need advice on preparing for a long drive
 

i'm going to drive from cali to texas in about 2 weeks, and i need some pointers, etc since the farthest i've driven so far has only been from monterey to san diego.
i'm going to get my oil changed and tires rotated and balanced before i go... should i worry about checking my alignment or anything else?
eh... i haven't had my brakes checked since i got my car last year (haven't had any problems yet...)
i'm kinda worried about one of my tires too... i got a nail in it a while ago, and had it fixed by the non patch method don't know what it's called...(where they stab the thing into it and vulcanize it?)
:dunce: suggestions? advice?
i think i'm worrying too much... :paranoid:

check or have somebody check the condition of your ignition system. I specifically had a problem where the little screw that holds the rotor in had worked its way out...left me stranded on the highway after sputtering to a stop. Just do a good tuneup before you go: everything you said, plus maybe a coolant flush, check power steering, valve adjustment, fuel system cleaners do wonders, new plugs, etc.

but then again I'm paranoid and my car doesn't like long drives...you have a newer car, I wouldn't really worry about anything, just take frequent brakes, a cell phone, and your credit card. youll be fine

what he ^^ said

Get a milk crate and put it in your trunk. In the crate: toolkit & FA kit, jumper cables, qt of oil, qt of 50/50 coolant (ready to pour), and a can of fix-a-flat.

Oh, and a towel. :)

I've done a dozen or so 1500-mile trips and never had a problem, but being prepared never hurts.

Great advice. Don't forget to bring lots of water for yourself and some sort of sun protection in case you have to hoof it anywhere ;) You'll be just fine though.

...FA kit? :confused:
Thank you all for the advice;) :yes:

...FA kit?= first aid kit....

^ words of wisdom if I've ever heard any :yes:
make sure you have a Cellular phone!
even if it isn't in service, all calls to 911 are free whether or not the phone has cash or minutes in it

:paranoid: heh heh oops... i never said i was the brightest of the bunch... thanx...

What about plane?

When it comes to actually drive, make sure you get 2 good nights of sleep. Don't need anyone falling asleep at the wheel (it's scary as sh*t, isn't it?). But I think everyone pretty much covered it.

-Ducky

bring lots of ky jelly...so you dont get tired while driving on the road all by your lonesome...lol

^ haha. wtf...?:|

i'm moving to texas :no: so i'm taking my car.
i don't wanna leave california ;( ;( ;(

The best advice? take someone to talk to...Can you imagine not holding a conversation for 1500 miles???? geez

cash for food

i usually don't talk that much anyway... i'm one of those quiet introverted (scheming) types:yes:

hehe:bandit: ^ why are u leaving cali??

to texas? pft ez.

:D jk.

Make sure you take breaks too! they keep you awake and aware, not to mention get the blood flowing to the legs. I was reading an article a while ago of some guy actually DYING on an airplane (overseas- 12 hours) because there was virtually no circulation to his legs (long periods of in-activity)

What everybody else said.... spare car fluids, basic tools like screwdrivers, DUCT TAPE (omg the things duct tape saves me from), water, food, list of contact numbers, etc. Don't forget the cellphone re-charger!

and to quote Vr4, could you imagine someone bugging you for 1500 miles? all you need are some new songs for the CD playa :D

Oh wait, you're leaving cali? :( oh poo. Atleast smog laws dont apply to you now :P.. Hey can i register my car under your state? hehe. budday -_-

you know.. hell I bet you could probably make the trip in one day. Will you be going through nevada? If so, leave at night when its cooler. Or plan your trip so you arrive in the hotter regions at a cooler time.

yea thats tru.. espicialy this time on the year..(its hot in the desert)..

ooh... good points about the heat... circulation... pssh... who needs real legs anyway... i'm going to try to make the trip in 2 days. (hopefully) i'll finish my training here, so i have to get more training in tex :pukey then i get to go to the motherland! KOREA! yay! well... yay for me anyways... idk :paranoid:

i've ordered one of these in case too... woo hoo :bandit: ;)
gotta watch out for the po pos... :busted: :radar:

man dem piggs will eat you alive..... oo and dont drink gatoraid... youl be peeing yourself by the next exit.... that stuff runs thu u like a waterpark...

^ speaking from personal experience, eh? i figured one speeding ticket is more than good enough for me... hopefully the insurance company won't notice it for a while... :paranoid:

heheheeh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....good times tho.......

dont speed in Texas those retards are just waiting to make some money off ya.

soo tru...
you really just have to watch out for the small city po-pos...the main cities have bigger things to worry about.

:mad: argh!! the listing for the radar detector i ordered was nulled and void by eBay! :grumpy: this is after payment is already processed. :nono: ai shippal!:biting: ~sigh~ i've ordered a different one by now... hopefully it will get here in time... :crazy:
...frustration has brought on the overuse of smilies syndrome... sorry.

oo and make shure the spare tire is full too.........