Long Trip - Tips and Tricks?

[mgar88]

I'm planning a relatively long road trip in my 86 3.2. From LA to Zion National Park. The drive should take approximately 7 hours.

The car is in good mechanical shape and I've driven it for 3-ish hour journeys across southern CA routinely. But this will be the first long-ish excursion.

A) I'm looking for general advice from those who routinely do cross country trips in their 911s?

B) Specific question: What is the consensus if I were to get a flat tire? I have the original pump and collapsible spare? Are those even safe to use? Should I just make sure my AAA plan includes towing? Can of fix-a-flat??

C) Also, accepting any tips on good driving roads near Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Zion!!!

[3Ddesigns911]

I did a LOT of long distance driving in my 84 when I had it about 10 years ago. I never had a flat so I can't comment on that, but they make a very good cruiser. Not bad gas mileage and pretty comfy (depending on your setup). Mine was stock.

One time I did drive from Alberta down to Zion and to the Grand Canyon. At the time the road was terrible.

You can always get the good AAA membership and I would make sure the spare is usable just in case and have all the necessary things, like a pump and jack if you are planning on using it.

My long trips included driving down from Germany to the most southern tip of Spain and back, across Canada from Halifax to Calgary, a number of trips from Calgary to Vancouver, and to southern California. I had two problems in all my driving with that car. My tranny broke in Bordeaux France, and it had to be rebuilt there, and the second was a broken fan belt in the Mojave Desert going from Palm Springs up to Canada. That time I had a spare belt and just put it on by the side of the road... fun times.

Here is a pic of that car. I think this was taken somewhere in eastern Canada after I brought it across. Still had the German import plates on.

[OneMore]

Originally Posted by 3Ddesigns911

I did a LOT of long distance driving in my 84 when I had it about 10 years ago. I never had a flat so I can't comment on that, but they make a very good cruiser. Not bad gas mileage and pretty comfy (depending on your setup). Mine was stock.

One time I did drive from Alberta down to Zion and to the Grand Canyon. At the time the road was terrible.

You can always get the good AAA membership and I would make sure the spare is usable just in case and have all the necessary things, like a pump and jack if you are planning on using it.

My long trips included driving down from Germany to the most southern tip of Spain and back, across Canada from Halifax to Calgary, a number of trips from Calgary to Vancouver, and to southern California. I had two problems in all my driving with that car. My tranny broke in Bordeaux France, and it had to be rebuilt there, and the second was a broken fan belt in the Mojave Desert going from Palm Springs up to Canada. That time I had a spare belt and just put it on by the side of the road... fun times.

Here is a pic of that car. I think this was taken somewhere in eastern Canada after I brought it across. Still had the German import plates on.

OMG!

When I get older I wanna become you!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[adias]

Get a AAA membership with the 200-mile tow offer. Take a long an extras DME relay. Have a good trip!

Out of LV, go across the Valley of Fire State Park.

[glewis80SC]

Drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon is great, Zion to North Rim of Grand Cyn too, if you have time from Zion to Marble Canyon and the Navajo Bridge great drive about 2 1/2 hours one way, or continue on pass the bridge and go all the way to South Rim about 5 hrs but beyond beautiful country...it all looks like Radiator Springs from Cars.

[echecsqueen]

Before I took a long trip with my '88, I tested the air pump and collapsible. I packed fix-a-flat and renewed my AAA. also prepped a "go bag" with basic tools, a relay, a few fuses, quart oil etc. Have a good trip.

[AndreasK]

Don´t forget duct tape!

[theenico]

...and zip-ties.

[Driven97]

I use ear plugs if I'm driving the car for over an hour. Not that my car is that loud, but it cuts down on fatigue significantly.

[OsoMoore]

Most of the car-support things have already been covered. Please keep in mind general life-support for long trips in isolated areas.
1) Multiple water bottles
2) First aid kit
3) Emergency blanket
4) Warm clothes

Make sure someone knows what route you are planning and when you plan to arrive and contact them.

One of my favorite trips was driving my SC, with my wife, from NC to WI the weekend I bought it. Good luck and have fun!

[964TargaC2]

tire plug kit, just in case fix a flat doesnt work

[tobluforu]

Italian tune-up while on the road at least 20 times.

[Ctopher]

Originally Posted by 964TargaC2

tire plug kit, just in case fix a flat doesnt work

That was going to be my suggestion as well, plug kits are awesome and the tire guy doesn’t cuss you for the slime cleanup!

I just bought my 87 in Aug and drove it 3400ish miles from California up north to redwoods, then Reno, northern Utah, Wyoming and then down through Colorado, NM and back home to Round Rock, TX.

I brought with me the usual tools, plug kit, air pump, oil and rainX and something to clean the windshield. You get a lot of grime each day and a can of Invisible Glass cleaner and some microfiber towels makes quick work of cleaning the windshield each morning while you do quick inspection and warmup.

As for driving roads I used this site to help find amazing roads for each leg of my trip. I’m sure others will have similiar sites but this was the easiest to find based on general area I wanted to travel through.

http://www.motorcycleroads.us

Enjoy the scenery, stop often to take in the sites and just have a blast driving!

Ctopher