Long Distance Winter Trip Advice

Post by **BlackBart** » 17 Dec 2021, 12:08

(Speaking of worrying too much)....

Mrs BB has announced we ought to pop down to Colorado over Xmas for a visit to relatives, take her 87 yr old mother along. Mr BB looks at work deadlines, silently panics.

So, this is 850 miles across Montana and desolate Wyoming (land of the ground blizzards), mid-December, in Betty the Volvo, who hasn't been out of town in a while. I-90 to I-25, south to Denver. And back. She's running perfectly as far as I can tell, and I just put brand new Blizzak WS90's on all four corners. She seems pretty well planted - hard to get the ABS to kick in on packed snow. I'm pleased.

My entire garage is filled with loose Alfa Romeo parts and assemblies, spare wheels, stacks of tires, a rear axle. I could move it all temporarily, even if outside for a day, scoot Betty inside, crank the heat, and do some checks. Or borrow my friends warm garage, but I'd have to bring all my tools, and what if I spill on his perfect floor?
Thoughts?

Check oil level (I just changed it not too long ago) Bring extra along.
Check ATF - I've drained and filled once or twice, so it's not all old.
Check coolant. Bring extra.
Worth checking the angle gear oil?
All new wipers, front and back. These just don't last anymore.
Check all tire pressures (I'm putting one of the summers in the back for a full-size additional spare).
Assemble tool duffle and flashlights, batteries.
Replace low beam bulb and put aquarium sealant or something on the crack in the lens. Water gets in, condenses, bulb fries. This needs to be WARM - I can put space heaters on it and a hair dryer blowing into the bulb hole to dry it out.
Slight front left suspension clunk that's been bugging me. HD control arms are new, ball joints, struts, strut bearings. End links look pretty new and seem tight - I should lift it onto stands and pull on some things. It drives fine, just a clunk at driveways. Tie rods?
I have 5 new coil packs in a box. Runs fine, so I haven't put them in. Worth doing a lot minute change, or just bring them along? I hate changing things at the last minute before a trip.
Food / water / flashlights / down bags.

Wut, me worry?

Post by **BlackBart** » 17 Dec 2021, 12:16

Some history of this trip in the past to explain myself -

My Audi A4 1.8T blew up on the Montana-Wyoming border once, spun the rod bearings, full of brand new oil. A long and expensive trip involving multiple flatbed trucks, rental cars, delays. I had to put a new used engine in.

Another time we just rented an Outback to avoid any trouble. Mother-in-law nervous about my old cars.

Once in the red 850, we had changed to summer tires as it was spring break. Left Ft Collins CO in a light rain. Going north on I-25, it changed to slush, then freezing rain, then a blizzard with glazed roads. By Cheyenne WY it was a complete mess - semis blowing and sliding off the road, multiple crashes, low visibility, boilerplate ice. We drove from Cheyenne to Casper WY at 25 mph, and then late into the night.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 17 Dec 2021, 12:55

Two thoughts here:
1. Worry and preparation generally will chase away travel problems.
2. Rent a car and enjoy the trip. Happy MIL = happy life?

I have used both methods for trips.

volvolugnut

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Dec 2021, 13:10

If you're going to do things, do them sooner rather than later to give you shakedown time.

Post by **BlackBart** » 17 Dec 2021, 13:29

Yep, tomorrow morning I think. Leave Wednesday.

Post by **abscate** » 17 Dec 2021, 18:45

I’ve got spare head glass but it’s tight to get it to you be Wednesday. I could have it shipped tomorrow?

Post by **BlackBart** » 17 Dec 2021, 19:41

Head gasket?
Head lamp?

Post by **cn90** » 17 Dec 2021, 20:09

- RENT a car, you make money.

- Seriously, years ago car rental companies charged by the miles, which quickly became unpopular as most people rent a car to go locally to visit relatives etc. Thus the flat daily rate "unlimited mileage".

- Considering that each mile (excl gasoline cost), you depreciate the car value by ~ 40 cents/mile...If you drive 300-500, you depreciate your car value by $120-$200 (wear/tear, tire wear, oil change, spark plugs and all that jazz)...So renting a car at $35-$50/day MAKES money...

- Also, no headache, if the rental car is dead or involved in an accident, just call the car rental company to get a new one.

- Not to mention that when you are on vacation, if your own car is kaput, your vacation is ruined...

Post by **abscate** » 18 Dec 2021, 01:25

Depreciation on Betty is probably < 5 cents a mile and a $50 a day rental isn’t an easy find these days.

Head light glass, sorry BB. Let me know

Just throw those coils in trunk monkey box. Don’t sweat a suspension clunk if it light.

A thousand mile trip is like a month easy driving. Is there anything due/bugging you enough such that you would take it off the road next week? If not, drive it And be happy.

Post by **jonesg** » 18 Dec 2021, 02:48

I'd fly and rent.