of caution on this, the computer bases its "oil life" on the RPM's. Unless the technology has changed over the last few years, that's how its done. Its accurate for non-hauling, daily driver kind of habits. Add a load and you have to change the oil and little sooner than the computer says. Like I said in my last post, getting an oil analysis goes a long way in understanding the service nature of your vehicle.

Funny, I know people that still believe you have to change the oil every 3K miles. I try to reason with them, but they help make this economy a little better, so I don't push the issue 😉

[rbpru]

My wife and I did 6648 miles in 6 weeks and 2 day. We wanted to see Montana and all the sights between. We saw a lot.

Before I left I did the following.
* Dropped the spare tire and make sure the crank assembly was not rusted solid.
* Checked that I had a full sized spare, not a donut or other low ratings tire.
* Jacked up the TT to be sure my hydraulic jack would work.
* Purchased a torque wrench and found the torque specs for both the TT and TV wheels.
* Purchased a spare TT tire.
* Borrowed a small air compressor.

In the end I used them all. The TV got a rock puncture in Rockies about half way through the trip. The TT tire picked up a large staple about 1000 mile from home. Two tire changes and I was on my way in less time than it takes to call road side service. The only issue is wrestling with those darn tires at my age.

As for service, the tire repairs we local; my oil change had to wait until I got home.

[lbrjet]

We just returned from an Arizona to Maine trip visiting 20 states over 5 months. I usually change my oil myself, but while on the road I schedule changes at Ford dealers along the way.

[Mr__C]

GM included 2yr/24K maintenance with this truck--basically change the oil and rotate the tires. They will change it when the computer says 20% oil life--the oil change light comes on after about 7000 mi. I'll get one more service from them before the 2 yrs is up, then switch to Mobil 1, and a shorter change interval.

[majorgator]

Keep in mind that intervals between all scheduled maintanence procedures decrease when the vehicle is constantly under load. For example, under normal (unloaded) conditions, oil/filter can be changed every 5K to 6K miles. If you've got 2K miles on the oil and your trip with TT adds another 2K miles, then you should probably change it when you get back.

All speculative of course, but the point is that more load equals more strain, which means more frequent maintenance. For $25 you can do a Blackstone Labs oil analysis, which will help you determine wear characteristics of your TV engine and offer some insight on suggested maintenance. Well worth the money IMO.

[Timtation]

Check wheel alignment, get a temp sensor gun if you don't have one and go. I check hub and tire temps every day at the first or second rest stop. Check tire pressures weekly on the TT, the TV has a monitor. If you don't do the temp thing check the tire pressures daily and put a hand to the hub if you haven't braked hard going to the rest area/stop.
My guess is that with today's equipment there are more operator oversight problems than mechanical problems, old tires, low tires, lost pins, unlatched awnings, loose stuff in the RV etc.
jmho

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Heavy Metal Doctor wrote:
Ok, The interval for me is 3000 or 3500 (I'd have to look at the owners manual again - only done one oil change as of yet) on a fairly new gasser -- 5800 miles on the ODO when I looked today. So I will just do the service early, a week or 2 ahead of the trip, and then again right after. I doubt if I'll run over by too much anyway. I am just kinda pondering it all because I'm a bit of schedule freak, though. Sticking to the book for preventive maint. has given me 300K to 450K on few previous vehicles, but they where not used for dragging 7K Lbs of TT around.

:h

You say you stick to the book but then you say you change the oil at 3000 or 3500.

When does the book say to change the oil? :h

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

Ok, The interval for me is 3000 or 3500 (I'd have to look at the owners manual again - only done one oil change as of yet) on a fairly new gasser -- 5800 miles on the ODO when I looked today. So I will just do the service early, a week or 2 ahead of the trip, and then again right after. I doubt if I'll run over by too much anyway. I am just kinda pondering it all because I'm a bit of schedule freak, though. Sticking to the book for preventive maint. has given me 300K to 450K on few previous vehicles, but they where not used for dragging 7K Lbs of TT around.

[john_bet]

I serviced mine just before we left in May. Returned home 50 days and 7k+ miles later in July. Just did service last week again for the winter.

[dave54]

Engines are better than they used to be, and oil and fluids are better.

Most vehicles are now 5k-7.5k or more between recommended changes. Get it changed before the trip, with a good lookover at everything while it is up on the rack and don't worry about it. If you are really working your rig hard you can use the 'severe service' maintenance schedule.