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Missionmajor

The Long Stretch

Franklin joins Lamar and Stretch for a drug deal that becomes a Ballas ambush inside a recycling plant.

RoleStory mission guide
Importancemajor
  • ModeStory Mode
  • TypeStory mission
  • Difficultyhard
  • Walkthrough steps7

Time and medal conditions vary by route, approach, player count, replay state, and game version.

Key takeaways

Prepare before the opening marker and treat each objective update as a checkpoint.

  • Primary goal Franklin joins Lamar and Stretch for a drug deal that becomes a Ballas ambush inside a recycling plant.
  • Protect mission-critical assets Avoid unnecessary vehicle damage, friendly fire, or abandoning a required target outside the objective radius.
  • Use protagonist abilities Use Franklin for precision driving, Michael for controlled gunfights, and Trevor for high-damage combat whenever the mission makes them available.
  • Do not rush the final marker Clear pursuit conditions and keep required characters or vehicles together before entering extraction.

Overview

Franklin joins Lamar and Stretch for a drug deal that becomes a Ballas ambush inside a recycling plant.

Franklin joins Lamar and Stretch for a drug deal that becomes a Ballas ambush inside a recycling plant.

This Story Mode mission advances the protagonists’ connected storyline. Some neighboring missions can become available simultaneously, so the exact play order may vary.

The walkthrough below separates travel, setup, combat, pursuit, and extraction checkpoints so a failed section can be diagnosed without repeating the same mistake.

Characters in this mission

Where this sits

PreparationMeet Lamar and Stretch at Franklin’s house
Core objectiveFollow the group to the deal location
CompletionLose the police helicopter and return to safety
  1. 1Friend RequestpreviousPrevious
  2. ●The Long StretchcurrentCurrent guide
  3. 3Pulling FavorsnextNext

Branching heist preparations and simultaneous character missions can alter the playable order.

Requirements and recommended loadout

Enter with mission-appropriate ammunition, armor, and a vehicle that can survive the opening travel phase.

  • RequiredComplete the preceding story unlocks
  • RecommendedFull body armor and stocked ammunitionParticularly valuable for missions marked moderate or hard.
  • RecommendedAccurate mid-range weaponA rifle or stable automatic weapon handles most outdoor gunfights.
  • OptionalClose-range backupUseful inside buildings, alleys, and vehicles.
  • RecommendedSave the relevant protagonist abilityUse it for the most difficult chase, driving, or combat checkpoint.

Objectives

  1. Meet Lamar and Stretch at Franklin’s house
  2. Purchase a suitable weapon and ammunition
  3. Drive to the recycling plant
  4. Follow the group to the deal location
  5. Fight through the Ballas on the factory floors
  6. Escape across the rooftops
  7. Lose the police helicopter and return to safety

Detailed walkthrough

  1. 01

    Meet Lamar and Stretch at Franklin’s house

    Meet Lamar and Stretch at Franklin’s house

    Meet Lamar and Stretch at Franklin’s house. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    TipBefore triggering the opening marker, restock armor and ammunition if the mission is expected to involve combat.

    Checkpoint
  2. 02

    Purchase a suitable weapon and ammunition

    Purchase a suitable weapon and ammunition

    Purchase a suitable weapon and ammunition. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  3. 03

    Drive to the recycling plant

    Drive to the recycling plant

    Drive to the recycling plant. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

  4. 04

    Follow the group to the deal location

    Follow the group to the deal location

    Follow the group to the deal location. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  5. 05

    Fight through the Ballas on the factory floors

    Fight through the Ballas on the factory floors

    Fight through the Ballas on the factory floors. Move from cover to cover, remove exposed or elevated shooters first, and do not advance until the current flank is secure. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Watch outA failed push can expose the mission vehicle or protagonist to concentrated damage; reset behind cover instead of forcing progress.

  6. 06

    Escape across the rooftops

    Escape across the rooftops

    Escape across the rooftops. Break line of sight before hiding, avoid main roads where new units spawn ahead, and remain outside vision cones until the wanted level clears. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

    Checkpoint
  7. 07

    Lose the police helicopter and return to safety

    Lose the police helicopter and return to safety

    Lose the police helicopter and return to safety. Make small control inputs, maintain safe altitude, and line up the next checkpoint early instead of correcting sharply at the last moment. Remain in the final marker until the mission-complete transition begins.

    Watch outA failed push can expose the mission vehicle or protagonist to concentrated damage; reset behind cover instead of forcing progress.

    Checkpoint

Difficult sections and useful strategies

Strengths

  • Frequent objective markers make the intended route readable
  • Character switching or team roles can divide pressure
  • Most combat checkpoints provide cover or a defensible angle

Weaknesses

  • Mission-critical vehicles and allies can fail the attempt
  • Police or enemy reinforcements punish slow extraction
  • Long pursuits can be lost by overcommitting to shortcuts

Best uses

  • Clear enemies from range before moving a required vehicle
  • Use special abilities during the hardest driving or combat segment
  • Restart from the latest checkpoint after a failed gold-medal attempt rather than improvising a damaged route

Completion checklist

  • Meet Lamar and Stretch at Franklin’s houseCheckpoint 1
  • Purchase a suitable weapon and ammunitionCheckpoint 2
  • Drive to the recycling plantCheckpoint 3
  • Follow the group to the deal locationCheckpoint 4
  • Fight through the Ballas on the factory floorsCheckpoint 5
  • Escape across the rooftopsCheckpoint 6
  • Lose the police helicopter and return to safetyFinal completion condition

Failure conditions and checkpoints

  • A required protagonist, ally, or protected target dies.Restart from the most recent mission checkpoint.
  • A mission-critical vehicle is destroyed, abandoned, or leaves the playable route.Use the restart option rather than continuing in an unmarked replacement.
  • The target escapes or a timed objective expires.Prioritize route discipline and the primary objective over optional combat.
  • The player is wasted or all shared team lives are exhausted.Story Mode reloads the latest checkpoint.

On failure

Major travel, combat, and transition phases generally create checkpoints, but exact restart placement can vary by approach and replay mode.

Rewards and aftermath

  • Mission completion and progression
    Unlocks the next related story activity, contact, property, or preparation where applicable.

Sources and verification