Long Drive

[96_V6_Fbody]

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here in a while since I'm out of the States. Currently in Japan. I was wondering what I should do to get my car ready to make a trip from San Diego to Florida. I plan on doing this in June. I'll be able to save lot's of cash out here so what are all the things I should do so my car won't die out on the road.

[Tyler]

tune up, oil change, new tires, allignment. clean air filter.. nice cusion for your *** cause thats a long *** drive.

[CAMAROWITHBASS]

check the air pressure on ur spare, i never did this i had a flat in the middle of no where one night at freakin 3 am in the worst part of houston, im there changing my tire to find out my spare has NO air in it what so ever.

I had to walk like an hour to the gas station to put air in it.

[CARdiac]

I have driven from one coast to another twice now. Just do a preventive maint on the car. Change the fluids before you leave and when you are done (3K miles, it will be time any way, btw change the oil, tranny, rear and if it is time the coolant, but the coolant is not a big deal).

Here is my advice for the drive. Start early. we would get on the road around 4-5 AM, little traffic and hardly any cops. Drive until you are tired, stop, get a nice dinner go to bed early and repeat. I went from FL to San Franciso in 4 days, starting when everyone else hit the road and driving until I was tired and it took 4 days....on the return I used the tricks mentioned above, had a rental, averaged 85 mph the entire trip and made it to DE in 3 days.....with a lot of bugs, a broken windshield and no tix :D

I am driving from Houston to Orlando in a month, just aligned the wheels (oops forgot to mention that too), changed my shox (it was time) front brakes (also time), did the tranny, will do the rear and oil soon.

Oh, books on cassett/cd (no matter how gay that sounds) are much better for keeping you alert than music. Go to the library, get some unabridged books (tom clancy will run 11+ hours) and listen as you drive. My wife and I fight over the books, but never if we will listen to them.

[Bluebird]

30,000 mile maitence covers most of what you should get done.

Carry a extra can of fuel and spare tire.
Check radiator and transmission fluids.
Replace Power Steering and Brake fluid.
Check serpentine belt.
Change spark plugs and fuel filter.

Anyone care to add?

[white96six]

Are you in the navy? what ship are you on?