Road Trip Tips: 19 Things to Know Before You Drive
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- Everything YOU need to know before you go on your next driving adventure! We’ve road tripped all around the world and want to share some tips that we’ve learned through our time on the road. Whether you're headed to the mountains, or the beach, these road trip essentials will help you have the best trip possible! What's your done watching this video you'll know how to road trip just like the pros!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 Introduction to Road Tripping
00:19 - 1. Plan Ahead
Yes… I know some of the lure of a road-trip is the freedom of the open road. But too much freedom might leave you spending the night sleeping in your car in the wal-mart parking lot because all the hotels are booked or too expensive.
Plan where you’re going to sleep for the night.
Plan general area where you’re going to eat. Otherwise you may find now food on the rest of your drive
Use Google Maps to plan your route and estimate driving time.. And add 20% in case of traffic, detours, etc
02:03 - 2. Don’t overplan
Leave some freedom in your day… and some free time too.
Stay flexible…
03:01 - 3. Choose the correct vehicle
Yours or a rental car? Sedan, SUV, 4WD, snow tires, chains? Dirt roads?
If it’s your car… get it serviced before you go
04:20 - 4. Roadside assistance & Insurance
In the USA -- AAA
Some premium cards cover Roadside assistance as well.. Chase Sapphire Reserve
And actually have the phone number handy
Traveling internationally? Make sure you are covered on the insurance. Nothing will ruin your trip more than an accident without insurance.
In my own car I always carry a cigarette lighter powered tire inflator
05:23 - 5. Maps
Download offline maps for Google Maps
Have a GPS (even an old one)
Paper Maps to inspire detours
Don’t assume all roads are paved. Be careful with those detours… turn back if it looks too sketchy
06:54 - 6. Download Music / Podcasts
Don’t rely on streaming services
07:10 - 7. Cell Phone Charger
You can get them with up to 4 ports
Consider USB Battery packs as well if you’ve got lots of electronics
07:25 - 8. Packing
Take some “overnight” bags.. Leave the big luggage in the car.. Or maybe only bring the big luggage in every few nights.
07:51 - 9. Beach towels/blankets to cover your stuff so you don’t have any luggage/bags showing.
Can also be used for picnics
08:19 - 10. Snacks & Water
Bring a cooler… or cooler bag… fill up with ice at hotels along the way
Hydroflask or Thermos good way to keep drinks cold
Utensils if you’re planning to eat in your car
Trash Bag
09:17 - 11. Hand sanitizer, gloves, face masks, paper towels, toilet paper
10:28 - 12. Have a bag of change and small bills for Tolls
10:49 - 13. Traveling internationally - IDP
11:10 - 14. Snowing - ice scraper, and snow broom
11:32 - 15. Scheduling
Avoid big cities during rush hour
Daytime driving is the best
Try to get to your destination by sunset
And really before the drunks get on the road
12:20 - 16. Drive the speed limit
It’s not worth the ticket and the hassle
12:54 - 17. Fill up gas frequently & use the toilet
You never know when the next gas station or toilet will be
13:41 - 18. Clean your car frequently (inside and out)
Gas station is a good spot to throw stuff away… clean the windshield.
13:58 - 19. Take exercise breaks
Your back will thank you later
14:14 - Yellow Productions Origin Story
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✅ You might enjoy watching some of these other videos:
Zion National Park: th-cam.com/video/0MiRrp66o0o/w-d-xo.html
Los Angeles Travel Guides: th-cam.com/play/PLOVadUHX1B-KpaZG7l8jjT6Hjmg3SUFgP.html
Omg a yellow car, too! 💛💛💛 My favorite color! 💛💛
Mine too! :)
@@YellowProductions oh nice!! 😀💛💛💛 You are only the 2nd person I know now who shares same favorite color! 😀😍
Now that is a car! Yellow Productions is the best travel channel ever.
Aww... thanks Wutaii!
@@YellowProductions Is Kyoto closing?
