What to do / take on a long trip with an old car?

White Lincoln

White Lincoln

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    1994 Mercury Cougar XR7, 3.8L, all stock
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    We are going on a long trip and taking the Cougar. I wanted to know what I should do to the car and what I should take. I used to take a full tool kit when we drove 800 miles to Vegas, quart of oil, serpentine belt and a good spare tire.

    Now that the car is MUCH MUCH older than when we used to take it for long trips, is there anything else I should include? I have AAA for towing up to 200 miles. I also thought I would take an extra fuel pump and my Snap-On scanner, just in case.

    I already checked all the basic fluides, tire pressure, etc for the trip and the car is running great except for a rattle under the car that I can't find.

    Any thoughts on what else might be important to do or take?
     
    I've had the alternator die and leave me SOL multiple times. Mostly when I was younger and driving less maintained cars. Might be a good idea to have a lithium jump pack with you incase that happens. Between It and the battery the the car will run long enough to hopefully get you to a parts store.
     
    We road trip in "old" cars all the time. In the end there is only so much you can plan for and carry in terms of parts and tools. You can psyche yourself out into thinking you need to take every nut and bolt. If there anything that might be failure prone and nearly impossible to find on the road (thinking 89-93 SC crank position sensor) or tools (old Ford TFI module wrench) then grab that. I prefer to take a car that is regularly driven so you know its quirks and you have confidence in it.

    In addition to your stuff I might add coolant/water, various sizes of hose clamps, and maybe a coil of heater hose.

    Whenever I do a full inspection on a car, one of the most common things I see is a deflated/underinflated spare tire. Nothing worse then going to change a flat and realizing your spare is flat too.
     
    Excellent suggestions! I was going to take a gallon of water (we are no longer getting freezing nights or days here), but taking an extra hose or two is very sound.

    This is my daily driver and as I had mentioned in a past post, I was driving home with the wife and the distributor blew up. Get the F#$% out! How weird is that? The spare is on my list to check as well as the current tires. I have new Michelen's on the car, so I should be good there.

    As for the altenator, yep, was going to check that today. I don't know if my gauge is wacky or the altenator has a bad regulator, but the gauge wiggles at idle, back and forth, back and forth.

    Anything else you think of, let me know! I appreciate the feedback. Thanks guys (and gals?)!
     
    AAA is a great idea. I've never used them, but my wife and son signed up this winter as a package deal for cheap.

    As far as what to take, a small tool kit with a bit of everything is good. I didn't know if I would take any parts. Most of what you can change on the road will be available in parts stores. What you can't get at the parts store, I'd be surprised if you were lucky enough to decide to take it along. If I brought an alternator, I would surely need a starter instead and vice versa.

    Most important is to bring some "oh crap" cash to get you back on the road of you need to pay someone to fix it
     
    I like to keep it bare bones, a small hydraulic jack is a good thing to have, a 3/8 socket set, socket wrench and breaker bar, a few quarts of oil, a jumpstarter, a portable aircompressor(which might be one with your junpstarter if you’re fancy), a bottle of tire slime and flashlights. All stuff that mostly fits in a duffel bag.

    FWIW anything can happen to one of these can happen to something brand new too, I would t get hung up on age. If you daily drive it now without issues it’s LESS likely to do it when you’re on the highway


    1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
    I always carry a bottle of coolant. Came in very handy when my heater core failed.
    Click to expand...

    In an emergency pinch bottled/tap water will get you where you need to go where you can better fix the problem and drain it out.
     
    Take a quart or two of oil and of course a funnel to put it in. Check the oil level at every fuel stop.

    Check the serpentine belt and throw a spare in the car. Familiarize yourself with the routing and carry a breaker bar to adjust the tensioner if you need to replace it.
     
    Bulbs & Fuses. I like to keep extra in the car at all times. As mentioned, you cant go wrong with a jump box/ inflater. Also, phone charging cables and maybe a lighter splitter depending on how many phones you are going to have.

    A good flashlight.
     
    theterminator93 said:
    I must be the only moron on the roads to have taken a 27-year old car with 240,000 miles on a 1200 mile 2-day road trip without a thought for spare anything! :LOL:
    Click to expand...

