Is anyone else so OCD when going on a family road trip.....
Discussion
Off on the family hols down to the west country on Saturday morning.
I'm having Friday off work to 'sort the car' this means a full valet, tryes will be set to the desired pressure, tank brimmed with premium diesel ect Then the route will be planned to fine detail, depart 05:00, stone hedge by 08:30 .........................
I don't know why I bother with the valet as the car will be a rolling sand dune within 2 days of being down there and sweets will be stuck to all the windows from the B pillar back
Does any else obsess over their family road trips
I'm having Friday off work to 'sort the car' this means a full valet, tryes will be set to the desired pressure, tank brimmed with premium diesel ect Then the route will be planned to fine detail, depart 05:00, stone hedge by 08:30 .........................
I don't know why I bother with the valet as the car will be a rolling sand dune within 2 days of being down there and sweets will be stuck to all the windows from the B pillar back
Does any else obsess over their family road trips
Perfectly normal. Always clean the car inside and out before a long trip. Although sods law says it will be raining when you set off!
Check all fluid levels and tyre pressures. Make sure you know where your locking wheel nut key is and that you've got the breakdown recovery number in your phone.
Check all fluid levels and tyre pressures. Make sure you know where your locking wheel nut key is and that you've got the breakdown recovery number in your phone.
I don't have kids, but yes, OP. Not so sure about the "premium" diesel though; diesel is diesel.
I also always take a load of wet wipes and leather wipes. (That sounds pervy).
Never had a need to take extra screenwash, I dislike squirting the screen as it causes splashes in any dust on the paintwork and leaves marks when it dries.
I also always take a load of wet wipes and leather wipes. (That sounds pervy).
Never had a need to take extra screenwash, I dislike squirting the screen as it causes splashes in any dust on the paintwork and leaves marks when it dries.
Yep, wash the car the day before, clean the inside, make sure the jipper's full and the tank is brimmed. I don't know why I bother as the car's a tip by the time we get to our destination, but this might have something to do with me wanting to go from A to B whilst only stopping for petrol/piss, food can be eaten in the car on the way.
If the car is grubby when I leave then it gets washed when I get back; as I've just done. Tend to camp a lot so there's no point slaving over it for an afternoon when it'll be dirty after the first night.
always check over the car, clean lights/screens/plates etc, bring a bunch of tools to cover most bases, and of course cable ties and gaffer tape. Definitely overkill, the car hasn't broken down in 25k miles of ownership. Something to do while the g/f packs though!
always check over the car, clean lights/screens/plates etc, bring a bunch of tools to cover most bases, and of course cable ties and gaffer tape. Definitely overkill, the car hasn't broken down in 25k miles of ownership. Something to do while the g/f packs though!
I don't really check anything apart from the fuel gauge.
I fill up and go.
But then I do lots of 300 mile journeys all the time and generally keep the car in excellent condition anyway.
I always have a litre of oil in the boot anyway, along with a litre of screen wash, even have a litre of transmission fluid and a dipstick for it, and keep spare bulbs etc. in there too.
Only thing I keep checking is things like passports and phone chargers etc. Probably check they are still in my bag 10 times before getting to the tunnel.
I fill up and go.
But then I do lots of 300 mile journeys all the time and generally keep the car in excellent condition anyway.
I always have a litre of oil in the boot anyway, along with a litre of screen wash, even have a litre of transmission fluid and a dipstick for it, and keep spare bulbs etc. in there too.
Only thing I keep checking is things like passports and phone chargers etc. Probably check they are still in my bag 10 times before getting to the tunnel.
Why would you bother cleaning a car when you know its just about to get dirty again? 
Apart from maybe the windscreen, and lights if its properly dirty.
I generally do the mechanical checks before a long trip though - tyre pressures etc, used to check oil when I had cars that used a bit, top up washer fluid if its low (I don't carry extra as the reservoir is 4L or so), no need to put tools in the car as they're usually there anyway. Timeframes are only planned in detail if there are deadlines like catching a ferry.
I definitely don't take a day off work for it, only takes about 5 minutes!
Apart from maybe the windscreen, and lights if its properly dirty.I generally do the mechanical checks before a long trip though - tyre pressures etc, used to check oil when I had cars that used a bit, top up washer fluid if its low (I don't carry extra as the reservoir is 4L or so), no need to put tools in the car as they're usually there anyway. Timeframes are only planned in detail if there are deadlines like catching a ferry.
I definitely don't take a day off work for it, only takes about 5 minutes!
Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 29th July 10:21
wow!
GravelBen said:
Why would you bother cleaning a car when you know its just about to get dirty again?
Because a freshly cleaned car is a nice place to be. And also if there is any dust on the dashboard, or a bit of dead skin, I have to reach across to pick it up and eat it, which can be distracting.Me, obsess? No, I just take sensible precautions any in no way over think it....
Driving to Morzine I the Alps on the 23rd of August.
2 new front tyres, there's a small cut in one of them, the MOT guy said it was cosmetic, part of the bit that protects the rim and they're only 2 months old - but hey - I'm taking a tiny little baby - MY tiny little baby.
Even though it's mid-point through it's service interval, I'm changing the air filter - because I somehow know it needs it.
I know the exact time we need to leave, the exact time I need to wake up and the exact order I need to pack things in the boot - both the things I can pack the night before and the things we need the morning before we go.
I've pre-programmed the sat-nav with the ferry port, the supermarket in Calais we're going to fill up at and the final destination - I don't really care too much about the cost - but I can't make the trip on a single tank with a bike on the roof so.... if you're going to stop - lets optimise it! I've told the guy who we've rented our chalet from the approximate time of arrival - I say approximate - it's be +/- 15mins if I have may way.
I've made a mental note of the intervals between service stations and the ones with baby centres I want to use to stop for feeds etc.
I know the tyre pressures I need for the extra load (in fairness they're inside the petrol cap cover)
I'll give it a good clean inside and out and fill the washer bottle before we go.
I know exactly what things I need to comply with French driving rules, AND all the BS ones that people trying to sell you stuff tell you, you need.
Driving to Morzine I the Alps on the 23rd of August.
2 new front tyres, there's a small cut in one of them, the MOT guy said it was cosmetic, part of the bit that protects the rim and they're only 2 months old - but hey - I'm taking a tiny little baby - MY tiny little baby.
Even though it's mid-point through it's service interval, I'm changing the air filter - because I somehow know it needs it.
I know the exact time we need to leave, the exact time I need to wake up and the exact order I need to pack things in the boot - both the things I can pack the night before and the things we need the morning before we go.
I've pre-programmed the sat-nav with the ferry port, the supermarket in Calais we're going to fill up at and the final destination - I don't really care too much about the cost - but I can't make the trip on a single tank with a bike on the roof so.... if you're going to stop - lets optimise it! I've told the guy who we've rented our chalet from the approximate time of arrival - I say approximate - it's be +/- 15mins if I have may way.
I've made a mental note of the intervals between service stations and the ones with baby centres I want to use to stop for feeds etc.
I know the tyre pressures I need for the extra load (in fairness they're inside the petrol cap cover)
I'll give it a good clean inside and out and fill the washer bottle before we go.
I know exactly what things I need to comply with French driving rules, AND all the BS ones that people trying to sell you stuff tell you, you need.
deanogtv said:
Off on the family hols down to the west country on Saturday morning.
I'm having Friday off work to 'sort the car' this means a full valet, tryes will be set to the desired pressure, tank brimmed with premium diesel ect Then the route will be planned to fine detail, depart 05:00, stone hedge by 08:30 .........................
I don't know why I bother with the valet as the car will be a rolling sand dune within 2 days of being down there and sweets will be stuck to all the windows from the B pillar back
Does any else obsess over their family road trips
Not quite sure why good organisation, early preparation and family cleanliness are considered a mild mental illness.I'm having Friday off work to 'sort the car' this means a full valet, tryes will be set to the desired pressure, tank brimmed with premium diesel ect Then the route will be planned to fine detail, depart 05:00, stone hedge by 08:30 .........................
I don't know why I bother with the valet as the car will be a rolling sand dune within 2 days of being down there and sweets will be stuck to all the windows from the B pillar back
Does any else obsess over their family road trips
Funny, I was thinking about this yesterday when I noticed a fully packed estate car stopped in a lay-by and a Dad taking his son for an unplanned relief break. Reminded me of setting off on long journeys and one of the kids throwing up within 20 minutes of leaving home and having 10 hours travel left on a sunny day!
I once washed our MPV the afternoon before setting off early the next day to drive to the slopes. It froze overnight so at 05.00 when I tried to get in the car to load up the sliding doors would not open. Learned my lesson!
I once washed our MPV the afternoon before setting off early the next day to drive to the slopes. It froze overnight so at 05.00 when I tried to get in the car to load up the sliding doors would not open. Learned my lesson!
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