March 2012, I drove over 2,000 miles across the country. On my own, I slept in my car and camped in the woods (no hotels), and
along the way I discovered some very valuable advice for people who
are embarking on journeys similar to this that I would like to share with
you!
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| Here I am teaching myself how to unlock the trunk from the inside. I highly recommend becoming familiar with your vehicle's manual before leaving. |
1) If you need any sort of assistance while out on the road, call #55 -
this will connect you with the local highway patrol officers and can
expedite you getting the help you need.
2) If you're traveling over great distances, start the trip earlier in
the day. Your body will have more natural energy, and you won't wear
down as fast as if you had started later in the day. Try to be ready to
drive the night before and get a good night's sleep so that you don't
have to scramble to be ready to depart.
3) Bring a tire pressure gauge and check your pressure every
fueling. Checking the pressure every time
you fuel could save you some major headaches - so far it's kept my vehicle on track with no problems. Make it into a habit that
you just do!
4) Avoid toll booths. There are plenty of roads that criss-cross the
nation, allowing you to get where you need to go. Making a trip like
this is expensive enough without having to pay a toll booth.
5) When you're packing, use several smaller duffel bags instead of
suitcases. Suitcases are great for flying, but when you're on the road, a
duffel bag is more flexible, takes up less space, and can be shoved
into awkward positions. Keep a smaller duffel or backpack near you with any
essentials you'll want easy-access to while driving to prevent stops.
6) Bring road flares - if you can, bring LED road flares. There are a
variety of uses for road flares, but the advantage of using LED road
flares is that they are either rechargeable or use batteries; either
way, you'll be able to use them more than once. This saves you money in
the long run, as opposed to using traditional road flares that you'll
have to replace once you've used them.
7) Bring a cooler and fill it with drinks and snacks purchased from a
grocery store. Gas stations along the road may be convenient, but are
way overpriced. By buying a 12-pack of your favorite drink and some
snacks, you can save yourself a small bundle!
8) Bring some jumper cables. Even if you have AAA or something similar
(which you should have anyway if you're traveling more than 100 miles
away from home), you can save yourself a little cash with some trusty
jumper cables and a nice person driving by.
9) Bring a couple jugs of water and keep them in your trunk. There are
so many different uses for larger quantities of water. Rinsing sticky
stuff off your hands, splashing on your face, using to brush your teeth,
or even filling an overheated radiator.
10) In some states it is illegal to have anything on the front windshield,
and so plan ahead if you will be going through a state where this
applies. Garmin offers a free (not even any shipping and handling fees)
Dashboard Disc, for those of you with a Garmin GPS device, that allows your
GPS to stick to the dashboard of your vehicle rather than the
windshield. The
adhesive disc adheres to the dashboard of your vehicle, and your suction
cup mount adheres to the disc. Those of you without a Garmin device can
purchase a two-pack of these for around $8 online - an excellent investment
item.
11) It is illegal in some states to carry mace and/or pepper spray;
please
note this if you will be driving through one of those states. Instead, a
baseball bat or other blunt object might be a good idea to keep within
arm's reach of you. Don't bring a blade unless you know how to use it;
this could cause you more harm if so.
12) Bring a cell phone. I know that some of you want to have the
adventure aspect, even myself. But this is the modern age, and there's
no harm in being able to get help when you need it. Make sure that
you're updating family and/or friends with your current location every
time you stop for gas at the minimum.
13) Play it like a Boy Scout and be prepared! Make sure you have
everything you need - or might need - for your trip before you leave. It
always sucks when you drive 500 miles, only to realize you forgot
something important. I've created the Ultimate Cross-Country
Packing List (Driving Edition) if you're wondering what to bring on a trip across the country.
If you think there's something else that should be on this list, or if you have any questions, write a
comment and let me know! Knowledge is power after all. For those of you who are wondering what to pack on a trip like this, check this out.
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