Cross country tips...

Granted... I am only going about 1200 miles, but for all intents and purposes... It's cross country. I have no choice but to drive my 40th ae to Fort Collins, CO from San Diego. Anything I may have missed to prevent damage. I have put on 2 coats of meguiar's 27 yellow high tech wax (with carnauba) after cleaner wax to the hood, front fenders and doors... this is after a coat of meguiar's cleaner wax.. and I plan on using "road wrap" for an additional 2.5 mil protective barrier. Don't worry, I'll keep it clear of the headlights. Anything I am missing? Thanks!

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I did a 600 mile trip last weekend... don't forget your favorite CD's and some road snacks! Check condition of all fluids (windshield washer, coolant, power steering, and oil), bring a quart of oil or make sure you are topped off before leaving. Sunglasses?

I would join AAA just in case you need roadside assitance. Check your spare tire pressure and make sure you have all the pieces to change a tire if needed. Ie. lug nut lock. A large trash bag comes in handing if a tire need to come into the cab with you. Radar detector and phone charger.

Spare serpentine belt and the correct wrench to compress the tensioner. Fix a flat type sealant in case you can't change to the spare. Gallon or two of distilled water in case of coolant overflow.

CD's, what are those? I have done Miami - Daytona twice in my 40th AE and it's a great roadtrip car. Just follow same you procedure you would with any car i.e. checj, air, fluids, carry fix-a-flat etc and enjoy the ride.

Also air pump for tires and Boosterpac or similar if you have one. Or at least jumper cables.

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I am guessing the OP's primary concern is the effect of the trip on the paint. The wax job will help some but the wrap or some kind of protection film like this: http://www.xpel.com/products/xpel_ul...ction_film.asp will work best. Have a safe trip.

at least two quarts of oil distilled water Extra coolant cap and ignition switch tire repair kit to get you to the next tire dealer http://www.tirerepairkit.com/

I have done lubbock texas to miami, more or less 1800 miles, in 3 days, no problem at all, jsut as comfortable as my lexus AAA for piece of mind and a tool box in case something would happen but don't worry too much, the forums are scary to read but overall the 996 is a very reliable car.

Quotes source post: 9806640

In addition to the other comments what I do before heading out on what usually is a 4K to 5K road trip (round trip to the mid-west and back) is to arrange to take the car in to my local Porsche dealer for a road worthiness inspection. Since I have the car regularly serviced so far this costs me nothing and the service manager with the cooperation of the techs always finds the time to fit my car in. The car is lifted in the air and the tech and I get to walk around and look things over. The tech looks for signs of fluid leaks and tire damage, like a nail/screw in a tire or worn tires, something loose, missing air dams, brake scoops, etc. Both nails/screws and worn tires have been found. Nails/screws present an obvious problem. Worn tires present at least two problems. There is of course the reduced grip in wet weather and the other is a worn tire is more likely to pick up something like a nail or a screw. This was hammered into my head for in one case when I ignored the tech's advice to before I headed out to replace the worn rear tires -- thinking I could nurse another 2K miles out of them then get them replaced in Springfield Mo -- but I didn't even make it to Fresno before the right rear tire picked up not one but two nails and long story short cost me nearly an extra 1K miles and 2 days of driving to turn around and find a dealer (finally in Sacramento) that had 4 tires and could install them for me. This same trip with nearly new tires (a bit over 1K miles on them, I encountered a heavy snow storm east of Santa Rosa NM on I-40 that had I been on those worn tires my car would have ended up off the freeway. Even though the tires were of course summer/high performance (n-rated Bridgestone) tires they had good enough grip that with my careful driving carried my car and I safely out of the snow. Besides changes of clothes and other basics, what I take: two credit cards, AAA membership card, car registration and proof of car insurance (some state police can get a bit testy if one pulls you over and you do not have these with you -- don't ask), cell phone, cell phone (and lap top) battery charger, laptop, hand held CB radio, V1 radar detector, two flashlights (away from city lights it can be pitch black), digital camera, extra batteries for the CB radio, camera, flash lights,, paper towels, drinking water, extra quart of oil (which I know will be more than enough for the trip), tire plug kit, tire patch/plug kit, air pump, two scissors jacks, couple of 18" lengths of 2x4's to block tires from rolling in case I have to jack up car on a slope, some small throw pillows, blanket or two (in case I have to spend the night with the car broken down), a baseball cap and an Autralia hat one of which I'll use to keep the sun out of my eyes when driving into or across a low sun. Full car toolkit and I make sure I have the security wheel bolt socket and I make sure it fits every security wheel bolt. OTC pain killers, and other medicines. The worst time to need say something for a bad headache is 2am in some small town out in the middle of nowhere. I just shove the contents of my bathroom's medicine cabinet into a small suitcase and that's that. I don't listen to music so while I have some CDs in the car I never put them on. The ones in the CD changer in the front trunk are probably rusted in place. I like the sound of the road, the car, the engine and the to me peace and quiet of the open highway. Last, but not least, a relaxed calm mind set and a pledge to myself to be careful, and to enjoy the drive. Sincerely, Macster.

