My wife and I (and our new-to-us 2008 Subaru Forester) are 4200 miles
into a cross-country drive
MA-CT-NY-NJ-DE-MD-VA-WV-KY-NC-GA-AL-MS-LA-TX-AR-OK-TX-NM-CO-UT-AR-NV,
Boston to San Fran via the Smokies and Four Corners. Drop us a note at
isaact@gmail.com if you want any tips, esp. w/r/t the National Parks,
which we consider the Great Bargain of All Time.

- Isaac

On Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 9:17 AM, Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com> wrote:
> I know a lot of you have taken amazing travel trips in your van, do
> you mind sharing some key tips that might ease the pain and make it
> more enjoyable for me.
>
> I would like to hear about:
>
> Places to sleep during the trip across: i.e.
> - free and paid camping locations,
> - parking lot parking options i.e. walmart,
> - Truck stop showering options and costs
> - best low cost hotels.
>
> Best Places to Shower: i.e.
> - KOA Camp Grounds
> - State Campgrounds
> - Truck Stops
> etc.
>
> Best Places to Wash Up while on the road: i.e.
> You sleep in the van the night before in a parking lot, have to brush
> your teeth, wash your face and shave.
> - Walmart Bathroom
> - Target Bathroom
> - Rest Stop Bathroom
> - Small Hotel
> - In the van with a wash basin
> etc..
>
> Safety when traveling:
> - parking and sleeping in the van issues
> - tinting window for safety
> - keeping the curtains up when you are not around the van, good idea
> or bad?
> - covering the stuff you have in the van with blankets, good idea or
> bad?
> - best places to park for safety when sleeping either in a parking
> lot, side road, etc..
> - items to keep in the van for first aid
> - items to keep in the van for protection, i.e. bat
>
> Temperatures in different areas of the country:
> - how much did it vary?
> - were you ever cold?
> - cold sleeping in the van?
>
> If you slept in the Van Did you bring a mattress pad? i.e.
> - Memory Foam pad to put in the rear of the van to make it more
> comfortable?
>
>
> How many hours a day did you drive?
>
> Did you drive a long distance each day or take a couple days off here
> and there?
>
> What the critical maintenance you did to the Van before the trip?
> i.e.
> - Spark plugs
> - Oil Change
> - Oil Filter
> - Change the front disc pads
> - New Coolant
> - Tranny fluid change
> etc..
>
> What were the critical upgrades if any before the trip?
> i.e. headlight upgrade to see better?
>
> What kind of issues did you keep a watch on the van while driving? i.e.
> - coolant
> - oil
> - fuel lines
> - belts
> - tire pressure
>
> What extra parts or supplies did you bring in case something went
> wrong with the van? i.e.
> - Belts
> - Coolant
> - Plugs
> - Oil Filter
> - Misc Tools
>
> Most important tools to bring?
>
>
> Best places to visit in each area?
> �i.e. Sedona AZ- Go visit the Energy Vortex's
>
> Best things to do activity wise in each area?
> �i.e. Go scuba diving or snorkling in Key West FL
>
> Best places to eat in each area?
>
> How long should a journey from East to West take to really see the
> sites as well?
> i.e. 1 Month at the minimum?
>
> Looking forward to hearing from all of your collective experiences...
>
> Robert
> NY
>