Road Trip: Copilot Qualifications and Duties

"DCCARGEEK" (dccargeek) 08/09/2013 at 13:53 • Filed to: Road Trip, Travel

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Yesterday I spent 12 hours behind the wheel of a Mazda5. My beautiful wife rode shotgun while my son, a human red flag on our road trip, sat strapped in the back kicking my seat (sorry Mazda).

During the trip I found myself on more than one occasion angered with my wife in her ability to serve my driving needs. Me, the driver, the most important person in the car during any road trip.

We came up behind a tractor-trailer full of new Tesla Model S sedans. “What are you doing? Get my phone! I need to tweet this!” I exclaimed over a cabin filled with road noise (Sorry again, Mazda).

Later, I asked for an update on where we were and if I needed to be aware of an exit. My wife fumbled around with the phone. “Uh, I don’t have service here” she said as I barreled down I-68 at 75MPH. Of course, we blew past our exit and I had to turn around.

This all got me thinking – what qualifications make for a good copilot on a road trip?

Three main functions of my copilot

Barista/Server

Coffee is my unleaded plus. Like most vehicles, I don’t move very well without it. But when driving hot coffee can be dangerous. The same can be said about eating, which I try to keep to minimum while driving, but snacking is a must when on long bouts of interstate. For whatever reason, long, mind numbing stretches of asphalt through the heart of Middle America make me crave beef jerky, Mountain Dew and pork rinds.

My copilot has to be attuned to my nutritional needs and should provide exceptional support in my consumption of said nutrients.

Food items should be placed directly into my right hand, in single-serving sizes and within 10-seconds of my request. Any beverages should be opened and placed into my hand and with the mouth opening facing me if applicable.

While this may serve some underlying need for me to feel like a hand-fed Persian emperor, it is also for safety reasons as it also allows me to focus on driving.

Disc Jockey

When I travel I listen to everything from my wife to audio books. Over the course of a drive my auditory needs evolve.

For the first hour an audio book might work fine, but then I’ll get the urge for some 90s rock or maybe the little one wants to hear his sing-along CD (the Mazda5 still offers a CD player).

The passenger, my copilot, now has to act as the vehicle DJ. He or she needs to know the center console and how to proficiently operate functions like Bluetooth streaming and Sirius XM so that my acoustic selections can be executed instantly .

Note: I had my wife in the driveway the night before learning how to use the Mazda5’s controls from the passenger seat.

Mobile Social Media Manager (MSMM)

One of the most important positions today in a vehicle during a road trip, second only to the driver, is the MSMM. This function is critical to ensuring your followers get real-time updates on anything you find cool or neat. This can include other unique vehicles, cool road signs and almost always the food you eat while traveling.

This person has to know their way around YOUR phone and YOUR social media etiquette.

Would you Vine a pickle sandwich? If not , then your MSMM should know that and opt to only Instagram (with vignette effect) your pickle sandwich.

This isn’t an easy task, but with enough training (we trained for two days) your copilot can be ‘authentically you’ in performing their duties as the MSMM.

What skills or qualifications do you have for your road trip copilot?

*Image from Parade.com

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 13:59

14

The ability to know when to shut-the-fuck-up. Some times I just want to drive or listen for that mystery noise.

Nedus > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 14:01

1

YES. My car makes all kinds of odd noises, some of which appear and disappear. I need to identify them. So shut your fucking face, please.

ScreenShot > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:01

0

My requirements are simple - sleep while I drive, drive while I sleep and don't keep the change when we tank up.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Nedus 08/09/2013 at 14:02

10

Do you drive an e36 too?

Manny05x > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:02

1

I consider myself the best co-pilot with a very extensive music collection.you have to be good at cursing other drivers or as i like to call myself a road heckler.Willing to moon somebody. i also watch the mirrors alot as if im driving

DCCARGEEK > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 14:03

1

Refrain from marriage and/or child making.

ThatGuyKeevin > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:03

0

Does not put feet on dash or window

Has seatbelt on at all times regardless of front passenger or rear passengers

Does not touch my radio unless asked to or request to

Please do not eat while I am driving because it will make me hungry

Do not ask me when we are going to get there

I don't care if your a pack a day smoker who needs it to survive you will not smoke in my car or request for me to pull over so you can have a smoke break, I am only going to stop for gas, food or to rest at that time run off into the woods and use your time wisely..

Basically don't do anything in my car or suv without asking me.

thanks and do enjoy the ride

greencow > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:03

0

Damn dude. You sound high maintenance to me.

I've learned long ago that I cannot rely on my wife as a competent co-driver. I figure out where I'm going before hand, and that's the end of that....

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:04

0

Dully noted.

ezeolla > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:06

0

Must be able to read a map

Nedus > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 14:07

0

'67 Mustang. I was going to buy an E36 M3 as my first car though

Thunder > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:07

7

Quality road head?

(Ahem).

DannyO > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:07

1

The ability to either find, create, or improvise a trash bag.

Thunder > Thunder 08/09/2013 at 14:08

2

NOT RECOMMENDED, OF COURSE.

A friend of mine put "racing stripes" on his mom's Honda using this method, with application of a convenient guard rail.

Houston Lang > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:08

2

A copilot must also know how to look simultaneously terrified and exhilarated during high-speed guardrail-free mountain driving maneuvers. Both are absolutely required.

DCCARGEEK > DannyO 08/09/2013 at 14:08

1

Yes. This typically manifests itself as a pork rind bag shoved into a Mountain Dew bottle wedged into am empty beef jerky container.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Nedus 08/09/2013 at 14:09

0

Ah you are indeed very familiar with the mystery noises.

LFCRTK > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:10

0

What do I do when my absolute favorite thing to do is go for a long drive, but my favorite co-pilot (My beautiful Wife) absolutely hates riding in cars? She hates weekend road trips, and prefers to fly when visiting her family "only" 7 hours away. Is there a fix for this, or is it a genetic defect?

DarthWentworth > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 14:12

2

Agreed also not telling the driver how to drive and complaining about how they drive. My friend does this and changes the radio station constantly and it drives me insane and I'm driving with him this weekend to go to Maine

magman007 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:13

1

I agree with all of the above. My wife handles these tasks fantastically, from food to DJ and everything in between. The navigation however, is a bit lacking in her department. Must be a woman thing. The problem I find is that they are so glued to the blue dot on the phone, that they are not looking out of the windshield at the same time, pinpointing exactly where that exit is or helping me look for it. Then we blow past, and she says " I told you to take exit blah blah blah and that it was coming up"

DCCARGEEK > LFCRTK 08/09/2013 at 14:13

7

Let your wife fly and find another amazingly beautiful women to take the trip with you and fly her home once you arrive at your destination.

Caution: Your wife shouldn't be made aware of this newfound road trip partner.

WorldRallyBlog > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:13

1

Either this guy is too dressed for the temperature of the girl is freezing. It could be that it's 36°C here at the moment and I'm more inclined towards her outfit. And that inclined too.

With regards to copiloting, the ability to not fall asleep is well appreciated. Also, to not grasp for handles and edges of the seat on every braking, even though we're only doing 50 km/h in the populated area. Thank you.

ninjagin > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:14

1

Battery tender. All devices must remain charged. If there are only 2 USB charging plugs, ipods, phones, tablets and e-cigs must each be rotated through to sustain their constant use.

BiggsHoson > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:14

0

You had me up until the MSMM. Maybe I'm too old for this, but I can only think "...what the deuce?"

DCCARGEEK > ninjagin 08/09/2013 at 14:15

0

Yes! Or in the case of the Mazda5, only ONE USB charger.

PogosRevenge > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:16

1

Co-pilot requirement #1: She must look something like this......

Co-pilot requirement #2: If she looks like that, she can do whatever she wants.

