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Thread: Have any forum members driven a Series lll cross country?

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  1. #1

    Default Have any forum members driven a Series lll cross country?

    Hello, I'm picking up a Series lll in Seattle and running it cross country through Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, Minnesota Wisco, etc all the way to Cape Cod. It has a 2.25 petrol engine and is in very good shape. Is still a sprung suspension no parabolic etc. Have any of you done this? Just looking for advice.I am aware of the limitations. Much of the trip will be done on back roads. I'm taking three weeks to complete so I can fly fish in Idaho and Montana. Mainly car camping with good gear. Any and all advice, comments, routes, scenic and fishing related are welcomed.

    Much thanks,
    Squid

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    46

    Default

    Chiming in as I'd like to see what others say- I was just thinking about this recently. The longest trip I've made in a day in mine is about 200 miles. I stopped every hour or so. I'd like to hear what others recommend doing to keep a long cross country in a stock Series truck palatable.
    1976 RHD Series 3 - SOLD
    1989 Land Rover 90 LHD
    1940 Piper J3F-50 Cub

  3. #3

    Default

    Here are a few blogs about relatively recent long distance trips:

    https://thewildrovers.wordpress.com/

    http://cambrianadventures.blogspot.com/2012/?m=0

    http://www.seriestrek.com/trips.html

    They are pretty good reads..........

    Regards,

    David

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Bergen County NJ
    Posts
    265

    Default

    I've done Oregon to NJ in a 2a 109, 2.25 petrol. We made a vacation out of it, about three weeks. an AMAZING time.
    An overdrive is key. We could cruise on the highways with traffic and also had "extra" gears to make those long uphills go smoother. Without an overdrive I don't think this would be bearable.

    Now if you're strapped for time, that would be a different story. Having to rush or hit mileage deadlines woudl be stressful. Especially when youre stranded for two days fixing a broken truck. That can be fairly enjoyable or incredibly stressful.

    Go FOR IT!

    ~Steve
    ---- 1969 Bugeye ----
    ---- 1962 Dormobile ----

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Marblehead, MA
    Posts
    383

    Default

    I've done a few 3-5 day trips.

    My advice/thoughts:

    - Overdrive is pretty important if you are going to be hitting steep hills or mountain regions. "Splitting" 3rd is super important for engine braking on long downhills so you don't go so slow in 3rd gear that traffic is ticked off or go so fast in 4th that you need to ride the brakes. It's also important for splitting 3rd gear on long uphills where 4th can't cut it and 3rd will scream and slow you down too much (ticked off traffic).

    - Use Google's Map app. Use the "avoid highways" feature. Mainstreets and backroads will show you true Americana. Also - those backroads and speeds are better suited to a Series Truck. I try to stay off the highway as much as possible.

    - If you have a home base is Seattle, try a few shakedown trips/dry runs. Do an all day round trip somewhere. Make sure everything runs well. Series trucks that have only been driven around town on short hops all the time act differently when run for hours on end and constant higher speeds.

    - That’s a 3000+ mile trip. Make sure the oil has been changed and everything else is full (both diffs, gear box, transfer box, overdrive (if equipped), both front swivel balls and steering box.

    - Bose noise cancelling headphones are your friend - and, you can listen to/hear music.

    - Bring Spares. Others will have their own thoughts but I like to bring a tool roll, spare bulbs, spare distributor, spare coil, extra 90wt oil (can be hard to find on the road).

    - Read this book. The driver, and his Series 3, loop from DC to Canada and join a caravan/expedition driving from the Canadian Border to the Border of Mexico - with lot's of adventures and trail riding in-between.

    - Cell phone holder (inside windshield)

    - Sign up for the Birmabright Brotherhood

    - Bring a 5 weight and 6 weight! Call ahead to the local shops to see what’s takin.

    Good luck!
    Last edited by lumpydog; 08-03-2018 at 06:34 PM.
    1968 Series IIa
    1997 Defender SW (Original Owner - Sold)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    82

    Default

    This is a great thread about something I've wanted to do but never knew if my truck could handle it.

    My plan has been to drive from Dallas to South Carolina via I-80 and see the sights.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    The Granite State (NH)
    Posts
    3,435

    Default

    Having driven from the top right corner of the country to the bottom left corner of the country in 5 days in a SIII, my recommendation would be to install a "normal" cable-operated throttle pedal before the trip--The funky, high factory pedal has your foot at an increasingly excruciating angle that gets to be a real endurance challenge after hour 5 on the road.
    --Mark

    1973 SIII 109 RHD 2.5NA Diesel

    0-54mph in just under 11.5 minutes
    (9.7 minutes now that she's a 3-door).

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    British Columbia
    Posts
    12

    Default

    Hello Squid,
    I drove my IIA the 475 mile (one way) between our home in SE BC and the Seattle area several times. I did all but one of them in one long day. I have a Fairey overdrive and parabolic springs and survived it ok despite being past age 70 at the time.


    Look up and read Peter's book recommended by lumpydog- its a great read and accurate. My wife and I did the trip with him and his co-drivers. We drove our 94 Disco. There was about an equal number of series rigs and coilers. The only series breakdown that I remember was an overdrive failure on a series three. It took about an hour to diagnose the problem and remove the overdrive. Several coilers had mechanical problems (including ours).

    As soon as we got home I began to look for as series rig and now have two.

    There is a professionally done VHS tape floating around of that trip titled Border to Border Trans-American Trek 98.


    Good luck on your trip,
    Cheers, Brian

  9. #9

    Default

    I drove my IIA from Maine to Alaska and then from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego over about 5 months. What everyone has said here is good sense and of value. Things might break; you'll be able to get them fixed. People will be eager to help. Seconding the overdrive notion. I had a Fairey then which I drove until it was scrap metal; I have a Roamerdrive now which is worth it. Use it all the time. Good luck.
    Tom
    1969 Series IIA 88"
    I like it because I understand how it works (mostly).

  10. #10

    Default

    Thanks for all the helpful hints. Getting ready to bring through customs soon. Put on new 4 core radiator as well as new fuel tank. Truck has inspected out well. Only 18,000 k on clock and has lead head with hardened vales, 5 bearing..... Getting excited. Off to British Columbia to pick up on Sept. 18.

    Here is link to photos of truck. Jeff Aronson of Rovers Mag has been very helpful. Thanks Jeff! I'll update shortly if you guys want to come along! Best Squid!

    https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...tB?usp=sharing

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