Long Weekend Road Trip - What to take with me????

[assadahmed]

So I will be heading out for a 3 day Wales road trip on 24th October. It will be my first long trip in the Caterham.

I have decided that regardless of the weather I will use the aeroscreen and half doors. I have just picked up some decent driving goggles to protect me and may take a helmet along with me for the boring motorway slog or in case the rain gets really bad.

What else would people recommend that I take with me? Is a basic tool kit a must?

[downsman]

I take compressor, tyre spray can, stop'n'go tyre plugger (used this and it as very good), oil for top up, cable ties, self amalgamating tape, electrical tape, pliers and a small set of sockets/screw driver bits and an adjustable spanner.

It is worth having something although I know a chap who just carries a leatherman and an AA card. Recently on a long blat, I ran over a badger carcass and was lucky, but it still left the exhaust mount twisted round and under tension. As I had my tools, I could lossen and re-tighten it in a few seconds, although it did take a vise and big hammer to get it straight when I got home

[assadahmed]

downsman said:

I take compressor, tyre spray can, stop'n'go tyre plugger (used this and it as very good), oil for top up, cable ties, self amalgamating tape, electrical tape, pliers and a small set of sockets/screw driver bits and an adjustable spanner.

It is worth having something although I know a chap who just carries a leatherman and an AA card. Recently on a long blat, I ran over a badger carcass and was lucky, but it still left the exhaust mount twisted round and under tension. As I had my tools, I could lossen and re-tighten it in a few seconds, although it did take a vise and big hammer to get it straight when I got home

Wow thats a lot of stuff but all seem quite important to be on the safe side I guess.

[framerateuk]

I take a roll up tool bag with a selection of screwdriver heads, 5 spanners of various sizes, an adjustable spanner, duct tape, cable ties, spare throttle cable, exhaust bobbin, insulation tape, tyre weld, wheel nut remover, locking nut attachment, pliers and scissors. There's also a small screwdriver in there to get the nosecone off since there isn't much ground clearance around the front.

I've used most of it, especially when we found our car overheating on the way up to Scotland. It doesn't take much room and it's definitely worth it.

[assadahmed]

Thanks all for the info. A trip to the shops is called for me thinks! What physical store could I go to to buy all of this stuff in one go????? I'm around South Essex/North London area

[coppice]

For a three day trip??

Take some good waterproofs and your mobile.

Look on the bright side. Works for me - and still does after nearly 20 years of Sevening .

[CanAm]

downsman said:

I take compressor, tyre spray can, stop'n'go tyre plugger (used this and it as very good)

Unless you have a spare wheel and jack of course. Not forgetting a tonneau cover for overnight; I fit the passenger side tonneau when aero-screening in colder weather - it makes the cockpit much more snug and stops stuff blowing away.
I would definitely wear a helmet on the Motorway.

[framerateuk]

coppice said:

For a three day trip??

Take some good waterproofs and your mobile.

Look on the bright side. Works for me - and still does after nearly 20 years of Sevening .

A friend of mine hit a slate wall in his 7 while we were in the middle of mid-wales. There were several of us and not one had any phone signal! Unfortunately, he ripped a hole in two tyres and had to limp back over the mountain.

I'd still suggest carrying a few tools in case a throttle cables goes, or the exhaust mount snaps. Especially if you're somewhere with no signal!

[assadahmed]

I think I will buy most of the equipment people have suggested. I will take the tonneau with me. I think I do have a side tonneau which came with the car.

Cant wait for the trip! Have done the same trip for the last 2 years in my Alfa. Whilst the Alfa was great, the experience will be so much better with the Caterham!

[RedCat7]

Jump leads
Throttle cable
Mini tool kit
Something to undo the nose cone fasteners
Breakdown cover

Only had the 7 a few years (8k miles) and above is what I have needed so far.

[assadahmed]

Breakdown cover extended to cover the Caterham. Only £13 more!

