prep for a long road trip

[blackbetty]

Hi all

im planning on nice long drive in my (stock) gti and was hoping for some opinions on downsizing the stock gti wheels and tyres for the sake of a softer ride on our highways.
im planning on this being quite a long drive, from adelaide up through to darwin, into qld and all the way south to vic. and then back thome to adelaide.
so i was thinking of 15inch with 195 or 205 rubber.
is this even worth it or am i better off getting some harder compound tyres so they have better mileage and keeping the stock 16's on?

Also, driving lights - is worth getting really bright globes or some mini style spotlights?

cheers

[team_v]

I can't comment on the tyres or lights but i will reccomend keeping your wits about you in the early morning (until 10am) and later afternoon (after 3pm) as we had some experiences with wallabies/roos and they are very stupid.

Be aware that insted of jumping away form the road and the loud car noises they wil actively jump in front of your car.

I would make sure that the fluids are full, the filters are changed and that you have capable fuel supply to get around (make sure your standard fuel economy can get you to the next place that has 98Ron fuel.)
Also make sure the tyre pressures are up as highway use can allow higher pressures = less fuel used.

For lights, i would say try to get some uprated bulbs so that you can get some further throw/brighter output for the trip rather than a dedicated set of spotties etc.

[insanekiwi]

Hi all

im planning on nice long drive in my (stock) gti and was hoping for some opinions on downsizing the stock gti wheels and tyres for the sake of a softer ride on our highways.
im planning on this being quite a long drive, from adelaide up through to darwin, into qld and all the way south to vic. and then back thome to adelaide.
so i was thinking of 15inch with 195 or 205 rubber.
is this even worth it or am i better off getting some harder compound tyres so they have better mileage and keeping the stock 16's on?

Also, driving lights - is worth getting really bright globes or some mini style spotlights?

cheers

You know your car well - does it consume any engine oil? or coolant?
For comfort - I would look at getting 205/50/16 tyres for your stock wheel as they make a difference in comfort from your stock 45 profile tyres. I do not think it's worth getting 15s etc. My H&R lowered car although is liveable in Auckland NZ, I wanted some extra comfort - so went for 50 profile. No rubbing or any issues.

Maybe worth while having a G12 coolant bottle with you just to be safe. It's small and won't take up much space.

Tyre pressure is mentioned above.
Bulbs - I use Philips Extreme Diamond vision they are quite bright - althought not as good as HIDs.
Brake pads / fluids check / spare tyre check.

Keep things light if possible - that should improve your fuel consumption!

[seangti]

Going to a step further to what clay said, depending on the route you take, apart from fuel stops, road kill is something to be very careful of. Our cars wouldn't make it over a ploughed wallaby so keep your wits about you. I've been out to longreach from brisbane in 4WD's and done cape york, even some of the possums would cause concern to my ground clearance. Perhaps hold a bottle of octane booster in the chance of not getting premium, or a dodgy batch.

Might be worth running some flyscreen over your grille too, keeps stones out and if driving at night, some of the bugs off your radiator.

Apart from that, damn envious of a long drive.

[Smead]

Ive driven Darwin to Adelaide and Sydney to Adelaide a few times.

If your up North in the wet season, watch for the roads flooding. I'd just throw a bit of mesh over your grille. Stick to your 16's they'll be fine. I think what team V said about the octane booster is a good idea and take some coolant too.

[h100vw]

It would cost a fair amount of money to buy another set of wheels, so that is out.

I have done some big trip since being in Australia. Multiple trips from Adelaide to Melbourne, Sydney to Adelaide and Adelaide to Brisbane.

All of them have involved next to no preparation, apart from checking fluids and tyre pressures.

If you lose coolant, it'll run on water until you get to a VW dealer. Probably should carry several litres anyway. A can of that tyre foam puncture stuff might be nice. Getting 2 punctures in a row would make life tough.

Some net to stop the bugs would be sensible.

I avoid driving in the dark unless its a motorway.

I wouldn't worry about the octane booster, a std car will run on 95 no worries and 91 if there was nothing else. I had to put 95 in my S3 on the trip to Brisbane, performance takes a knock until you can get some more 98. No harm done.

