long ass road trip trips

[P3RryaudiA4]

hey guys just trying to find out what else i need to do before i begin my long journy to AZ, i live in mass right now and im going to school for volvo in arizona for 4 months, and i decided to drive. i know i need to change the oil obviously, but what else along with the rear diff, tran, coolant flush, fuel filter, air filter, and umm balance and road force them tires. i just bought a podi also so if any problems arupt on the open road i might have a chance to catch it, but is there anything else i need to worry about?

any info would be appriciated, thanks

[big_greasy_taco]

painters tape on the bumper and hood!!

[P3RryaudiA4]

got it, thanks what else ? lol

[J Ozzie]

painters tape on the bumper and hood!!

+ 1 go get it 3m'ed

[P3RryaudiA4]

im bout to do the whole car lol

[tamadrumr88]

saran wrap is cheap, just saran wrap the car. seriously

[le91688]

just drive the damn car ffs.

[djwimbo]

just drive the damn car ffs.

exactly.

Don't forget to check/set tire pressure. You're on the right track though.

[andyrew]

Check your hoses, vaccume and water.
Check all your connectors and clamps.
Take your car to an alignment shop or wherever you took it last and have them do a quick check (lots of places warranty their alignment and will check it for free).
Get under the car and check suspension bolts, just make sure they are all good and tight.

Are you modified? Do you have a front license plate? If you dont have a front license plate, GET one. If you are modified check the laws of the states your passing, the cops could be complete DICKS, you dont want to give them excuses.

Make sure your cruise control works.

Get yourself one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...=p4506.c0.m245

I see them @ swap meets for cheap and always pick up one.. They work in just about anything... Its always in my car. Fits anything except the 64OZ drinks.. but nothing fits those..

[jzobie]

Good luck on the trip, ^^^^My mom picked up one of those for her Audi from Walmart for like $3 and I have been looking everywhere for another. They work so well and look almost factory when tucked into the passenger seat.

[maxspeed]

bring some extra oil, an ipod/icar, half an ounce of sour diesel, and some chips.

[Bic-Ball]

Plenty of music.

[D's Avant]

Check your car over like everyone says and put together a mini tool kit too. My cruise control is busted so I only wear good driving shoe's like Piloti's. May want to get a good radar detector if you dont have one already. Be sure to have a couple 24oz. Mt Dews and some Nutter Butters handy for some little pick me up grub.

[nji14]

thats actually really funny since i just arrived from mass on august 21. Im at the university of arizona for school. The a4 made it just fine pulling into the parking lot at 173k. All i did was change the oil.. and flush my fluids. I would recommend a thinker oil since it is hot as hell out here. ( compared to mass). Just be careful of you speed.. especially in virginia. ( i got busted for 78 in a 65 and radars are illegal so mine was down). Be careful in texas since the speed-limit is 85 at times.. and you will want to creep up to 95-100.. it feels like your going straight forever... i kept a couple of gallons of water in the car in case something happens.(over heating or if you break down and get thirsty. besides that i would just check the fluids and go. Try and have a destination each day. it makes the trip go by faster since you have somewhere your trying to get to. I went to roanoke VA.. Nashville...Dallas...and then El paso. I found that to be pretty traffic free during the week.. any other questions don't hesitate to pm me.

[andyrew]

Yup I would bring 2 quarts of oil 2 gallons of water (enough to fill your radiator) and a 5 gallon gas tank.

I always bring 2 gallons of water with me on long (200+ miles) trips and I always have a quart of oil in my car.

[onemoremile]

I've soloed the 860 miles from a Honda plant in Alabama to my house in Michigan a half dozen times. 12 hours at 75 with one fill up in the middle.

You'll need:
beef jerky or other jerkied something
chips or pretzels or trail mix or similar
tin of altoids
bottles of water
can of red bull or 5 hour energy
phatnoise

On one trip I listened to the entire audiobook of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. 26 hours. I did 998 miles home to add in the Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap. That added more than 3 hours to the trip.