Can anyone be good enough to post a link for a throttle cable for my K-series Caterham??

[coppice]

framerateuk said:

coppice said:

For a three day trip??

Take some good waterproofs and your mobile.

Look on the bright side. Works for me - and still does after nearly 20 years of Sevening .

A friend of mine hit a slate wall in his 7 while we were in the middle of mid-wales. There were several of us and not one had any phone signal! Unfortunately, he ripped a hole in two tyres and had to limp back over the mountain.

I'd still suggest carrying a few tools in case a throttle cables goes, or the exhaust mount snaps. Especially if you're somewhere with no signal!

So two spare wheels as well ? But seriously , I carry some stuff(couple of screwdrivers and I do have spare wheel stuff ) but of the four times my Sevens have let me down one was fuel(of course I blame the fuel gauge when I run out ), one was an obscure electrical fault the AA sorted and two were dead batteries I should have replaced earlier anyway . They are pretty tough little cars - I was hugely worried aboput my first long trip but after about 70odd k miles in them I am quite relaxed about long journeys

[Far Cough]

I took loads of stuff recently on a European trip and the only things I used was short flat head screwdriver to get nosecone off to top up oil , gaff tape for a small crack and a rag.
Brave man aero screening by choice, just looking out the window now and you'd be drenched in 2 minutes !
I wouldn't stress over taking lots of tools , just a few bits to fix simple things. The AA card for all else. The tyre plug an go is a must and has saved me in the past.
Have fun

[framerateuk]

coppice said:

So two spare wheels as well ? But seriously , I carry some stuff(couple of screwdrivers and I do have spare wheel stuff ) but of the four times my Sevens have let me down one was fuel(of course I blame the fuel gauge when I run out ), one was an obscure electrical fault the AA sorted and two were dead batteries I should have replaced earlier anyway . They are pretty tough little cars - I was hugely worried aboput my first long trip but after about 70odd k miles in them I am quite relaxed about long journeys

Well you've got to be sensible about it

I would have felt pretty stupid if I didn't have a pair of pliers and some cabled ties on me when my throttle cable popped off. Very easy fix, but borderline impossible without the tools.

We needed the screwdrivers and duct tape when the radiator fan overheated on the M6. Neither of those are AA worthy, and if you know you're going a long way, and into the mountains, then it's definitely worth carrying a few basic tools.

I did break down in a petrol station a fortnight ago with a dead battery. Luckily we were able to bump start it (I do draw the line at carrying heavy jump leads!).

[mharris]

Almost everybody seems to be mentioning throttle cables. I Presume from this that these fail quite regularly?
As a newbie to Caterham ownership its stuff like this that is useful to know.

[Far Cough]

I was thinking the same. I have however a cable repair kit that I found from my old biking days that gets carried around. Like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSAL-MOTORBIKE-EMER...

[framerateuk]

I wouldn't say they go often, but it's an impossible part to fix unless you have a kit or a spare with you.

Mine was frayed when I got it, so replaced it. The only reason it came off is because I hadn't fitted it properly

[mharris]

framerateuk said:

I wouldn't say they go often, but it's an impossible part to fix unless you have a kit or a spare with you.

Mine was frayed when I got it, so replaced it. The only reason it came off is because I hadn't fitted it properly

I'm not sure I follow that logic. There is an endless list of components on a car that are impossible to fix (but dont actually fail that often). Why single out the throttle cable?

[framerateuk]

mharris said:

I'm not sure I follow that logic. There is an endless list of components on a car that are impossible to fix (but dont actually fail that often). Why single out the throttle cable?

Don't carry one then

But it takes very little room, and is dead easy to fit. I know the K-Series has a cable clutch too, so on long trips owners often take a spare for that too. A broken throttle cable is a rubbish way to end a road trip, especially when spares are easy to carry.

Edited by framerateuk on Wednesday 8th October 12:48

[assadahmed]

What length do I need? Is 3m OK?