    This!

    I mean my tools live in my trunk, plus the aforementioned coolant, but other than that it's a lot of knocking on wood.

    I will say that on long drives, I always have my OBD2 Bluetooth plug connected. That way, I can monitor engine/transmission temperature, torque converter lockup, intake temperature, voltage... It gives me peace of mind.
     
    Zep5.0 said:
    AAA is a great idea. I've never used them, but my wife and son signed up this winter as a package deal for cheap.

    As far as what to take, a small tool kit with a bit of everything is good. I didn't know if I would take any parts. Most of what you can change on the road will be available in parts stores. What you can't get at the parts store, I'd be surprised if you were lucky enough to decide to take it along. If I brought an alternator, I would surely need a starter instead and vice versa.

    Most important is to bring some "oh crap" cash to get you back on the road of you need to pay someone to fix it
    Click to expand...
    Oh crap cash is great idea, did no think of that, being a plastic man these days. I did buy a lotto ticket tonight for $10. :P

    XR7-4.6 said:
    I like to keep it bare bones, a small hydraulic jack is a good thing to have, a 3/8 socket set, socket wrench and breaker bar, a few quarts of oil, a jumpstarter, a portable aircompressor(which might be one with your junpstarter if you’re fancy), a bottle of tire slime and flashlights. All stuff that mostly fits in a duffel bag.

    FWIW anything can happen to one of these can happen to something brand new too, I would t get hung up on age. If you daily drive it now without issues it’s LESS likely to do it when you’re on the highway

    In an emergency pinch bottled/tap water will get you where you need to go where you can better fix the problem and drain it out.
    Click to expand...
    Check on the jack and check on the emergency kit too and I need a bigger light to take with me. I did mention taking a gallon water bottle. No small air compressor though, but a can of goo would work. Check on the age, I have about everything new on this car; water pump, radiator, fuel filter, oil was just changed and I used a K&N oil filter.

    theterminator93 said:
    I must be the only moron on the roads to have taken a 27-year old car with 240,000 miles on a 1200 mile 2-day road trip without a thought for spare anything! :LOL:
    Click to expand...
    You ARE MY HERO!

    1997ThunderbirdLXV6 said:
    This!

    I mean my tools live in my trunk, plus the aforementioned coolant, but other than that it's a lot of knocking on wood.

    I will say that on long drives, I always have my OBD2 Bluetooth plug connected. That way, I can monitor engine/transmission temperature, torque converter lockup, intake temperature, voltage... It gives me peace of mind.
    Click to expand...
    :cry: My car is OBD1. But I mentioned I would take my snap-on code reader.

    Green T said:
    Bulbs & Fuses. I like to keep extra in the car at all times. As mentioned, you cant go wrong with a jump box/ inflater. Also, phone charging cables and maybe a lighter splitter depending on how many phones you are going to have.

    A good flashlight.
    Click to expand...
    I had to laugh at some of the car shows where the guy buys a jump start and gets pissed on the show, calls the device a POS and threws it in the woods.

    I think I'll get me one of those just for the experience.... :P
     
    I've driven all my dd cars to the beach over the years; change the oil, check the tires, and go.
    my shortest commute was 25 miles, usually was 60. 1200 miles of vacation driving is a break for my cars.
     
    Here is what I take on road trips;
    1) I have a basic 200ish piece mechanic tool kit, comes in a molded case, and has sockets, wrenches, screwdriver, Allen keys, etc.
    2) Fully charged battery impact with 19mm socket for lug nuts, small hydraulic jack, and a full size spare. If I run over something in the road or get a flat, I don’t want to be screwing around with that space saver jack, or trying to drive 1000 miles home at 50mph on a donut.
    3) Fully charged drop light
    4) Zip ties, wire cutter/crimper tool, a spool of 14gauge wire, electrical tape, and some misc electrical connectors and ring terminals.
    5) I have a tool called a Power Probe, which is like a test light and volt meter in one, plus you have the ability to put power and ground to things to test them. For most roadside electrical failures, they can be diagnosed pretty quickly with it.
    6) Fully charged jump box.

