XtremeVette

Yep going on my summer vacation leaving Tennessee and heading up North where I grew up and my family lives....in Massachusetts. Staying there for a night and then continuing further north to Old Orchard Beach, Maine. So I need some recommendations/tips, etc...to prepare the vette for the 1200 mile trip up and 1200 mile trip back.

I have already done the following to my 76,500 mile MN6 Coupe:

• Recent oil change with Mobil 1 (98% life on meter)
• Clutch, Transmission, & Differential Fluid, Fuel Filter, and Plugs were all changed very recently
• Checked hoses/belts....All Good
• Checked all fluids....All Good
• Checked tire pressures...All Good
• Checked engine bay for anything out of the norm...All Is Fine
• Packed plenty of tools, electrical tape, air compressor.
I have runflats so no spare is needed.
I have towing on my insurance.
• Every possible detail product you can think of
• Tom Tom updated with extra points of interest already loaded
• Tire sensors reading correctly (30-35lbs on all)
• Tire pressure gauge and small air compressor just in case

What Iam forgetting guys?

VinnyT

Emergency detail kit!!!

Seriously, the bugs and grime will wreak havoc on the front end.

XtremeVette

Thanks! Yeh I had that already....forgot to list it though.

VinnyT

Might sound paranoid, but if I knew the route I was taking, I would look up some Vette shops on the way just in case and have their phone numbers handy.

blacksedan87

Whenever I go on road trip in the Vette - I install my GM Bra on the nose.....saves some of the rock chips and bug goo. Happy Motoring!

brian ns04

Change for the toll roads and winter tires. Oh thats right you are only coming up to Maine not all the way up to Canada. Have a fun and safe trip Jeff. And don't laugh about the winter tires I have heard the question before.

XtremeVette

ahhh ha! thanks Brian! I almost forget toll money! Back in the day my C4 always had change laying around...but the C5 gets treated better then that

XtremeVette

Excellent! So very true!

poolboy

Lobster Bibs!!!!!

and a pair of cloth work gloves to pop the top off when it gets hot. You rreally should try to sneak over to NH - the Kancamagus highway is a treat...

XtremeVette

I actually have to travel through a bit of New Hampshire....just not that road...

MDR1970

Glad to see another member from the Boro on here. Im leaving next week with 2 other Vettes heading up to West Vigina to visit family. sounds like you have all the bases covered!
Marc

Czarvette

Hmmm... has anyone compiled a national list of shops and locations and made it available on CF? If not, it could be a collaborative project that becomes a sort of Zagat's for Corvette shops that includes customer experience comments and ratings.

C5C6Norm

Tire gauge. Spare headlight bulb. Cup holders. Towels for seats.

Have a safe trip.

Melwill68

GPS. Don't leave home without it. We drove from Houston to Nashville and are now in Chicago for Blooomington. 2,000 miles so far and we still have 1,200 to get back home. The Tom-Tom has been the greatest thing since electric garage door openers. Gas stations, resturants, hotels. How far to the next exit. You name it. It will even tell you how far over the speed limit you are. If you were in need of a repair shop it would be a simple thing to locate.

Have fun on the trip.

DonsC5

hey!!! thats the exact route i took 2 years ago when i went to bowling green and back!!! i live in portland. 5 min from old orchard. hope you have good weather!! dont worry too much. it looks as though you have all your bases covered!! shoot me a pm if you want some cheap lobsters...i got connections and can find them for like $5 a pound!!! our c5's are damn strong cars...enjoy the ride and enjoy the mountains of virginia...gorgeous drive...( oh and you wont need any toll money until you get into new england...its expensive up here!!)

Don

XtremeVette

Cool deal...PM'd ya

Florida Mike

Thats a good idea. I am a BMW club member and they publish a Friends of BMW book every few years with names and numbers of other enthusiasts. So if someone is in an area and has trouble they can call a fellow owner. WOuld be cool to have that with all of us here.

Florida Mike

Xtreme,

Not sure if someone mentioned it but go buy an extra serpentine belt and throw it in the trunk storage space. Not all places seem to have this unique size(s) and if you get stranded somewhere, a $25 item could cause a big delay. Besides you can change it on the side of the road with one tool.

XtremeVette

hmmmmmm very true both the serpentine and the ac belts...I was honestly thinking of doing this but after inspecting mine, (they look fine, no cracks or sign of wear) I was thinking that they might have been replaced already. I dunno Iam torn on this one. I am trying to penny pinch and not buy anything I don't absolutely need so as to save for this trip. I do know what you mean though....hmmmmmm hmmmmm I dunno, I guess my logic is, yeh the serpentine could break, the AC belt could break, the tensioners, the etc etc... I could go nuts buying extra stuff to bring just in case. again.hmmmmm it's a toughy. One belt is $45 and the other is $35 here at the local autozone.

what to do....

AF Vette

Just get in it and go my 99 FRC just made it from Oklahoma to Northern California all I did was change the oil and go for it Had 96k on it when I started the trip too