What do you put in your trunk?

[RoadTripper601]

I think this is a great thread. I've always been curious how other's travel (mainly to see if I'm doing it right!)

I've been "roadtripping" since I had a driver's license and have been all over the southeast US (and once out to California, which I enjoy MUCH more than flying).

During my trips I see mini-vans loaded with passengers with out-of-state tags from hundreds of miles away, and I always wonder what they have to keep them entertained or on the right course.

As my first post, and in preperation for a trip over the 4th of July 4-day weekend, I'll share my setup.

Dashboard
- Garmin c320 GPS with the East Coast maps loaded on a 1 GB SD card
- Radio Shack PRO-2051 Radio Scanner connected to a glass-mount antenna on the front windshield

Front Seats
- Cobra HH 38WX (Road trip version) handheld CB connected to a 21" antenna on the trunk lid
- Delphi MyFi XM Radio
- 4 GB iPod Mini
- Sony Cybershot digital camera (must have readily available!)
- 45 cal. handgun (I wouldn't travel anywhere without it, and we like to cat nap at truck stops)
- Loving, and like-minded, fiancee that loves road trips as much as I do (equipment not standard)

Back Seats
- Two laptops (both stay in their cases; one with a 17" LCD is main system and used for email or what not while in the hotel, the other with a 10.5" LCD we use for war driving and watching DVDs)
- Cooler filled with snacks, drinks, etc.
- Sunshades for front and back windshields, and shades for side windows when we need to pull over and count some sheep.
- Our favorite pillows and two blankets.
- A handy ol' atlas

Trunk
- Fully inflated spare tire!
- Luggage (not exciting)
- Tool box with all the vehicle basics
- A "self-jump start" thing that charges your battery
- RainX wipes
- The Bible (doesn't have anything to with the trip, and I'm not a very religious person, but I've narrowly missed a LOT of bad situations and I have to attribute it to something, so I always carry it with me)


I'm sure there's quite a bit I've missed, but we always pack the basics such as extra medicine and what not.

I drive a Lincoln Towncar and we have quite a bit of room (especially in the trunk). The gadgets are fun, but the GPS is the only one that's constantly used. Most of the time on long trips, we prefer to roll the windows down and enjoy the new sights and smells as opposed to listening to the radio.

The two pieces of equipment I would recommend to everyone is the XM Radio and the GPS. You'll never get lost, and you'll always have the same radio stations to listen to without static (something I hate when traveling is FM radio)

Thanks!

[Mark Sedenquist]

I think this is a great thread. I've always been curious how other's travel (mainly to see if I'm doing it right!

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! There is no one way of doing it right. And some people are more organized than others.

During my trips I see mini-vans loaded with passengers with out-of-state tags from hundreds of miles away, and I always wonder what they have to keep them entertained or on the right course.

Maybe they just love being out there? I rarely listen to anything when I am on the road. Except that I do love local AM/FM radio stations -- you hear stuff on the radio that national satellite formats can never duplicate.

As my first post, and in preperation for a trip over the 4th of July 4-day weekend,

where are you going?

- 45 cal. handgun (I wouldn't travel anywhere without it, and we like to cat nap at truck stops)

Are you licensed to carry? Why would you need a weapon at truck stops? They are about the safest places on the road!

- Loving, and like-minded, fiancee that loves road trips as much as I do (equipment not standard)

That does sound like essential gear to me too!

the other with a 10.5" LCD we use for war driving

What is "war driving"?

- The Bible (doesn't have anything to with the trip, and I'm not a very religious person, but I've narrowly missed a LOT of bad situations and I have to attribute it to something, so I always carry it with me)

I carry snow chains 365 days a year for exactly the same reasons.

Thanks for the post!

Mark

[s-one]

This is all great info! It has helped me compile a list for my upcomming trip. Thanks for sharing everyone.

[Midwest Michael]

Except that I do love local AM/FM radio stations -- you hear stuff on the radio that national satellite formats can never duplicate.

I'm a big XM fan, and while they are trying to copy some of it by picking up some major "local" stations, its very true they can't give you the same flavor.

