3000 mile one-way trip, suggestions?

[scabzzzz]

I think you guys are on a bit of an overkill with the supplies and stuff. A simple tool kit should be good enough to change the basic stuff. It almost sounds like you guys are prepared to drop the trans on the side of the road in Alabama or something.

But anyways, I always ALWAYS keep a gallon of coolant, power steering fluid, oil, brake fluid, and a small tool bag with the basics. I also keep an extra H1 headlight and some rags. Also make sure my spare bottle cap in my trunk has proper air in it. Just run through and check stuff. Make sure everything looks tip top. Any small leaks will become big leaks soon after or during the trip or the way home so take care of those beforehand.

[VacMan]

I'd grab a booster pack with with a compressor built in.

[Dave]

AAA Card.
Friends of BMW Directory from the CCA.
Names/Numbers of r3v kiddies who are along your route.

Those need to be the priorities.

Spare fluids of all kinds, A good spare tire AND a can of fix-a-flat.

Metric wrenches.

Bag of spare fuses/relays and some wire.

Zip ties.

Duct tape.

If you are truly sure all of your rubber bits in the engine are in good shape, that list should do you.

[cheades]

Basic tools and fluids are all you should need if the car is up on maintenance (alignment, brakes, tires, motor).

I did this trip 6 years ago in an Escort with 0 tools and had no issues, but there was a bit of luck there. Make sure and plan your hotels (or R3v members) for where your staying, we didn't and a convention taking up all the rooms made us drive an extra 200 miles. So Palm Beach to the LA/Texas border is possible in 1 day even stopping in Alabama to play 18 holes.

[whiltebeitel]

Eric, If you come low by Houston, I'm gonna have a place with covered work area. You're welcome to stop over!

[TDE30]

Any and all of the aforementioned E30 maintenance accessories.

Zipties and duct tape.

Valentine One.

Caffeinated beverages.

Muzak (A little bit of evrything is usually good for long distance road trips.)

Notebook with wireless card.

CB Radio (Communicate with truckers to allow you to pass them. Not necessary if you are traveling within speed limits, but certainly a nice feature.)

Check all bulbs, bring extras if necessary,

Check tire pressure and bring a pressure gauge with you. Make sure spare tire is in good running order.

Binoculars (Laugh now, but you'll want these on long, open stretches of highway where police lurk. If you've got a passenger, have them periodically scan the road and the sides of the road for polizei.)

Car charger for any electronic device with you.

Camera (You never know what you'll see.)

[mrsleeve]

Whats with all this stop to sleep crap about, you stop an power nap in a rest stop some where when you get tired for me thats after 23ish hours straight. 45min nap will do you wonders on a road trip. Shit when I drive from MT to MI or Vice versa its 31 hours to drive it at around the speed limit. I drive way to drive way in less than 36 hours total elapsed time, the 5 hours is a nap or 2 for a few minuets, fuel an bathroom stops.

[Funkmasta]

Whats with all this stop to sleep crap about, you stop an power nap in a rest stop some where when you get tired for me thats after 23ish hours straight. 45min nap will do you wonders on a road trip. Shit when I drive from MT to MI or Vice versa its 31 hours to drive it at around the speed limit. I drive way to drive way in less than 36 hours total elapsed time, the 5 hours is a nap or 2 for a few minuets, fuel an bathroom stops.

Ya, I don't do the hotel thing... too scheduled for me.
I drive til I get tired, pull over on an on ramp. Sleep til I wake up, and continue on my way.

Coffee and Redbull are winners, remember, Denny's-Shari's-Iron Skillet, etc are all open 24 hours and have coffee.

[Funkmasta]

Oh yea, do yourself a favor and rig together some sort of cupholder

[M42Technik]

And take a plane.

[Sean T Sat]

eggs in case u crack a radiator. pop it in. its a quik fix and it was on myth busters so they cant be wrong, its tv

[2002maniac]

deodorant

[Dave]

http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/3256

[Erick]

I have a great feeling about this trip, my car's crankshaft pulley just broke.

How a piece of solid steel breaks is beyond me. Better stock up on those for the trip. -.-'

- Erick

[Mot]

Well you will be in good hands once you get within Cali/OR/WA. Best of luck Erick, see you in a few weeks.