Phylicia StitzelFor this blog post, you’re going to want to trust me when I say, “Just take it from me!” I am about to unravel the best road trip tools that should accompany you on every trip!
You see, my acquaintance with the open road was established when I was a mere month old, courtesy of my mom – so it’s fair to infer that my whole life is an ongoing tapestry of road trips!
So, drawing from my extensive background in packing for both brief jaunts and extended road expeditions, let me bestow upon you the essential tools that no road trip should ever be deprived of!
Table of Contents
Power Adapter:
I have a power adapter that plugs into the car that has USB ports and plug outlets and this has been a lifesaver. This way I am able to charge all the electrical items I need or have. This includes, when my car is set up for long term road trips, my car cooler (more to come on that)
Phone Holder:
This one is always good to have in your car anyways. I love having this because it makes it easy to answer the phone and see who is calling. I can see maps and hear it at the same time. Definitely a good tool to have with you. Unless you have a vehicle that your car connects to – in which case you won’t need one of these.
Emergency Kit:
This is an ABSOLUTE must! No matter what. Preparation is key when it comes to road trips, especially of you are traveling alone or with children. In my emergency kit I always keep:
1) Fix-a-flat: this is a perfect fast solution to a flat tire. Not a long one but enough to get you to a repair shop for your tire.
2) Spare fuses: I always keep extra fuses for my dash and my engine in my car just in case. I started doing this after an unfortunate situation that left me on the side of the road in Pennsylvania one dark night. Learn from my experience.
3) Tire Wrench: One of the good ones. This helps speed up the process when you are stuck on the side of the road. The wrench I am talking about collapses easily so it works well for travel.
4) Reflective Triangle – Always better when you can be seen, did you know that when you are renting a vehicle in Europe, the rental company is required to have a road side kit in the vehicle? Including two reflective triangles and a reflective vest.
5) Jumper cables: This one is an obvious one to have in your car, not just for road trips but always!
6) Bungee Cords: I can say this without a doubt, you never know when they will come in handy
A personalized first-aid kit
Having a first-aid kit with you will not only help with unexpected injuries, but you can also use the contents for other things, such as Band-Aids as tape. Though you can buy one ready to go, I recommend personalizing the first-aid kit, too, and adding items like hand sanitizer, baby wipes and a Tide pen – ya never know.
Fabric squares:
This might sound strang but hear me out on this one. These will save your life and sanity when you are road tripping. I love using these because it helps keep me organized, especially when traveling with children. I use these for keeping my cords, toys, food/snacks, and change of clothes organized when we’re on longer road trips. This way things were easy to grab, I had a whole square for my daughter’s toys I could easily reach into with one hand while driving long distances alone. GAME CHANGER!
Bottled Water
One thing I cannot stress enough is ensuring you have at least two gallons of water in the vehicle at all times when venturing out on a road trip. Add more if you have a full vehicle. Not only for personal consumption but also in case your engine overheats it is good to have on hand, a road side shower (in a serious emergency), you really never know when you might need bottled water.
For more tips like this check out this blog!
