Taking the family on our first road trip in the Pajero. We are going down to Sandpoint Idaho, which looks like a beautiful spot. Sadly, we won't be doing the Highway to the Sun in Glacier. But, I'll try to take a few poser shots of my truck along the way.

In preparation, I didn't do much as it's been running so well. Just a wash, chassis lube and the usual checks. I did bite the bullet and paid for a professional evac and retrofit to 134a. My Duracool DIY stopped cooling, I didn't know if I overcharged or had a leak. Result of taking it to a pro is a report that I had no leaks, COLD AC again, a warranty on the re-gas (90 days) and 1 year on parts.

Here's hoping the next 2000kms through 90+F weather are trouble free. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Have fun! Sounds like it'll be a blast. I may have to give my machine a trial-by-fire.. there's an illness in the family in Sacramento, CA that we simply can't afford to fly down to. Mapquest says it's a 14 hour drive from here. We might just pack up the baby and let her sleep in her carseat overnight on the way down.

I have an 8 month old making the trip, but I've set it up so we are only driving 3-4 hours max per day. She started to hate traveling, but things improved a lot when we got her out of the infant seat and into the larger child seat. Still rear facing though. She can see more and stretch out more, which I'm sure is a lot more comfortable.

Ed, I just got back from my big trip into BC (see my post in tech), and had no troubles. I'm sure your truck'll do just fine too... you'll be amazed how much more power you have at lower elevations...

Have fun, and take pictures!

That's too funny. My wife and I were just thinking about changing the carseat our 8-month-old daughter rides in to the bigger 15-35lb rear/front-facing one we have been waiting to use. Just for the trip too!
Are we the same person? Are you actually typing this right now? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I just returned from a trip to Castlegar with the family pulling my 13' High wall tent trailer. (read: heavy). I was using the wife's Pajero as mine is currently out of commission. (see my other post re: main pulley) The only issue I had was going up the Kooteny pass from Creston to Salmo. It's a loooong 8% grade that the truck maxed out at about 60 KPH. When I was about 3/4 of the way up the AT/TEMP light came on. I slowed to about 45 KPH and coaxed her up the rest of the way. On the way down the light went off rather quickly. Through most of the mountains she would hold 110KPH without complaint and only on the steeper grades would I have to kick it out of OD and sit in the 80-90 range. All in all I was quite happy. Averaged about 20 MPG (US).

Ya I use mine to pull my tent trailer as well. It has a dry weight of 2200 and a max weight of 3500 pounds. I find that it pulls it great on flat but a bit sluggish up hills (but that is no problem because you still get to the location maybe just not as fast). I am glad to hear that there is a warning for the A/T temp (that is the one thing that I worry about while pulling is killing the transmission) What is your trailers weight?

Mine weighs in at 2460 dry 3500 max. I never pull it wet, I always fill up the water once I get to where I'm going. Most gas stations near your destination don't mind letting you borrow the hose.

Mind you, the fridge's always full of beer on the way there but mysteriously empty on the way back. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

You guys that are towing may want to add a larger tranny cooler, a guy here that was overheating his a/t when traveling up mountains and towing added a second cooler keeping the stock and just adding another inline he hasn't had problems since.

I pull as well - my little tent trailer is a fairly new, light 8 foot (closed) model, around 1800#s UVW. The elevation is what kills me here - last trip I went from 1100 meters down to 300m and up as far as around 1800 meters. I found a huge difference in available power as the altitude increased.

Overall I'm happy with the way it pulls - very stable with a load, esp for a shortie. I am glad I have a stick though - the single auto I ever had (in Betsy III) had me watching the tranny temp light like a hawk all the time. Now its just 4th or 5th, depending on how steep the hill. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />