Dicko,

Just make sure the car's in good working order. Make sure it's tuned properly -- ignition timing & mixture are critical. Carry coolant, oil, fuel and brake fluid (just in case), and anything you think might be on the weak side engine-wise (thinking hoses, fan belt, here). I doubt you'll need ignition parts, if it's well serviced beforehand. Quick fixit stuff is also good (e.g. coat hanger wire, gaffa tape, hose clamps), and make sure your spare tyre is in good condition and has air

Make sure you have a mobile phone, and MAKE SURE IT'S CHARGED! There are lotsa people along the way who'll be able to offer assistance if you need it, if you advertise when you're making the trip.

Full NRMA or RACV roadside cover is excellent insurance against the things you can't predict. It saved my bacon and paid for itself ten times over in one trip, when I blew out an exhaust valve in Goulburn on my way from Melbourne to Brisbane one time. RACV paid for a taxi from Goulburn to Canberra, then a hire car for a week, and a flat-bed for the Mini back to Melbourne. Best $130 (at the time) I ever spent.

If it's any guide, on our recent trip from Brisbane to Melbourne we used oil and fuel. That's it.. absolutely nothing went wrong, because the car was well prepared beforehand.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

the bendix had split in half and was dragging on the ring gear, had I a 9/16 spanner I would have pulled it out and push started it, but alas.... the RACV truck driver turned out to be a mini owner, I started to tell him where I live, he said "yeah yeah, it's OK, I know the car, I know where it lives... no worries"

A sense of humor helps
Have a break every couple of hours as your bum does go numb

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Prior to leaving just give it a good service, tune, inspection and adjustment and you shouldnt have any dramas.

I'd just pack the normal stuff....a half decent tool kit .....spanners, sockets, ratchet, screw drivers, torch, magnet, hammer, copper drift, medium length pry bar. Parts wise coolant, oil, brake fluid (must haves!!), a roll of electrical wire, electrical/duct tape, fuses, wd40/rp7 (what ever you use), head light globe or 2, brake light globe or 2, a coat hanger, top, bottom (and if you still have it a) bypass hose (concertina one), fan belt, spare tyre (with air in it), w/brace, a working jack, fully charged mobile phone, nrma/racv membership and a huge grin!!

pm me for ph no. otherwise i shall see you there!!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDMkVq1jRGU

change of clothes might help too, you don't wanna get you r sunday best all oily.

The only thing you'll ever need apart from a nrma/raa membership is a tow cable and a big smile.

Also if it's a long drive i suggest one or two viagra to help you stay awake.

Sorry, no one had done it yet, and i wanted to beat biam

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Daniel the concreter (for now)
1974 mini 1100, fully sick rims, disk brakes, new paint, air conditioning, cruise control,v-tech... wishful thinking

BIAM has been unusually quiet. Should we be worried?

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I'll get points & condensor, they were done not too long ago, but......

Wire etc. too.

Dicko

As suggested, basic tools (7/16 x 2 and 1/2 x2 is most important), some wire, fuses, gaffa, cable ties, oil, water, brake fluid, rags, points, condenser and plugs. But most important is RACV memebership.

Total Care x 1 is cheaper than basic cover on three cars, and has better benefits.

If you read the rules for Total Care, it covers you for the car you nominate with ANY driver, or any car you are driving whether you own it or not.

In my case, the Jackaroo is covered by Total Care, so if it breaks down with Sarah driving it, she is covered. All the other cars are covered when I am driving by default, so I don't need seperate cover for them.

Also, if I'm out with a mate in his car, and it breaks down, I am covered as long as I was driving.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

A good tarp or two. Won't take up any space, but will give you something to lie on when you're under the car (or shelter when you're under the bonnet).

I had my rear exhaust mount break away from the subframe the other month, and spent 10 minutes, in the rain, lieing in a muddy puddle, re-hanging the pipe with an old coat hangar (another invaluable piece of bush-mechanicary..) Last thing you want is to get wet/muddy and then have to get back into the car.

Good set of pliers too.. more uses than you can shake a clublock at.

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Gareth.

Jerry Can, electrical wire, some crimp connectors and crimper, and a book to read while you wait for help to arrive

an esky with some cold drinks saves you buying them at every stop, and wasting all your money....

remember to fill up before you need to... plan your trip

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

Probably already been said but a good jack and a piece of steel plate (8" X 8" bit of steel , not cast but plate steel) to put under it so you have a good stable jacking point if you need it , a list of ausmini people with mobile numbers along the way if you have a big failure and need somewhere to leave the mini or someone to pick you up if you haven't got NRMA plus or the equivalent (is it still called NRMA plus ?) , plenty of water/coolant , oil , a fire extinguisher , first aid kit , box of normal spares and tools (hoses , belt , oil filter if you use a spin on (I've seen one lierced by a stone, freak accident but you never know) , spanners , sockets , needle nose pliers , screwdrivers etc ) , a way of charging your phone if the battery dies . I've done some pretty big trips without any drama's but have always had the boot half full of gear in case ....

EDIT , oh yeah , a good torch or light so you can see into the depths of the engine bay when your eyes are used to the glare outside .

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the first thing on your list of things to bring should be

a mini

My short list....
Well charged phone. [To use to call NRMA/Tow truck]
A good GPS or Map [for directions]
Fire extinguisher [Self explanatory]
Cheap $10 fold out chair [For the other half to sit on while you repair the Mini]
Selection of tools [For you to repair the mini with]
One good jack [To jack the Mini up]
Electrical Tape [For upgrading your Minis wiring, mid-holiday]
Grease [To pack into things that make too much noise]
2L bottle of water [For the radiator, or you if you get hot repairing your Mini]
Battery terminal cleaner [To clean the terminals]
Matches [If all else fails]

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No more Minis!......For now.

Yeah, forgot to mention that one, essential.



I had a stone pierce a brake line once, that was interesting shall we say (happened before they sealed the Whitfield road just out of Tolmie), had to descend slowly into Mansfield to get it replaced. Not the sort of thing you can prepare for, though...

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

A small set of vice grips is good for that - I have had a rock tear a rubber brake line in half (dont ask) - just clamp the rubber line off with small vice grips (it may need rudimentry bleeding o the brake line) and tie the vice grips out of the way. You then have the capacity to stop when you have to but use gentle braking.