roadtrip

RAT138 · Post by **RAT138** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:28 am

Well due to getting made redundant, it looks like I'll be moving from the gold coast to Melbourne. As part of the process I lost my company car which means my fb wagon is my daily driver now!
My mate and I are considering driving the wagon from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. We are taking our time, and most likely will stop for a few surfs along the way. My question is, in you guys experience what are some key items I should bring to get me out of trouble? Will carry some extra fuel / oil and rainex, but what else? She's at the mechanics getting a thorough going over as we speak.
Also it just so happens that we will be coming into Melbourne around queens birthday weekend so I might have to stop into the nats on the way through! Look out for a a primer grey wagon that weekend! Due to the lateness of this whole idea I'll probably be sleeping in it!!

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Wed May 20, 2009 3:08 pm

Sorry to here about your job. It's great that you are not going to let it get you down and actually get a surf trip out of it.

I remember when I was surfing down around Joannah once along the great ocean road quite a few years ago now. A dude was also camping there in a FB wagon with a spare gearbox strapped to his roof rack.

Have fun & get a couple for me

RAT138 · Post by **RAT138** » Wed May 20, 2009 3:44 pm

cheers Jason, yeah you can't let it all get you down. Lucky for me I scored a decent job in Melbourne so its time for me and the old girl to have some serious bonding time! Hopefully a gearbox won't be necessary but then again....

Can see i'm going to have to sacrifice board space for parts!!

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:37 pm

Not too much, the guy who bought my old EK loaded what little belongings he had (enough to fill a sedan) and drove to Queensland without any spares or problems. The grey never missed a beat!

I'd take a generator, spare set of uni joints, points, cap, plugs and some spare leads, maybe a fuel pump and a carbie. But that would be enough, anything else is obviously a bit too much to fix on the side of the road. But don't forget a good jack and a spare tyre (or two if you have room).

Nothing like a road trip. Where in Melbourne will you end up?

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:40 pm

Timing gears

(AUST)Mod · Post by **(AUST)Mod** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:01 pm

Belts and hoses would be top of my list

Also oil, and coolant

Andrew

Silicon, duct tape, fencing wire, tools, spare tyre(s).

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:02 pm

Yeah what they said, fan belt and oils/water.

RAT138 · Post by **RAT138** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:31 pm

all good suggestions! Hoses would be key!
Devilrod - I'll be ending up around mordialloc most likely at this stage.

Finny · Post by **Finny** » Wed May 20, 2009 10:31 pm

Redundancy

I was going to say "Welcome to the club" but it's not a club people want to join.

Anyhow, great to see you got a job, and fairly quickly it appears. Making the move to Melbourne is a fairly big change. Hope it all goes well.
My board is fairly old now, and sits up inside the roof of the house. Don't think it's seen the water for about 20 years.

My choice for items to take -
RACQ or VACQ membership.
Good spare wheel, Water, Oil, Brake fluid, Radiator hoses, Fan belt.
1/2" and 9/16" spanners, shifter, screwdriver.
Phone car charger or spare battery for mobile phone.
Some spare Cash.................
If you've had a fulls service before you leave the rest should be OK.

Enjoy the trip, not just the destination.

RAT138 · Post by **RAT138** » Thu May 21, 2009 9:54 am

thanks finny, sorry to hear you got made redundant as well, I have been unemployed for 6 weeks with no bites then all the sudden as soon as I accept 1 job in melbourne another company on the gold coast and one in Sydney get in contact with me, the gold coast one will literally be making their decision the week I'm supposed to be moving!
Me and my mate whos flying up from Melbourne to do the trip down are really looking forward to it as we have both worked on the car and both love it. He has an ej wagon with ever nasco accesory known to man - just needs some body work, picked it up for $500 bucks the lucky bastard! I owe him some time so looks like that will be getting some love as well. Mine will be pretty rough but I think his will end up looking pretty sweet.

Devilrod · Post by **Devilrod** » Thu May 21, 2009 12:53 pm

Moving to near my old stomping ground!! I grew up in Chelsea Heights and went to Tech at Aspendale!! Good luck with the road trip, should be great fun.

FCCOOL · Post by **FCCOOL** » Fri May 22, 2009 7:33 am

you will end up taking three spare wheels, a spare diff in the back, gearbox on the roof and then you will strip a timing gear and have it get it towed somewere.
just take a 9/16. 5/8, 1/2, 7/16, 3/8, a pack of screw drivers, some pliers, electrical tape, 15a fuses a test light and some sandpaper and pliers.