Not to derail or whatever - I am a veteran. Guvmint paid for all my post-service education. I was not out a single dime.

i want to thank everyone for the advice, it's really helping me set a game plan for the next couple months to get ready for this.

i did just take some pictures and i am going to throw them up here once i get them on my computer.

to add onto every thing. if anyone can point me in the right direction for parts i need and cheapest place to get them. ive normally shopped off rock auto cause it seems to me they have the most OEM selection of parts. i am working with about 5-700$ total for getting this bad boy ready. the truck is going to be paid off in 2 months so it also will give me a little leeway after the move to really start throwing new parts into this.

again thank you guys for everything.
also to the people that have thanked me for my service, i thank you for being supportive of service members in general. i also thank those of you that are veterans that posted here. i know you guys know the struggle of getting out and trying to live off minimal BAH while going to school. i am just hopeful that the career path i have chosen to take will reward me for my time spent being broke

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they are paying for my schooling also... but being a helicopter pilot there are alot of thing that are needed as in books updated charts and all other stuff that the FAA updates every 6 months to a year, that i have to pay for out of pocket my self and NONE of it is cheap hahah

here are the pictures if i can figure out how to get them on here

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Last one looks like maybe the pan gasket is leaking. IF it doesn't get any worse than that, check it off your list until your cash flow is better. Still don't know about the axle. Just make sure to do motor stables on your truck every time you stop for fuel.

Take with you, bottles of oil, tranny fluid and pre mixed coolant and check all every 500 miles.

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2010 2.3 Stick Reg Cab XL - Maxtrac 2 inch coils - Bilstein 5100 front shocks - Bilstein yellow rear shocks

Going east in December isn't ideal. Best to have your truck in the best condition possible and do not exceed the trucks towing capabilities. Be prepared for weather related delays that will add to the cost of food, fuel and lodging to your trip.
Maybe post your planned itinerary so members along your route can lend a hand if needed.

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2001 Ranger XLT, regular cab, stepside, 2.5L, 5 speed, 3.73 rear. All stock, mostly original, but modifications are planned.
72 Chevelle Concours wagon, 454 Fuel Injected BB, 4L80E, 3.31 geared 12 bolt, GM 4 wheel disc brakes

Not to be snarky, but moving from Arizona to Maryland is a fairly sharp turn toward the NORTHEAST, not east. East would be Texas or Louisiana or Florida from Arizona. And I know this don't help. Sorry.

Your truck should handle it just fine. Ive towed a 3000 lb camper multiple times up to 1000 miles. I would drop the tranny pan and change the filter and top it back off. I would put some seafoam into the crank case and suck some into the brake booster vac line. Then wait 1000 miles or so then do your oil change. I would do a full tune up on it while your at it. Check your brakes as it doesn't do you any good to get it rolling if you cant stop it

Hate to agree with GLH lest I make his ego any larger (), but he has a point which concerns safety.

All it takes is one poorly placed ice patch for you and everything you have to go sliding off the road somewhere. I would be extremely careful and plan my trip around weather.

Mods: please dont ban me

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2002 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab, 2.3L Duratec I4, 5-speed manual, 4.10 gears, ~100,000 miles
Power nothing with air conditioning; crank windows for life!
Throttle cable mod, retained accessory power mod, 2006 thermostat w/resistor mod
Headlight relay harness, Philips xtreme-vision bulbs
P235/75R15 Michelin LTX M/S2s

I pulled one of their bigger trailers that was bigger than my truck from Nashville to Houston, then later from Houston to Phoenix with no problems. I have the 3.0 with a 5-speed that had around 145k then..

I got an oil change, new brakes, and a front end alignment and checked all the fluids.

She just chugged right along without any complaints, though I had to gear down into 4th a lot and only averaged 14mpg.

Stopping was a bigger problem than going, so I went mostly 60-65 MPH the whole way on the interstate and made sure to give myself plenty of distance behind the vehicle in front of me. I used the transmission to slow me down on a couple of occasions going downhill instead of the brakes.

You can't slow down to quickly, though or it could jack-knife. A Ranger just isn't big or heavy enough to manhandle a big trailer.

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I've taken my truck across the US 3 times and across Canada twice. Fix your shit make sure it's good to go and don't be a wuss. And keep at least a basic tool set with you.
Also those leaks look like the axle seals to me. Keep an eye of your front diff fluid and you should be fine. My front pinion leaked slightly for a year before I fixed it and I just kept an eye on the fluid level.

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Slightly improved
4.0 5 speed manual, 31 spline torsen, skid plates, brush guard, LT265/75/16, Explorer OHC and more

thank you everyone for the reply! i do plan on making my drive during december and will be taking weather into consideration. all of the advice will be brought into account and will be doing as much as i can to be ready for the drive...

i am not being a wuss about anything, i was trying to just get good advice. which "fix your shit" isnt really good advice. but with the axle and stuff that was.

thank you again everyone. maryland is the east coast... they don't call it the northeast coast and it is a state considered in the south according to the mason dixon line... JUST SAYING hahaha. i will do the one thing where when i start the drive i will make a thread on here and if anything happens and anyone in that state and is near me can help it would be awesome. im not going to assume anything bad is going to happen though.

where are you going in maryland?

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2021 F150 5.0 Screw

Past:18 F150 2.7, 16 F150 5.0, 14 F150 5.0, 07 F150 5.4, 03 Ranger 4.0

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