8 Travel Essentials You Need for Road Trips

0:00 - Intro

Have you ever wondered what makes the perfect road trip? Some might say music, snacks, or good friends, but we think it’s being able to enjoy those things without worrying about anything else! This video covers 8 travel essentials you need for road trips that will elevate it from good to great. Whether you're searching for safety or comfort, this list has you covered.

#RoadTrip #TravelEssentials #TravelAccessories

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[runjdm_]

Would love to see some baby packing essentials, while on the go. (Dad to be)

[kotadawndragon]

These were some great suggestions! I especially like that air compressor. I need one for my car.

One thing that always lives in my car is an emergency kit. Extra clothing, water, food, blankets, car repair stuff, etc. I can’t tell you how many times it has come in handy on trips (even for not so serious things).

[rebeccaw]

Just a reminder to never leave valuables in sight when leaving your car to explore. Stow any tablets, laptops, purses under seats or in the trunk to deter opportunists peering in your windows for an easy smash and grab.

[MIMC]

I always pack a first aid kit, multi tool and a disposable urinal bag with the solidifying granules in it. 😂 my daughter had a knack of drinking lots of iced tea during our restaurant stops 🙄

[Komplexitet]

I always have extra trash bags in my car. They have come in handy, and not only for trash haha

[rosypink]

lol I have over half of this stuff. Can you tell I love road trips? I love my BirkenCrocs lol I use them as my shower shoes too when I’m traveling. Two for one!

[suzannehardesty]

You hooked me by showing the Miata. My parents have done month-long road trips across USA in their Miata. My mom even packs her paper maps along with her Garmin and smartphone. Dad even brings his rice pillow and full car service kit.
I don't think they pack their table and chairs anymore though.

[jeminigemi]

I would recommend some form of battery pack with a car jumping option. Good in an emergency I'd your car battery dies, or need to jump someone else's car (without the hassle of connecting your car to theirs). They also double as a gear charger since they all have USB ports on them too.

[valdius]

That car might be cheaper than that Yeti :)

I know their products are good quality, but the competition offers better value for money, in premium coolers as well.

[Stratusfiedx]

Honestly the air compressor is so cheap that I might just buy one to keep for emergencies. I thought that I bought premium tires, but I’ve had to add air to my tires more than usual over the past year. It’s hell finding a gas station that has one that works in my area.

[bangalorebobbel]

Cool stuff, as always! ;-)
We do a lot of road trips, since years mainly but not exclusively long distance trips.
Here some of what we learned:
- We split our luggage in a) what we need for a one-night-stay in a hotel, b) what we need additionally for a multiple-night-stay and c) what is additionally required or serves as exchange/emergency stock. The reason for such a split is mainly that we have usually long distances to cover before we reach the region where we finally stay for longer, means we would stay 2 nights on a 2000km ride to the destination region in different hotels and the same on the way back, but we stay then a couple of weeks in several places for a couple of days at each place. So we bring only what we need for one night to our room if we stay there only one night, and bring more if we stay longer, but let the rest in the car.
About our luggage, a) is packed in a rucksack and a duffle (for 2 persons more than enough, mainly our laptops, chargers and cabling, underwear, cosmetics, some eatables etc.), b) is packed in suitcases (on rolls, containing mainly clothes, more cosmetics, more eatables and cooking stuff) and c) is packed in plastic containers which stay usually during the whole travel in the car. In all our luggage (including the containers) we use a lot of packing cubes and ziplock bags. For longer stays we have also daypacks/folding rucksacks which we use for walks etc.
- We found that a huge 20+ liters cooler like the one in the video makes no sense for us, since it is over bulky and we never need to cool so many things at once (e.g. why would we want to permanently cool a sixpack if we need only 2 cans a day). After trying initially a small passive cooler box (cooled by ice/fridge packs) with mixed results we use meanwhile a small 12V DC thermoelectric car refrigerator (approx 5-6 liters capacity) which keeps everything we use in a day cool. It can be also easily carried (it comes with carrying straps) to the hotel room and run there by AC, what is especially convenient in simple stays which do not offer a fridge in the room. If there is a fridge in the room we usually precool things there in before we put them in our car fridge. The pros for us are: Less space consumption in the car, no ice required, no problems with water in the box, only 50Watts DC consumption (60W on AC), it cools approx 25° below environmental temperature, and it comes even with USB charging ports for whatever USB equipment you want. As usual with all these thermoelectric boxes, we could also use it to keep things warm, but we never did that so far. It is a local Indian brand (Blackcat), currently sold especially for vaccine cooling in ambulances etc, but you can get such things everywhere.
- We do not use a blanket with waterproofing on one side but prefer using a small tarp and a (separate) blanket. That way you don't have sand and grass in your blanket, can easily wash and dry the blanket, can use the blanket also for other purposes and use the tarp as well also for other uses (e.g. as sunshade, raincover or ground sheet, or as a mat if you have to go under your car).
- What remains in the car is besides of all the car stuff (e.g. tools, spares, tyre inflator, first aid kit, shovel, starter cable, towing string etc.) the containers, as already mentioned. We have also always extra rations of drinking water and a dedicated emergency/survival rucksack ready in the car since our trips lead us usually through areas (deserts, mountains, jungles) where it makes a lot of sense to have such stuff ready ...

[RetroDiver]

For longer trips and when I take my (motor)bike, I never leave home without my jump starter pack.
You never know when you may need it, and even if you never do, you might be able to help out someone who does. On top of that you can charge your usb devices the same as a power bank.
It can that be easily charged up at your destination or on the road using a 12 volt adapter.

[lhgross]

A 12v cooler from brands like dometic, iceco, or setpower is a road trip must these days. Never worry about ice and keep your food frozen and cool for days.

[guhjie]

Unless you are getting the ultra high end large capacity coolers for keeping ice alive for multiple days, you REALLY dont need a yeti branded product and can go by just fine with a cheaper alternative. I travel with an igloo cooler that's bigger than this at less than half the price and it also has wheels...ice stays in it for over 2 days when sealed.

[DisillusionedAcronym]

a refrigerator would have been a better recommendation than the yeti, i think. far more versatile without needing to constantly get/buy ice.

[emeraldsroses]

I like the pouch. Looks functional.

The chargeable mount isn’t necessary for us because we’ve got a screen with Apple Car Play. Many cars have this nowadays, so I’m wondering if this isn’t a moot thing to have.

[Glarf]

iOttie also has an INCREDIBLE 2 year warranty

[cozyflannel]

I just can never get past how overpriced Yeti products are

[ankjaers]

Not sure about the english word. But a can of sealant you pump into the tire in case of a puncture and no way to make it to shop. It sucks for the mechanic to remove from the inner rim. But I would rather pay the mechanic 15-30 minutes extra work than being towed.

[langfot]

Sandals, mobile mount, sheets? This is to basic.