There’s a nostalgic infatuation with road trips that more mundane travel options often can’t compete with. Arguably, there’s never been a better time to plan a UK road trip, hit the road and explore as the hours behind the wheel have been made so much easier with endless new car gadgets for your comfort, safety and convenience to pick from.
Maximise the space you have
For longer road trips where you’ll be taking a lot of luggage with you, it’s well worth investing in a roof rack and storage box to help create some more space in the car for those nights when you end up unexpectedly staying in it. You can grab roof racks and storage boxes to fit almost any car model these days. They’ll be especially handy if you go snowboarding or skiing and need somewhere to store your gear. There is so much information on bike racks and roof racks on exterioraccs.com
If you’re taking a truck on your adventure or you’re going long off road then you might find investing in a canopy for the bed can help you protect your belongings and give you more safe and secure storage for your belongings. Companies like UniUte have a range of companies for different functions and trucks for safe storage and complete weather protection for your belongings when out on the road.
Sleep comfortably… even in your car
You’re probably not planning on spending many nights in your car, but sometimes it just happens. Fortunately, you no longer have to suffer through neck aches for days because of it. There are loads of inflatable air beds to fit in the backseat of your car so you can crash in comfort. Alternatively, if you’re actively planning on heading where hotels are few and far between, car roof tents are all the rage and come in all shapes and sizes to fit pretty much any car – though they’ll set you back a pretty penny!
Stay clean
It can get pretty gross living out of a car, to say the least, but packing some biodegradable wet wipes can go a long way to making you feel human again. For those planning on being on the road longer term – solar showers are a great way to be able to get a wash on the move.
Caffeine addicts
Caffeine lovers rejoice – you can get a huge array of facilities for the road that’ll plug straight into the charging socket in your car, including coffee makers and kettles for when you desperately need a proper English brew on your journey.
Emergency ready
Be prepared for the worst, even if it probably won’t happen. Make sure you’ve got a first aid kit handy. If you’re heading somewhere there’s likely to be extreme weather, ensure you’ve got all the winter equipment you might need, like a shovel, scraper and blankets, and plenty of water on board.
You may also need to pack some handy items that will help keep your car going and in tip-top shape. This includes a tire jack, some multitools, lug wrenches, jumper cables, and even some touch-up paint specific to your brand of car (for example, if you have a Toyota, get Toyota touch-up paint to cover small scratches). Having these will lessen your chances of making any unnecessarily long stops on your road trip.
Dine in
Living on fast food is a fundamental (…and sinfully delicious!) part of road trips. Dine in style in your car with a swivel tray that attaches to your dashboard to make meals a little less cramped. Stay on top of the mess with a bin in your car to stop your footwells from filling up with too many wrappers.
Never lose keys again
Most of us have lost or misplaced our car keys at some point, though fortunately, most of us aren’t on a road trip when we do it. Never lose your keys or other important items again with Tile. It’s a little tracking widget you attach to your important things and “call” using an app on your phone.
Prepare for going offline
Your phone won’t always have a signal, and chances are it won’t have a signal the second you actually need it! Prepare by downloading offline routes from Google Maps or with an app like Maps Me so at least you’re not entirely lost. It’s also never a bad idea to have an actual paper road map… even if it feels archaic.
Old school essentials
All the technology and fancy gadgets in the world can’t compete with some of the classics. A box of tissues will never go amiss, duct tape is always handy, an air freshener will stop your car from stinking too much, and a folding blanket will allow you to enjoy those roadside breaks a little more.
Enjoy your holiday and the journey getting there! If you plan to sleep under the stars on your road trip – keep warm with the best tips for camping in the cold.
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