g741.org

"Differentials-open and inspect; no spare, I'll chance it...."

First, one cannot "open and inspect" a Tracta diff w/o taking apart/off each drum, hub, and knuckle (front diff) then removing the center chunk (X2);

Second, running with no spare is a sure invitation for trouble, and once you lose one it'll be on the hauler anyway.

Third, have a fire extinguisher with you and a cell phone.

Forgive me for firing off red flares, as that is not my intention, but many of us on this forum have learned from just such a circumstance and are hoping a fellow member doesn't have to find out the hard way.

Again, good luck; I'm standing down.
Gary

My question would be how far are you planning to drive it with all these new parts? What type of weather are you expecting to drive it in? I probably wouldn't think twice about 200 miles or so in the middle of summer with that setup (with good cell coverage anyway). Middle of winter would be a different story, I don't walking or waiting in the summer. Winter can be too cold to do either...

The final decision will be yours to make, and its gonna' be a 50/50 shot wether you regret it or not.

I vote for the hauler if you can swing the funds. The weather alone can poo-poo a well intentioned trip with an untested vehicle.
I can appreciate the notion of "adventure" though...

Its' about 275 miles, non-highway, and I should have it on the road a few days or a week prior for a bit of a shakedown.

I appreciate the cautionary notes. I'm just trying to ensure that known high-failure items at least get looked at, if not rebuilt.

New tires, the total engine rebuild, seal replacements, fluid and lube replacements, electrical work, etc. etc. - if this isn't enough for an 8-10 hour, 40-45MPH ride, I bought the wrong vehicle. If I get 80 miles down the road and the wheels fall off, I'll come back and eat crow.

Hey, looking at the bright side, at least it can't sink.

Hey, Gary, no worries. In the back of my current (very reliable) ride, I've got a couple quarts of oil, pint of brake fluid, toolbox, a few liters of drinking water, foul weather gear, flashlight, hand-held CB, spare batts for both, and an MRE. You just never know, after all... Doesn't everybody carry an extinguisher/first aid kit?

Thanks Mark-I appreciate that!

Sorry to say, but No, I've seen a number of HMVs f.o.r.d. (found on road, dead) because those operators didn't carry their tools, extinguishers, first aid kits, etc. Mine is stuffed with all kinds of "I might need this" gear, to include tools, cheater pipe, BFH, grease gun, a couple of blankets, pile caps, G.I. glove inserts and the like (and of course, a fire extinguisher and first aid kit). You gotta love the under-seat spaces and the cargo side boxes on the M37-right folks?!

It sounds as though you are well-prepared, so let us know you arrived safely!
Gary