Planning to Car Camp for Over +30 Days
#EastCoastJetta
It's been a little while since Chad and I have hit the road on an extended vacation, so we may be a little rusty. But, I would say that we are much more prepared since the 2016 West Cost Road Trip as we have continued to research ideas to make our traveling lives more efficient while living in a car for extended periods of time.
The latest road trip starting April 1 will take us to the East Coast of the United States (a Canada east and west coming along in the future). Chad and I plan to duck down to Texas to visit a friend in Dallas and then make our way to the coast. From there, we will follow the water to Florida and ride all the way up to Maine. There is no end date in sight.
This trip we have a new family member, Jetta Hall (pronounced H-ā-ll), as Chad turned in Jetta Royal with the Volkswagen emissions scandal. With the new car, we are excited to put on plenty of miles and see where we go.
Improve the Travel Methods
Below are a few examples of ways to improve an extended stay in a vehicle.
Pack Less
Clean More
Stretch Often
- Learning from previous trips, a majority of the items brought with were just shuffled around the car the entire time and never used. Only bring items that are extremely necessary and you can imagine using on a daily bases.
- Keeping yourself and the space you live clean in is absolutely mandatory. Keep and improve upon personal hygiene methods/routines to keep you and your travel partners happy. No one likes sitting next to a sack of ripe onions. Wet wipes are a must for spills and a hippie car shower. Make sure to unclutter your environment and only have out items that you need. It's easier to locate items and makes you feel better when your environment isn't encroaching on you.
- Make time to get out of the vehicle and stretch. Take a hike, go for a walk around your destination or even consider running laps around the local truck stop. Do something to extend your muscles to help reduce stiff joints. It seems like a no-brainer, but once on the road it is actually really easy to forget about moving around when constantly cruising on the highways.
Mood Check
Vehicle Check
Supply Check
- The key to an enjoyable vacation is people's moods. If your travel buddy is a little sour or down in the dumps, it could impact your day. If moods are a little all over the place, Chad and I have come to the conclusion that one of us is either hungry, needs to do some sort of physical exercise (Chad prefers going for a run; Katie likes to do yoga or hike), or there needs to be an open conversation about how the other is feeling. Seriously, it's that easy to keep us happy. Figure out what works for you and stick to it.
- Prep the vehicle with supplies for regular maintenance. Now, don't bring the whole garage with you. We usually pack a jump start kit, a funnel, window washer fluid, microfiber cloths, window and interior car cleaner, paper towels, tire pressure gauge, cigarette lighter phone chargers and power converters.
- Bring items that will help with your activities that you plan on doing. This could include yoga mats, roller blades, tennis rackets, hiking and camping equipment, 5+ gallons of water, a little bit of extra food and the minimal amount of clothing/footwear needed to complete your trip.
Each trip will test your prepping skills and there will be cases where you aren't as prepared as you would like to be. It happens, it's part of the journey. I would rather under-pack than over-pack because I can always go purchase the item needed or make do without it. If it's the reverse, there is way too much stuff and not enough space for souvenirs. Wish us luck!
