Long trip survival guide - anyone got a list?

I'd suggest an appointment with a chiropractor when you get to your destination.

 

after a three hour drive I had to get out and walk around to get the blood back in my left leg and back.

 

Foam earplugs, AAA card or equivalent, credit card, cell phone. A break every 3 hours for fuel/personal refreshment and you're good to go. You might want to throw some oil in if your car burns it.

 

I drove my 328 3000 miles in 3 days from Las Vegas to Maryland. Carried a bunch of tools in the trunk but had no need for anything except money/card for gas. I'd suggest you don't need anything at all but maybe the reason I had no trouble was that I had the tools!

Essentially I carried a 3/8 drive metric socket set with 6-22mm sockets, a set of screwdrivers, a roll of elec tape, a pair of vicegrips, an 8" crescent wrench some 14ga wire, some crimp connectors/crimp pliers, a multimeter, one quart of oil, and a few rags. As I said, didn't use anything at all and the car ran like a watch.

ONLY complaint I had is that since there is no cruise control, the right leg/foot can get a bit tired - we're talking 12-14 hour days in the cockpit. Other than that, it was fine.

 

Guy I know drove a Fiat 500 around the world in 2007 and when I asked what spares he was packing he said "None; whatever you take, you can be sure it will be something else you actually need." I'm of the water, oil, credit card and phone brigade but I DO have the wire with spades to direct wire the cooling fans in my car at all times.

 

Last month I drove my 308 770 miles, Portland-Monterey, gas stops only. Four 4 days later reversed the trip. Lots of 80-90 deg temperature, no a/c, driver's window always open, I caught an undeserved throat cold plus an 80 in 65 citation.

My advice, don't worry about the car and don't get complacent about the speed. It's tough staying near the limit without cruise control and with SUVs constantly pushing you on the interstates. They go unnoticed but you won't. With the goal of covering ground without unnecessary speed or stops, take water bottles & drink plenty of water only, exercise your legs during gas stops only, no meal stops until you're done for the day. The car will take car of itself. Maybe pickup a can of air but otherwise if your car is well maintained and you've bonded with it, it will not let you down. Doing the trip again, I'd get a Valentine and instead of a T shirt use a light collared shirt i.e. something around my neck. My car doesn't like to lug under 3k but above that it is good for any length trip. Oh, carry 4-6 qts of oil and add 1/2 qt each 250 mile gas stop, my hwy is 25mpg.

 

When I go to get my 308 (thought it was going to be today, but my wife was sick) I plan on driving it about 400 miles on its maiden voyage. I figure this is a good time to bond with the car. It will have just undergone its Major and should be in tip-top shape.


PDG

 

Tend to agree with above, car well serviced just check the levels before the off, personal needs and go! Used to do London to Le Mans each year, 3,000 km round trip, no issues apart from the French holding up signs saying Slow Down, then Accelerate Hard so that their mate 100m down the road could video you! Joyful times

 

Establish the rules for I Spy with My Little Eye early...to avoid arguments

 

Es...saw your car at "Rocks" last week....love the interior. All in all, since your car is there, i would say initially you should have no issues with the long trip...but things do happen. So i recommend the following :

1) Cell phone charged
2) CAA card
3) 2 kinds of credit cards / some cash
4) Camera

Some of these guys are pretty courageous with 3 hrs in one of these things, i find it horrid going in a straightline for longer than an hour...since your taking the 401, going east/west, i suggest every 2 hrs do the splash and dash...get your timmies coffee, and stretch.

And take your pics along the way, one thing i forgot on my trip.....its nice to have the long term pics of your car in different background shots across the country...makes for great memories.....especially your kids or grand kids...my only regret on a long trip i didnt do.

 

If the car is well sorted, and the belts are in good condition, you really shouldn't need anything. On long trips, about the only thing I take is a spare alternator/water pump belt, as finding the right sized belt in the middle of nowhere can be a problem. Usually change the oil and filter just before a long trip, check the air filter to be sure it's clean, take some basic tools, some duct tape, wire, tire pressure gauge, small multi-meter, some spare fuses, and go. Oh, and I have a portable Sirius unit that I can move from car to car. Nice to be able to find music and news in the middle of nowhere also.

Have fun! And pictures; we want pictures!!

 

For my last road trip in my 928, I packed a roll of coolant hose repair tape, a tire plug kit, a can of fixaflat, a small can of starter fluid, a small can of MAF cleaner, JB Weld, WD-40, half roll of electrical wire, spare fuses, 3 different spare relays, a first aid kit, and a small 300 amp Red Cross battery jump start charger. Tools are already in the car.

I've added a small can of starter fluid to my 348's tool kit for its trips now, too.

 

...also bring MICROFIBER TOWELS, SPEED SHINE or the generic equivalent, plus a couple of 5-roll packs of the widest BLUE PAINTER'S TAPE. It won't scratch the surface of the car, but great to pull over on the side of the road, and tape-off the front end before heading into a dust storm, or onto unexpected gravel area.

 

ear plugs due to loud exhaust. 308 is surprisingly relable and durable (provided it is properly serviced). As for seats, dump the stock's for Sparco's and get a bead seat for it made... or just get the stock seat redone with proper foam.

 

ear plugs - DEFINITELY, I forgot to mention that they (actually my Bose noise cancelling headphones) were invaluable during my 12-14 hour driving days.

 

Change the rest of the hoses

Gerrit

I always carry a spare coil, for some reason I had 1 in the car and needed it on the drive from Niagara on the Lake to Niagara Falls. Car went to 4 cylinders going up the steep hill to the Brock Monument lookout!

And I second the ear plugs.
Bring wrenches (only a few sizes needed, e.g. 8, 10, 13, 17) and socket set, screw drivers, good flashlight, pliers.

 

In 2005 I drove across Canada, 20,000Km in a month and above was it for accessories. Also recommend some lumbar pillows for back.

 

I drive my cars daily and on long trips. To the airport i rent. But these cars do not require many tools. I carry the tools required to do a timing belt and fluid changes. That will pretty much cover all the tools you need. Besides the spare relays, fuses, electrical parts etc.

 

"I carry the tools required to do a timing belt and fluid changes. "

Well, I have to admit that I can't see any reason to carry that sort of stuff. If a timing belt breaks, the subsequent engine damage means that replacing the belt won't "fix" the engine so you can't repair it on the side of the road. But heck, as this thread clearly indicates, it's all about what makes each individual owner feel comfortable.

 

With a known, well-maintained car, you should need "nothing"...

I've done both a 2000km trip in a Boxer...and a 5000km trip in a 328. Other than being a bit sore and deaf, no issues with either car.

David

 

That about sums it up. I agree with Tillman's list exactly.

The best mechanical emergency kit for a 3X8 is a thorough check before you leave. These cars don't really fall apart like an old British car, and there isn't much that can break that you can really fix on the side of the road; it will either be too hard to reach by the side of the road (e.g. belts, hoses), expensive (e.g. Digiplex), or not readily available at a local auto parts store (e.g. spark plug extenders). Really, knowing the condition of your car and making sure it is tip-top and tidy are all you need. The only 308 breakdowns I have heard of from friends who own them have been things like an old hose and fuse block/fuel pump fuse/wire issues -- things that could have easily been prevented.