Road trip prep

[JSolo]

It's been 4 years since I've gone anywhere more than a hundred miles or so. Going a few states away soon. Given it's a new car, prep should be less than on my older car. I still check the following

1) Jack vehicle then inspect tires for punctures and inner sidewall damage
2) Check oil and coolant levels
3) Top off spare
4) Make sure lights/turn signals working

Take with

a) 12V air compressor (87P Portable Compressor | VIAIR)
b) Rope puncture repair kit & tools (blade, pliers, etc)
c) Tire Gauge
d) Large ratchet w/21mm socket
e) Torque wrench
f) flash light
g) Various usb cables/adapters - Have devices that use mini, micro and C connections
i) Extra 128gb microsd for dash cam
j) Jumper cables

What else?

 

[Devin]

It's been 4 years since I've gone anywhere more than a hundred miles or so. Going a few states away soon. Given it's a new car, prep should be less than on my older car. I still check the following

1) Jack vehicle then inspect tires for punctures and inner sidewall damage
2) Check oil and coolant levels
3) Top off spare
4) Make sure lights/turn signals working

Take with

a) 12V air compressor (87P Portable Compressor | VIAIR)
b) Rope puncture repair kit & tools (blade, pliers, etc)
c) Tire Gauge
d) Large ratchet w/21mm socket
e) Torque wrench
f) flash light
g) Various usb cables/adapters - Have devices that use mini, micro and C connections
i) Extra 128gb microsd for dash cam
j) Jumper cables

What else?

Hmm, I didn't do any of those things, aside from having a pressure gauge. But my car had just had service so I was feeling pretty confident.

Always bring water and food just in case.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm more like Devin in this. I get my car checked out, oil changed, fluids checked and topped up, tires checked. And then I go. Tools? Just enough to get the spare on.

 

[SanDiegoBlue]

Instead or in addition to jumper cables, nice to carry a jump pack. Helps if nobody around. I carry the Hulkman Alpha85. Fewer and fewer people care to help others...

 

[JSolo]

I only have the jumper cables, never actually had to use 'em.

If it's something simple, I may try to fix it on the side of the road (tire). Otherwise try to be reasonably prepared.

This is me traveling light. Still there's a plug kit, compressor, some tools, a netbook, clothes, shaver, toothbrush, and some other crap.

 

[777David]

Work gloves or rag to wipe hands off so you don't get your interior dirty after changing a tire.

 

[StingertimeNC]

I always bring water and some protein bars just in case. AR15 is nice to have as well, or at a minimum a Glock. JK on the weapons....sort of.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Work gloves or rag to wipe hands off so you don't get your interior dirty after changing a tire.

I have those, lots of rags. In fact my entire ONR wash kit goes with me on road trips. I stop in a grocery store and buy a couple gallons of distilled water. If I'm visiting family I use their washing machine and dryer, otherwise I find a laundromat to get my towels ready again.

 

[Redleg94]

Work gloves or rag to wipe hands off so you don't get your interior dirty after changing a tire.

I keep a set of those and a small plastic tarp in one of the recesses in the spare tire cover just for the chance that I might need to change a tire.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Depending on how long the trip is, changing oil before you leave might be a good idea.