Date:         Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:17:39 -0400
Reply-To:     Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Cross Country Travel Tips Wanted
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

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