Must Haves for Cross Country Trip? Whats on your list?

Whats on your list?

My Trip
Hey guys,
I am in need for some advice on what you all think needs to be done, and what I should purchase for my trip. I will be driving my 2013 Baja (35k on odo) from NW Indiana to Arizona, and then on to Nevada. I plan on playing in the sand a little bit while out west, but nothing crazy. I will only be spending roughly a week out west before I return to Indiana. It is a little over 1,800 miles to Nevada. I plan on sleeping in the truck overnight to save some money. Below is my list that I have started, what am I forgetting?

Goals
Take a picture off road or flexing in each state I drive through!

Supplies
1. Full Size Spare?
2. Small Air Compressor?
3. Power Storage (emergency jump)
4. Jumper Cables
5. Tow Straps
6. Flash Light
7. Misc Tools
8. Handgun & Knife

Truck Service
1. Oil Change - Before trip
2. Refill/Check Fluids
3. Air Filter & Cabin Filter
4. Wash & Wax =)
5. Tint Windows
6. Brighter Headlight Bulbs
7. LED Map light

 

Don't forget toilet paper, just in case.

 

Good one !

 

Maps? Like the paper kind. Yes, you may have a GPS---but what if it goes down? Compass?

 

hopefully the op knows how to read a map, a lot of youngsters don't.

 

Make sure your 12v air compressor is a "good one" .......capable of inflating your truck tires in case of a flat. Check out the VIAIR line and look for one with a good "duty cycle".

If you never did any serious off-road excursions.....do not get too far off the beaten path.

Are you sure about the handgun driving thru all those states? Even with CWP in your wallet....not sure all states recognize that.

Sleeping in truck for all that time? Wow......a better man than me and most likely quite younger!!

Sounds like a fun trip, take pics and post them up.

Drive carefully.

Donald

 

Music, audio books, pod casts, things of that nature.

I usually do an ice chest to keep the amount of money spent on gas station pops down. Plus, especially if I'm driving alone...I only stop when I need gas, so I can just reach back to get a drink instead of stopping.

Another thing is change for toll roads if that is an issue on your route.

If you find yourself in Oklahoma, the best gas station is Quick Trip, based out of Tulsa.

Lastly, for sleeping in your truck I recommend one of those eye covers. You know, they're soft and held on with elastic. I spent a month sleeping in my vehicle and liked parking in fairly well lit areas for security, but this way it's still nice and dark on your eyes. All Walmarts allow overnight sleepers, by the way.

 

Screw the toilet paper. Baby wipes will keep your stinky areas clean and fresh for days when showering is not possible.

 

Sounds like a fun trip. Are you going to campout when you stop for the day, or just pull over and sleep? I would avoid spending the night in a rest areas, they are full of crazies .
You can google search what states honor your states CWP, I did on our cross country trip. Look up more than just one source and check the date of the site. Some sites have old info.
Dont forget to listen to that little voice in your head. If its alerting you pay attention to it!

 

1. Hot chick
2.Water!
3.Snacks, beef jerky, Granola
4.Trash bags

 

X2 on beef jerky.

It is a must-have on all my road trips.

 

Water, I always carry water!
And beef jerky, but, I get a lot of gator jerky in Fl.

 

Jerky X3!! Unless your son's mom is going with you and you have to drive her Acura. She won't let it in her ride. She thinks it stinks.

Women sometimes........

 

I did multiple 20h trips non stop Chicago to SW FL...all I had was a CC

 

$60 air compressor from O'Reily's is fine for what you're doing. No need to go big yet (unless you have the cash - then do it once and do it right)
Full size spare for sure. Tires tend to go flat in inconvenient places. A puncture repair kit too. I just carry a cheap plug kit. Plugs are easy to do (no need to break the bead) and are reliable when done well.

Water
Toilet paper
Jerky

Know the firearm laws for each state you're passing through. Some states don't reciprocate your concealed weapons permit (if you have one). Some states want the handgun disassembled and out of reach. Others don't care much.

Obviously music is great, but books on tape are rad for road trips

A road atlas and detailed maps of each place you intend to go exploring. There is a lot of space in the western states not covered by cell service. My cell phone is useless much of the time I recreate.

 

Make sure the handgun is legal to have in every state you're going through, especially if you don't have a concealed permit for it.

 

1 qt motor oil
1 gal windshield washer fluid
service station style windshield scrubber/squeegee
good quality air pressure gauge
small toolbox, adj wrench, screwdrivers/ratchet set
emergency cash
maybe new windshield wiper blades
rope/bungees
1 gal water
keep old headlight bulbs as emergency spares
2 coolers - 1 large, 1 small - plan on buying ice every day or 2
small campstove
emergency prepaid debit/credit card

 

Finding a place to park your truck while sleeping is harder than it seems. Sure, you can park anywhere and go to sleep but are you going to be bothered, threatened, harassed? Will it be quiet enough to sleep (think truck stops. They're noisy)?

Most Walmarts and Sam's clubs will allow you to "camp" in their parking lot. Some cities don't allow them to do that though.

 

You can probably save yourself the wash and wax prior to the trip, I sure would. Shit gets dirty on the road. Do it when you get back.

Cell phone charger?

US Atlas, a good one, not some cheap ass oversized truck stop one, in case you want to do some more exploring and / or want to spec out an alternate route home.

Rather than TP as suggested, I keep a 2" stack of McDonalds's napkins in the glove box, handy for spills in the cab, or blowing my nose, or an emergency shit.

Small plastic grocery bag for trash, I hate little bits of trash stuffed in various places and long trips seem to promote that happening.

$100 in $10 bills as emergency cash, some places out west especially don't take plastic, and / or if you need to buy a few gallons of gas or something from a non-commercial place (like a farmer, if you run out) you don't want to rip out a $100 bill.

Soft earplugs for sleeping in the truck at night.

Extra water and food that isn't in the "snacking rotation", useful if you get lost or have a breakdown.

Blanket and warm clothing regardless of the current temperatures, it is often significantly colder in the mountains even in mid-summer and especially at night.

Zip tie a spare key to your frame.

Are you taking the interstate? If so, consider getting off it and running some old 2 lane that predates the interstate. Lots more to see, if you have time; speeds are a little slower so gas mileage goes up; and that's 'real Murica'. If you have to take the slab get off once in awhile and run some parallel-ish two lane to mentally change the pace a bit, and don't hesitate to stop to explore. I always use the mantra "when will I pass this way again?", so I stop a lot in new places to check stuff out.

I did a cross country trip in my first gen back in 2005 (Ohio to Nampa, ID), slept in the truck, explored Yellowstone and the Tetons, had a great time. I do my cross country exploring via motorcycle now, but any means of getting out is good. So many people have never even left their state, or even the immediate area they live in. Good on you... have fun!

 

Truck stops are great places to park for the night. They don't mind, usually have the best bathrooms, and then have hot coffee when you get up. I usually will fill up in the morning to give them alittle business too.

Also what I do is I got a roll of reflectix insulation (basically the same bubble wrap stuff as the silver windshield shades) and cut it to fit each of the windows on my camper shell. It keeps it dark and also helps hold in some heat in the winter.