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:16

0

Just a nitpick here, but Mobile Social Media Manager? So you really can't go more than a few hours without updating your social media? Maybe I just flat out don't get it, but I would think that you can wait until the next rest stop to handle that sort of thing. In my mind, "Photographer" would be more handy than Mobile Social Media Manager. Handle the camera/cell phone/camcorder/whatever to record general sights, dumb activities of other drivers, and serve as a dash cam with brains behind it. You can upload them to social media the next time you are at a rest stop or hotel.

Otherwise, good post.

RaptorConner > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:18

0

Any road companion in my car keeps their goddamned nasty feet off my dash and inside the car at all times...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:23

2

One addition for the epicly long drive. We on occasion drive straight through the night from Michigan to South Carolina. About 15-16 hours, and sometimes we start that journey at 6-7 PM to avoid traffic, and save a day of vacation time.

When I'm in that last hour after being awake all night and I need my co-pilot to be awake to talk to me to keep ME awake. She damn well better wake up. I've had this issue in the past. Naps are fine, but if I ask you to wake up for anything, talking, DJ duties, navigator duties, food and beverage services, WAKE UP.

That one trip had a very frustrating end to it.

Fdor > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:24

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The person in the photo fails miserably because she has her feet on the dash and that is just WRONG.

joebar32 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:29

1

A co-worker solo drove his daughters on a 17hr road trip and had his wife fly to meet them at the destination simply because she is a terrible co-pilot and hates long drives. He said it was the best family vacation ever.

NW_Eagle > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:31

0

Wow, the Mazda5 is way more angular and retro than I realized! Also didn't know it was available in topless form.

DCCARGEEK > NW_Eagle 08/09/2013 at 14:32

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Retro Zoom and before the second Zoom was added. :)

Formula4speed > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:33

5

I expect a co-pilot to do absolutely everything a race driver expects of his support staff. My job is to keep us alive. Their job is to keep me doing my job. My favorite girlfriend was such a good co-driver, she would hand me waffle fries one at a time and then hold the ketchup cup in a predetermined, ergonomically appropriate location so that I could eat without ever taking my eyes off the road. I'm pretty sure part of me will always love her for that.

brownweird > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:35

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Mobile Social Media Manager (MSMM)

It's important for a co-driver to find a douchey driver.

PNWHoonigan > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:36

4

My dog does none of these things, any yet is still a pretty awesome co-pilot.

thatmacfast > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:39

0

Juan Barnett you are the man. Leaving for Pebble on Tuesday from Seattle and I will be forwarding a link for your write up to my beautiful co-pilot. All I would add is any co-pilot must not be the most annoying human on Earth during said trip, 'it's too hot', 'I'm cold', 'I'm sick of Eazy-E,' etc...

davidj210 > PogosRevenge 08/09/2013 at 14:40

0

I don't much care for that face. The rest would be too distracting.

Ilike_cougars > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:40

1

No feet on the bloody dash..

occamsrezr > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:42

0

The best co-pilot I ever had was on a trip to Italy. Dude could read a map and dead-reckon like nobody's business.

He was also great at point out one-way streets.

He and I were front seat for the entire time we had the car once, that one time the driver ran over a piece of something on the autostrade and stranded us 35 miles outside of Rome.

Meatcoma > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:43

0

To be able to spot deer moving towards the road....

Drew > Thunder 08/09/2013 at 14:44

3

Oh My

I hope she didn't clench her jaws during the stripe application.

"my friend" Its OK we all know it was you. +1 man point unless of course she clinched her jaw, then you no longer need man points.

Thunder > Drew 08/09/2013 at 14:46

0

LOL. Honestly, not me. I was slightly more circumspect.

Burger-Lord > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 14:49

1

I do. I find myself doing a lot of "that was odd", "never heard that before", "there it is again" and "is that smell coming from my car?".

