Cross country road trip recommendations
06-28-2018, 12:55 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Cross country road trip recommendations
In a few weeks I will be driving from the East Coast to the Pacific Northwest! Any recommendations to prep my vehicle for the trip? Just recently had service A. Considering I won't have a spare tire are there any tire sealants you'd recommend?
06-28-2018, 06:19 PM
#2
Member
I would get a tire patch kit (the string type that is inserted from outside the tire) and a 12V air compressor.
You’ll want plenty of windshield washer fluid.
You’ll want plenty of windshield washer fluid.
06-29-2018, 12:44 AM
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
This:
Very high quality compressor in this kit. Long duty cycle, quiet, and has the power output to quickly fill a truck or SUV tire. Compressor comes with adaptors to run straight off of the batt with alligator clips or 12v power adapter. It also has an extension for the air hose. Very versatile, best kit I've owned. I added a plug kit which is handy if you know what you're doing. If not, skip the plug kit and just get this.
Very high quality compressor in this kit. Long duty cycle, quiet, and has the power output to quickly fill a truck or SUV tire. Compressor comes with adaptors to run straight off of the batt with alligator clips or 12v power adapter. It also has an extension for the air hose. Very versatile, best kit I've owned. I added a plug kit which is handy if you know what you're doing. If not, skip the plug kit and just get this.
06-29-2018, 08:12 AM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Great! It's been a while but I've patched a tire before. If these runflats go flat and I patch it relatively soon do I have to worry about how much longer I drive on them? I'm assuming if you drive a significant amount while flat the compound breaks down and cant be patched and reused.
06-29-2018, 05:52 PM
#7
Senior Member
You don't necessarily need a tire sealant kit or pump with runflats. They're designed to allow you to drive an additional distance when flat, but doing so detroys the tire and it would need to be replaced if that occurs. If you want to get a sealant kit and pump anyway, stop by your local auto parts store. I picked up a Slime kit with a large bottle of sealant and 12V pump (almost identical to the one in a previous post above) for $27 at Pep Boys.
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06-29-2018, 06:43 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Im planning to keep this just in case I'm in the middle of nowhere and sourcing a replacement may take days. Quick patchup may keep us going if I identify it quick and it is repairable. My understanding is that the slime can ruin the tpms. Let me know if I'm wrong.
06-29-2018, 08:34 PM
#9
Junior Member
We travel from central Virginia to North Carolina quite frequently and often at night. After hearing of friends sidewall blowout on their GLC runflat, we purchased a "reconditioned" wheel and new tire to carry with us on trips to Carolina. Wheel was $225, tire about $175=$400 beats getting stranded on a Sunday night in the middle of nowhere!
06-30-2018, 02:08 AM
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
You don't necessarily need a tire sealant kit or pump with runflats. They're designed to allow you to drive an additional distance when flat, but doing so detroys the tire and it would need to be replaced if that occurs. If you want to get a sealant kit and pump anyway, stop by your local auto parts store. I picked up a Slime kit with a large bottle of sealant and 12V pump (almost identical to the one in a previous post above) for $27 at Pep Boys.
It's not the same compressor. Slime sells at least 3 different kits that I know of. The lower tier ones have crap compressors that are loud and slow. The extra cash is worth it for a quiet efficient model that can completely fill a flat truck tire in < 5 min.
06-30-2018, 09:00 AM
#11
Super Member
how can you tell which is which? will slime kit ruin the TPMS sensors? or is the goo from all the different manufacturers all the same?
06-30-2018, 03:45 PM
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
You have to look up the specs for the compressor. Remember that duty cycle is more important than psi rating. Slime brand goop is safe for TPMS, they state as much on the bottle.
06-30-2018, 06:28 PM
#14
Junior Member
We regular on country roads hunderds of miles from anyone. For this reason we carry a MB spare tyre and a back up air pump/ glue/ patch kit. An expensive option you may say, but I think it is worth it. If you travelling mostly on highways or tourist routes, then probably an overkill.
