The Power Ranger, aka What Could Go Wrong?

[Jake]

Jake,

Sorry for your loss. If you are doing this for the adventure or because you really want to drive across country, god speed, but if I were you I would just have it towed to the nearest Carmax and take what you can get for it and donate the money. By the time you factor in your plane ticket, gas, repairs, title fees etc you may end up in the red here, and your time is important too.

Even if you are still going out there to help out, I would just dump it and get a nice rental for your adventure or just fly back. The sketch of driving a 210k mile truck across country is more than I would take on.

Then again, I am still really salty about the Trailblazer, so it may be coloring my opinion here, but let it be a cautionary tale.

Thanks Adam - there are a few things at play here. We (as a family) definitely have to fly out to WA and deal with a few things, plus spread his ashes. So we're going regardless. I thought about the Carmax route, but given we'd like to bring home some of his stone work, this is convenient. Plus, I've never seen that part of the country so why not do the drive and see some things/friends along the way. I've got the PTO at work and assuming it checks out from the mechanic, it should be an easy enough drive. We think he just put new tires on it, so that's one potential big cost gone.

The 4.0/5R55 is a known solid drivetrain so I'm not worried there. If the thing dies along the way, it'll get towed to the nearest Carmax and I'll drive a rental the rest of the way home. Or fly. Or something.