long journeys,preparation and breakdown cover????

[alwoowar]

I'm off to France twice with my family in next few months,Paris first,South West in August and i'm taking my Surf,i have a 92 2.4 SSR,what should i be checking before setting off on these trips and are there any spares i should take with me?Timing belt being changed a week before,is this going to be ok?Also tried to get european breakdown cover but AA and Green Flag wont touch me as car is over 15yrs old,can anyone recommend a specialist company that will deal with surfs of this age?Any other hints or tips regarding this sort of journey would be much appreciated!Thanks!

[Sancho]

I'm off to France twice with my family in next few months,Paris first,South West in August and i'm taking my Surf,i have a 92 2.4 SSR,what should i be checking before setting off on these trips and are there any spares i should take with me?Timing belt being changed a week before,is this going to be ok?Also tried to get european breakdown cover but AA and Green Flag wont touch me as car is over 15yrs old,can anyone recommend a specialist company that will deal with surfs of this age?Any other hints or tips regarding this sort of journey would be much appreciated!Thanks!

Britannia Rescue. Sorted me out a treat when my 2.4 went pop in France.

Obviously, check all your fluid levels. Get a full service if you've not had one for a while, make sure your tyres are pumped up etc etc.

You will need spare bulbs to be legal over there. Take a big bottle of coolant too.

[Razorhoof]

I have full breakdown (European cover too) from Green Flag. Costs me £17 a month.

[The Lovely Boyo]

As said - service it - oils filters etc.

I service mine as required. I have done 25,000kms in the last 7 months and it never misses a beat and never lets me down.

[plumb bob]

Make sure the gear oil & transfer case oil & diff oil is checked/replaced too.

I'd take a set of replacement belts, anything else you should be able to get from a toy dealer.

Spare top up fluids; brake/clutch, gear oil, engine oil & filter, coolant/water.

Spare wiper blades, tow rope,shackles,basic tool kit/socket set, couple of small "G" clamps ( to clamp split brake lines etc) & selection of cable ties.

Voltage converter ( to charge mobile phones etc.)

You should get all this into one box.

Take a list of local toyota dealerships, in case you need to phone them.

Oh, and a laptop and satelite dish so you can log on to the forum!