Might be worth carrying 5 litre can, depending on when you are travelling. I nearly got caught out driving on a Sunday and missed out Griffith, for a more direct route. Then was on fumes, when I got to the next open servo.

Stop in at my place on the way past and I'll tune your car for the trip down the East coast. It's 5 minutes from the Bruce Highway.


Good luck

Gavin

[Blitzen]

Having done that same basic trip from Sydney, Port Augusta, Alice Springs, Darwin, then across to Townsville, and down the coast to Sydney again, as well as the inland route from Cloncurry to Winton, and down to Roma, in a largely stock Polo GTI, with nothing more than a 10L fuel can, you need to do NOTHING to your car other then checking the oil, fuel, and tyre pressures and not drive at night.

[Transporter]

I always carry 2 wheel chocks and the breaker bar with 17mm socket in the boot, for the wheel bolts as well as Slime smart spare and of course good hand cleaner and rags to clean the hands after replacing the tyre.

If you have to stop in emergency make sure that you are as safe as possible.

[Stuwey]

Some good quality driving lights, for sure.

Replacement globes have nothing on a pair of Cibie/Hella/IPF etc. The extra light makes driving at night so much easier.

[blackbetty]

some really top advice here guys. thanks for the input.
so - the road trip survival guide as follows :
mesh over the grill
tyre pressure pump
oil
coolant g12
clean the air filter (and prob carry a spare)
higher power globes
general tool kit and some wheel chocks
jerry can
octane booster
tyre foam kit
water (for general cleaning the windows and even a glass cleaner)
hand cleaner (in case i got to get dirty in the middle of nowhere)
mini bbq (for cooking roadkill)

[Blitzen]

Are you exploring the Sahara or driving on a highway between cities??

Seriously people, it's not that hard a drive. Just load up your iPod and have a spare 10L of fuel (which I only used to help out a car full of backpackers when they stopped 5km short of Three Ways near Tennant Creek). Take a water bottle too if you do choose.

The only place I couldn't get 98ron was at Barkley Homestead. The GTI runs fine on one tank of 95ron, and once you get over the boarder into Qld from NT you can get 98. You can also get 98ron at Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Earlduna, Alice Springs, Three ways, Daly Waters, Katherine, Darwin, Camooweal, Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Roma, Emerald.

The Stuart Hwy, Barkley Hwy, and Landsborough Hwy are not isolated goat trails. These are largely well maintained and well traveled roads.
If you look at the picture of my car taken at The NT/Qld boarder, you will note this is after two days of driving from from Darwin, on semi slicks, and into a head wind on the Barkley in the Dry Season, and you will see no dust on the car.

I have done this drive a few times, both in the Polo and a Barina SRi. Take your camera, as there are some amazing photo opportunities, especially the Devils Marbles, and Mary Kathleen (between Mt Isa and Cloncurry).

Also, DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT!!! The cattle stations are largely unfenced, and with cattle, wild horses, donkeys, camels, and pigs roaming around at night, as well as Red Kangaroos, emus, and wombats coming out at dawn and dusk, hitting one of these will mean the mesh on your grill will do sweet **** all.
I may suggest a car bra, but that would be pushing it.

Basically, this is just a long drive between towns, and not the Redex Rally that you think it might be.

Here are some pics to put your mind at ease...

The load...



The load in the car (with my swag to be added)...



Daly Waters Pub...



Three Ways...



Barkley Homestead...



Somewhere between the NT boarder and MT Isa...



Mary Kathleen...

[blackbetty]

the photos are really the main reason why i wanna do this i.e. a mate is a professional photographer and i volunteered to be his transport.

plus i've never been to NT

[Syd118TSI]

Great pics Blitzen.. did much of the red dust find it's way into the cabin?

[Blitzen]

Great pics Blitzen.. did much of the red dust find it's way into the cabin?

None at all... I got more red dust on the car after the 2009 Sydney dust storm than I did on both my trips through the Center of Australia. In the picture above, you can see how clean the car is after 3 days driving.

[clicht]

Awesome pictures