    That’s pretty much it. As far as bringing spare parts, I tend not to bother. The only exception to this are things that A) are not readily available, and B) are easy enough to change. For example, in the 90XR7, I have a DIS module and IRCM in the glove box at all times. Either of those could leave me stranded, are impossible to find a replacement at an auto parts store, and could be replaced on the side of the road in less time than it takes to wait for a tow truck. Bringing a spare belt is probably a good idea. Usually when I change the belt, I throw the old one in the trunk as a backup just in case. Fluids can be bought anywhere, so unless you know your car will need it, leave it. Bulbs aren’t going to leave you stranded. You aren’t going to change a distributor on the side of the road, so no sense bringing it.

    Overall though, Brandon’s YOLO method is totally reasonable. Most people get freaked out about a road trip, but they think nothing of driving 3000+ miles without ever opening the hood. They just do it over the course of a few months instead of a few days. If the car is a DD, you’re probably fine. Add to that you have AAA, and you’re definitely fine. Add to that some basic things that you’re willing to do/change on the side of the road just to avoid the inconvenience of a tow, and you’re in a better position than 90% of the people on the road driving newer cars that they’ve never even checked the tire pressure.
     
    MadMikeyL has a pretty good take on things.

    A little late to the conversation, but with a personal goal to put over 5000 miles on my SC this year (usually between 500-1000), I've been thinking about this. SCs do add to the challenge as even less parts are available at the local auto parts store. I will be bringing a spare DIS module, crank sensor, cam sensor and SC belt (mine is not standard length and always needs to be ordered anyway). Then I will add a bottle jack, and a bag of tools and a battery jump pack (needed this several years ago when my battery completely died in the middle of traffic as we rolled into Pigeon Forge and one of the guys in the group had one that got me to the hotel). That's essentially what I plan to have with me on this year's Hot Rod Power Tour, but since others will be traveling with me, if I forget something it isn't a huge deal. I also plan a solo 3000 ish mile trip and I'll have to double check my spare parts.
     
    Traffic thru gatlinburg/pigeon forge sux. I rode back thru there on a bike, in a monsoon; bumper to bumper all the way to i-40,lol.
     
    I made it back and I have some great news to tell you!

    The car made it from Albuquerque to Phoneix and back, about 900 miles, 7-8 hours (one way), 70-85 mph, 4 tank fills and NO ISSUES! The Check engine came on once, I stopped, turned off the car and turned it back on and the warning light never came back on. The clock spring warning light came on, then it went away and other than that, it did great! I am now at 158k on the odometer.

    Average mpg was 22.5 with a high of 25.6 and a low of 17.88. I-17 from Phoenix up to Flagstaff is a constant up hill grade. The little Cougar only started getting up to about 1/3 in the temp gauge when we were in a constant 18 deg grade uphill for some 30 minutes or so.

    Used 1/2 quart of oil
    Added the Lucas gas additive each tank refill which to me, made the car run much better. Average price for gas was about $3.80

    Other than my "never ending" rattle under the car when on I-40, was driving us nuts (that road is just CRAP anymore), the sound system sounding like crap (high speed noise, packed back seat and trunk) and a whistle in the passenger door due the accident it had before I bought it... it is such a nice car to drive long distance!

    We used to go to Vegas a lot in this car and the only trouble I ever had was a flat tire outside Grants NM many years ago.

    The car never lagged for power and drove straight even with the A/C blowing while going up hill on north on I-17. I only needed a pair of plyers out of my tool bag to pull the power steering cap off cause it was really tight due to the o-ring I used.

    We are headed back again soon, but this time the wife wants to take the Town Car so she can cram MORE crap in the trunk.

    Thanks all for your input.

    PS: I found this car for sale in Phoenix and was going to trade the Town Car in for it on the way back to Albuquerque during out next trip, then I found out it had been sold.

