Long trips

[Beast4x4]

I actually drive around with this stuff on a daily basis, so for a long drive everything is already there

Here's mine:

A good radio with iPod connectivity
GPS (and a map if the GPS takes a dump)
Peanuts
Water
Tools (Multi Screwdriver, Small Socket set, and wrenches)
Bungee cords and Ratchet Straps
Towel/Blanket

 

[retep88]

I would use the dry erase markers for tracking mileage, but writing the directions on the window is a really good idea.

 

[Hopman]

Towel/Blanket

Ah yes. You carry it because no good traveler should be without a towel.

+2 on the dry erase marker. I never thought about that. I'll have to add that to my travel arsenal.

 

[Crunchy]

Me, being an early riser normally (normal wake up time is 5:15am), I wake extra early the day b4, hit the sack early, and wake up at 2am, leave by 2:30am. Truck is packed & gassed, so no fussing around, wake up, shower and hit the road, aim to get in as much driving before the sun rises. Works best in conjunction with Hella 500's.

I keep everything on the passenger seat that I will need on the trip. (extra cd's, snacks, toilette paper, small towel, camera in case something interesting comes up like being stuck behind some crazy crash). Passenger floor usually takes on the role of a garbage can until the final destination.

Can't stress toilette paper enough. Stopping for washroom breaks at rest stops takes up so much time. Find a small road to pull over on and go in the bush - 10x quicker).

x2 on the hole-in-the-wall diners. Best food ever.

Check everything on the truck before leaving, don't want to get stuck half-way cause of something that would take 10 minutes to fix at home, but usually takes an overnight stay in a motel room to fix on the road cause a parts store is closed on a Sunday.

I often find the trip to the destination to be fun, its the trip back that sucks.

Any myself, I like peace of mind...cruise control on the speed limit all the way. Yes, I am that ******* your tailgating.

 

[Hopman]

A MORE things to add/pack for your Ranger road trip:

- A spare serpentine belt. You never know when it'll break, and if it does, it'll probably be in the middle of who-knows-where
- Extra coolent, oil, and power steering juice. If you don't need them, they may help you help a fellow traveler.
- pen
- A AAA membership. I'd spring for the AAA Plus, as it gives you 100 miles of free towing. A regular membership still helps you out by getting hotel & attraction discounts and free maps.
- A sense of adventure and humor (this comming from a guy who drives a purple truck /w a teal cap!). These are two of of the most important things one can have. They take up little space, but are essential gear.

 

[hoosier1104]

1) Plenty of water (dehydration is your enemy)
2) Good radio (cd's, XM/Sirus, Zune/iPod)
3) GPS with map backup
4) Plenty of rest night before (do not recommend out processing a base, finish packing, and driving from NM to IN in 28 hrs though w/ 1200 lbs in a trailer and a dog w/ horrible breath)
5) Snacks (granola bars, almonds, something crunky with no sugar (diabetes is a biatch))

 

[94twodoor]

Having a large 44 oz cup can be a blessing in disguise, you are almost always near water even in a ditch, radiator blows, use ditch water and a tshirt to strain it. Or, you are stuck on a freeway for 4 hours for a major accident you can always pee in the cup! Portable restroom ftw!

Also keep a baby diaper and a spare leather belt in the truck incase a hose blows. Turn diaper inside out place the outside of diaper against the blown hose, wrap the blet around it for a temp fix on the road!

 

[AllanD]

#6, the 44 oz drink is really a safety feature in disguise: all that jumping around in the seat whilst screaming I GOTTA PEE keeps a person awake for miles!!!

Take a piss and IMMEDIATLY drink some more...

I've crossed Nebraska that way several times, not pleasant, or recommended
(Nebraska), but I survived.

But the technique REQUIRES a GPS based navigation that have
the highway rest stops programmed in... Knowing you have to
hold it for ONLY another 12miles is worth anything.

Avoid large quantities of nuts, constipation on the road is worse
than a mechanical failure.
In general avoid really fatty foods or large ammounts of protein as those foods (especially the fat) tend to make you sleepy.

Pillow, Blankets including one you don't care about incase you either
need it to lay on to work on something or that you can give to an
accident victim.
Towels, I buy them in BLACK because they don't show dirt.

Paper towels, and hand cleaner...

Buy fuel BEFORE you need it, because when you DO need it then it's certain
to be $0.15/gal more expensive.

"Repair" a hose? I carry spares, including PRECUT heater hoses
and I run (essentially indestructable) blue silicone heater hose AND clamps, what's wrong with the clamps already there? You WILL drop one into a storm drain when you don't have a spare.

I don't carry ONE serpentine belt I carry atleast two.
And my "spares" are both essentially new belts that I have run for a week to make sure they are "good" they are coiled and kept in a quart ziploc freezer bag.
I carry an additional belt that doesn't fit... unless I route it
around the A/C compressor, if you've ever tossed a belt because
an A/C clutch shit itself you'd know why.



Never take a trip with ANY part you JUST replaced, new parts that aren't "proven" are almost as bad as used parts you are suspicious of.

As for sanity?

I have observed that with Audio CDs the autoweek writer Satch Carlson was right... No matter what 10 CD's you have in the changer you will discover that they are the WRONG 10 discs... my correction? to get a changer that plays MP3-CD's when Each disc will play for 11-12HOURS and there are TEN in the changer.. you can drive across country AND BACK without it repeating, but if you if you put it on shuffle...

I've said multiple times I will get an ipod when they make one that meets MY criteria.

that criteria? atleast 32Gb memory capacity and NO moving internal parts.

Bascially when they make a 32Gb Nano (solid state memory)
I'll be near the front of the line to buy one.

And after I get it and load it with music it'll take an expert with a chainsaw and explosives to get at it where I'm going to mount the thing...(Or an especially gifted psychic to tell them where it is)

But if that wasn't enough I also have a Sirius radio, a CB,
a 2m/44 dual band amateur transciever...

and an "old school" docking cradle for my fairly modern
Nokia 2126 (CDMA) Cellphone

I consider cruise control mandatory. I'd drive cross country without brakes or lights before I'd attempt do so without cruise control


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[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

for those of us that don't have cruise control, rest your knee against the shifter when your leg falls asleep. and a pillow to go behind your back

 

[Twitch57]

several cans of SKOAL mint with atleast two bottles makes long trips better

just saying

 

[AllanD]

After being stuck in a traffic jam as a result of a major
accident on I-80 somewhere in a particularly empty piece of central Nebraska...
my carrying a US GI issue "Squad stove" (like a backpacking stove)
was fully justified....

I actually had time to set up the stove on the hood of my truck
and cook a meal (and eat it) while stopped in the left lane of I-80

Late September in Nebraska is actually kinda nice.
But I wouldn't give you a dried cat's turd for the place in January.

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