Recommend Tools/Items for Road trip

ToxicPaddy

Ok guys,

Doing a little road trip in Europe soon, covering a little over 5500 miles in 11 days so need some advice on what tools/items you think I should bring just in case they are needed? I'm not an experienced mechanic by any means, but whats handy to have in the car?

The car is a 14 year old golf by the way so things may go wrong.

Have the usual things required by European law:

- Spare bulb kits
- High vis jacket/vest,
- Warning triangle
- First Aid kit
- Headlight realigners

Other items include:

- Puncture repair foam
- Jerry can
- Fire extinguisher
- Haynes manual (Probably never get used)
- Spare oil

and the important stuff:

- iPod loaded with decent tunes
- Extra large cup holders
- GPS
- Maps

So what tools/items do you recommend having in the car for a trip like this for basic repairs.

Tox

R.O.R

Basic socket set, plug wrench and a couple of screwdrivers?

Oh yeah, WD40 and some duct tape - pretty much fix everything then!

tony231974

You gotta take a sat nav with ye

MagicMarker

Water?
Porn?

El Guapo!

As said above, a socket set and some screwdrivers.
Also it might be a good idea to bring some oil and some water just in case. And make sure the tyre pressures are ok (especially the spare!!)
And the all important FLASK OF TEA!!!!
Enjoy.

Quazzie

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

Have the usual things required by European law:

- Spare bulb kits
- High vis jacket/vest,
- Warning triangle
- First Aid kit
- Headlight realigners

Just a reminder that you should keep the high-viz jacket in the cabin with you as it is against the law to exit the vehicle without on many European motorways, That includes getting one from the boot, and they can be real sticklers for that on some Motorways.

Also consider brining the following:

Brake fluid.
Spare Wiper blades.
A sleeping bag, depending on how rural you intend on getting and how possible it is you get lost without accomodation.

Ya could also bring me if you have room

ToxicPaddy

MagicMarker wrote: »

Water?
Porn?

Ahh its gonna be in Europe, so we will stock up on fluids with every stop and Porn probably wont be required as its awful distracting and driving one handed in a manual car on country roads is tough going :P

Anyone know of a good 12v cooler box that doesnt cost a fortune??

ToxicPaddy

Quazzie wrote: »

Just a reminder that you should keep the high-viz jacket in the cabin with you as it is against the law to exit the vehicle without on many European motorways, That includes getting one from the boot, and they can be real sticklers for that on some Motorways.

Also consider brining the following:

Brake fluid.
Spare Wiper blades.
A sleeping bag, depending on how rural you intend on getting and how possible it is you get lost without accomodation.

Ya could also bring me if you have room

Yup, know about the high vis having to be in the car, it will be hanging on the back of the drivers and passengers seat.

Sleeping bag wont be required we hope!!!

Spare wipers might be good alright.. hopefully wont be needed in europe but something I never thought of.

CJhaughey

Small battery charger
Set of Jump leads
3/8 socket set
Vice grips
4" & 6"
Small roll of insulation tape.
Headlight beam benders
Channel lock pliers 12"
Adjustable wrench.
Set of screwdrivers + and - different sizes for electrical work etc.
Thats all I can think of.

ToxicPaddy

Dean09 wrote: »

... And the all important FLASK OF TEA!!!!

What do ya think the extra large cup holders are for????

Del2005

Gaffer tape and cable ties. A puncture repair kit and small compressor would be better. You can't carry spare fuel in some places. If you've no real mechanical knowledge get roadside recovery, with home recovery, instead of tools you don't know how to use. It's much easier and safer to call someone then trying a repair on the side of a dark road in the rain if don't know what your doing. Just make sure your car still has it's standard tool kit and you should be ok, if it can't be fixed with that then it's beyond you.

ToxicPaddy

CJhaughey wrote: »

Small battery charger
Set of Jump leads
3/8 socket set
Vice grips
4" & 6"
Small roll of insulation tape.
Headlight beam benders
Channel lock pliers 12"
Adjustable wrench.
Set of screwdrivers + and - different sizes for electrical work etc.
Thats all I can think of.

Apart from the jump leads and the headlight adjusters/benders, which we do have.. I dunno if I could use have of those things on the car even if I did have em..

I know a few bits about the car, but to be honest not a lot.. getting AA cover just to be sure, but its handy to be able to do the small things rather than waiting for hours for those guys to arrive.. even if its to limp to a garage to get whatever is wrong sorted.

