Road trip spares

[Radar]

What do you normally pack for a road trip?

I pack:
1/4 drive set up to 13mm + long extension
Pliers (needle & bull nose)
Vice grips
Side cutters
Small lengths of wire + chocolate block connectors
Electrical tape
Gaffer tape
Cable ties
ATF / brake fluid / oil / coolant / screen wash
Shop towels
Jump box

And I buy European break down cover.

What else would you pack for a 2000 mile euro road trip?

[paultv]

I always take the spare, the jack, a replacement fuel pump, a replacement CPS and a DME relay with spare alternator belt and power steering belt as well as the on-board tool kit.

So basically things that stop the car and could be an issue to obtain on the side of the road...

Oh yeah spare bulb kit which you should carry anyway and a high viz jacket, also an alcohol test kit at least in France!

Otherwise all fluids and other general crap are available everywhere - best not to over think this as your car is pretty reliable - if it's averagely well maintained.

and 2K miles is a trip to the shop, it just lasts a bit longer!!

Paul

[Radar]

I always take the spare, the jack, a replacement fuel pump, a replacement CPS and a DME relay with spare alternator belt and power steering belt as well as the on-board tool kit.

So basically things that stop the car and could be an issue to obtain on the side of the road...

Oh yeah spare bulb kit which you should carry anyway and a high viz jacket, also an alcohol test kit at least in France!

Otherwise all fluids and other general crap are available everywhere - best not to over think this as your car is pretty reliable - if it's averagely well maintained.

and 2K miles is a trip to the shop, it just lasts a bit longer!!

Paul

Cunning plan.

Have belts in stock.

Don’t have CPS, I have a whole fuse box from a parts car, so I’ll have the relays from that.

FYI breath test kit is no longer required in France since the politician who proposed it was found to have interests in a breath test manufacturer... gotta love the French

[BenHar]

Self amalgamating tape.

Ben

[tha881]

We want details of the road trip, not what supplies you're packing in your boot

Spare wheel, jack, tyre inflator, oil, most tools, work light, shop roll, oil, 12v phone charger, high vis, warning triangle, that's mostly what I can remember. And a good old fashioned map in case you cant get any signal. I also have a tag for the tolls in France which is a lifesaver.

[flybynite]

Big Hammer
Tow Rope

One of the best things I keep in all our cars is a magnetic LED light, like these

https://www.screwfix.com/p/nebo-ne6373- ... -aaa/9107v

Sticks to the car, shines down on your wheel change etc. Shines bright red if you are stuck in the middle of the road. Used it in anger twice now.

[Radar]

I am guilty of not taking paper maps with me. I’ve done this trip before so I think I’m safe staying digital.

I always carry my headlight. Though snap on magnetic light is a fine idea and doesn’t take much space.

Hi vis and bulb kit go without saying.

Yes to Halfords tyre pump.

If I need a big hammer or tow rope... I’ll call for recovery. Definitely take a regular hammer.

As I take my car fridge ... I’m long on 12v chargers and accessories.

[JungleGus]

Judging by my performance on the side of the A2 today, carrying a soldering iron and a jump start pack with a 240V plug is a trip saver...

I carry most of my tool kit and a few fluids/towels etc...in one of those laundry tubs in the rear. Less room for wine but it's nice to get places

[Satan]

Credit card, cash and recovery.

[tha881]

What's peoples opinions on using the E10 fuel on the continent? Should we avoid it and run super unleaded on an m20 engine?

[paultv]

I generally use E10 but give the car Super when I think it would like a treat!!

I'm pretty sure E10 is fine.

Paul:-)

[tha881]

Thanks Paul, I did read some articles stating that it wasnt suitable for older vehicles. That said, I used it last year without realising the extra ethanol content, and it ran fine.

[Brianmoooore]

I always take the spare, the jack, a replacement fuel pump, a replacement CPS and a DME relay with spare alternator belt and power steering belt as well as the on-board tool kit.

So basically things that stop the car and could be an issue to obtain on the side of the road...

Oh yeah spare bulb kit which you should carry anyway and a high viz jacket, also an alcohol test kit at least in France!

Otherwise all fluids and other general crap are available everywhere - best not to over think this as your car is pretty reliable - if it's averagely well maintained.

and 2K miles is a trip to the shop, it just lasts a bit longer!!

Paul

Add a bit of wire and self amalgamating tape to that list, The CPS failing is the one thing that can stop you in your tracks that isn't the result of poor maintenance, and a fuel pump is useful, although a failing one can usually be cajoled into working for a few hundreds of miles (this one I know from experience).
I don't carry a DME rely - that can be bypassed by a couple of wire links, as can any other relay, and you shouldn't need belts if maintenance s up to date.

E10 petrol is fine in an injected E30, although it will cause corrosion of the fuel tank in the long term.

