Hi all,

I thought I'd pose this question (hopefully in the right place) as I couldn't find a similar topic after searching.

I've just landed a new job that involves me travelling a lot up and down the country in my Octavia Estate TDI - so I'm partly sorted for MPG and space.

But, I'd be interested to know what you guys think the essentials are for long distance driving.

Like, what makes life that little bit easier when your living in your car practically.

It could be recommendations on phone mounts, Sat Nav, audio upgrades, in-car chargers, remaps, suspension mods, light upgrades - literally any advice you feel I ought to know.

Maybe some of you are currently in a similar position?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

Brodit active holder - proper wired in kind not a fag lighter one.

All the best and congratulations on the new job.

 

Be sure to have Good Breakdown, Recovery & onward travel cover.

 

george

Thought this thread would be about essential sweets and snacks for motorway trips.


For commuting, a decent way to take calls or listen to music through the stereo.

Commuting in the dark, a set of Nightbreaker bulbs might be a benefit. Decent wipers, not cheap ones.

I was going to say, iPod, sweets and water are my essentials! Then like others have said, decent wipers and bulbs, plus a decent set of quiet tyres helps I think for long journeys.

Good music and plenty of bags of Jelly Babies.

Toilet roll

Decent SatNav if you are going to lots of new places (with traffic info).

Bluetooth for the phone I would still only use it when really essential.

Audiobooks, i started listening to audiobooks years ago while driving up and down the country and they are great.

I don't do a great deal of mileage at the moment,but as lee has said toilet roll is a very important,as I been caught out a few times on some of our sites and out in the sticks :-D

I work out of the van,so just purchased a small camping stove and kettle and it's came in useful when I been up on the hills working without access to electric

No-one else has said good quality screenwash. Also, don't use a 50/50 mix unless it's "very cold out", because if you go too concentrated when it's at all warm you just get deposits from the screenwash instead of from road film.

Decent basic tools to change a wheel, its okay having break down cover etc, but if your in a hurry and its a hour plus wait for a wheel change id rather crack on and get jt done and be on my way than hang around,

also make sure your motors in top condition, slightly harder compound tyres to keep up with prolonged higher speeds on straighter roads, cruise control to take some strain off driving,

multiple cigarete socket adapters for car/satnav/ I pod etc,

personal one is a decent travel flask

No-one else has said good quality screenwash. Also, don't use a 50/50 mix unless it's "very cold out", because if you go too concentrated when it's at all warm you just get deposits from the screenwash instead of from road film.

And the best Screenwash is from Lidl.  Used neat it's good down to -60, never found anything else to touch it.  (Got some yesterday so it's available at the moment).

 

I dilute it about 3 to 1 in the winter and about 10 to 1 in the summer.

Pillow and a blanket, Just incase you get stuck in killer traffic and fancy an hour on the back seat in the services etc..

Chewing gum.

 

I have found this to be the best method when I am starting to feel a bit sleepy.

 

Obviously if you feel yourself start dozing off, stop. I found that chewing gave me something to do and kept me more aware.

I agree with the chewing gum side of things, vary the flavours up a bit to save you getting bored of it.

A drink to keep fluids up. Emergency supply of food, such as a pasty, chocolate or sweets. I keep hula hoops in my glove box, as they can be placed down while driving and don't make too much of a mess.

 

Decent music is worth it, try to go through an album or an audio book, something to keep your mood the same throughout instead of a random mix.

 

Cruise control, if you haven't got it already fitted, it will help to keep you at a constant speed when the motorways are quieter.

 

Decent headlights and wipers, and maybe carry a spare around too if needed. Toilet roll or kitchen roll can be good a cleaning up your lights, number plate and windscreen. Carrying around an alcohol gel thing to wash your hands etc.

 

Spare set of clothes and shoes maybe, like a jacket or hoodie, especially in the winter months, just encase you get drenched. You don't want to be driving around in wet or cold clothes.

 

Spare wheel, tools, tow rope, his vis jacket maybe useful, but breakdown cover is a must really with the distances involved.

 

Carrying some spare cash like £10/20 in the car is enough for some food or fuel if you have misplaced your wallet or need money for car parking etc.

 

Phone charger and a handsfree kit would probably be useful, your a likely to get calls while you are on the move.

 

Plan your breaks, even if they are just to go to the toilet, have a cuppa or have a browse on the internet on your mobile.

 

Congratulations on the new job, I hope it all goes well.

My personal preferences

 

• Make sure you have plenty of screen wash
• Decent Wipers - Front & Rear
• All lamp lenses are clean
• Proper bluetooth kit, with the phone book kept updated.
• Bottle of drink ( whatever your preference is - water / fizzy /  redbull)
• Choccy bar  / snack bar.
• Breakdown Cover.
• Emergency cash £10 for fuel + some shrapnel for car parks or tolls.
• Make sure your spare wheel is up to spec.

 

I always tend to have a high vis in the boot as we do odd trips to France, & have a jacket in the car with me.

Get yourself one of those vacuum storage bags. You can get a pair of socks (nothing worse than wet socks), gloves, scalf, hat, polo shirt, jumper, sleeping bag or duvet, and a hand towel. Once all the air is gone, they shrink down to nothing and keep fresh.

To add

 

A good torch or cordless inspection lamp. All well and good having the tools to change a wheel but if it's pitch black...

Bit of wood or metal to put jack on if ground is soft (not such a biggie on a motorway)

Spare bulbs

12v air compressor

Spare clothes / Boots for snowy weather

Baby wipes

Cable ties

Duck tape

Hemp rope, quick lime, shovel no sorry that's just me

 

I liked audio books when I did big commutes too.

Thanks so much for the replies guys, Briskoda's definitely one of the most positive forums I've been a part of!

There's a lot of things on here that I'd completely overlooked too, so thank you.

Interesting to here about the chewing gum effect, will have to give that a go!

I'm going to make a check list of everything mentioned on this thread and work my way through it

If there's anything more to add then I'd be very grateful.

Steve

snow shovel for the winter just to add to all the above (not sure about the rope and lime though)  :think:

You'll need a trailer to carry it all in at this rate.

Just take tissue (in case you need a ****) and a jazz mag you'll be prepared for all situations.

NBC kit, totally essential IMO.

Logs, baked beans (cans of) a solar still, kettle, a nice suit, preferably black tie, a dry suit. some flares (don't use these on the M5 around Gloucester though), kindling (tumble dryer fluff is excellent for this purpose), waterproof matches, string to make a rabbit snare. A copy of 'The Inuit guide to Igloo's with an introduction by Phil Spencer and Kirsty Allsop'

 

Winter tyres and a good battery would also help.

Haribo

Haribo

+1, great for enticing young meat to cook on the fire.

Nothing, except a wallet with cards in it, and a bit of loose change.

 

We don't live in the middle of the Sahara, or Alaska.

This is the UK - if you need it, it's never more than a few miles away. Even on the M'ways there's a services every 25 miles, and an off slip every 5 - 10 miles or so.

 

For actually doing the business, a phone mounting kit and a Bluetooth hands-free kit, and if you are hunting for locations either a Sat Nav or an Android phone with maps and GPS.

 

(and I do about 600 miles per week up and down the country)