Road Trip In My Stag

[Silhouette31]

So in 2 weeks me and my housemate are taking off to Darwin from Adelaide, driving up in my Stagea.

I'm fairly sure I've got everything covered, but wouldn't mind some suggestions of what to check on the car mechanically/electrically before we leave to try ensure we have a mis-hap free trip.

I've had the trans serviced, done an oil change, checked timing.. Was going to change timing belt but I'm fairly sure it was done recently - will be doing that once we get back either way.

Don't have any leaks and the cooling system was bleeded (is that a word? I think I meant bled), and coolant looks mint.

Brake pads are all good.

DVD player is all good

Of course we'll be taking a tool kit, jack, etc.

Any suggestions for more things to check and test to make sure they wont fail? It's like 7000k's round trip, plus whatever driving we do in the 2 weeks we're up there

The only thing I think we've forgotten to organise is someone to feed the dog while we're gone

Edited December 10, 2008 by Silhouette31

[southern_tango]

Wow ,excellent,good luck ,hope you'll post some pics on your return and again enjoy your ride

[Silhouette31]

hoping for some pics infront of uluru if time permits

[Tangles]

got a spare tyre in the boot cavity?

[66yostagea]

Every time I get a new car..............

1) A couple of toilet rolls

2) At least a 4 litre of water

3) A $50 note tucked away.

I've never needed the water or the $50, but, oh boy have me and mine needed the toilet rolls.

All these essentials fit in the little cubby holes in the boot area.

P.S. I'd really love a drive to Darwin and back. And its down to 90c/l.

[rb26stagea]

One of my mates flies the tourist planes out of the resort at Uluru - drop my name, if you decide to go there...

[chook]

I am off on a roadie as well, Brisbane to Canberra and back, not as isolated as yours though. I am just taking a tool kit, I figure i should be able to fix most things that could go wrong.

[Silhouette31]

got a spare tyre in the boot cavity?

yeah, its only the standard space saver though - that reminds me i needa check the pressure of that.

ive done adelaide to melbourne 3 or 4 times in my old R31 Wagon last year.. That was a piece of piss, I'm hoping Darwin will be as easy, but longer.

[Stinky Rooster]

I would really recommend getting at least a couple of full size spares if your wheels are 17" or larger. The chances of getting a tyre replaced half way up aren't real high. You wouldn't want to get stuck having to do a couple of hundred kays on a space saver wheel *shudders* and with ATTESSA, its not like you can just bung on whatever is available to get you going.

Make damn good use of the roofbars too.

[chook]

do spacesavers different in size for different models ? eg I replaced ths 16" stagea with 17" 34 Gtt wheels, are the spacesavers different in diameter for the 2 cars ?

[STAGEA003]

So in 2 weeks me and my housemate are taking off to Darwin from Adelaide, driving up in my Stagea.

I'm fairly sure I've got everything covered, but wouldn't mind some suggestions of what to check on the car mechanically/electrically before we leave to try ensure we have a mis-hap free trip.

I've had the trans serviced, done an oil change, checked timing.. Was going to change timing belt but I'm fairly sure it was done recently - will be doing that once we get back either way.

Don't have any leaks and the cooling system was bleeded (is that a word? I think I meant bled), and coolant looks mint.

Brake pads are all good.

DVD player is all good

Of course we'll be taking a tool kit, jack, etc.

Any suggestions for more things to check and test to make sure they wont fail? It's like 7000k's round trip, plus whatever driving we do in the 2 weeks we're up there

The only thing I think we've forgotten to organise is someone to feed the dog while we're gone

hey sounds like a mad adventure hope all goes well, wish i could take my Stag on a curz like that.ENJOY THE RIDE

P.S dont forget to check the spare tyre is pumped up.......... LOL

[chook]

checked my spacesaver diameter, pretty much exact diameter as my 17" tyres, shouldnt upset the Attessa getting to the next town.

...one more thing i never forget to take is my multimeter.