The key is to stay comfortable and stay away from stimulants unless you get to the point that they are needed. I never drank anything but water on the Southbound trips. Stayed away from caffeine and sugar since they both throw energy levels around. Just find your groove and you'll find that it is a pretty nice place to spend a day.

[onemoremile]

As for the car, a good alignment will eventually pay for itself in tires and gas and will make the drive much nicer. Tires should be at 38-40 psi. Oil should be fresh and all fluids should be checked. If any are way past their last intervals then change them. As long as everything works then go. This is exactly what these cars were made for. I've tossed the bikes on the top of the S4 Avant and drove 7 hours to a camp South of Louisville to lead a mountain bike clinic and felt looser and more at ease when riding than if I'd spent the day at work.

[andyrew]

I always try and buy the big pack of jerky (were talking about the 1 or 2lb sack...), I know i'll eat it, but you HAVE to limit yourself it WILL make you sick.. This way I have jerky for a week or so. :)

Make sure you have good access to all your foods and tunes. If you have a GPS and or radar detector have them going, GPS will help you see the roads ahead and know how long you can go into "autopilot" and just listen to your stuff...

I ALWAYS have comedy for my long trips. PM me if you want a list of comedians I find funny that you can download off limewire or whatnot.. These will make the time fly by.

Audio books are another good thing..
Not to be corny but books that are easy to get into are always great, My personal favorites for drives are harry potter series, the chronicles of narnia (magicians nephew is awesome), and things of that nature. Easy read, easy listening.

[AudiTurrbo19]

Ive soloed from VT to GA a good 6-8 times its almost routine now lol...17 hours and a few fill ups and im there :). but like the others said just check your car over before you leave and bring lots to drink and real food not the snack BS you won't get as tired if you hydrate and eat properly. Goodluck

[jaustin]

Take some cash not alot but enough in case you end up needing something. I always pay cash not credit or debit if im buying snacks or lunch.

[freeskiwp]

I would bring a small plastic bag for trash. That shit gets out of control if you dont keep it in check.

[nji14]

ohh i forgott pick up a bottle of octane booster from walmart or autozone... you never know where your gonna have to fill up... and out west some stations were all out of 91..

[discontained]

a hot girl with big boobs..


haa. but check your exhaust rubber mounts.. nothing like driving on the highway and your exhaust falling off and showering sparks come out of the rear. Also check to make sure all your lights are working properly

[andyrew]

ohh i forgott pick up a bottle of octane booster from walmart or autozone... you never know where your gonna have to fill up... and out west some stations were all out of 91..

If you promise yourself not to get on boost you can run 87. This is especially helpful on the long trips where your on cruise for hours, save yourself some $$.

So he can make do if that was necessary..

[B5Burn]

Remember the little, don't-stop-to-go-pee contraptions they used to sell in the back of magazines back in the day?

Get one. hahahaha.

Good tips everyone, a cpl friends and I are headed to HIN Minneapolis this week end, 3 hours from here to Fargo for the night. then about 3.5 hours to Minn on Friday, just in time for check-in, clean-up and roll-in. Then 7 hour drive home on Sunday.

A4Rob, you better have your drunk-face ready. haha.

[oldblu]

coins or ezpass

[JaVa]

i just drove from washington state to texas, fvcking long ass drive, tire pressure and alignment and oil. make sure your spare is inflated too i got a flat on the way in the middle of no hwere and it would have been no fun to have a flat spare

[Euro-Tuner]

this will be good for the trip from NH to MD...does MD and PA take EZ-Pass?

[TQMB5]

green and good music should get you there. Look in your owners manual and you should find all of the suggested maintenance. pick and choose as you please..

[maxspeed]

i drove to tennesee this summer and all we needed was a bunch of sour D and adderall...

made it 1107 miles in around 14 hours.

[oldblu]

this will be good for the trip from NH to MD...does MD and PA take EZ-Pass?

Yep