Road Trip Advice

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seige101

Minister of Fire
Mar 25, 2008
622
Western MA
In my quest to move cross country (Mass to Oregon) i wanna make sure i am well prepared.
So what do you guys recomend?

I have/have done the folowing:

So far i have had the vehicle serviced and check up.
Spare tire is good
Have an inflator pump and slime just in case
Jack
Lug nut wrench
Booster pack
Numerous tools and socket sets
Flash lights
Greased the wheels on the trailer
spare tire for the trailer
Inspected the safety chains on the trailer etc
Have tire chains for the truck
First aid kit
food and water rations
Cell phone w/ chargers
Gps
Cb Radio
Blanket and warm clothes

Taking 90 west until just below Chicago, then jumping on 80 until Oregon which will bring me close to my destination. Trip is roughly 3100 miles, planning on it taking 6-7days(driving 8-10 hours a day) Will be stopping several times along the way, and will check out any interesting sights. Anybody recomended i see or do anything along the way?

Any other advice is welcome also.

Thanks guys and gals!
 
And people thought plane tickets were expensive?

I like your list where you say you have Jack. :lol:
 
You forgot beer. Never forget beer. Seriously, I think you're covered from your list, I've traveled much farther with less. Maybe a pre-assembled hub for the trailer? Cost you around $60 bucks, nice to have them pre-assembled if you can find one, takes 20 minutes to change if the bearings fry. Did I mention beer? Have fun and enjoy the ride, that is the major reason I do not like airplanes, efficient yes, but you miss alot (unless they land in a river). Be safe, check in with someone and let them know your progress too.
 
MRE's are cool to stow also, no cooler needed, I have them in both cars and the boat. Good for a bazillion years too I hear!
 
They don't call me Kenny Chaos for nothing but isn't it boring being "so well prepared?"
Of course you can't beat having "lawyers, guns, and money."

Have a safe trip and watch out for the nit wits.
 
Gas, water, oil, glass cleaner, paper towels, gloves, rain gear, maps, cash, credit cards, paper & pen, list of contact phone #'s. I'm sure there are more things. When we moved from Virginia to Oregon in '07 I had lists of things...but we made it without a hitch, and my lists are long gone. We had reservations for each night along the route, about 8 hours' driving time each day. I was in a Jeep Grand Cherokee pulling a loaded 12' tandem axle utility trailer, wife was in her MBZ coupe. Little Radio Shack walkie-talkies worked like a charm between us. No probs, we were over-prepared. Rick
 
seige you might want to join AAA...sounds like you have everything else covered so good luck with the move.
 
Oh yeah...camera, binoculars, cooler(s) for water/snacks, trash bags, towels, toilet paper, stout pocket knife, fuses, bulbs, wire, electrical tape, duct tape, shovel, crow bar, cargo straps, rope, tow strap. I'm sure I'll think of more. Where are you headed for in Oregon? Rick
 
I'm very jealous! Cabin fever is bad...
Take some food & money with you. You will figure out the rest.

Also, an atlas from the evil empire- I mean- Walmart because it shows the locations of their tire shops. This trick has saved the day a couple times for us on our expeditions!

Farewell, Godspeed, etc.
 
Fire extinguisher, flares and/or reflective safety triangles, laptop computer/charger/ethernet cable, spouse, kids, pets, sunglasses, sunscreen for your left arm, and a cool ball cap. I'm sure there's more. Rick
 
Great stuff so far thanks guys!

Kenny, got Jack both kinds one for the trunk one for the after driving wind down drink. Never developed a taste for beer (i hear some of you guys moaning right now!) though i have tried numerous times!

GotzTheHotz, I am going to try to pick up a bearing kit or a hub for the trailer if the local place has them in stock, if not i am not really worried it's only 1.5 years old with very light use, and been properly greased. I am also not loading it to the gills roughly half it's rated weight. It's an enclosed snowmobile tilt trailer, picked it up for a heck of a deal. Sold the non-enclosed trailer to a buddy.

Made the trip by plane several times, looked into having stuff shipped for moving purposed. Around $2200 for the truck, and $3000 for my other stuff including the quad. I am planning on the entire trip costing about 1250-1500 between gas (roughly 400) food, lodging and other misc stuff.

Rick, moving to St Helens. Glad to know another east coaster made it out west! Hmm never thought about a fire extinguisher have to add that. Computer is being packed in the truck (desktop) but phone has internets if needed. No spouse, kids or pets. Just me the and the open road.

Savage, i have roadside coverage through the insurance company, basically their version of triple a. Good suggestion though.

Blah Ho, got the spare in the wallet, as well an a trailer key in the wallet with an additional truck key in the trailer.

The Mechanic and Chemist, Thanks for the good wishes!

Thanks again keep them coming!
 
Older people (like me) think of things like Tums, asprin, a cure for Montezuma's revenge, kleenex (for bathrooms w/o toilet paper), etc. Got some good music to play along your trip?

