Preparing the car for a long, long, long journey - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Schwan · 06-01-2003, 07:25 AM

I'm preparing for a very long trip for august and I'd like you guys to give me some tips about preparing my car for it. I'm planning to start in Poland, where I live, and go around Europe through Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, France again (this time through the riviera), Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and back home.
I plan this trip to take about a month. Most of you will notice how diverse the climate changes might be at times and just how long the trip will be.

There will be five of us travelling in a not-so-reliable 1996 Deawoo Espero (hey, gotta use what life throws at you

) and we'll be camping for the whole trip. I'm looking for some tips regarding the following issues:

1. Preparing the car - I've already had the engine maintenance done, and it's running like brand new. I'm also looking to fix the suspension any day now. What other things should I look into? I might add at this time that we will be driving a lot in a very hot climate - Spain and Portugal.

2. Since Deawoo is not a very popular car company in Europe, can someone give me an insight on how Deawoo car parts availability stands in their country?

3. Just in case, which car parts are most likely to fail during such a long trip? I'm looking forward to purchasing some extra car parts just in case for the trip and learning to fix the basic things in the car - so what should I learn and buy?

4. Here's the real kicker - my car runs on LPG gas and I heard it's not widely available in all European countries. Can you guys tell me how this looks in your country or what experiences you had?

5. I'm sure many of you have travelled like this - can you give me tips - any tips - about how not to kill each other after the first week and what to look out for? I'm talking about everything - pick pockets and natural disasters.

6. Finally, there's more travel guides than I could possibly ever read or even afford. Here is an outline of the planned journey - I hope you can give me advice on interesting places to visit on the way. We're talking budget travelling here, so no fancy hotels and restaurants for us

!

Warsaw (that's where we start!)
Berlin
Hamburg
Amsterdam
Brussels
Paris
Bordeaux
Bilbao
Lisbon
Madrid
Barcelona
Cannes
Monaco
Milan
Some-city-in-Switzerland-I-can't-remeber-now,-but-I'm-sure anything-on-the-way-between-Italy-and-the-Czech-republic-via Germany-will-do-just-fine
Prague

Simplified slighty, but you get the idea.

Phew. I know that I'm expecting a lot of answers from Tilters, but then it's all about challenges, isn't it

? Thanks for your help!

Nomad · 06-01-2003, 03:02 PM

With five people and camping gear, you have a lot of weight there.

How are your tires?

With that much weight and the hot climate, those tires will get very hot. Use good quality tires, and be sure that they are properly Inflated.

Carry a good spare

Schwan · 06-01-2003, 03:17 PM

I have two new tires on the front and two not-so-new on the back. I never thought about tire overheating to be a problem...

tommyboy · 06-01-2003, 04:59 PM

is there anyway you guys can come up with some cash to rent a car?

Schwan · 06-02-2003, 12:21 AM

For a whole month? Not a chance, it would cost a fortune - car rentals in Europe are horribly expensive.

cj2112 · 06-02-2003, 10:08 PM

Tires are a priority! A good spare, a good jack, and make sure your spare and lug wrench fit before the trip. I would carry an alternator, a waterpump and gaskets, a fuel filter, distributor cap and rotor, hoses, belts, and some vacuum line just in case. This list may seem to be a bit overkill, but as you said, parts availability is questionable. In the week before the trip, have the oil changed, flush the cooling system, and put new coolant in it. If it's an automatic transmission then have that serviced also.

splck · 06-09-2003, 06:59 AM

We drive that kind of distance just to get to the next town around here

Sounds like you have done as much as you can to the car to prepare for your trip, have a good time.
I'd love to take a trip like that.

06-01-2003, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Schwan A boy and his dog Location: EU!	Preparing the car for a long, long, long journey I'm preparing for a very long trip for august and I'd like you guys to give me some tips about preparing my car for it. I'm planning to start in Poland, where I live, and go around Europe through Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, France again (this time through the riviera), Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic and back home. I plan this trip to take about a month. Most of you will notice how diverse the climate changes might be at times and just how long the trip will be. There will be five of us travelling in a not-so-reliable 1996 Deawoo Espero (hey, gotta use what life throws at you ) and we'll be camping for the whole trip. I'm looking for some tips regarding the following issues: 1. Preparing the car - I've already had the engine maintenance done, and it's running like brand new. I'm also looking to fix the suspension any day now. What other things should I look into? I might add at this time that we will be driving a lot in a very hot climate - Spain and Portugal. 2. Since Deawoo is not a very popular car company in Europe, can someone give me an insight on how Deawoo car parts availability stands in their country? 3. Just in case, which car parts are most likely to fail during such a long trip? I'm looking forward to purchasing some extra car parts just in case for the trip and learning to fix the basic things in the car - so what should I learn and buy? 4. Here's the real kicker - my car runs on LPG gas and I heard it's not widely available in all European countries. Can you guys tell me how this looks in your country or what experiences you had? 5. I'm sure many of you have travelled like this - can you give me tips - any tips - about how not to kill each other after the first week and what to look out for? I'm talking about everything - pick pockets and natural disasters. 6. Finally, there's more travel guides than I could possibly ever read or even afford. Here is an outline of the planned journey - I hope you can give me advice on interesting places to visit on the way. We're talking budget travelling here, so no fancy hotels and restaurants for us ! Warsaw (that's where we start!) Berlin Hamburg Amsterdam Brussels Paris Bordeaux Bilbao Lisbon Madrid Barcelona Cannes Monaco Milan Some-city-in-Switzerland-I-can't-remeber-now,-but-I'm-sure anything-on-the-way-between-Italy-and-the-Czech-republic-via Germany-will-do-just-fine Prague Simplified slighty, but you get the idea. Phew. I know that I'm expecting a lot of answers from Tilters, but then it's all about challenges, isn't it ? Thanks for your help! Last edited by Schwan; 06-01-2003 at 03:18 PM..

06-09-2003, 06:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	We drive that kind of distance just to get to the next town around here Sounds like you have done as much as you can to the car to prepare for your trip, have a good time. I'd love to take a trip like that. __________________ nice line eh?

06-01-2003, 03:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nomad Heathen Location: California	With five people and camping gear, you have a lot of weight there. How are your tires? With that much weight and the hot climate, those tires will get very hot. Use good quality tires, and be sure that they are properly Inflated. Carry a good spare

06-01-2003, 03:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Schwan A boy and his dog Location: EU!	I have two new tires on the front and two not-so-new on the back. I never thought about tire overheating to be a problem...

06-01-2003, 04:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
tommyboy Psycho Location: NH	is there anyway you guys can come up with some cash to rent a car?

06-02-2003, 12:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Schwan A boy and his dog Location: EU!	For a whole month? Not a chance, it would cost a fortune - car rentals in Europe are horribly expensive.

06-02-2003, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	Tires are a priority! A good spare, a good jack, and make sure your spare and lug wrench fit before the trip. I would carry an alternator, a waterpump and gaskets, a fuel filter, distributor cap and rotor, hoses, belts, and some vacuum line just in case. This list may seem to be a bit overkill, but as you said, parts availability is questionable. In the week before the trip, have the oil changed, flush the cooling system, and put new coolant in it. If it's an automatic transmission then have that serviced also.