What do you have for roadtrip support

Post by **xHeart** » 20 Nov 2018, 08:58

The Stanley product is attractive in price but poor design.

JNCAIR 1700 Peak Amp Jump Starter with Air Compressor is perfect but expansive. What are you using?

Post by **June** » 20 Nov 2018, 11:16

AAA roadside service. They have towed my S80 once in it's 15 year life, and installed one emergency battery, and my spare tire once. For what AAA membership cost per year it is worth the peace of mind that comes with having emergency roadside service 24/7.

Mike has a air compressor and big roll around battery charger in the garage if I need to add air to a tire or charge my car's battery. Honestly I have never used the battery charger ever as before the battery fails in my 2004 S80 the alarm goes crazy and all sorts of messages appear on the message center in the dash. So I have learned to have the battery checked when the symptoms start though the first time I was stranded and AAA came and installed a battery as you want to avoid jump starting a modern Volvo with it's complex computer systems.

The best way to avoid getting stuck in preventable breakdowns is to know your car. I know instantly when my car feels wrong. Ie if the car starts to pull one way I know to check the tires. Also if unusual sounds or vibrations occur they get my immediate attention. Also check all fluids under the hood at every gasoline fill up. And of course keep all maintenance up to date by miles or years as indicated in your cars maintenance manual.

So knowing my car, routine maintenance, and AAA is what I rely on for road support. June

Post by **jimmy57** » 20 Nov 2018, 12:08

I have spare parts with me to scare the originals into continuing to work. SO far it is almost 100% successful. I've had a fuel pressure sensor spare for 10+ years and never had a failure.
I have cheapo socket set and a few other tools wrapped in a beach towel under load floor. Towel in case I need to get on the ground. I don't think I've ever had to use the tools for breakdown.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 20 Nov 2018, 12:20

June: As a preventative maintenance expert you should know regular charging will prolong the life of the battery quite a bit. They can last 15 years if kept well charged.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 20 Nov 2018, 12:23

I mostly only go on longer trips with bikes in the car and then I have a bicycle pump and some basic tools.

Apart from that I've got reflective vests, a yellow magnetic strobe light, spare wheel and a long handle with a wheel bolt socket on it. And of course jumper cables and a towing cable. But that's pretty much it

Post by **xHeart** » 27 Nov 2018, 08:16

Thank you.
We are back from the 2300 mile road trip to Black Hills, SD. Change of plan included NOT visiting Pine Ridge due to change of weather. And dropping I-80 altogether was best decision. But we did enjoy the drive down from Madison WI through incessant snow, rain and traffic for two hours.

How is our CN90 in Lincoln NE?

I-90 is joy to travel in SD and MN minus deer incidents.

okidiver · Post by **okidiver** » 01 Dec 2018, 06:17

jimmy57 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2018, 12:08 I have spare parts with me to scare the originals into continuing to work. ...SNIPPED...

An ironic and most excellent strategy!

Post by **abscate** » 14 May 2019, 08:59

we have AAA with 100 mile coverage - and the only one who went to college >100 miles didn't take a car! One was 99 miles away - sweet!

Other than AAA and PM, I try to spread good karma everywhere I go, so if I am in a bind, I can get local help or even a place to drop a car and come retrieve on my time. So far, Ive got every where covered except Queens NY. No good karma there.

There are rumors that my T5 parking spot in Charlotte was recently vacated by an old R sitting there, too.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 14 May 2019, 10:42

abscate wrote: ↑14 May 2019, 08:59 we have AAA with 100 mile coverage - and the only one who went to college >100 miles didn't take a car! One was 99 miles away - sweet!

Other than AAA and PM, I try to spread good karma everywhere I go, so if I am in a bind, I can get local help or even a place to drop a car and come retrieve on my time. So far, Ive got every where covered except Queens NY. No good karma there.

There are rumors that my T5 parking spot in Charlotte was recently vacated by an old R sitting there, too.

Why would you need a support package that only covers pushing-distances?

Post by **xHeart** » 21 May 2020, 08:44

okidiver wrote: ↑01 Dec 2018, 06:17
jimmy57 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2018, 12:08 I have spare parts with me to scare the originals into continuing to work. ...SNIPPED...
An ironic and most excellent strategy!

jimmy57 strategy includes carrying face-covers during road trip this summer -- scaring covid into staying away.

The TOPDON analyzer for Battery, Crank and Charge tests is good for checklist. It shows Ripple 374mV during Charging. Battery's Internal R is 3.47mV.

What is a good battery data?