Long travel Precautions - Saxperience

lighters · 7th August 2007, 03:35

Hi, i am setting off to newbury this thursday and its going to be quite a long trip. I will have 3 people in the car including myself and the car is going to be quite packed with:
Computers,
Tents,
Crap,
Clothes,
Everything

I am a fairly new driver who hasnt been on the road very long (2months or so now) and have only ever driven to carlisle from where i live which is about 120ish miles there and back?

(not sure)

Can anyone give me some advice i should consider because i have never traveled with alot of weight in my car or even with alot of passengers on such a long journey. I want to know what kind of problems if any i would likely get and how to avoid any likely problems that would happen...

Thnx alot, i havent posted in a while but thats because i have been loving my life driving

Distance: 287miles - about 4 hours 58 mins

Graham · 7th August 2007, 03:59

id just say take it easy. make sure you have a break if your starting to feel distracted and don't let anybody else in the car put you off driving.

vidal · 7th August 2007, 06:50

Simple stuff, tyres and fluids. Make sure your spare is OK and inflated. Check the oil and coolant levels - ideally you should check these every week or so anyway. Make sure you've either got enough petrol or the means to pay for more en route (Happened to me, very embarrasing)
Plan your route, along with an alternative if needed, check the traffic reports before setting off.

Tiredness does kill, you may not realise that you are becoming less alert, so take a break every 2 hours or so. Red Bull may give the impression you are more alert, and for a short time you will be, but it is not a panacea against either tiredness or inattention.

Lay down some ground rules if you're not used to passengers. Buckle up, fines take a sizeable chunk out of beer money, so it's much better to arrive with a full wallet. No messing about, you've got enough to concentrate on without being distracted by your passengers mooning out of the windows!

Above all though, enjoy yourself and stay safe.

V.

Barry123 · 7th August 2007, 08:16

Pretty much what Mr V said along with...

http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx

take a look at this just for any roadwork issues... M1 J4-J10a is a total sod at the moment

and just give a little more room to yourself and other vehicles as the brakes on the 1.1 (i think your's it a 1.1 if i remember correctly!) are not the most powerful with a car full of humans.

Enjoy the journey and dont stay in the bloody middle lane, its the not the correct procedure even if you see BMW and female drivers doing it.

Nick_T · 7th August 2007, 08:32

i travel long distance quite a bit (not that far but more often) make sure you have something to chew on and a drink aswell (non alcoholic

)
just take it steady, racing on the motorway is not good and doesnt really save you that much time... or fuel!
stop at least once and stretch your legs, get some air

Ben_L · 7th August 2007, 10:09

all of the above really, and make sure you double check mirrors on both sides as traffic can be pretty hairy on motorways

that should do ya buddy

Baz · 7th August 2007, 10:47

do many people actually check fluids before making a long distance travel? i've never bothered lol ive been out of water for my washer jets for about 6 months lol

Nick_T · 7th August 2007, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

do many people actually check fluids before making a long distance travel? i've never bothered lol ive been out of water for my washer jets for about 6 months lol

on my old furio my washer jets didnt even work! lol
until MOT time came and had to pay for a new pump

vidal · 7th August 2007, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

do many people actually check fluids before making a long distance travel? i've never bothered lol ive been out of water for my washer jets for about 6 months lol

Got into the habit many, many moons ago in the days of carburettors, manual chokes and frequent breakdowns! You may not have checked your oil for up to 12 months, it gets filled up at the service and that's it, yet all cars use oil - do you want to risk your engine for the sake of 2 minutes?

As to the washer fluid, it's only a 2 minute job, it does make me wonder though what other things you would neglect - brakes? lights? tyres?

Not a personal dig (well not much!), but your car is probably the 2nd most expensive purchase you will make (after property), I'd want to make sure it carried on working - it's not much good stood broken down at the side of the road, no matter how shiny it is, or how expensive the mods.

V.

Barry123 · 7th August 2007, 13:59

I do check mine on the Guildford to Naffallerton run

jdavies23 · 7th August 2007, 14:23

as well as checking the essentials- oil, coolant washer fluid,tires and all other fluids you should take with you some water and warm clothing and waterproofs just in case; make sure your spare wheel is good enough to use should you need to use it and make sure you have a jack and a wrench to get the wheels off.
Make sure the computers are stowed correctly and safely, so no monitors etc on peoples laps.
As driving goes, don't drive any more than 2 hours without a break; and with three people and all that equipment you will have to adjust your breaking accordingly, so you should break a lot earlier and leave a much larger gap between you and the car in front.

Thats my contribution lol.- hope it helps.

lighters · 8th August 2007, 04:46

Thnx alot guys, i know its some obvious stuff but better safe than sorry.
LMFAO adsayer, i cant belive you remembered my vehicle type lol.

Just incase you was curious i am still with the wheel trims and a pal FOUND me

a new1 but it was so crap it didnt even clip on properly and i lost it. I went in my car today and my brother told me i was missing a wheel trim? I was lyk wtf oh thats the crap one

lighters · 15th August 2007, 16:02

I am back home and my journey was safe and smooth, thnx alot guys.

DIDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL :d

Ste · 15th August 2007, 17:06

I did cornwall and back in 1 day after being passed 2 weeks.

760 Miles in total.... FTW 14 Hours......

Its ace... Just take ample breaks and if you feel tired pull over and have a sleep for 15.......

mattchewone · 15th August 2007, 17:36

Take some tyre puncture stuff will be easier and will inflate and fix puncture without changing wheel with added weight.

Rootyuk · 15th August 2007, 18:14

yeh i done cornwall the other week bout 410miles each way, stopped once on way down cost about £25 in petrol getting there.

basically dont cain ur car all the way there cos it will eat petrol stick to a decent speed like 65mph or 70mph think that was my average speed. and the time flys by ona long distance so u got nothin to worry about.

also maybe b worth making sure u got a full tank before u leave cos petrol on the motorway is expensive