Long distance touring
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 12:34 pm
Hello,
In about five weeks time my wife and I are taking my TC from our home in Suffolk UK to France heading south crossing Switzerland and over the alps into Italy. We then intend to continue south all the way down Italy getting the ferry to Sicily which we will tour for a few days before getting another ferry to the island of Malta.
My questions are aimed at the seasoned travelers among you.
What spares should I take?
What tools should I take apart from the obvious?
Is there anything you took which you found invaluable?
Space will be at a premium as I don't have a rack and don't really want to get one unless I really have to.
The car has a newly built engine with new mains, big end, rebore, valves, oil seals etc. It will have over 1000 miles on the engine before we begin. It has a five speed gearbox. I've changed all the bulbs for bright led's, they work well and are nice and bright but I doubt if we will travel much at night as the days are longest at the time we go. The tyres are all new Dunlops. The seats are new also.
I've put a 12v modern power supply with two usb supplies under the dash out of sight which will be used to power a sat nav and keep the phones charged.
We'll be driving with the hood down most of the time and will take the side windows in their pocket. They are also all new.
I did this journey on a 1951 Vincent motorcycle six years ago but never in a car so I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks for any hints and tips you can offer.
Peter Sprot
In about five weeks time my wife and I are taking my TC from our home in Suffolk UK to France heading south crossing Switzerland and over the alps into Italy. We then intend to continue south all the way down Italy getting the ferry to Sicily which we will tour for a few days before getting another ferry to the island of Malta.
My questions are aimed at the seasoned travelers among you.
What spares should I take?
What tools should I take apart from the obvious?
Is there anything you took which you found invaluable?
Space will be at a premium as I don't have a rack and don't really want to get one unless I really have to.
The car has a newly built engine with new mains, big end, rebore, valves, oil seals etc. It will have over 1000 miles on the engine before we begin. It has a five speed gearbox. I've changed all the bulbs for bright led's, they work well and are nice and bright but I doubt if we will travel much at night as the days are longest at the time we go. The tyres are all new Dunlops. The seats are new also.
I've put a 12v modern power supply with two usb supplies under the dash out of sight which will be used to power a sat nav and keep the phones charged.
We'll be driving with the hood down most of the time and will take the side windows in their pocket. They are also all new.
I did this journey on a 1951 Vincent motorcycle six years ago but never in a car so I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks for any hints and tips you can offer.
Peter Sprot