ToxicPaddy

Del2005 wrote: »

Gaffer tape and cable ties. A puncture repair kit and small compressor would be better. You can't carry spare fuel in some places. If you've no real mechanical knowledge get roadside recovery, with home recovery, instead of tools you don't know how to use. It's much easier and safer to call someone then trying a repair on the side of a dark road in the rain if don't know what your doing. Just make sure your car still has it's standard tool kit and you should be ok, if it can't be fixed with that then it's beyond you.

Yup, completely agree.. have the puncture repair kit and the compressor too.
I can carry spare fuel as long as its in a proper fuel container (jerry can) and you must have a fire extinguisher on board too.

AA cover has been gotten, cost near €180 too because of the age of the car, but its worth it.. At least we can get towed to somewhere that has a pub if all goes to sh*t..

Number Nine

European Breakdown cover with the AA or any other type motoring organization .

lifer_sean

Clutch cable and accelerator cable to suit right hand drive car. If these were to break then you would have problems getting spares in contintental Europe. Any other part would be the same as the local vehicles.

Re cooler box, some electrical shops stock a small fridge (would hold 2-3 pints of milk sort of size) that work off 12V as well as the mains. Can't remember price but not expensive.

cf4

insulation tape
duct tape
cable ties of varying sizes
a selection of washers nuts and bolts

also, spare clutch cable

i done the modball in june - www.modball.com - and one chap in a mk3 golf got 400m and his clutch cable snapped, bummer

Anan1

Number Nine wrote: »

European Breakdown cover with the AA or any other type motoring organization .

Best advice so far, IMO. Also make sure you have a functioning credit card.

ianobrien

As Sean says, carry the clutch & accellerator cables. If you don't use them, bring them home and keep them. You'll never know when you use them.

The clutch cable's the important one. An Accellerator cable can be rigged up with a piece of string.

trackcar

Prevention is better that cure, take the car to you local garage, Get it serviced and a full check over.

ToxicPaddy

ok, good advice on the clutch and accelerator cables.. will defo get one of them each.. the car has just had a full service, new plugs, filters, brake pads, oil change, timing belt, 4 new tyres etc etc etc..

vincenzolorenzo

You have to bring a couple of rolls of insulating tape with you. I've seen it rescue cars on so many occasions. Once brought a triumph stage from london to kildare with the soft top held down with insulating tape!

Seriously, insulating tape FTW!!!

nogoodnamesleft

cant believe no one has said it yet but a decent torch would be very handy

2 Espressi

Small suggestion, Rainx on the windscreen before you go, with a bottle in the boot to reapply if you need.

Enjoy yourself!

niceirishfella

Sounds like it going to be a blast OP!
I think all the "tools" and "parts" is now covered except the kitchen sink.
But,have you a European Medical Card in case you have the need for hospital medical attention. You need to have it on your person to be covered on the continent if you are admitted.
I would'nt go on a pan european car road trip without one.
Enjoy the trip.

Tipp Man

Bogroll, you've no idea how handy it will be:)

don't take too much otherwise your suspensions will go!! some people seem to think you should bring an entire worshop with you, most of the time its a waste

tc20

If you wear glasses, a spare set is required to be carried in the car in certain EU countries. ( i dont think a pair of shades fits the bill)

bigar

I do lenghty road trips each year, this year did around 7500 km in 8 days.
If you do not intend to go off-road or go throught deserts you really so not need much more than you would have you already:
- GPS, if not buy a map.
- European Breakdown Cover
- Emergency Cash or Credit Card with plenty of money on it (1000 EUR at least)

In France and other countries you are required to have high visibility jacket, first aid kit and spare bulbs.

Go for a full service before you leave and make certain your spare tyre is OK

If you need anything else you can buy them locally.

From the items listed above I only ever needed the GPS.

woody33

European medical form E111 a quick google will give you more info. Have a great trip, bring back reports.

biggus

Selection of Cable Ties, great for all repairs including accident damage !!

conor_mc

cf4 wrote: »

insulation tape
duct tape
cable ties of varying sizes
a selection of washers nuts and bolts

+1 on the gaffer tape.

Once did Dublin-Malaga with a mate moving down there, we actually had to keep his tin-foil trailer held together with a ratchet strap and gaffer tape!

Plus we taped everything on the roof-rack down. Straps are grand for keeping things attached to the car, but nothing gives you aerodynamic performance like a gaffer-taped roof-load!!!

tony231974

You might need a truck at this rate will all your stuff.

ToxicPaddy

tony231974 wrote: »

You might need a truck at this rate will all your stuff.

Yeah so it seems.. and here was me wanting to pack light in case the car gave up.. so guess the clothes etc will be left behind.. may just go in a pair of speedos and flip flops to save on weight!!