OneStepAtATime Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 back and forth about 4 hours each way once a week with kids and a dog in the very old van... I can think of a few but wondered if I was missing something. Bottles of water Sunscreen Back up battery for phone spare leash paper towels snacks cleaning wipes umbrella flashlight (although I doubt we will be driving at night) bandaids barf bag spare trash bag road flares blankets (although I doubt it will get terribly cold) Hmmm, anything else? I know I must be missing thing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Good list. Add extra umbrellas for shade, if shade is at a premium and it's hot out. Extra sets of clothes, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 A few books in case of emergency and someone forgets to pack one. An iPod with an audio book everyone can listen to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73349 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Map or GPS if you don't know your way around the area in between. I like to carry emergency lollipops in case snacks are eaten and then trouble arises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Dog food in case you're delayed? I always keep a bit of cash in my car- some quarters for vending machines or for air pumps that aren't free, and some cash in case we need an order of fries or a drink. (If someone in our family has an upset stomach, soda is usually calming). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Sun hats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 Great ideas, everyone. Thanks! Trying to wrap my head around various realistic scenarios just in case.... I have not had to consistently road trip over and over with my kids and the dog and not my husband in a really long time. Some stretches won't have towns nearby, or possibly many passing cars depending on time of day, day of week, and my van has seen better days so DH is a bit nervous. The dog is an introvert that gets terrified in storms so I don't know that she would be much use if someone decided to mess with us, but maybe just seeing her would be discouraging...:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underthebridge Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Good idea! I would add waterproof matches, jumper cables and hand crank radio and flashlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Our list is kind of short: jumper cables, air compressor/emergency light thingee, water bottles, flashlight, first aid kit. We also happen always to have in the car with us kleenex, scissors, hand wipes, toothpicks, nail clipper, straws, napkins/paper towels, tums. Yes, tums. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 Ran out of likes, doggone it! Thanks for the suggestions! These are really helpful... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Phone book or at least numbers of tow companies along the way. My auto insurance covers towing quite nicely, but I have to pay for it myself up front, and they reimburse me; I have to call a company myself. I don't have internet on my phone, and 411 gets expensive. If I knew I would be traveling a lot along the same route, I'd have a list of emergency numbers with me. Checkbook and/or spare cash and/or a spare credit card, just in case your primary form of payment doesn't work for some reason. Basic tools, spare alternator (oh, wait, that's just me? I've had four alternators go up suddenly in three vehicles over the past 16 years; I am seriously considering keeping a spare on hand), tire pressure gauge, jumper cables. Pocketknife. You never know when it might come in handy. My DH recently did a temporary emergency fix on a vehicle using his trusty pocketknife; it held well enough to make it to the next town, where there was an auto parts store. Hats for sun, hat/gloves/scarves for cold weather. As it gets cooler, not just blankets but extra sweatshirt and snow pants, in addition to the usual coat, just in case you're either stuck on the road somewhere or needing to walk. Something to spray the air/car with in case someone gets sick. Small plastic bags, like ziplocks or grocery bags, and/or empty plastic bottles to pee in. Depending on age of the children, you could get one of those inflatable potties that uses a small grocery bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 An emergency bucket------take an ice cream pail and double line it with walmart bags. Then put some paper towel or napkins in the bottom and have some TP in there. Then in a worse case scenario, you have a porta pottay or puke bucket. If it needs to be used, just snap the lid back on and at the next trash place you could remove the double bags and "contents" and go on again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 An emergency bucket------take an ice cream pail and double line it with walmart bags. Then put some paper towel or napkins in the bottom and have some TP in there. Then in a worse case scenario, you have a porta pottay or puke bucket. If it needs to be used, just snap the lid back on and at the next trash place you could remove the double bags and "contents" and go on again. This is brilliant. Wish I had known about this idea when my kids were little and we traveled a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 Wow, there are some GREAT ideas on here! Getting my notebook to write it all down. Thanks everyone! I love the Hive! :) And yes, I ran out of likes again so consider yourselves liked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I'm assuming chocolate is covered under the snacks portion of your list? :D I'd add a deck of cards and a couple of travel pillows in case someone wants to have a snooze at some point or needs to lie down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoCandJ Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I also keep brake fluid, oil, funnel, transmission fluid, tire repair kit, fuses, antifreeze/coolant, duct and electrical tape and dry gas (it removes water from your gas). And yes that's what we have in a tote that lives in the trunk of my car, along with some previously mentioned items. My car is the one that goes just about everywhere (and the mileage can tell you that :) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edithcrawley Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 A membership to AAA, an extra cellphone battery (or a battery powered charger for the phone) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 jumper cables, bottled water, rain pocho (the cheap ones), Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 If you know you have known pukers in the family, add some spot shot, paper towels and febreeze or lavender essential oil to the mix. Icecream buckets or small trash cans are the right size for puking in, but if you are short on space, gallon sized ziplock bags are stiff enough to also do the trick. We store spare outfits in gallon sized ziplocks stuff into the back pockets of the van seats. The plastic insures that the outfit stays clean in case some splash occurs. (sorry for the tmi!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 If you know you have known pukers in the family, add some spot shot, paper towels and febreeze or lavender essential oil to the mix. Icecream buckets or small trash cans are the right size for puking in, but if you are short on space, gallon sized ziplock bags are stiff enough to also do the trick. We store spare outfits in gallon sized ziplocks stuff into the back pockets of the van seats. The plastic insures that the outfit stays clean in case some splash occurs. (sorry for the tmi!) :lol: Its all good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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