# Long road trip with a 98 Camry **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [July 20, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684 "2009-07-20T14:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tonechaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@tonechaser](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tonechaser)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/1 "2009-07-20T14:26:25Z")
I’m planning a 4k mile trip down to Tahoe, Napa, LA, San Diego, Grand Canyon, etc, etc. I have seen the long road trip guidance from click and clack. The Camry has 150k miles. I just got new tires and I’m getting new struts and an oil change this week. I’m going to check: Cooling system ball joints rod ends steering components a/c transmission battery And will bring: Coolant oil duct tape spare tire screwdriver flares pliers vise grips coat hanger tire jack tire rod flashlight Anything else? ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/2 "2009-07-20T14:30:22Z")
I think you will be better prepared than 99.9% of all the other cars on the road. Good list, if you have any room put some water in the car to keep the driver hydrated and alert. Bon Voyage! ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/3 "2009-07-20T14:41:42Z")
Consider joining AAA if you’re not already a member. Satellite radio would be nice on some of those stretches. A car charger for your cellphone could be useful, especially because your battery will go down more quickly where the signal is poor. ---
**Author:** ![tonechaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@tonechaser](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tonechaser)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/4 "2009-07-20T14:47:48Z")
I was thinking about getting AAA, but I already have emergency coverage through my insurance up to $150 per incident. Do you think that will be enough or should I still consider AAA? Thanks! Oh one more thing…I’ll be bringing along my inverter as well. ---
**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/5 "2009-07-20T14:50:20Z")
Cell phone (Tracfone is fine) Since you are venturing into the desert, a couple of gallon jugs of water from the grocery store About 10 feet of soft wire (for tying exhaust pieces back on temporarily if you venture down the wrong dirt road – easier to work with than the coathanger) A box of spare fuses An old blanket A second jack or (better) a jackstand if you think there is any chance that you might be tempted to crawl under the car. You’ll get the accessory belts checked I’m sure, just forgot to mention it. I’d probably include a tire plug kit and an effective tire pump, but that’d be overkill for most people. (I’d throw my tool box in the back as well) The only other thing I ever had to use not on your list was tire chains when I managed to get myself stuck on a hillside near Bakersfield covered with some very slippery vegetation. ---
**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/6 "2009-07-20T14:56:25Z")
\*\*\*Satellite radio would be nice on some of those stretches. \*\*\* My experience has been that cell phone coverage in the West is amazingly good. (Better than Vermont and the Adirondacks actually). One may have to climb a hill and hold the phone just so to get a signal, but I had pretty good luck making phone calls from places where one would guess that the likelihood of cell phone coverage was close to zero. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/7 "2009-07-20T16:26:24Z")
Has the timing belt ever been changed? If so, when was it changed, and at what odometer mileage? ---
**Author:** ![tonechaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@tonechaser](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tonechaser)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/8 "2009-07-20T17:57:45Z")
Yes, the timing belt was changed at 95k 2 or 3 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/9 "2009-07-20T18:12:43Z")
In that case, based on your very comprehensive list of preparations, I would say that you are good to go. Happy Motoring! ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/long-road-trip-with-a-98-camry/33684/10 "2009-07-20T18:23:07Z")
Congradulations for being so well prepared. On a long trip[ I always carry cellphone, credit cards, AAA membership. A can of tire inflator is handy if you can’t change a flat or leaking tire conveniently.