what would you do before you left?

[lee771]

Hi guys

I have a road trip coming up on the 23rd of October taking my Mrs over to Germany to see the Belsen camp and then down to Poland to visit Auschwitz.

Were taking the old frontera 96 square dash but on coils.

My question is other than a basic service what would you do to the car before you left?

Thanks

Lee

[Retro Pedro]

Apart from normal service items maybe give the front wheel bearings a grease and tighten up. Check brake pads, tyres.
What are you talking 2,000 mile round trip? Have a good trip.

[lee771]

Thanks for the reply.

Total trip is going to be just over 2800 miles.

Wheel bearings is a good thought hadn't even thought of that.

Gona take spare dizzy cap, ht leads just in case.

[jimmybhoy]

Couple of tins of tyreweld.....No matter what you prepare for (No, on second thoughts, maybe thats just me ) i wont jinx you, Enjoy!

[Big Dav]

Have a check through what bits and pieces you legally require in the various countries you will be travelling through. Despite supposedly being EU integrated some countries have their own ideas.....and strictly enforce them!
Have a spare key too...but don't keep it on the same keyring with the other one.

[vauxsqueeks]

Make sure you have a warning triangle in the boot..

[gregster]

I would give our man Jeoh a shout....he would know everything there is to know, and might even meet up with you as a fellow frontynut who has been to many FOG annual meets from Germany...

[snapper]

Join ADAC or just make sure my RAC Membership was up to date...

[snapper]

Pack a warning triangle, 5 ltr can of fuel, Alcohol Breathalyser (reqd in france).

Make up a immediate/action spares kit with a set of bulbs, a box of mixed fuses - say three of each size on the car, a can of instant gasket, coolant hose repair kit (halfords do a good one), couple of cans of tyre repair, spare fan belt, spare steering pump belt, a selection of small bolts /nuts etc to replace the ones that rattle off, the socket for the wheel locking nut!

Make sure the tyres are up to it (tred depth, weather conditions etc).

Replace the wiper blades

Headlight conversion kit

[JEOH]

Gosh - a long trip with important visits.

According to our experiences traveling through Europe with a Frontera most important for self-assistance is
one or better two spare fuel relais. And the belt for the thingy producing the electricity

Timing belt should not be older than 60.000 km.

Other items like bulbs, tyres, wipers and so on are available on the continent, too! AA vor RAC are recommended.
Most of the spätes and tools I took with me in former times is now left home. Reduced to a min.

You are welcome to give us a visit near Düsseldorf if it fits your plans. In case of any problems I am shure the network of Herman http://www.opel4x4.de will be proud in assisting you!

[lee771]

Hi guys thanks for all the replies.

My list:-
1) cam belt (hoping to get it done at work next week)
2) assortment of jubilee clips- and bags of tie straps (done)
3) many roles of gaffa tape (never leave home with out it)
4) wheel bearings (never done them before will investigate this weekend)
5) 2 breathalysers for France (will get orders but not hear yet)
6) hi-viz x2 and warning triangle. (done)
7) light covers (done)
service (this weekend)
9) tyres (need 2 15inch A/Ts if any ones got some part works?)
10) 3 tins of tyre repair (done)
10a) all stuffs for wheel off jack socket ect(done)
11) dizzy and leads and plugs (done got brand new spares)
12) 20l gerry can (done)
13) paper work insurance maps ect (done)
14) channel crossing (being booked Wednesday) boat or train? Trains a total of £50 more

Jeoh good to hear from you. May well take you up on the offer on my way back through.and thank you for the pm.
I used to drive through to Germany once a month years back when i was working over there and looking forward to revisiting some of my old haunts time permitted. And good to hear spares are readily available over there.

Any other thoughts always welcome

Many thanks

Lee

[lee771]

Well todays the day sat at Dover now waiting for my ferry.

248 miles down
2500ish to go

If there are no more posts by Wednesday its cuz were not coming back!!!

Wish us luck

Cheers
Lee

[aredee]

hope it all works out well sounds like a fantastic adventure

[lee771]

Well got back yesterday morning and promptly fell asleep!

The trip was amazing and the camps were both very thought invoking would recommend everyone go see them. got loads of pics will post a few up when i get the chance.

The fronty performed amazingly well. only issue I had was they power steering got a blockage or air lock of some description, gave all the pipes a good squeeze by hand drained the oil and refilled and was good as new. She pulled at a steady 75-80 all the way and still had enough power for overtaking when needed, not gonna lie though would have liked abit of V6 power on some of the Autobahns RT2 from Berlin to Venlo is a hell of a long way!! B series comfort would have been nice as well. Did take great pride in all the looks we were getting when we pulled up for food ect and didnt see one other frontera A or B on the whole trip!!

Total trip was 2441 mile to and from my front door, going through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Poland. Met some really nice people along the way and ate some stunning food, stopped at a pizza restaurant in Poland that had a proper wood fired pizza oven and we had 2 very large home made pizzas for the equivalent of £3.80

Total trip 2441 miles
countries 6 (if you include england)
Time 107hrs (left home 1900 friday night got back 0600 yesterday)
Fuel 483 liters (ranging from £105.9 in the uk to £0.88 in Poland)
Hotels x3 First in Bergen was £59, second in Poland 1.4 mile from Auschwitz was £21 and the last in Berlin was £98 the one in Poland was by far the best and the prettiest views, all came with breakfast.
Ferry £67 return with DFDS Dover Calais
Both camps are free to enter, we payed £6 to go on a guided tour (in french) at Auschwitz as you can only go on nonguided tours from 0900-1000 and 1500-1700 we got there at 1010 paid for the tour and then just did our own thing once in there worked well for us.

All in we spent about £800 and it was worth every penny would do it again tomorrow (or maybe next week after catching up on some sleep)

On the way back me and Lauren started to think of our next trip, we both love road trips and did Route 66 last summer in a Dodge charger was truly epic, were thinking of spending 2 weeks driving to Italy via the French Alps and Pyrenees any thoughts on this or advice from people that have done it would be great.

Thanks

Lee

[aredee]

wow im really envious would love to do something like this trouble my mrs likes her creature comforts too much and too be honest (she would agree)that long in a car together would probably also need a single return back to england on foot

[JEOH]

Lee,

glad to hear you had a nice travel and returned to home safe and comfortable. Maybe we arrange a meeting next time. Italy is woth the long way.

I do feel a bit jealous as well because my wife is not interested in Eastern parts oft Europe...