Shari
 
definitely have good tunes for the trip. Actually burning another mp3 cd as i type this, and will be loading up the 6 disc changer in the morning
 
Okay, if you're really going to do this, here's what ya want to have with ya: :coolsmile:
Extra boot laces, rodenticide, spanish dictionary, calculator, lots of the Grateful Dead, baling twine, a copy of the yellow pages,
space heater, self-medications, a runaway/hitch-hiker, one plastic pink flamingo, an empty plastic gallon milk jug, a full plastic gallon milk jug (not milk though),
one copy of "Steal This Book", a G blues harmonica, "I SUPPORT MY LOCAL SHERRIFFS" sticker, a small american flag on the antenna,
sleeping bag, ID, ID, ID, two candles, radar detector, a baseball bat, a few old lug nuts or comparable sized nuts (easily accesible),
a very open mind, eye drops, a second pair of sunglasses, one hand towel, a tennis ball, car air fresheners, one screwdriver, a jar of your favorite barbeque sauce, a syphon hose, no maps, a large paper grocery bag full of McDonalds french fries, somebody else's credit card, a box of wine and a tuna can,
one extra pair of thick socks and commando underwear, rehydrating fluids, extra rolling papers, a small folding pocket knife (preferably a Buck), your pet monkey, a large bag of salted peanuts in the shell, a set of horseshoes, astronauts use diapers on road trips but that's not for me, one can of your favorite color spray paint, and a banana.

All of these essentials shouldn't set you back more than a couple hundred bucks and it'll all fit in a VW.

Be warned: Going too far west is as bad as going too far east. Keep it on the fringe.
 
<>Taking 90 west until just below Chicago, then jumping on 80 until Oregon which will bring me close to my destination.<>

You sure about that? I took I-80 & it took me to California...I'd guess I-90 might get you closer to Oregon...
But, if I-80 is your route, there's not much along it, except for corn...
ESPECIALLY in Nebraska...
It doesn't go up or down. Flat...flat-flat-flat...
You'll drive 30 - 40 miles & then they'll throw a LEFT at ya!
Nuther 20 -30 miles & a RIGHT jumps out!
400 miles that you could sleep thru, if they didn't put bends in the road...
BOOOOORRRIIINNNGG...
OTOH, Wyoming is cool as hell! The Rockies are Gorgeous!
Herds of Elk & Deer roaming on the mountain sides & Bald Eagles flying overhead!!!
America the Beautiful at its best...
Past the Rockies you're in the high desert...tumbleweeds & sand...
Then you hit the Continental Divide & head downhill thru the Wasatch into Utah...
Thru Salt Lake City & out into the Bonneville Salt Flats...mostly desert...
Nevada has some scenic hills & mesas & rock formations & stuff, still mostly desertlike
Then 40 miles downhill into Sacramento...
I'd say Sacramento is about 250 from Oregon going north on I-5
I did this run from Albany NY to Frisco back in 76...62 hrs...
'Course I was young & bullet-proof & gas was $.63 per gal...
Have a safe trip!
 
Nebraska. That's why I mentioned the beer. Gets really boring otherwise. Stop in Rachel NV at the Alien Inn by area 51, what a hoot!
 
I think someone hit on it earlier, but besides the flashlight, make sure ya got extra flares. Can't tell how many calls I go on where a concerned motorist has called about someone changing a driver side tire after they pulled to the right and they have no warning devices out........*SPLAT*............................Be careful and Good luck...............Paul
 
We got on I-80 in Davenport, Iowa, and rode it all the way to the juction with I-84 in Utah, then up into and across Idaho. It's a good, fast, smooth ride. We turned off onto Rte 20 to head west to Bend. I s'pose you'd prob'ly want to just stay on I-84 all the way to Portland, then up to St Helens. Hope you have a real safe and uneventful trip! Rick
 
DAKSY said:
...Thru Salt Lake City & out into the Bonneville Salt Flats...mostly desert...
Nevada has some scenic hills & mesas & rock formations & stuff, still mostly desertlike
Then 40 miles downhill into Sacramento...
Click to expand...

DAKSY, you forgot about the Sierra's...Donner Pass. Spectacular. But I don't think he's going that way, unless he just really likes to drive and he wants to see it. Rick (California born & raised)
 
Hey, fossil!

<>DAKSY, you forgot about the Sierra's...Donner Pass. Spectacular. But I don't think he's going that way, unless he just really likes to drive and he wants to see it. <>

Well, like I said it was 33 years ago & aside from being young & bullet-proof, I was probably in another reality as well! :coolsmile:

Donner Pass? Did I go thru that on I-80? (Or THE 80 as you left-coasters call it...) Dayum! Wish I'd known that...
That's a pretty famous place in American history!
 
Thanks for all the advice and good wishes!
Shutting down the computer and packing it up, so i won't be able to check in for a week or more. After i am moved and slightly settled in, i will write about my journey/adventures with some pics.

Keep warm everyone!

Tim
 
12V cooler for those drinks and sandwiches, get the wall adapter also for the nights in the motel etc. they don't take much juice and most can also double as an oven for warm meals. I have two and got one for my mom, she is a diabetic and it works great for her insulin.
 
seige101 said:
Thanks for all the advice and good wishes!
Shutting down the computer and packing it up, so i won't be able to check in for a week or more. After i am moved and slightly settled in, i will write about my journey/adventures with some pics.

Keep warm everyone!

Tim
Click to expand...


He was a good poster. I miss him already.

GOOD-LUCK TIMMM!!! :blank:
 
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