Toolkit for Touring

[codeChimp]

So what do you pack when you're off driving on the continent?

I've just gotten back from a driving holiday in France and, since it was my first time, I erred on the side of caution. You accept that you're not going to be able to deal with anything major so the problem then is to pack tools and equipment that'll enable you to cope with the annoying little things - the sorts of things that are actually quite simple to deal with but might still necessitate roadside assistance. My French isn't quite good enough to have negotiated with Le AA so I wanted to be able to at least limp to our accommodation or the nearest town in the (unlikely) event of a problem.

Here's what we took. [BTW, this list doesn't include the stuff you (should) already have in the boot (spare wheel, jack and handle, wheel brace / wrench and sockets, and allen keys).]

These you have to take:

• Spare bulbs. A legal requirement, at least in France, but definitely worth taking anyway.
• Beam converters. Again, a legal requirement on the continent.

General stuff:

• Oil. I think I'd get around 1000 miles between the min and max marks on the dipstick - but I certainly wouldn't wait that long before topping up, though. Just take plenty of oil with you: Mobil may be a French company but we didn't see any 15W-50 Motorsport Formula anywhere.
• Coolant, ready-mixed
• Fuses, a selection (including 40A)
• Torch. It's seriously worth having a torch in the car at all times. My MX-5 stopped one night because the AFM plug came undone. If I'd had a torch I could have been under-way again within minutes...
• Toilet paper, roll. For mopping up - some of those French mountain roads are pretty exciting - or just for checking the oil.
• Tyre inflater. I've got one of those battery-powered jobbies.
• J-cloth (dish cloth). For cleaning the windows, lights, whatever.
• Tea towel. You should always carry a towel, even if you're not hitch-hiking! For one thing, I can't seem to get the top off my expansion tank without the help of a bunched-up rag.
• Screwdrivers, slotted and Phillips
• Adjustable spanners, one small and one large. That should pretty much cover you for little emergencies. Taking the entire socket set seemed a little excessive.
• Hose clips. I had to replace a couple just before going away so I took some spares, just in case.
• Wire. Had the otter switch failed, for example, I could have shorted the connections.
• Wire cutters
• Stanley knife
• Insulating tape
• Cable ties, long
• Duck tape. It seems you can patch anything up with Duck tape...
• Plastic bag. Plastic bags are always handy: at the very least it's somewhere to put dirty rags.

And, specifically for topping-up and/or bleeding the cooling system:

• Draper drain plug wrench (like this fella). The slotted end fits the swirl-pot screw perfectly.
• 15mm socket. For undoing the bleed screw on the radiator.
• Socket wrench extension, short (5 in). I find it much easier undoing the bleed screw with the extension on for some reason.
• Socket wrench, ratcheted
• Jug, small

It might look like a lot but most of it fitted in a baby washing-up bowl: it didn't take-up much more room than the petrol can actually. Some of the gear I already keep in a small lunch-box in the compartment behind the passenger seat.

Any suggestions? What of your own experiences?

Edited by codeChimp on Sunday 26th August 18:39

[Dave 500]

Wow thats a lot of stuff.....

I normally take the stuff to make you legal and AA European brake down cover. Last time I didn't even take the spare wheel just a few cans of foam stuff.

Have fun

[djpaulsimpson]

Also, If your new to Chim ownership like myself, take your copy of the bible.

[codeChimp]

Yes, definitely take the bible.

Edited by codeChimp on Sunday 26th August 16:49

[tvrbob]

It may be worth adding those things that are hard to acquire on the continent. For instance fan belt, accelerator cable, 100 amp fuse link, a list of contact details for companies along the way who can help in the event of tyre failure. I tend to carry general purpose tools too, adjustable spanner, plumbers wrench, pliers. Bits and pieces like cable connector block, tie wraps and other stuff that I find myself using when carrying out general maintenance. A multimeter is an absolute must if you intend to fix electrical problems yourself.

[codeChimp]

We drove 2000 miles in total - a good deal more than I'd normally do in a week! - so, had the car not been at TVR Power for some work before-hand, I'd probably have booked her in for a bit of a service. Driving on the continent was great fun and I wouldn't have wanted it spoiled by something that might have been picked-up by my mechanic. Just a thought.