I will still, particualrly at night, jump over to the AM dial - if for no other reason than to see how far away I can pick up stations. I used to regularly listen to Pittsburgh and Cleveland stations while driving through the Dakotas, and once even found a French speaking station - that I assume was from Quebec - while driving in Southwest Minnesota.

[RoadTripper601]

where are you going?

I live in Florida and are looking to relocate later in the year. While we have an idea of where we'd like to go, we're off to explore the small towns of North Caroina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Are you licensed to carry? Why would you need a weapon at truck stops? They are about the safest places on the road!

Sure am. They may be safe, but I like to make sure the safest place on the road is my own vehicle. Actually, my family is from the very rural mountains in VA and they don't take kind to "ferigners" there. I wouldn't travel anywhere without it.

What is "war driving"?

War Driving is the "hunt" for open wireless connections; basically by driving around and using utilities on a laptop to detect wireless networks. You would be amazed how many unsecured and open wireless connections there are. I live in rural Central Florida and I can drive down a 5 mile stretch of highway and detect around 30 wireless connections.

[Mark Sedenquist]

is the "hunt" for open wireless connections; basically by driving around and using utilities on a laptop to detect wireless networks.

And the reason you enjoy doing this is????

[RoadTripper601]

And the reason you enjoy doing this is????

Not sure it's an "enjoy" sort of thing; however, if you're in the need for some local info or even just to check email, it's fairly easy to find an open Internet connection by sitting in a parking lot.

I've worked in IT for years; I can't be "disconnected" from the world for too long. Although when I'm traveling, I try to limit myself to just checking email. :)

[PNW Judy]

While I love listening to some local radio, I also love my XM radio and it gets a lot of use when I'm in the car, even for short trips around town. I am hooked on the radio classics. Jack Benny sure stands the test of time.

I really don't see a reason for carrying a gun while roadtripping. I'm under the impression that even if you're licensed to carry, that not all states have reciprocal agreements to allow you to carry in their state. I really couldn't and wouldn't recommend that any roadtripper carry. Just didn't want to let this slide without further comment.

I think if you look at the collective travel experience of the editor, all the moderators, and other regulars here, it amounts to hundreds of thousands of miles of traveling. I have never heard anyone mention being in any kind of dangerous situation where a gun was needed. The chances of this type of situation occuring are so very slim as to be almost non-existant.

So I just hope most of you aren't carrying and, if you insist on doing so, that you are fully trained, and that you regularly practice. Nothing worse than someone carrying who doesn't really appreciate the power they have nor know how to wield it safely.

[RoadTripper Brad]

I think if you look at the collective travel experience of the editor, all the moderators, and other regulars here, it amounts to hundreds of thousands of miles of traveling. I have never heard anyone mention being in any kind of dangerous situation where a gun was needed. The chances of this type of situation occuring are so very slim as to be almost non-existant.

I have to completely agree with Judy on this one. Growing up while moving around, the family firearms were always buried in the back of a U-Haul. And now being only 20, possession is not possible. Even still, I can think of only a few places I would venture to where I would even remotely feel a need to cary, if any. I actually feel more at danger in parts of my own city (Phoenix) then out on the road.

I have never had to even feel like I had to use any sort of personal protection. However, with that said, I've also never traveled anywhere without some sort of personal protection around. On all trips I tend to have my telescoping tire iron in a pocket behind the front seat. It means I don't have to go hunting for it when I have a flat, but it also means I have something should the situation warrant it. Even if its to break the window of a Minivan where someone carelessly left their child locked in during Arizona's blistering heat, its there.

Again, to reiterate Judy's comment... I've never had to or felt like I've needed to use something. But common sense and knowing others have, keeps some sort of personal protection availble. And of course, common sense keeps me from wondering INTO a situation where I would need it.

-Brad

[uclid]

I love the idea of using the clear Tupperware-style boxes, or Rubbermaid containers for storage. In the past I have used laundry baskets they hold a lot if you get the right kind they can stack together. Blankets and sleeping bags make ideal covers for the laundry baskets. I always try to keep the contents of our vehicle covered with a blanket, bath towels or a sleeping bag. It helps protect you stuff from the sun and also keeps your stuff out of sight from vandals. Vandalism is a concern today and keeping your stuff covered is a good deterrent.