I don’t like to stay in one place for long. I much prefer the freedom and constant change of the open road. It’s always felt more like home to me than any one house could. I have spent the better part of my life on the road. Fortunately as a writer, my job allows the kind of freedom I need to travel as I please. I have traveled everywhere. One of my very first road trips took me from Maine to Washington State. I took this trip with my best friend and through some miracle we didn’t murder each other. Instead we were able to really explore and learn about each other and ourselves. We also learned some valuable travel lessons that have been proven useful in all of the following expeditions.
For that first road trip we had to pack everything into my little Chevy Impala. That car was completely awesome, but a road trip vehicle it was not. As such it wasn’t quite as spacious as we would have liked. This lead us to the realization that two small suitcases are better than one big bag. The ability to mix up how things are packed so that you can fit other items in your vehicle is ENDLESSLY helpful! We have learned from that experience and upgraded to the Equinox. While my 2017 Chevy Equinox is the ultimate road trip vehicle with lots of space for everything I could ever need, it’s still helpful to pack smart so that there is extra room.
While on that trip we had to struggle through every type of weather and temperature. So we had all kinds of clothing options for each situation. We’ve found it makes good sense to separate the clothing seasonally into two carry-on-sized suitcases instead of one large bag. This way, we don’t have to dig around in a huge bag just to find the clothes we need; we simply bring in that day’s weather-appropriate suitcase and leave the other one in the car.
I do a lot of cooking on the road. We keep all of the cooking supplies (cast-iron pans, good chef’s knives, a portable pour-over coffee station) in a clear plastic container. Occasionally we camp, infrequently if at all possible, and so all of the camping gear (tent and foot air pump, air mattresses, and sleeping bags) goes in another container. That way, when we need something, we know exactly where it is.
When you are traveling cross country, anything can and will happen, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Of course we have a spare tire, car jack, jugs of potable water, and a first-aid kit in our trunk. We even have AAA membership. But the thing we’ve discovered are of the highest importance of all, are snacks. We try to keep it on the healthy side for good measure, but let’s be real, a bag of Cheetos or 2 have ended up on the road with us. We do bring a lot of dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, beef or turkey jerky, really the things that travel well.
The key to a successful road trip is to be ready for anything and have a vehicle that makes the drive comfortable. I can’t say enough good things about my Chevy Equinox from Harchelroad Motors of Imperial and Wauneta. It has upgraded our experience 100%. Granted when you go from an Impala to a big spacious SUV it’s going to improve the quality of your journey, but the Equinox is truly an exceptional road trip vehicle!
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