Cross Country Drive

[RadarGrrl]

I came across this nice top ten list on Jalopnik this morning...The Ten Best Ways To Prep Your Car For A Cross-Country Drive

Item 4 caught my eye. If you drive something quirky or rare, carrying spare parts specific to your car is necessary for quick repairs.

So, given the rarity and quirkiness of our little vans, what sort of spare parts would you pack for a cross country trip?

What say you about the article in general?

[Feds]

On the Delica, I don't think it's so much a matter of keeping spares as it is one of taking care of the known weak points. Mostly the radiator overflow bottle.

Make sure your fluids are changed, the front bearings are greased, and things like balljoints and brakes are in good shape. You will also want to look at front and rear diff fluid, as it is often very nasty.

You also want to have good MacGyver supplies: Oil/gas resistant glue (seal all). Wire, stripper/crimper, electrical tape, crimp connectors, and a volt meter. A good set of hand tools, extra water/coolant, extra oil, and maybe the odd "Magic Fluid" like radiator stop leak, an extra jug of oil, some tire slime and a 12v compressor.

There's not much special on the Delica other than the fuel pump, which you can get shipped to you in ~5 days. Any medium sized city will have an alternator shop that can rebuild the one on your car, the transmission is not special, nor is anything else that keeps you going down the road.

Finally, have the good CAA. I got 5 people, a Delica, and a pop up trailer towed 230kms with 2 separate trucks for $0 (or $230, which is the cost of good CAA in Niagara). To really protect yourself: Have enough supplies in the car to be able to camp there for ~24 hrs. Food, water, toilet paper, blankets and pillows. Whether it's a breakdown in the boondocks or a big crash on a major highway (google Burlington Skyway), be prepared to stay in your car for a whole lot of hours.

[RadarGrrl]

All great suggestions. There is no substitute for proper maintenance.

I think my own list would start with the little things...oil and fuel filters, drive belts, maybe brake pads and shoes...but I'll add a fuel pump to this list.