This maybe a no brainer, but,
Next friday I'm heading down to Melbourne from townsville and is it recommended to change both the engine and tranny fluid, even though the the car has been serviced about three months ago.
I'll be taking some tools and spare belts and hoses for insurance but dont expect anything major.
Is there anything else I should consider?

P.S. This is the furthest I've taken this car.

probably take with you a bottle of chemiweld for reassurance, 5L of oil and some water, carry some hose clamps too.

maybe advisable to get it checked up at the mechanics?

']probably take with you a bottle of chemiweld for reassurance, 5L of oil and some water, carry some hose clamps too.

maybe advisable to get it checked up at the mechanics?
Lucky my neighbour is a mechanic I trust.

your KL will walk it in - its low kay, and well looked after - should not be any dramas there

take some water with you - *just in case*

before you hit the road, check all fluid levels - transmission, engine oil, radiator and top up as required and of course tyre pressues inc the spare (no brainer stuff really)

also - as its happened to me, make sure your windscreen washer fluid is FULL! nothing worse than hitting the highway, collecting some bugs on the windscreen and going to wash it off and discovering you only had enough water to smear the bug guts all over the window...

personally, i wouldnt bother with taking tools and belts - maybe get them changed before you go if your that worried about them.

when where the belts changed last out of interest? if its been a while, maybe look at getting a mechanic to change them before you go, so you know that they will be fine :)

remember to stop and take breaks - stop in in Mackay - hit me up say hi etc :P
and dont push yourself on the drive, take breaks and the like when required.

I would just check the oil, water and trany fluid levels and tyre pressure and condition. from your profile your car is pretty new and I am assuming its in decent nick.

Maybe think about getting the high level of RACQ cover for the free towing and accomodation if on the off chance something does go wrong.

your KL will walk it in - its low kay, and well looked after - should not be any dramas there

take some water with you - *just in case*

before you hit the road, check all fluid levels - transmission, engine oil, radiator and top up as required and of course tyre pressues inc the spare (no brainer stuff really)

also - as its happened to me, make sure your windscreen washer fluid is FULL! nothing worse than hitting the highway, collecting some bugs on the windscreen and going to wash it off and discovering you only had enough water to smear the bug guts all over the window...

personally, i wouldnt bother with taking tools and belts - maybe get them changed before you go if your that worried about them.

when where the belts changed last out of interest? if its been a while, maybe look at getting a mechanic to change them before you go, so you know that they will be fine :)

remember to stop and take breaks - stop in in Mackay - hit me up say hi etc :P
and dont push yourself on the drive, take breaks and the like when required.

As above, i do 1000k's+ a week some weeks and never have an issue with my car except how dirty it gets. A packet of Window cleaning wipes (Armorall ones) they are worth there weight in gold. its a better then using a 14 hour old sock :doubt:

After getting stuck twice in Kempsy, 5 hours north of Sydney on my way to Brisbane, I'll never travel long distance again without a jumper pack.

They're cheap, a lot easier than hunting down a battery, or calling NRMA and being told its only a 3-4hour wait......

also check wiper blades are in good condition. I can only thanks my lucky stars that i replaced my wiper blades a few days before heading to brisbane. drove for 19 hours through heavy rain which the old wipers would have really suffered through, and i would no doubt have left the road through poor visibility

your KL will walk it in - its low kay, and well looked after - should not be any dramas there

take some water with you - *just in case*

before you hit the road, check all fluid levels - transmission, engine oil, radiator and top up as required and of course tyre pressues inc the spare (no brainer stuff really)

also - as its happened to me, make sure your windscreen washer fluid is FULL! nothing worse than hitting the highway, collecting some bugs on the windscreen and going to wash it off and discovering you only had enough water to smear the bug guts all over the window...

personally, i wouldnt bother with taking tools and belts - maybe get them changed before you go if your that worried about them.

when where the belts changed last out of interest? if its been a while, maybe look at getting a mechanic to change them before you go, so you know that they will be fine :)

remember to stop and take breaks - stop in in Mackay - hit me up say hi etc :P
and dont push yourself on the drive, take breaks and the like when required.
All belts and stuff were checked and changed during the last service but doesn't matter how old your car is anything can go wrong.
Plus Mackay will be a stop on my trip back. For this I'll be going straght down the guts going through Charters towers, Roma, Dubbo and straight into Seymour(Puckapunyal) for the duration of my stay and hitting Melbourne on the weekrnds.