Macster - you are truly the road-tripping king. Very impressive...

...cash for Vegas, "rest stop." DON'T Speed for those few miles in AZ north of Vegas. Cops there use timing from high in the cliffs!

Benzedrine, a bottle of 18 year Glenmorangie, and a hooker?

thanks all! I appreciate the advice and suggestions. Look forward to posting from my new haunts. All the best, Brian

Man, you guys are thorough! Semper Paratus. 3 prophylactics, and that single malt scotch someone else mentioned! For what it is worth, I've road-tripped in mine for years with no issues. I think a full service before leaving to make sure you are up to snuff and the large garbage bag in case of a tire are the best advice. The other stuff seems overkill to me, at least, but I guess I throw caution to the proverbial wind. Sounds like your paint protection is in hand, except, obviously, drive well behind and away from large traffic if you can help it. Most importantly, enjoy the trip. I am making about a 300 mile round trip run later today to get some documents signed that I need to file tomorrow and actually looking forward to the quite time, humming along the roadway. If you get some time, take a few PICs to share... Something with sunflower kernels all inside the car of bugs on the windshield would be fun! Take it easy, JKC

And by the bye, wasn't Benzedrine what the villain in Casino Royale was snorting? One merely wonders... JKC

Others have discussed the tire issue, but it can be extremely beneficial to CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURES just before you go to make certain they are at the correct pressure when cold (overnight). Having a good spare and a pump and sealant and good tread and spares, etc, are all important, but the simple act of making certain the tires are inflated correctly to begin with can save you many problems later. If you are overnighting on the way, check your tire pressures again in the morning before you head out for the next leg. The open highway surface has many unseen "bullets". My personal thing is 'Drive Around Everything in the Road." Amazing what is laying right in the middle of the road on an open highway, and how a small crack in the pavement ahead, or a "shadow", turns into a nasty hole with a sharp edge upon arrival at highway speed.

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Oh, yeah. Check the tire pressures. A low tire is a tire with a nail/screw or leaking valve stem or valve. (Last set of new tires had a bad air valve that would work with a tire pressure gage but would not let me add air.) I avoid getting off the beaten path. It is scary what trash, and all of it jagged and sharp, exists on the side of roads and in the recesses of parking lots. Also, I keep my speed way down in these areas to help lessen the chance the front tires kick up something sharp that then the rear tires roll over. On the open road one has to be also very careful of road debris. Truck tire carcasses are the worst, but I have seen chairs (a recliner), buckets, boxes (empty or full of pig iron you do not want to find out), ladders, various hand tools, pipe fittings, board lumber, fire place logs, you name it I've seen it. An amazing amount of trash and varied. About the only thing I haven't encountered is bags of money (darn) and a body (thank goodness!). Oh, and animals on the road. A very nice start to a road trip I was looking forward to very much -- driving east from CA on highway 50 (the loneliest highway in America) was brought to a miserable premature end by a mule deer stepping out from behind a guard rail into the path of my Turbo. Sincerely, Macster.