Love that car :)

Burger-Lord > WorldRallyBlog 08/09/2013 at 14:51

0

He's probably one of those guys who wears long sleeve hoodies over long sleeve shirts and a knitted skull-cap in in the summer.

ryanturner103 > WorldRallyBlog 08/09/2013 at 14:52

1

He's a modern hipster. Its better to look cool in your flannel plaid lumberjack shirt and worn skinny jeans than to be comfortable. Notice the Bronco.... if the modern hipster has to drive it needs to be a well aged almost rust bucket status car, if cafe racer motorcycle isn't available. Why do women like this?

thedavidbenji > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:53

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A good co-pilot also helps keep an eye out for the fuzz.

magman007 > magman007 08/09/2013 at 14:53

0

Also, my wife bless her heart is always willing to snap photos for instagram.

Matt-Black > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:54

0

Important co-driver duty: lighting and (safely) passing me cigarettes.

smokeycretin9 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:55

0

Co-pilot must be able to eat road food. No picky vegans!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:55

0

Also handling maps/directions is the duty of a copilot as well.

EtchyLives > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:55

0

The ability to hold her bladder as long as I can hold mine. My wonderful wife CANNOT. You see when I road trip I ROAD TRIP. In the morning the car is fueled up. I drink one cup of coffee, grab something delicious for the first leg of the trip, and one bottle of water. An hour before I plan to stop I drain the bottle of water so when I do stop it's a quick fill-up of fuel, a VERY satisfying piss, a quick wash of the windows, and we're off. In the MINI I can make it 6-7 hours at a shot and NOTHING is more frustrating than 90 minutes in the love of my life claims that she's "really gotta pee."

WE'RE STILL IN MARYLAND!

6 hours at a stretch. No complaints about car-butt. And yes, we're listening to the entire "Marvelous 3" discography because Butch Walker rules.

Also, excellent choice of I-68. The road around Cumberland is very fun, for an interstate, especially at midnight.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > DarthWentworth 08/09/2013 at 14:56

1

Make him sit in the back seat if he pisses you off.

Wolc *grammar nazis go f*** yourselves* > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 14:57

1

I know what you mean

ze German > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:59

0

The best copilot I have ever had was on a road trip from Atlanta to NYC. We drove via the blue ridge parkway. Not only was he a great DJ and Navigator, he knew of all the exit services for coffee food and cheap gas.

The part I appreciated most about him is that he had GPS from several sources. The garmin as well as the iPad. With that combination he tranformed into a rally style copilot informing me of upcoming curves on the blueridge parkway making that drive quite a bit of fun.

A great copilot can make or break a road trip! This guy definitely made the trip incredibly fun.

HughMagnusJohnson > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 14:59

0

I just wish my wife would sit back in her seat so that I can see out the dadgum sideview mirrors, is that too much to ask? Oh, and keep her mitts off the HVAC. If I have the defroster on, its probably for a reason

LFCRTK > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 15:13

0

Thanks for the input! Sometimes the most simple solution is the "correct" one! Unfortunately, I already tricked my wife into spending time with me, a second beautiful woman might be too tall a order.

6cyl > Formula4speed 08/09/2013 at 15:16

1

I had one of those girlfriends. She know how to wrap a hamburger in just the right way that you could eat it without making a mess. Little things make such a difference.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 15:19

2

Don't rubberneck at something out the passenger window and urgently tap my shoulder while simultaneously shouting 'Look!'.

Formula4speed > 6cyl 08/09/2013 at 15:20

0

YES!

Yes.

This man gets it, everybody. When it comes to copiloting, it's all about the details.

toyotasupraman > Thunder 08/09/2013 at 15:26

0

How about quality service area/rest stop head?

Remember folks, don't dick and drive.

dataPOG > Thunder 08/09/2013 at 15:27

1

Better than being slightly more circumcised.

dataPOG > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 08/09/2013 at 15:29

1

My ten year old does this...he'd make horrible copilot today, but I've got time.

He now knows every red drop top isn't a Ferrari.

dataPOG > PNWHoonigan 08/09/2013 at 15:33

1

And they double as security if of a certain breed!

Dubblewhopper > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 15:37

0

Co-pilot? I abhor co-pilots. First off my wife says my music is too loud or too heavy. And I do not need to hear her moan that I took the corner too fast every five minutes. And I do not a GPS, I was pretty good in land nav courses in the military. But she is pretty good at lighting my cigarette when I need it though.

