I've been patiently waiting (6+ years) for the day i finished all my obligations in Michigan so that i could FINALLY move back home to Southern California.  Between caring for a dying Grandmother and going to college it's been a long time coming.

I've done long distance drives before in my (then new) 1994 tracker 8v.  it was a fantastic distance driver to my suprise, very, very comfortable.  i imagine having a removable hard top made it more relaxing (i.e quiet) but none the less my only complaint was all to frequent gas-up stops.  back in 1994 to 1997 when i owned the tracker the internet was not really around so i drove it and never thought twice.

now years later i figure i could use the power of the internet to get better info from other track/kick owners that have maybe done alot more distance driving in their zuki's than me.  And i now also know today that a distance trip, although not super rough on a car, is a bit of a chore.  Especially for a tracker/sidekick which is really meant to be a local runabout type 4x4 not an interstate pounder.  

So now i'm making a 3000 mile trip from Michigan to California in my 1995 Tracker LSi 4x4 16v this time no hard top just the wind flipping soft top . out side of performing a full tune up (replace plugs/wires, cap & rotor, PCV valve, fuel filter & oil/fluid changes) before departing, are there any other tips and tricks i should use and/or know about?  Maybe something to save wear and tear...maybe something to save fuel economy?

[edit]A little background info on the car.  it's a 1995 2-door convert LSi , i bought in 2002 with 33,000 miles. it's 5-speed and now only has 60,000+ miles. and i just recently had BFG A/T 253/75/r15 tires put on last month.  my accesory belt and pully broke off this past winter so my power steering and A/C are shot, but i was told that helps with fuel economy (less strain on motor?) so i figure i'll fix it when i get to where i'm going.  Any help would be awesome thanks guys.[/edit]

Check your wheel bearings and suspension components for wear and slop...

Best milage is about 60-65 MPH, any faster
and the gas goes very quickly.

Check the oil every 2-3 fuel stops to make sure it's
where it should be, I needed about 1/2 quart from
So Cal to Moab, about 800 Miles, but I think the Synth
oil I was using was starting to leak a little the whole trip,
I smelled oil most of the time, which brings me to another
point, Don't change to Synthetic oil before your trip, unless
you have been running it for some time before, the last thing
you want to get on a long trip is an oil leak from the Valve
Cover or Dist housing, or any where else for that matter.

Hmm  253 75 15 tires I'd like to see those


LOL

Have a great trip, where abouts in So Cal you going/coming to ??

Wild

If it was me I'd do the timing belt, if you haven't already. Cheap insurance.

a few tools of course, 10,12 & 14mm wrenches and sockes at the least, a jug of water, extra fuse or 2, tire presure gague-make sure presure is correct, and i would just buy a timing belt, it is about time to change it anyway, i always carry some el. fence wire, screwdrivers, el. tape and wd40, ya never know.  and goto the hardware store and buy some ear plugs, if you get tired of listening to the wind.  oh, and make real sure you hide an extra key on the outside of the car somewhere!  good luck and have fun.  wow, no more winters....

what Wild?
do you envy my massive 253's

LOL

obvioulsly i ment 235, my typing skills kind suck.  and i'm returning to my hometown of Anaheim California,  i can't wait to hit the San Berdo mountain trails with this rig!

i currently run a synth blend from castrol, and always use AC Delco oil filter.  I know i should check the wheel bearings but how complicated is that?  the haynes manual makes it sound like half  the front end needs to be removed to check and re lube the bearings.  and i plan to do a timing belt change upon arrival to Anaheim, possibly even repair the Acc. belt....it was 104 in Anaheim the other day, i MAY need my A/C.  LOL

As for getting ear plugs....Heh.  The way i see it, i made the trip TO Michigan in a Samurai....driving back in the Tracker would be like driving a Caddy...well sorta.

oh, and make real sure you hide an extra key on the outside of the car somewhere!

For a Ragtop SideKick  unless you loose your key,
I can't see you locking yourself out of a Ragtop  LOL

Ya I wanna set of those 253s are they as tall as 33s???



Hey We'll have to hook up and go wheeling, you are going to be
like a hour from me here in Cherry Valley, the San Bernardino Mts
are in my back yard  

Wild

i think the best advice i can give u is be patient..these things arent the most powerful so up some of the hills u may have to gear down and get behind the trucks lol

good luck with ur trip =) and welcome back to Cali just in time for the tini bikini season lol

i think the best advice i can give u is be patient..these things arent the most powerful so up some of the hills u may have to gear down and get behind the trucks lol

good luck with ur trip =) and welcome back to Cali just in time for the tini bikini season lol  

bring a freind and pack light! I did the drive almost 2 years ago from NH to CA in a 94 samurai it was mostly stock I took  I84  to I40,  70mph most of the way I did take some senic detours, ventured off on old 66 every once and a while  and the grand canyon  over to los vegas and the hover dam. Its a great trip I brought tools fix aflat  csmall compressor a blanket flashlight a cell phone and a AAA card I was all right I changed my oil and clutch before I left and checked all fluids ...  now I am plaining the northern route in a year form now ( i'm in alaska now yep same sami) and its on 33 swampers with about 7" s of lift so this time i'm gonna take it slow

You need to bring tons of CDs or MP3s on an iPod or something. I really sucks to be in the middle of BFE and you can only pick up AM talk rodio stations or polka.

Don't bother with the wheel bearings. I once was going to repack the bearings in the front wheels of a 4WD Nissan, but then I read the manual. The labor involved is too great to warrant routine maintenance. Just wait till they fail, then replace them. Wheel bearings almost always show plenty of signs of wear before they fail. The signs are actually sounds - the bearings will be making noise long before they fail catastrophically.

Enjoy the trip.

Shoot, I bought my 95 2-door in Dallas, and immediately drove it the 800 miles back to Denver - it was a piece of cake!  Hey, if the weather's nice, pop the top!  Just make sure all your stuff is situated so you can drive topless, without it all blowing away.  It might actually be easier to load with the back seat folded and flipped forward, rather than in the "normal" position - it serves as a divider that keeps stuff in place.  Do you have cruise control?  That makes long drives easier, and really does save you gas.

Ok sounds like i'm better prepared than i thought  

I have cruise control (aftermarket)

I have a 30gig MP3 player, i bought 110% for the tracker becuase i'd go somewhere and always have to hide my CD cases...and twice someone broke in and found them and stole my CD's.  so i figured if i put all my CD's on an MP3 player then....well i've taken away the temptation.

Oh yeah will definately be driving top down as much as possible, wouldn't be much of a road trip with the top up.  and as for co-pilot i got company riding shotgun...my 5 year old jack russell

thanks for all the cool tips.