If you're worried, get your next door neighbour to check it.

Go to a suspension place and get one of those 28 point safety checks for $28 too.

The things I'll never travel without (long distance)
Battery Jumper Pack
Torch
Smokes
2 lighters
Water
Lots of MP3's
Camera in passenger seat (you see some nice cars...)
Pillow
Blanket
Coffee Thermost (those cylinder things)

If you're worried, get your next door neighbour to check it.

Go to a suspension place and get one of those 28 point safety checks for $28 too.

The things I'll never travel without (long distance)
Battery Jumper Pack New Battery
Torch No brainer
Smokes don't smoke
2 lighters I like camping and setting bushfireslol
Water Der
Lots of MP3's No brainer
Camera in passenger seat (you see some nice cars....) Never leave home without it
Pillow Posturpedic
Blanket Sleeping bag
Coffee Thermost (those cylinder things) I'm addicted to coffee
Plus its a work funded trip, paying me to drive down,

you know what the batter jumper is for? its if the alternator goes and leaves you on the side of the road!

you know what the batter jumper is for? its if the alternator goes and leaves you on the side of the road!

If the alternator goes, you run off the battery.......that said, you can run for maybe 1-1.5hours off a battery if everything except engine is off. (Been there done that)

Battery's fail. Mainly, at the worst possible time.

I was in my dads VX calais. Stopped at kempsy for a few hours of sleep, twice (in 1 year) the battery crapped out right then and there......

you know what the batter jumper is for? its if the alternator goes and leaves you on the side of the road!
I know what its for and I'm borrowing one from work
Some of those remarks in the post above were sarcastic, I take long trips very seriously.

Don't forget your credit card, lots of money for petrol, and maybe a passenger to talk to?

I know this sounds like a no brainer but make sure you check your spare tyre's pressure level aswell. Nothing like changing to your spare only to find that its flat aswell.

lollipops
juice with lots of ice
Lots of water - not too much though
smokes
some friends to take care of you
lasers / artificial light / dark rooms
beats
fatties
a day off work the next day

u should be set.

To begin with DO NOT USE chemiweld in your car no matter how desperate you are.

You have a fairly new car, it should be able to do the trip endlessly with no issues.

You seen to have kept it serviced, just check your fluids and tyres and ensure your wiper blades are new (nothing worse on a long trip than dodgy wiper blades lol)

If you have issues in Melb, give me a hoy and I will see what I can do

Don't forget your credit card, lots of money for petrol, and maybe a passenger to talk to?
like I said work is paying for the trip there and back. ie fuel, accomadation if I need it.

lollipops
juice with lots of ice
Lots of water - not too much though
smokes
some friends to take care of you
lasers / artificial light / dark rooms
beats
fatties
a day off work the next day

u should be set.
Sounds like a good trip to me.

Sounds like a good trip to me.
Theres still a spare seat for ya if your interested, don't know about space for your bag:)

If its mostly highway driving with max speed limit, up the tyre pressure a couple of PSI.

ensure your wiper blades are new (nothing worse on a long trip than dodgy wiper blades lol)



finally someone else who understands lol

A half chewn Mintie can plug small leaks, so take some Minties with you :)

Thanks for all your tips and advice guys,I'll take eveything posted on board and make some decisions.
Good thing that I'll be on holiday week before I leave and a week after I return.

lollipops
juice with lots of ice
Lots of water - not too much though
smokes
some friends to take care of you
lasers / artificial light / dark rooms
beats
fatties
a day off work the next day

u should be set.

LMFAO thats a good trip indeed.

A half chewn Mintie can plug small leaks, so take some Minties with you :)

So can Pepper and Eggs as well. Ah bush mechanics. Also the Stocking for a fanbelt, shamefully ive had to do that before in the old WB :doubt:

take a tralier with a spare car on it.

um remember to take those um KFC type towelettes things, i always seem to dry up on long trips...um and. yeah thats all

take a tralier with a spare car on it.

um remember to take those um KFC type towelettes things, i always seem to dry up on long trips...um and. yeah thats all
Very helpful....Thankslol

Very helpful....Thankslol

ahaha anytime buddy.