Daksin > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 15:38

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My wife is a genius copilot EXCEPT when it comes to navigational duties. She is the queen of the bite-size morsel, the ergonomically oriented beverage handoff, and communications department. Unfortunately, despite having a sense of direction better than most migratory birds, she fucking cannot operate GPS or navigation on my phone, and when she does get it working, she insists on muting the voice, because "it gives directions at weird times," which is bullshit. With the magic voice, you always get plenty of warning and appropriately timed directions, whereas my wife is more likely to go "right turn coming upohwhythefuckdidn'tyouturnthereyouneverlistentome"

LowEndZen > EtchyLives 08/09/2013 at 15:48

1

Ditto the Butch Walker comment, but he's also an amazing person. I was playing bass in a band years ago, and we got to record our demo in Butch's Atlanta studio; met him once, and only for about fifteen minutes. Three years later, he recognized me in a bar & remembered my name & the name of the band! Very impressive!

Thunder > toyotasupraman 08/09/2013 at 15:54

0

That gives a whole new meaning to the term "Service Area".

987squirrels > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 15:58

0

Get your feet off the damned dashboard, woman

M54B30 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 16:09

0

My wife usually gets put to sleep by driving (like a baby) but I very rarely need anything. My bmw has shitty cup holders so I don't drink and I'm careful enough to scrounge for door or a soda bottle without even waking her up. When she is awake, she likes the same music as me and all the same podcasts - Car Talk, Under the Hood, Wait Wait Dont Tell Me, etc. Her road head is fantastic too, limo tint ftw!

On the flip side, my pit bull is great. She either sleeps in the back, sits on the backseat and just looks out the window, or stands on the center console and puts her head on top of my shoulder to watch the front. My jack Russell bounces from one side of the car to the other constantly and I can hear him pushing the window buttons with his paw. And he has the most annoying high pitched whimper to tell me to unlock the window.

This picture is from our moving truck in April.

skippytheduck2 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 16:14

0

You forgot the single most important quality in any right-seater:

Shut the Hell UP!

Conversation is fine, but it's a small car and there's only room for one driver. You're obviously not it cause your ass is in the wrong chair, so don't tell me when to change lanes, what speed to drive, what my following distance should be, how fast or slow to go, how to set up for a turn, when to start or stop braking, when to pass, when not to pass, to slow down, to speed up, to any-fucking-thing. If I want your opinion on pilotage I will ask for it and then I will factor that in to my decision but I'm not obligated to include your preference when it comes to making command decisions.

The car is a dictatorship, but a benevolent one so long as you follow the rules.

skippytheduck2 > Nedus 08/09/2013 at 16:16

0

Mystery noise? Make it recede with not-so-gentle application of pressure upon the loud pedal beneath your right foot...

Poundingsand > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 08/09/2013 at 16:17

1

^^^ This!

DarthWentworth > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 08/09/2013 at 16:19

0

thanks for the advice or I could just tell him to drive himself, but if his car will make it is debatable he has a 98 Grand Cherokee that had (read has) electrical problems and sounds like a diesel at all times.

Poundingsand > WorldRallyBlog 08/09/2013 at 16:21

0

Or that's my wife. I could be freezing and she turns the AC on. Our comfort zones are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

skippytheduck2 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 16:29

0

GET YOUR DISGUSTING FUNGUS-ENCRUSTED FEET OFF THE DASHBOARD!!!

redman042 > LFCRTK 08/09/2013 at 16:34

0

Give her an iPad loaded with chick movies and a pair of headphones.

EAGLE 5 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 16:39

1

FOOT ON THE DASH?!?

THAT'S IT!!! YOU'RE WALKING HOME!!!!!!

ALL 1578 MILES!!!!!

skippytheduck2 > LFCRTK 08/09/2013 at 16:43

0

Divorce.

