Thinking about doing a cross-country road trip in your hot rod or classic car? Unlike a long-distances trip in a new or almost-new vehicle, journeying far from home with an old car or truck requires a little different preparation and packing more gear than just your undies and toothbrush. Based on our 30+ years of driving old cars ranging from junk to pro-touring restomods and Fastest-Street-Car contenders, here are our words of advice.
Know Your Car
Whether you bought or built the classic car you’re about to embark in, you should know its weak links. We once drove car across the country with an engine that would make Warren Johnson jealous (Google Warren Johnson if you were born after 1980). We knew the cam profile was torturing the lifters. The ramp angle was so steep that the cam was applying as much side load to the roller as it was upward force. So it was no surprise when a lifter came apart 2,000 miles into the 2,300-mile road trip. We had everything we needed in the trunk to change the lifters including enough oil and an oil filter to flush the bits of shrapnel out of the engine.
That may seem extreme, but you get the point. And bring the tools you’ll need to do the job and to tune or adjust your car along the way. If your car has aftermarket coil overs, bring your spanner wrenches. Pack a fan belt and radiator hoses. Fuel pump been acting funny but not quite motivated enough to change it before the trip? Bring a replacement and the tools and associated parts you’ll need to change it in a hotel parking lot.
Keep it Clean
Yeah, most of us have a cleaning kit that permanently resides in the trunk. Daily removal of bug splatter keeps the windshield and headlights clear. And it’s nice to remove some road grime and dust for the evening impromptu car show.
But it’s also a good idea to bring some supplies to help clean you if end up doing any repairs or helping someone else. A box of disposable gloves, shop-style paper towels and hand cleaner won’t take up much space, but you’ll be happy to have them instead of smearing a layer of oil on your steering wheel and shifter after a road-side incident.
Things are liable to get dirty one way or another if you have trouble with your classic car on a road trip. It’s smart to have some good disposable gloves on hand plus hand cleaner in case the gloves don’t keep you protected from all the grease, dirt and grime.
Keeping liquids in a plastic tote can reduce the chance of a spill in your trunk. It’s a good idea to carry a replacement accessory belt and radiator hoses. Does your car use special brake fluid? Bring a bottle.
Spare Parts
It’s a good idea to carry spare parts that might not be in stock at auto parts stores. Some people carry replacements for aftermarket EFI systems. There may be specialty components that would put you out of the event for days waiting for a replacement.
The Tools
This may be the first thing you think of when planning what to pack for a road trip. But less is often more. A small portable tool kit in a case that keeps everything in its place and avoids rattling is a good place to start. Make sure you have a selection of universal tools: an adjustable wrench, locking pliers, regular pliers, flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers. Now think through tools specific to your car. Need a 7.5mm Allen head for the idler pulley to change the accessory belt (ask us how we know)? Pack it! We’re also a fan of having a mini electrical tool bag with us. Good quality electrical pliers, some wire, fuses and solderless connectors.
And for Pete’s sake, make sure you have a jack and lug wrench or socket and breaker bar to change a tire if needed.
Instead of trying to pack a Snap-On roll-away box or a bag of mis-matched tools, the easiest starter tool kit for road trips is a portable assortment like this one from Craftsman. Add things you know your car needs that a basic kit doesn’t include. An extra 9/16-inch and 10mm wrench and socket maybe, or that specially-modified wrench for snugging the header bolts.
In a pinch having the right tape can help you limp your way to the nearest parts store or shop to get repairs. It’s good to have one roll each of three different kinds of tape. First, a roll of good, and we mean good duct tape. Second, a roll of electrical tape. And, finally, a roll of good ‘ol “racers tape” to have for issues with hoses or fluid lines. Something like Heatshield Products Racers Tape that is a self-fusing silicone wrap/tape that works great on hoses.
Safety Third
Okay, safety first, but that seemed too boring to lead with. Have a fire extinguisher within the driver’s reach. In most European countries, this is required for every passenger vehicle. Make sure your fire extinguisher is rated for gasoline and electrical fires, as that is usually the case with a car fire. Remember that this isn’t just for your car, but you may literally be a life-saver to someone else on the trip.
A small first-aid kit is also a great idea. Hopefully no one ever needs more than a blister bandage or sunburn gel, but having a basic first aid kit can make a big difference to whoever needs it.
You never know when a dead battery will strike, the same as you never know when you’ll need to pump some air into a flat tire. Finding a device that can do both like the JackPak Ultra2500 shown here means you can have a contingency for either situation in a compact, easy to store rechargeable tool. The JackPak and other rescue packs like it also have battery capacity to serve as power banks for recharging devices in emergencies.
Driving scenic backroads sometimes means fueling up at rural fuel stations that may have a little extra moisture in their fuel due to age. It’s a good idea to carry something to add to fuel to address the issue.
Now Put Half of it Back
We’re kidding. Sort of. Putting together a good road trip kit doesn’t mean bringing everything and the kitchen sink. Take it from chronic over-preparers, keeping it simple and only bringing the necessities makes things easier on multiple fronts. First, it’s easier to keep in your vehicle, taking up a minimal amount of space, and you don’t have to take it out all the time. Second, a simpler kit is easier to check the inventory of and make sure nothing is missing or needs replenishment.
Why would you need an old fashion, some would even say obsolete, thing like a road atlas when you’ve got GPS navigation on your smart phone? If your road trip goes someplace with lousy or no cell signal where the GPS doesn’t (the best road trips usually do) you might need that ancient navigational aid called an Atlas to find your way. An added bonus is an atlas serves as a great tool for planning a road trip so you can look at different routes and figure out which way you want to go.
