European Trip - Spares?

Hey guys,
So in a couple of months i'll be taking the Disco (2000 td5) on a roadtrip through france and down to spain.
Having never driven more than a couple of hundred miles in one go before, I'm not really sure what I need to pack in preparation.

I think I've got the essentials covered for europe (breathalyser, warning triangles etc).

All the fluids will be checked/changed/topped up beforehand, but are there any other parts that should be inspected before such a long journey?

It passed its MOT at the start of the month so I don't think there should be too much to worry about as such.

Are there any spares I should carry? Radiator hoses? Oil? Water? Tyre repair kit?

Anything else you guys think I should be aware of?

Cheers,
Kane

If its got SLS , then 2 spare sensors

If not, then

No spare sensors

Just done this trip sort of. I went down to lake Geneva for a week and then up to Hannover then Straight back across home.

We took an entire tool kit. We didn't take rear air bags for suspension or any of that gubbins so found ourselves fixing the car on the side of lake Geneva at 6am watching the sun rise. (Could of been worse)

We needed to get to Hannover at this point and came to the conclusion that if we had used the breakdown cover no one would of even entertained fixing it as it's more of a specialised problem for that car.

I would suggest as you say do all the fluids/ oils ect take at least some tyre weld, uj's and a phrase book

Check anything like the airbags or things which are more specific to the disco rather than just any old car. Things that are more likely to get you towed home rather than fixed and on the move again.

if worst comes to worst always have a look for the nearest LR garage. We have had 2 discos break down on two holidays in two years. First year in the middle of nowhere up a mountain there was a garage 10 miles away and this time 45.

Not to worry you or anything just better off being prepared

Don't forget the International Rescue list! A few members in France, and one at least on Lake Geneva now...

We go to Holland every year for the Nuenen engine show, taking the big 6-wheel trailer with the Ruston diesel engine.

This year we are going to leave the trailers at Nuenen after the show and drive down to Nice, camping on the way and back again.

We always take aux belt, UJ's, fluids, spare front propshaft and a fuel pump (both ours are V8's)

Most of the other things like hoses etc are checked before we go, so don't expect to see any problems there.

Tyres are always looked over and tread depths checked to make sure we will remain legal for the whole trip.

Spare Crankshaft sensor, the only thing that will stop a D2 V8 dead.

Full service before we go, this year the exles and boxes are due an oil change as well, we do them every two years.

Tools. Couple of spare wheel nuts.

Peter

As it's a Land Rover product, a complete spare car on a trailer.
Seriously, I'd check change the belts and carry spare ones and have international recovery.
If you are using the Western route A10 down to Spain, I'm in Poitiers. Know next to nowt about the Disco as I have a P38 but have tools and a pit if needed.

Datatek said:

If you are using the Western route A10 down to Spain, I'm in Poitiers. Know next to nowt about the Disco as I have a P38 but have tools and a pit if needed.

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We'll be going eastern side, France all the way down, dipping into Spain on the way back. More campsites on the French side.

Peter

Barcelona is just over 950 miles much like me driving the Scotland and returning so I wouldn't take spares for that trip.

If I was to take my disco I'd just get in and go, I've been to southern Germany four times twice was in my RRc when I had it and Spain twice and France lots, I even took a Mk2 Cortina to Sitges years ago, didn't bother about carrying spares then either

If you know you vehicles condition then u should be ok, if u don't or are unsure than take your spares, anyway any parts u require can now be purchased abroad can't they.

Although I do know any thing can happen as I found out last year with my disco's water pump bearing failing two miles from home, so I had to purchase a water pump, but who carries a water pump as a spare part for traveling western Europe.

If I had a major break down then the RAC will look after me as now I have the choice of two normal cars to take me abroad which are much nicer.

discool said:

Barcelona is just over 950 miles much like me driving the Scotland and returning so I wouldn't take spares for that trip.

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The whole question does sound a bit like a discussion from the '70s...

Is the OP going to be packing some "proper tea" and salt 'n' shake crisps as well, because they don't do it properly over there.

As a comparison, I work in southern Switzerland and have a house in Western France, about 700 miles (or 10 hours) away. When I drive that in my Disco 2 I wouldn't think of packing any spares.

I took my defender to the alps, didn't take any spares as I was as confident as I could be about everything that was fitted. Having Europe recovery is good piece of mind. I regularly drive mines to my dads in Perth (600 mile round trip) and do t take anything for that either. Just check everything obvious before you go, tyres wheel bearings etc and make sure you are on top of your servicing.

srtgray said:

The whole question does sound a bit like a discussion from the '70s...

Is the OP going to be packing some "proper tea" and salt 'n' shake crisps as well, because they don't do it properly over there.

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Well we have to I was in Maderia for new year, been there a few time so know we have to take our own tea bags, coffee is great though.

And they do have more than few LRs and no problem with obtaining spares, so seeing them and there owners makes up for the lack of 'proper tea'

srtgray said:

As a comparison, I work in southern Switzerland and have a house in Western France, about 700 miles (or 10 hours) away. When I drive that in my Disco 2 I wouldn't think of packing any spares.

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Roughly where in western France may I ask?

The Vendèe

srtgray said:

The Vendèe

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Just a but north west of me then. We like Noirmoutier

My girls went to school south of Poitiers

srtgray said:

My girls went to school south of Poitiers

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Been here nearly 14 years, great place to live. I even quite like Poitiers, I don't normally much like cities.

We moved to France ten years ago, haven't regretted it for a minute. We're planning to settle in Switzerland now.

Thanks for all the helpful replies guys!

I know I'm probably worrying too much, but as I said this will be its first long journey since I've had it (coming up to almost a year now).
I keep on top of maintenance and given it a full service. So I'm pretty confident there won't be any issues, I just thought I'd ask to see if theres anything obvious I might be missing.

With it being a Land Rover, I'd rather be overly cautious than overly optimistic haha!

Its got springs all round so don't need to worry about any of that.

Have a spare aux belt (i think its a requirement in spain to have a spare now isnt it?), and always carry a full toolkit with me.

I would never have thought of carrying spare UJ's. Is this sort of thing a common breakdown issue?

No adjustments needed to cope with the heat?

I'll definitely look into european recovery, unless anyone has any recommendations?

srtgray said:

We moved to France ten years ago, haven't regretted it for a minute. We're planning to settle in Switzerland now.

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Nice, Switzerland is out for me, I'm too poor LOL