Wall Street Journal has a new article about Kyoto titled "Coronavirus Chased Off Tourists--Lots of Locals Don't Want Them Ever Flocking Back
In places such as Japan's Kyoto, people are split on whether the visiting masses were worth the trouble."
I hope this is not true. Please do a video on this.
Surprised myself by how many of these tips I did on my own for my first ever solo road trip last year of Vegas/Arizona/Route 66. But did learn a few things. Like the tire inflation device, I keep a USB powered battery jumper in my everyday car but didn't know about the tire device. Or about using a day bag to bring stuff into the hotel. That would've been super helpful to know for those one night stays when taking the entire suitcase in was such a hassle.
Thank you. I love anything road trip related. Whether it be stories or prep. Did not come from a family that really travels. 2 hours used to be a road trip for me, not anymore. I need to go on a road trip that is 6 hours or more. Having your own car and to be able to travel with it is more adventurous and exciting.
Thanks Steve!
Brilliantly stated, about food planning. Without micro-detailing where to eat, just pre-establishing a location "where there might be food." That way you retain spontaneity yet don't end up stuck with sleaze. That's brilliantly formulated.
This was a really good one! I do road trips every year in America, and most of what you mention, I do. Although, I try to plan where I’ll fill up with gas, and try to avoid those sketchy gas stations lol
Thanks Jimmy!
Great tips! Thank you!
Great video as usual Chris! We already do a lot of these but learned new things along the way. Thanks!
Thanks trvln thru!
I just got back from a week-long road trip to North and South Dakota today! As a guy who loves road trips, I agree with many of these tips especially with planning ahead. As much as it is fun to have fun surprises, it's always a good idea to plan your route and to know when you may need to fill up the tank especially when you are going to be in very remote areas. One tip I will bring up is to be alert if your route plan takes you onto any toll roads. This is especially true in the Northeast, Texas, Florida, or Chicago. While many toll roads will accept coins and/or cash, more and more of them are becoming cashless where toll gantries will scan your license plate or toll transponder. It is a good idea to plan ahead for any toll roads which you may drive on so that you don't get a huge $100 or $200 fine later (the ones where you can pay-by-plate will give you a 1-2 week window for when you can pay the toll before penalties are applied). When using the GPS, if you prefer to avoid toll roads, they usually give you the option to avoid toll roads if you wish. Google Maps is great with that.
Good point about preparing for the cashless toll roads!
Excellent suggestions for a road trip. I always take my valuables with me, not leave them under a beach towel in the car. Having done a lot of country driving over the years, remember to have spare water for the radiator, have a cross wheel brace and know how to change a flat tyre.
Hi Chris. Love your awesome ride.Thanks for the very informative video. Agree that a road trip is about the journey and not necessary the destination.
Cool car. Love the number plate too. 👍😊❤️. Great tips there Chris.
Very helpful info!
Great Video. Thank you for posting.
Thanks Sonny!
Love your videos!
Thanks Jackson!
Loved this video ! Loved all your tips, you are so prepared. Loved what your Mom said, and loved your story at the end. Thanks Chris
Thanks Colleen!
Great video! Great audio and explanations.
Thanks Koko!
Hey Chris. Another great informative video. I love road trips and love your yellow car.
Thanks Chris!
Agree on truck stops. There’s a Pilot truck stop I always stop at near Olympia, Washington, on my way to and from Seattle area. And it’s always good price on gas, plus it’s a great spot for some snacks and water.
Great advise, especially the paper maps. AAA gives them away for free. Cell Service is spotty in all the beautiful places!
Good tip on AAA for maps!
I really enjoyed this video, Chris! A little different and nice to see you outside
Thanks Sarah!
GREAT VIDEO THANKS
Thanks Linda!
I'm driving to Vegas for a wedding a month from now and haven't long distanced in several years. Very helpful! And great story. I think yellow is a lucky color.
Thanks Omandita!
Great tips thank you 🙏🏻 god bless you
Thanks bobby!
Yellow is my favorite color too
Cool car!
Mostly agree with you, in my travels I do almost the same.