    1773955737034.png

    Luck of the Irish? LOL
     
    No, I've done that since the 70's. I keep my cars in good condition; the parts are well past early failure.
    Other than that, you can't really plan for.Parts wear out, which I plan ahead of, accidents happen, and either of the broken parts or accident, you handle the same way, whether you're going to work or driving cross country. Call a tow truck or local friend, and deal. :zshrug:
    I have, in 1980, taken a 1963 thunderbird to the beach at Panama City Fl, for a weekend, with no issues whatsoever.
    Less than a year later, it puked up it's timing chain and valvetrain, going go the convenience store down the street.
    A phone would have been so awesome to have back then, but I'm glad we didn't have people walking around with cameras, lol.
     
    If I have learned one thing (twice) is you CAN get bad gas when on a trip. Take a spare fuel filter and some tools to replace it. A spare tire (and a cordless torque wrench), a serpentine belt with long breaker bar (for ease of changing), water (for you to drink and if the rediator has a fit) as well as some fuel additive to combat that crappy gas you get from some dirt town in the middle of the desert. Other than that, I have always taken a small tool set.

    I will let you know how the Town Car does.
     
    Well, the ol' girl made it without any major issues. The worse thing that broke on my 95 Town car was the turn signals. I have a new multi-switch I bought last year anyway, just waiting to be replaced.
    I put almost a 1000 miles from Albuquerque to Phoenix and back on 18 year old Michelin tires that had 45000 miles on them. The car used 1/2 quart of oil and I drove easily at 90+ but mostly about 85 on the way home, 75 on the way there. Car drove straigth with little weave, very easy to drive and only some slight vibration in the wheels at high speeds. I got an average of 21.2 mpg and was running on fumes when I drove into the garage today. I had 3 gallons left in the tank and 7 miles left before the "50 miles till empty" warning went off. Talk about lucky. That was a full 20 gallon tank from Flagstaff to Albuquerque.

    Fun times.

    MVC-904F.JPG
     
    MadMikeyL said:
    18 year old tires would have been something I would have dealt with before leaving, but glad it worked out for you!
    Click to expand...
    I tried to get a set before I left, but due to the storms last week back east, the truck would not have been on time. I was sweating bullets the whole time, but we had to go and the wife said "other people have driven on old tires and not had issues..."

    Yeah, I was amazed they did not blow.

    Unfortunatly, Michelin's prices are through the roof now and they no longer make a white wall. I found these:

    Travelstar UN106 All Season 225/60R16 WW​

    But I have no clue if they are a good tire or not and if they would actually last 50k.
     
    KevinVarnes said:
    Sounds Chinese to me. Surprisingly, Continental makes a whitewall (albeit thin) in the 225/60R16 size.
    Click to expand...
    I saw that tire as well and was considering it. WallyMart had it for $161 which is much better than $300 for Michelin or BF.

    Then I started looking into just putting a 1/4" white wall strip on the new black walls and be done with it.
     
    KevinVarnes said:
    Continental makes a whitewall (albeit thin) in the 225/60R16 size.
    Click to expand...
    "are Continental TrueContact Tour 54 Standard Touring All-Season Tires in 225/60R16 made in China"

    Search Assist

    Yes, the Continental TrueContact Tour 54 tires in size 225/60R16 are manufactured in China.
    tirerack.com tirereview.com
     
    This chart says Mexico, but AI is always right, so I defer to that.

    Where are you seeing Michelin's for $300? I see a Defender 2 in 225/60R16 for $192. That should be more than enough tire for what you need. Only downside is no whitewall.
     
    You are right Kevin, no matter where you buy the Defender 2, it is $191. I was just pissed at paying double what I paid recently for a set of BF"s for the Cougar.

    I watched more videos on tires and types, brands etc and I am resolved to get a quality brand again. I would like to get grand touring for the Town Car and if I cannot stand the black wall, I will paint on my own damn 1/4" pin strip! (I saw videos on how to do that as well and make them stay).

    From what I have read, the Defender 2 is an all season tire, not a touring tire. I have always had touring tires on this car and it makes a difference. They probably don't make many grand touring tires becuase there are not many yaughts being built anymore. :P

    Thanks Kevin for the feedback.

    PS: I replaced the multi-switch in the Town Car today, despite the back surgery. That is how easy it is.
     
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