[Silhouette31]

Car is on stock 16"s and is RWD

[pixel8r]

I've driven between Brisbane and Adelaide quite a few times over the past few years. Done it both ways in a n/a silvia, then a turbo silvia, then a couple trips in my previous stagea, and in a few weeks I'll be driving to Adelaide for a holiday (and back) in my M35 Stagea.

The main things I take is my toolkit, bottle of water, and one of those air compressor thingys that plugs into the cigarette lighter (although I'm not sure how useful this would be). Fortunately, I've never had to use any of these and my cars have all coped brilliantly. The only issue I had was with my previous stagea - being fairly finely tuned to 98 octane fuel, it did ping a little whilst overtaking when running on 95 octane fuel (very hard to find 98 octane fuel between Tailem Bend and Parkes). Not a major problem at all - only happened under heavy throttle so I just had to tone it down a little and it was fine

I cant speak for Adelaide to Darwin - I'm guessing there are far fewer major towns on your trip so your emergency pre-planning probably does need more thought than mine...I always figure at most I'd be 50-60km from the nearest town and have mobile reception most of the way.

From personal experience, unless your car is prone to breaking down, you should be fine. The most likelihood of any trouble would normally be external to your car anyway (ie. wildlife / other drivers etc). That and a tire blowout - so yeah the spare is pretty important.

I'm a huge fan of the road trip. Its an awesome driving experience...and becomes a part of your holiday.

Its one of those odd things in life where you look forward to the road trip for weeks/months beforehand, then during it you just cant wait to get to the next town, bored with all the driving, impatient to arrive at your destination, but then afterwards you look back on it with very fond memories, and begin planning your next trip.

[GoldZilla]

With that fuel issue in mind, pack a couple of bottles of Octane Booster - the Nulon-branded ones just fit in the left side compartment in the boot. Some spare fuel would be a good idea too, considering the thirst of the Stagea, and at least you'll have that little bit extra of the high-octane stuff if you REALLY need it.

A few rolls of dunny paper, water and some extra cash stashed away just in case, as Hugh mentioned.

Check tyre pressures and put in a few extra psi at each corner for the sustained highway running. Regarding the space-saver, they're only recommended for a distance of 100kms at a maximum of 80km/h, so Dale's suggestion of carrying a full-sized spare is a pretty good one.

Spare fan belts should always be included - it's such a simple thing, but can often be vital. I can't remember which belt goes where without looking, but losing an alternator belt means ending up with a dead battery before too long, losing the power steering belt means heavy steering (which will be more of an issue at lower speeds), and the air-con compressor belt would mean you and your passenger(s) sweating to buggery in the Darwin heat.

[webng]

checked my spacesaver diameter, pretty much exact diameter as my 17" tyres, shouldnt upset the Attessa getting to the next town.

What are your 17's? I've got 235/45/17's on mine and am worried to upset the attessa system if i get a flat. Couldn't work out the diameter of the space saver.

back on topic, sounds like a top drive, 7000k's is a long way! I'm sure the stag will hold up well.

Edited December 10, 2008 by webng

[chook]

just use a tape measure, or put them side by side, with load off. 225/45's

[mr_infamy]

I am off on a roadie as well

That makes three of us, although it sounds like mine will be the shortest:

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&sadd...amp;t=h&z=7

I just wanna get out of the city for a while. I've barely left this year, much less driven out. I've already done a run to Oamaru and back and I managed to get 220km on 1/3of a tank. Getting the stag out there on the open road was awesome.

I'm planning to spend NYE on top of Mt. John, which has one of the best observatories in NZ. Hopefully it won't be cloudy.

[zei20l]

ive seen the movie 'road trip' and i liked it. so i just assume all road trips would be as enjoyable

nah but seriously, the roads are pretty good up there now. sealed all the way! so you should be fine.

[Tangles]

if you need to borrow a spare spacesaver wheel/tyre let me know by PM (M/vale area)

genkin recently borrowed mine but thankfully didnt need to use it.

Good luck and enjoy the drive anyways - may thine stagea ghods smile upon thee