Just a few comments:
2. I usually make detailed schedule, but every item has more time allocated on it than I need. Also I usually plan to arrive to a hotel not later than at 6 PM. These two things give me freedom to be flexible with the route, be able to track time and be sure I won't be too tired to travel next day.
3. Sand is probably the worst surface for driving (also it is fun, but not if you are in the middle of nowhere). Don't underestimate the sand, so I'd say never park on sand if you don't drive 4WD (and it is not a silver bullet either, so just avoid sand). I parked rental Nissan Micra on a sandy roadside once, it looked absolutely safe - just a roadside, not a desert. As the result, car couldn't move forward. We've digged car out, but it was stressful experience
.
A lot of modern SUVs are also not the best choice for off road. They are heavy and long, have not very impressive ground clearance, their tires are not much different than the ones made for sedans.
If you travel by car, learn what to do if your car stuck in sand/mud/snow - basics are not so complicated.
10. I always buy a lot of water before the trip (about 30% more than I need). It is especially important for travelling in the U.S. southwest or similar places - hot weather, long distances, not a lot of people around. Imagine that your A/C dies... It is not the best scenario if the temperature outside is high at that moment, so you may need much more water than planned.
Thanks for the extra tips! Water is important! And yes.. sand is a great place to stuck!
Love the car Chris..... Thanks for the video as always
Thanks Claire!
Thanks for this vid, im moving to Colorado soon and its an 19 hour drive im more prepared now
Awesome Bart! Enjoy the drive!
Awesome job chris
Thanks Adam!
Your welcome chris
You are a legend chris
Thanks costas!
audiobooks are a lifesaver on long stretches. great tips for great trips huzzah - WW
Kudos to you for having a yellow IS300 Sportcross!
Make sure to carry extra charging bricks and cables so you can keep a set of cables in the car and bring some to the hotel to charge your phone.
Good eyes on the Sportcross! You know your Lexus cars!
Fiesta Island! Nice tips!
Good eye!
Another great video! These are all things I'd do. What beach are you on? Regarding your tip about leaving luggage in the car and only removing needed items, there's the possibility of someone breaking in overnight or even daytime if they're watching you at the right time. While watching the first video, I wondered about the name so I enjoyed your story about Yellow Productions.😉
Thank you for the tips. I am about to take my longest roadtrip ever. Three weeks on the road two of it driving. Wish me luck!
Good luck John!
Damn, I took an 1800 mile road trip just last week, could've used this!
NYC has peak hours not rush hour. Our peak hours last 12 hours a day! Long Island has an actual rush hour or 2.
Haha he even has a yellow car ! 💛
He sure does! :)
I owned a Lexus IS200 for a few years, great car !
Love my Lexus!
Hey Chris, I got a tip for cleaning up your headlights. Rub toothpaste on it and wipe it clean. With a wet cloth. Does wonders.
Interesting tip! I'll give it a try!
The most yellow video on the channel yet.
Good advise, thanks.
Being a kid of the 80s and 90s, I bemoan that cars have gotten less colorful and kind of boring over the last 20 years, color-wise. Everywhere you look, it is just white, grey, silver and black and sometimes some very dark blue.
They can do so much more with car paint nowadays, but unfortunately people just don't want colorful cars anymore.
great vid Chris , thank you !!!! .... and if I can ask, how many miles on the yellow Lexus ??
About 180K miles Joe!
Did you film this on Fiesta Island? I miss San Diego and Las Vegas and.... well you get it. Anyways your location looked rather familiar. Yellowmobile is cool, is that an Audi?
We took one down to Florida and stayed at my grandpa and grammas and a few hotels and it took us 72-48 hours to get down there we took a minivan down to Florida and it had to have a fuel change a few weeks before we went and it had mini TVs in it
Love your yellow car Chris woot woot
Thanks Garry!
Great tips and awesome car. Plus you're a very handsome man chris 😍😍
Hey Chris,
i love your channel.... always fun to see a new video!!!
