Road Trip Help

47 posts · joined Apr 2010 · 23 Feb 2011, 6:31 pm

#827850

Hi,

I'll be taking my 72 Superbug on a bit of a road trip and have been told by a few people don't forget to take this don't forget to take that.

I was just wondering if you guys can help me out. What would/could I possibly need for these trips.
Could I make a "Bug First Aid Kit" and what would it include????

Thanks in Advance,
Natasha & Iris

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 23 Feb 2011, 6:56 pm

#827853

A mobile phone, fan belt, spare battery [for mobile phone].

Make sure the car is serviced properly, before you leave.

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 23 Feb 2011, 7:13 pm

#827855

NRMA members card

Futue te ipsum!!!

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 23 Feb 2011, 7:39 pm

#827864

Bizarre wrote:NRMA members card

x2 NRMA premium is highly recommended particularly as these little cars are getting on and have been known to have a hissy fit now and then. This at least means you can get the car home if the worst happens.Good luck on your road trip. Cheers Les

Lucky Phil Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Aug 2010 · 23 Feb 2011, 8:07 pm

#827876

You should carry at least a new fuepump, fanbelt and a bottle of engine oil.

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 24 Feb 2011, 7:47 pm

#828076

I'll give you the list of things I always carry, not just for roadtrips.

Spare fanbelt - very important for obvious reasons. If your belt snaps and you drive without one then you will cook your engine.
Bottle of oil - for top ups or just in case.
Spare fuses - I keep a packet of them in the ashtray.
Spare tyre - preferably one which holds air and has decent tread.
Spare wheel bolts - I carry four spare wheel bolts, enough for one wheel. I have had wheel bolts back out on me before and fall out, if I wasn't running stock hubcaps then they would have been lost on the highway! As it was, their threads were mangled so I swapped to the spares. On that occasion, I had just been given those wheel bolts which is why I happened to have them in the car.

You will also need some tools:
Some kind of prybar to get your hubcaps off (I use the old factory wheelbrace tool for this)
Big breaker bar with socket for your wheel bolts. Wheel bolts are often done up so tight that you can't get them off with a wheel brace. I carry a 600mm breaker bar in the car at all times to make sure that they will come off easily. I can now easily undo wheels with one hand after they've been blasted on with a rattle gun by some kind of tyre shop monkey. Due to my previous near wheel-loss incident as mentioned above, I also like to do them up nice and tight myself!
A jack which you trust to hold the car up, if your factory jacking points are not in good condition then bring something else.
Socket set, pliers and side cutters, a couple of screwdrivers and maybe a points file if you're feeling fancy. It really doesn't take many tools to work on a bug.

1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

Iris-the-lovebug Casual Dubber

47 posts · joined Apr 2010 · 25 Feb 2011, 5:59 pm

#828223

Thanks Guys, Keep replying I really appreciate it and am taking it all on board.
I have a factory Jack but it only fits into the right hand Jacking point. Does anyone know what other sort of Jack I should take???
Just incase I need to use the left one.
And My tyres aresn't stock, so my spare isn't completely compatable, but it would be ok just to get me out of trouble????
Coz I don't think my tyres would fit in the place made for the spare (Thats why I still have the original still in there).

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 25 Feb 2011, 6:43 pm

#828232

I have the same issue with jacking points, one of mine is dodgy. I just carry the factory jack and hope not to get a flat on that side! A large bottle jack under the front framehead or rear torsion bar tube would do, but they're kind of high up for most jacks. I take a trolley jack with me to motorsport events if I'm intending to change wheels.

My spare doesn't match my other tyres either, but it is still close enough and better than nothing. Ideally, if you get a flat on the rear you should swap one of the front tyres back there and put your spare on the front so that the rear axle will have both tyres the same diameter to save your differential.

1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

annosL Officially Full-On Dubber

378 posts · joined Dec 2008 · 25 Feb 2011, 7:29 pm

#828247

I got a scissor jack from wreckers, $10.00, for my daughters L bug as she is a bit afraid of using the original, works fine under the stock points but you could jack anywhere with it if the spot picked is strong enough. I'd recomend a small LED torch for the glove box for night time break down, and a workshop manual under the seat so you can do a bit of troubleshooting if your out of mobile range. My daughter has the odd-size spare saga too, not a big deal

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 9 Mar 2011, 7:26 am

#829974

the two things that i carry are the clutch cable and throttle cable, if one of them break's you are better of looking at them not for them.