Road trip coming, need advice.

[Deacon]

Hello,

in a couple of days I'll be doing a road trip, 5000 km roughly, and since it will be the first long one that I'll do in this car, I need advices what I should look up before leaving.

Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I'll drive the car to the garage for the clutch, engine oil+filters and transmission oil to be changed (finally). The serpentine belt problem is already gone, have new belt fitted and the pulleys are fine (more on that I'll write in my other thread ). Also this year I've refiled the spheres and the last year I've changed the LHM and the brake pads. The coolant is on its 3/4 year limit and is due to be changed, but I think I'll leave it for the next year. The final main component that I can think of, that needs a check, are the tires and they're all good and new.

I know that it's a "so-so" situation to say what needs to be checked on a car that you cannot see, but I'll be happy to hear your advices and opinions.
The car is nearing the 165 000 KM mark.

Thanks

[Mandrake]

It would be helpful to know what kind of car it was...

[Deacon]

Ups, sorry, I thought I have added the car in my profile.
It's a Xantia Estate MK.2 1.9 TD, 1999.

[Stickyfinger]

Recovery Insurance would be good, one that supplies a replacement hire car...

[VertVega]

It seems that your car had several important services made and it has a low mileage. That's good.

Here are some first ideas that comes to my mind.
The list would be endless but these are some important things
which should be taken care before long road trips:
- Spare tire release mechanism is working
- Spare tire pressure around 2.5 or 2.6 bars
- Scissor jack and tire change tools available in car
- Essential tools in a toolbox in the car
- 1 liter LHM, 1 liter engine oil
- First aid bag and traffic jacket (reflective jacket) for you and for each passenger
- Green card for your car from your insurance company
- Check beforehand if you need vignette (road tax sticker) for the countries you'll visit
- Even if you have a Navigator keep a paper map in the car

Edit: For road tolls and vignettes you can check this link
http://www.tolltickets.com/default.aspx ... n-GB&mnu=c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My favorite route planning site: http://www.viamichelin.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You can select/deselect options like,
*) Favour highways, *) avoid tolls, *) avoid vignettes and etc.

I never try to teach anybody on the road, especially in abroad countries because I have to
keep in mind that I am just visiting their country and they live there. This advice I read
somewhere which I liked very much and always keep it in mind.

[jgra1]

good advice there,,

I brought annual European breakdown last week, for a year it was only £60 I think.. covers all the usual stuff including hire car and your car recovered back to UK.,., still a pain if it goes wrong, but not expensive and cheaper than buying one trip cover, if you plan a few continental trips..

[myglaren]

Spare bulbs - a legal requirement in France and possibly other European countries now.

[Stickyfinger]

Spare bulbs - a legal requirement in France and possibly other European countries now.

+ A set of torx heads, spanners and an assistant to take off the bumper to change them when they blow

[VertVega]

,,,take off the bumper ...

That's not for XANTIA but may be for C5 bulb change

[Deacon]

Thanks for the answers to all of you, guys! I'm writing down everything. I'm a young driver, so this will be my first long road trip and I want to make sure that I've "tighten my trousers"; "done my homework" before going on the highway.

In my country, Bulgaria, the type of insurance that "Stickyfinger" suggested, is available unfortunately only to vehicles that are under 3 (4 at most) years old... Still I have the highest level insurance that I could find for my case, i.e. towing vehicle home in case of accident, etc. I need to get the Green card from my insurance company though.

This "European breakdown" got me interested, I hope I'll never have to use it though, but you never know... So, as far as I read now, it's also available on continental Europe, right? If so, does it cover all of Europe (EU) and which are the best companies offering the "European breakdown" that should be considered? Is ADAC's "Plus" program such a thing and does it cover all of Europe?

Thanks

[VertVega]

I can try to write more tips for long road trip later on when I have some more time
I had also several long trips and with my Xantia longest trip was 11076 km in 5 weeks and without any problems