[boiliebasher]

Been doing euro road trips for years in classic vehicles. I would definitely bring spare fan belt and a set of spanners too. Also I'd personally go 3/8" socket set rather than 1/4" set and also take a breaker bar so you don't end smashing your only ratchet to pieces undoing a stuck nut/bolt

Edit: personally I wouldn't take all the fluids you mentioned either as it takes up a lot of unnecessary room and potentially messy if spilt.
Honestly literally every single petrol station or super market on the continent stocks basic automotive fluids if you're stuck and 2k miles is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

As long as car is up together there's no reason in my opinion why you would need to top up any fluids on your car doing that kind of mileage.

[boiliebasher]

Oh and E10 is fine. I believe in UK it's E5 by now anyway so ain't gonna make much odds. M20's are dinosaur engines anyway and aren't exactly high performance racing engines that require premium octane fuel lol

[paultv]

......a decent torch for that night time nightmare breakdown........

[boiliebasher]

......a decent torch for that night time nightmare breakdown........

Good shout.
I do a lot of night fishing so usually have one with me anyway.
Head torch being the way forwards as you can work on the car "hands free" so more useful than standard torch IMHO

[paultv]

I'm usually carrying my camera gear on long runs including battery driven LED photography lamps and stands - way to go!

Paul

[Satan]

I'm usually carrying my camera gear on long runs including battery driven LED photography lamps and stands - way to go!

Paul

You are Don Roobles AICMFP

[paultv]

I'll give you £2:50 !!!!

[ChrisHC]

I always carry in the car a short length of 15mm copper tube and two small Jubilee clips as recommended by Brian Moore in order to by-pass the heater valve if it starts leaking.

[Sonatine]

My spare is a 14” bottletop and I have 15” basketweaves fitted. Would you guys get a proper 15” spare?

[Brianmoooore]

The 'correct' spare is a 14" steel.
How often have you needed a spare? I drive between a quarter and a third of my total mileage on the roads of Europe, and I've only needed a spare wheel once. Unfortunately, the spare I had was a space saver (fuel tank occupies spare wheel well), it was a Sunday, the original tyre was shredded, and when I eventually got the wheel to a French tyre fitter, I was informed that French law requires identical tyres on the same axle, so I had to wait three days for a new tyre. By that time, I'd taken nearly half the tread off the space saver.

[Radar]

The 'correct' spare is a 14" steel.
How often have you needed a spare? I drive between a quarter and a third of my total mileage on the roads of Europe, and I've only needed a spare wheel once. Unfortunately, the spare I had was a space saver (fuel tank occupies spare wheel well), it was a Sunday, the original tyre was shredded, and when I eventually got the wheel to a French tyre fitter, I was informed that French law requires identical tyres on the same axle, so I had to wait three days for a new tyre. By that time, I'd taken nearly half the tread off the space saver.

I just got a 16” spare, now with the same tyre as the others. Unfortunately as it’s a directional tyre I had to choose whether it would be left or right sided

[flybynite]

I just got a 16” spare, now with the same tyre as the others. Unfortunately as it’s a directional tyre I had to choose whether it would be left or right sided

Every time I have needed a spare it has been on the gutter side, potholes, and rubbish in the gutter, rocks or concrete hidden in the grass verge

Not going to be end of the world to drive a bit the wring way on the tyre.

I've got a spare that won't fit over the front brakes on one of mine, I need to do a double swap!

[Radar]

I just got a 16” spare, now with the same tyre as the others. Unfortunately as it’s a directional tyre I had to choose whether it would be left or right sided

Every time I have needed a spare it has been on the gutter side, potholes, and rubbish in the gutter, rocks or concrete hidden in the grass verge


Not going to be end of the world to drive a bit the wring way on the tyre.

I've got a spare that won't fit over the front brakes on one of mine, I need to do a double swap!

I chose right side, as most of my big trips are in Europe for that very reason.

[Brianmoooore]

I've got a spare that won't fit over the front brakes on one of mine, I need to do a double swap!

Same with my space saver. It won't clear the front caliper.

[Radar]

Dammit, rain got in somewhere bad in yesterday's storms. E30 staying at home. Have to take a modern. At least it didn't happen en route.

[martauto]

Dammit, rain got in somewhere bad in yesterday's storms. E30 staying at home. Have to take a modern. At least it didn't happen en route.

Sh1t !! whats the problem/s ??

Mart.

[tha881]

I always carry in the car a short length of 15mm copper tube and two small Jubilee clips as recommended by Brian Moore in order to by-pass the heater valve if it starts leaking.

This is an excellent idea, it could really save a road trip from disaster

Dammit, rain got in somewhere bad in yesterday's storms. E30 staying at home. Have to take a modern. At least it didn't happen en route.

So what set of wheels are replacing the e30 on the trip?

[Radar]

Dammit, rain got in somewhere bad in yesterday's storms. E30 staying at home. Have to take a modern. At least it didn't happen en route.

Sh1t !! whats the problem/s ??

Mart.

Starts with central locking again. Will investigate on return.