[chimalsu]

as dave500 said euro breakdown cover and docs a service before you go and youl be fine did 2500 miles to switzerland and back a month ago and she never missed a beat fantastic

[SpudMurphy]

I'm off from Ireland to UK to Jersey to France to Northern Spain and hopefully back again in a couple of days - c 3000 miles and here's my list:

Electrical Connectors
Jubilee Clips
String
Stepper Motor
Otter Switch
100 Amp fuses and box
40 Amp fuses
Fuel Pump relay
Glue
Hand Cleaner
Gloves
First Aid Kit
Fire Extinguisher x 2
Tyre Weld x 2
Multimeter
Cable ties
Plug Leads
Bulbs
Tow Rope
Duct Tape
WD 40
Radiator Cap Removal Tool
Electrical Tape
Rug (to lie on, not hairpiece!)
Electrical connector blocks
Coil
Fanbelt
Throttle Cable
Allen Keys
Knife
Tool Kit
Hacksaw

All fits into 2 neat boot tidies bought off Fleabay that sit comfortably behind the stowed roof in the space that is too awkward for most things to fit into. Decided to keep the spare wheel though would have chucked it if I had to; just how awful is it to drive on?

Decided against fluids as they take up too much room and French Service Stations are pretty well equipped. I'll check fluids when I refuel or daily but my Chim has never needed any oil between services - dunno why and yes it does get driven!

BTW, it seems that Mobil 1 15W 50 is no more and the recommended replacement oils for all Chimaerae, according to a helpful chap in Mobil in an email yesterday, are:

Mobil Synt S 5W-40 (Fully Synthetic)
Mobil Super S 10W-40 (Synthetic blend)
Mobil 1 5W-50 - although this seems to have alredy been superceded by Mobil 1 0W-40

Have I forgetten anything important in the way of TVR bits?

[sgrimshaw]

Spud,

Regarding the "spare" wheel.

Apparantly it is very bad to drive on, but this is perhaps not the biggest reason for leaving it out.

You have already put the tyreweld in, as per the later cars (no space saver at all for them).

Some people would also suggest that should the tyre be damaged past the point of tyreweld repair, they would want the suspension checked etc before going anywhere (maybe a bit excessive, but you can see their point).

The biggest problem, is once the space saver is fitted - where do you put the damaged road wheel?

If you are touring, there is little chance of any room in the boot and do you really want / expect your passenger to nurse the wheel until you get it fixed (or get home)?

Of course, if there is no passenger this wouldn't be a problem but pack something to wrap the wheel in so your upholstery doesn't get messed up.

You may as well dump the space saver, since you are going to want to get the tyre replaced / repaired ASAP.



Simon

[sapper]

I'm off to France this weekend and have a question, If you have GB on your number plate do you need to buy a GB sticker?????

[sgrimshaw]

sapper said:

I'm off to France this weekend and have a question, If you have GB on your number plate do you need to buy a GB sticker?????

According to the AA website:

"Euro-plates - number plates that include the GB euro-symbol - have been legal since March 2001 and make display of a conventional sticker unnecessary within the EU."

RAC has similar information, with a useful guide here : http://www.rac.co.uk/web/breakdowncover/european/t...


So it would appear that it depends which GB design you have.

Is it the Euro GB one?

Edited by sgrimshaw on Tuesday 28th August 09:35

[sapper]

sgrimshaw said:

sapper said:

I'm off to France this weekend and have a question, If you have GB on your number plate do you need to buy a GB sticker?????

According to the AA website:

"Euro-plates - number plates that include the GB euro-symbol - have been legal since March 2001 and make display of a conventional sticker unnecessary within the EU."

So it would appear that it depends which GB design you have.

Is it the Euro GB one?

No mine has the union flag with GB in the middle, looks like ill be buying a sticker to be on the safe side. Thanks anyway

Edited by sapper on Tuesday 28th August 09:36

[sgrimshaw]

The ferry companies used to hand them out for free, just remember to stick it to your T-shirt a couple of times first - reduces the amount of adhesive and it "should" then peel of easily when you get back.

You can get smaller "plaques" in Halfords for a couple of quid, which arguably look nicer.

Simon

[sapper]

sgrimshaw said:

The ferry companies used to hand them out for free, just remember to stick it to your T-shirt a couple of times first - reduces the amount of adhesive and it "should" then peel of easily when you get back.

You can get smaller "plaques" in Halfords for a couple of quid, which arguably look nicer.

Simon

Cheers for the tip

[cloggy]

This is what they suggest you take with you on the Chimaera pages.
http://www.chimaerapages.com/touring.php