I've had to tie wire a bumper on an old falcon I had. It bottomed out going across some water, the water got in behind the bar and pulled it off the car. When I went back to find it, the mounts were broken so I had to wire it back on.

It held for a few weeks until I took it off.

So maybe look into tie wire lol

Dont forget the most important thing!
For those lonely nights....
pr0n!

Have a great trip! It'll be an awesome run.

Stuff i'd do? Make sure there's windscreeen washer detergent in the washer bottle, I put RainX on the screen as well - rain just sheets off. Do you have headlight covers?

If you like a coffee take a travel mug, thermos, coffee and little UHT milks... I can pass an hour sipping on a brew :-)

What else? CDs or your iPod and an FM transmitter, unless you like ABC radio and maps to get you there and back (especially of Melbourne)! If you do like ABC radio they have a little frequency card for your glove box for $1 at ABC shops. It has local radio, Radio National, JJJ etc)

Don't worry about your car- if it's been well looked after it will look after you.

Is this your route?

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&saddr=townsville&daddr=-22.350076,149.0625+to:Molong+Euchareena+Rd+to:melb ourne&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3BFRJwCP4dgkThCA%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=4&via=1,2&sll=-28.536905,145.66583&sspn=32.81072,50.097656&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=4

Dont forget Sunscreen ( avoid drivers arm ) maybe hat???
Polarised Sunnies.
Keep drinks, snacks and Music in easy reach.
Check the condition of your radiator hoses.
Consider The first fuel fill of optimax, should get xtra K's on the highway ( esp in auto's), and may clean the injectors up a bit.
I use dishwashing liquid in the wiper bottle ( get rid of bugs and road grime easy).
My golden rule " If I yawn, I rest."
refresher wipes are good.
Extra water and a face washer to freshen up.
And if you're going miles from home, a spare key, on your person, or outside the vehicle.
Tissues/bogroll.
Cash/ dont depend on eftpos.
Check the jack.
Tyre pressure.
Keep as many large loose items in boot as possible/or secure with the seat belts.
Be patient and have a good trip!!!!

And as far as food goes, carbo's assist with the ability to concentrate....
And sitting down for ages is good for clogging up 'your internals', two stubbies after a long days drive should keep your exhaust free flowing ;)

Phone
GPS
Car charger for both
Little air compressor for the tyre
Jumper leads
smokes

lollipops
juice with lots of ice
Lots of water - not too much though
smokes
some friends to take care of you
lasers / artificial light / dark rooms
beats
fatties
a day off work the next day

u should be set.

You forgot chewing gum and a 20.... Dollar note that is.

always keep a wheel brace and a jack been caught out a few times my damn brother keeps taking mine:rant: oh and check the tyre pressure on ya spare too:cool:

Don't for get a little can of WD 40 for things that get stuck and a roll of black electrical tape for things that need to be stuck. :D

Don't for get a little can of WD 40 for things that get stuck and a roll of black electrical tape for things that need to be stuck. :D

and cable ties :D

At this rate Grelise will have more parts and drugs in his car than luggage lol

All the things that everyone else has said but didn't notice wheel alignment or balance.
Nothing more tedious in my opinion that a long drive with vibration through the steering wheel, what is only a minor vibration locally is a pain over 8 hours or so

At this rate Grelise will have more drugs than parts in his car than luggage lol
Hey there's nothing wrong with that!!lol

After getting stuck twice in Kempsy, 5 hours north of Sydney on my way to Brisbane, I'll never travel long distance again without a jumper pack.

They're cheap, a lot easier than hunting down a battery, or calling NRMA and being told its only a 3-4hour wait......

Nothing wrong with Kempsey haha, great town*cough* :P

Heres one for ya... find yourself the little round sticker that are for widscreen repair.

if a rock hits the widscreen and cracks/chips you can out one of the sticky things on and it can stop it from wandering and gettin worse....

My 2c!lol

Edit i need to get me some.... NRMA used to send them out with insurance policies... wonder why the stopped?

Heh, I get a freeish windscreen every year if I want one. $3 more per month.