As a European I am planning a roadtrip through the West of the USA (when it is possible again) and in regards to this video, could you do a special on rental cars especially for Visitors from outside the USA. For me it will be a over 2 month roadtrip with a Big car / SUV
Thanks in advance,
greetings from The Netherlands
Hi Barry.. thanks for the kind words. What would you like to know about rental cars?
@@YellowProductions Hey Chris,
Maybe the entire process (hope it is not too much) in steps: What is the smartest way & place to book/reserve a car? What do we need when booking? What to expect when going to get the car? What extra's to take or not to take? Which has the best roadside service & policies? What do we need at getting the car? And all i might forget around the process and maybe also smart tricks and tips you might have....
And because you are always so detailed and perfect in explaining everything i thought you are the perfect person to ask
Thanks in advance, looking forward to all your new postings
Greetings from Breda, The Netherlands
Barry
Good idea on the small bills and change, especially in this plastic world.
We must have had the same Mom.
Must have! :)
Are the sanitary supplies held in an in and out to go box? I love it hahaha.
For sure they are! :)
It's about the journey...
I miss my 2001 IS300 now!!!
@2:25 lol that is me. But it works and get a lot done. // Hundreds of videos and we I finally know the origin of Yellow Productions, feel the urge to buy a lotto ticket.
I hope you win! :)
Yellow Productions besides bananas, the last yellow thing I bought was probably a 1992 Sony Sports waterproof Walkman.
You have to use yellow cover for inside your car too
Your car is 16 years old? It's in mint condition. Impressive. Another great video Chris. Enjoy your weekend.
Thanks M P! It's a 2002.. so 18 years old. I bought it as a lease return in 2004
@@YellowProductions WOW....you really know how to keep a car running and looking good. Cars in the New England get destroyed fast with all the winter road salt. I have to admit when you got out of the car I was thinking "Where's Waldo". Your shirt and watch blended in too perfect with the color of your car. lolol :-)
@@MP-xf6gq hah!
not enough people wear yellow! great job
Thanks nurd!
Good God, that car.
"So what kind of car you're looking for today sir?" You got one in yellow?
#17 It's pretty easy to use Google maps to assign the next gas station within your fuel limit.
Great Car, wouldn’t loose that in a car park,
For sure! And never another car like it in the lot either!
Grandpa Richard once took a road trip from Ohio to South Dakota. Along the interstate there was a sign that proclaimed "McDonald's this exit. Next McDonald's 200 miles." Just goes to show you never know where your next meal opportunity will present itself. Always take your own food.
Thats a long way to a Mickey D's!
Put suitcase in the trunk!
damn right,googleMAPS
5:26 APB. Yellow Person. Plate YELLOWW. Over.
My tip is that Apple Carplay and Android Auto are lifesavers. Gives you a full screen GPS and voice controls.
Please tell me your lexus is a manual
I recommend a solar charger for cell phones and other devices, also have lights.
Good tip!
Nice car
Thanks Jimmy
the interior needs a really good wipedown and vacuum!!
If you mean my interior... all the dust came from this day of shooting at Fiesta Island... I typically like to keep my cars quite clean!
Yelloww Productions car needs a good vacuum 😂🤣
OK life is fulfilled. Finally know the story.
Hah
Don’t forget your 30 pack of beers.
Does anyone have any tips for electric cars for road tripping?
I always get Google Maps give me travel time without traffic and I usually add 3 hours to the vehicle.
That cheap air inflator - beware of inverting it while using. I completely trashed one in under 30 seconds from that.
Gas Buddy app.
Rest Stops app.
Any recommendations if I'm planning to do a million road trip in 5 years? LOL... I'm pretty much going to be on the road full time, maybe going home for a week every month or two.
Better have a couple good cars
I'll probably look forward to hear your tips on that one! :)
"Journey before destination" Did you get that where I think you got it from?? If so, Bridge Four!
very kind wishes, thank you for giving a good information. I,m from indonesia
Thanks Adin!
Coll car
Did I see a yellow car?
Wait, isn't there wildfire smoke outside?
I shot this last weekend
Awesome video! Keep up the good work. Maybe you'll get a kick out of my videos too 🤩✌️