ChubbsMotolo > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 17:02

0

I had to drive to Ft. Jackson, SC to visit my friend's graduation from basic training. I took 2 mutual friends. One absolute necessity is to be able to be able to navigate using maps/atlases, and not relying on a GPS. The fool led me to an abandoned train depot or some shit, at 11:30 at night. Luckily the hotel wasn't too far from there, but it was still aggravating. But they also have to be able to make sandwiches. We stopped in at a Giant in Carlisle, PA, because of a truck that rolled over. We also asked for directions, and got them written, by a fine young lady in the coffee shop part, and so we had to use that. But that's the navigation bit. We also stocked up on salami, provolone, and white bread, which lasted us the remainder of that day, and part of the next day (we put it in the hotel fridge), and the others were in charge of making the sandwiches. We also got a 2 liter bottle of Mountain Shoutin' for 89 cents. A hell of a bargain. The final thing a co-pilot needs is a sence of urgency. we need to be aware of the schedule, and any route changes or intersections along the way, as well as be a spotter for good gas prices. I'd say those are the most important things for a qualified co-pilot

Fookin' Prawns > Burger-Lord 08/09/2013 at 17:13

0

YES. Especially because mine is a convertible and smells/noises are amplified with the top down.
-Where is that squeaking coming from?
-Do I smell gas?
-What's rattling back there?

amanshauser81 > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 17:15

0

Being able to spot the fuzz....from any direction or distance.

Hi there > Burger-Lord 08/09/2013 at 17:35

1

Those smells get me during the summer. My 321k mile honda usually runs fine, but every so often I will smell or hear something and since I've driven it this long it doesn't take much of those stimuli to tell me what is broken. It's air conditioning has not functioned since 2011 and I do not want to take it apart far enough to replace the entire a/c system (nearly $2,000 worth of aftermarket parts with shitty warranties) so I ride with the windows down in the summer. There are lots of ill-maintained vehicles here so when I'm zoning out just driving in such a way as to burn as little gas as possible and not hit anything I'll smell something awful and think "oh no it's dying, hey maybe now it'll be really dead and I can put a more powerful engine in it...", until I look up and see the POS antique truck or something in front of me. It makes me wish they still had vehicle inspections here. Some of those things are ridiculously dangerous and smoggerific.

Hi there > dataPOG 08/09/2013 at 18:00

1

heh we used to troll the ghetto thieves when my best friend lived in the ghetto, utilizing my german shepherds. It was fun until I quit being an idiot teenager and figured that they might get shot or bite a crackhead to death.

Hi there > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 18:03

0

If you own it then why don't you rig up a way to charge more than 1 device in your car?

dataPOG > Hi there 08/09/2013 at 18:03

0

I was thinking more along the lines of gas stations...but trolling the ghetto is fun too.

Hi there > EAGLE 5 08/09/2013 at 18:03

0

That particular dash can handle it. It's metal ffs.

Hi there > dataPOG 08/09/2013 at 18:05

0

He used to live directly across the street from one large housing project, and across the other street from a small apartment complex that always houses at least 1 crack den. They're useful at gas stations too because I'm pretty anal about leaving it running if it's only going to be stopped for less than 5 minutes unless it's over 100 degrees when the risk of overheating is present. I don't take the dogs out when it's that hot, either.

dataPOG > Hi there 08/09/2013 at 18:14

0

Never mind that German Shepherds don't have the friendliest of reputations.

Hi there > dataPOG 08/09/2013 at 18:41

0

They can be very friendly. They're the 2nd most popular breed of dog in the country, and people wonder why they see reports of gshep bites. Well there are a lot of them, so the small percentage of naturally violent ones shows more.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > Houston Lang 08/09/2013 at 18:50

1

One of the things I learned, very early in my acquaintance with the lady who eventually married me anyway, is that even with a guardrail, cliffs look a lot different to the passenger. And, a couple of days later, that mountain off-roading that's only mild to moderate for a decent driver and vehicle can achieve this effect without much speed at all.

I learned over time that she'd driven a lot of miles through all kinds of conditions and terrain, and if necessary would pop the clutch and fling gravel at Satan before the very gates of Hell — but gaining confidence with someone else behind the wheel can take a while.

She put on a brave face through it all, both when we were moving and when (as so often happens off road) it came time to find one tool or another and hand it to a disembodied voice from underneath. As the relationship progressed to discussion of what mix of vehicles we should have, she did diplomatically let it be known that I could continue to go four wheelin' if I wanted, but that I needn't put a lot of money and effort in that direction on her account.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 19:34

0

After a chagrinningly long time I got to about a 90% confidence level that this is a lightly resto-modded squareback Bronco, but no reasonable amount of flying down likely looking bits of the Utah canyonlands in Google Maps can give me a clue about where they are...

John Frame (formerly bearslayer) > Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents 08/09/2013 at 19:41

1

Ugh my GF does this, but makes a sound that I can only describe as "The sound I imagine I'd make it my life were about to end due to driver error"..

Its like a gasp and a scream at the same time, and it gives me a damn heart attack.. I'm always like DEAR GOD WHAT and she's like

"Bunnies!"

Lets Just Drive > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 19:43

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I have one qualification for my co-pilot and passengers, and it's really simple. It goes like this, "Don't fuck with my driving."

Everything else is just custard on top.

My wife is the best co-pilot, in the car and in life. The reason we work so well on the road and at home is because we know how to let the other get shit done and when to help is neede versus when it's just in the fucking way.

dataPOG > Hi there 08/09/2013 at 20:26

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Yea, I know.

They are family favorite. Last one we had would give you mixed signals of fur up, snarling and growling menacingly, ears to back, tail wagging and pleading look in her eyes of come play with me, I won't bite...hard. If you had a ball, she'd be your BFF. She enjoyed roller hockey, even though she had bad shoulders and hips.

Prismatist > DCCARGEEK 08/09/2013 at 23:48

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Second set of eyes for wildlife spotting duty.

Dunnik > DCCARGEEK 08/10/2013 at 02:06

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Six Road Trip Co-Pilot Duties:

1. Cigarette Lighter (if you smoke). I don't mean Co-Pilot passes Driver lighter, I mean Co-Pilot actually lights cigarette, and passes lit cigarette to Driver by putting it clearly in the driver's ahead view, so Driver doesn't take his eyes off the road. If you don't smoke, well, good for you, and your wallet.

2. Navigator. "I have Sat Nav", you say: ok then, nevermind. But even so, you still may want to have a Co-Pilot who has some degree of map-reading and route-planning skills, in case your portable GPS runs out of batteries, your charger or socket is broken, the PLAAF shoots down a US DoD GPS satellite, etc. etc.

3. Spotter. An extra pair of eyes never hurts. The ideal Co-Pilot will act as a backup set of eyes for traffic hazards, but more importantly, the Co-Pilot doesn't have to focus intently and can point out interesting cars or scenery for the Driver's appreciation.

4. Co-Driver. The ideal Co-Pilot is also, well, a Pilot as well, and can take over the wheel for short periods while you, the Driver, rest (assuming you want to keep going and not stop and rest).

5. Disk Jockey. Assuming your Co-Pilot and you have roughly similar tastes in music (and if you don't, may the car gods help you), the Co-Pilot should be in charge of the tunes, either by scanning the radio or by selecting from a playlist. Ideally, the Driver should suggest a genre or tempo, and the Co-Pilot takes care of the rest.

6. Conductor. If you have kids in the car, the Co-Pilot is responsible for maintaining security and order, so as to minimize or eliminate distractions to the Driver.

Madd Max > DCCARGEEK 08/10/2013 at 08:28

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Who needs CDs when that thing has Sirius and Bluetooth audio?

Hi there > dataPOG 08/10/2013 at 11:19

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That last sentence really illustrates why in the case of large breed dogs it is actually worth buying from a reputable dealer. Elbow and hip dysplasia is awful, and can be mitigated via proper breeding.

Axial > DarthWentworth 08/10/2013 at 15:34

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That depends. The driver needs to also make his or her passengers feel safe. If my driver is not driving in a safe manner, I am going to ask him or her to change.

And this goes double when you were already in the car with that person driving during a previous incident..