"Ferrero1911" (Ferrero1911)
02/24/2014 at 16:30 • Filed to: Restoroadtrip
2
10|
"Ferrero1911" (Ferrero1911)
02/24/2014 at 16:30 • Filed to: Restoroadtrip | 2
| 10 |
As you guys may know, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and I are taking a road trip in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It looks like we'll be leaving at the beginning of May, so we are in full planning mode. Check us out on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to get all the updates.
When you're planning a road trip for over a month in a small sedan that's likely to break down you have to pack carefully. We have fragile camera equipment, tools and of course clothes to worry about. We think we have a pretty solid strategy so far. Here's what we've come up with:
The Bags
1. Duffel Bags (4)
We don't really have a lot of money in our budget for luggage, so I was pretty excited when I found these duffel bags from REI. They were on clearance for about $20 each, we bought 2 large (black) and 2 medium (blue). Duffel bags are a good choice for us because they're easy to carry up stairs, they don't add much weight, and they have less wasted space than a rolling suitcase. These bags come with their own carrying cases that can double as toiletry bags. We already have toiletry bags, but I'm sure we can think of something to use them for.
2. Tool Backpack
I was browsing through lightning deals on Amazon and I found this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Our car is old and the chances are very high that we will break down at least once. Bird is pretty handy, so bringing the right tools can help us avoid having the car towed to a shop for many problems. (Bird's Note: If you bring all the tools you could possibly need, it decreases the risk of needing them.)
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
3. Backpacks and Camera Bags
Bird's camera bag and backpack are the same bag. Most of his bag will carry camera gear and I'll be carrying any extra stuff like jackets. I've already posted about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but now I've got some ways to organize the inside including a camera bag.
How we're going to get it all there
I'm sure you're thinking 4 duffel bags, 2 backpacks and a tool bag is way too much stuff. All that stuff will never fit in the car and will cost a fortune in baggage fees! Not to worry, we have a plan.
Our backpacks will be our carry on bags. This takes care of all our valuables that we don't want to check (or leave in the car). Our checked luggage will be the two large duffel bags.
Large Duffel 1
Tool backpack
Some tools
Clothes
Medium duffel bag 1
Large Duffel 2
Extra camera gear – a tripod and some other rigging stuff
Some tools
Clothes
Medium duffel bag 2
When we get there we'll put our clothes in the medium duffel bags and pack away the larger ones until the return trip. This way we can make the best use of our checked bags without having to carry giant duffel bags into each hotel.
So, what do you think? What should we make sure to bring with us?
duurtlang
> Ferrero1911
02/24/2014 at 16:45 |
|
Where are you going to sleep during this trip? Are you going to buy sleeping bags, a tent and mattresses once you're there? Or are you going to sleep in hotels?
davedave1111
> Ferrero1911
02/24/2014 at 16:51 |
|
Pack light, pack cash. There's a temptation to bring everything you might need, on the off-chance you'll need one thing out of the whole lot. Instead, take none of it and budget to buy one or two things you already own as and when they're needed. If it saves you excess baggage charges or something, it'll pay for itself. If not, it's still worth it to avoid the hassle - and the risk of theft. I assume you're throwing at least a few thousand dollars at this, so in that context an extra hundred bucks to avoid hassle and enjoy the whole thing more is money well spent.
If I were you I'd bring the most basic toolkit you can get away with, and look to borrow the rest if necessary. While you're still out east, the countries are poor enough that you'll have no trouble persuading a garage to rent you tools for a few bucks, although labour's so cheap you might as well let them do the job - and there's a good chance they'll lend you tools for free/beer, despite boring economics stuff. Once you're further west, people are rich enough that you won't have any trouble finding someone to borrow tools from.
If I remember rightly, your plans were to start in Poland or something and drive west? The most important thing is to buy a load of cheap cigarettes and alcohol. Say they're for your personal use at every border check, although there won't be many. The prices will double or treble (or more) once you get to richer countries, so they make great trade items when dealing with the natives - a couple of bottles of vodka or cartons of cigarettes that cost you five bucks each in Poland are a good enough present in western Europe that a mechanic might do a small job for free, and definitely a good thank-you gift for anyone who helps you out.
What did you end up doing with the registration and insurance?
|
davedave1111
> duurtlang
02/24/2014 at 17:01 |
|
When we get there we'll put our clothes in the medium duffel bags and pack away the larger ones until the return trip. This way we can make the best use of our checked bags without having to carry giant duffel bags into each hotel.
Two ways to read that. One is that they're staying in hotels. The other is that they're sleeping in the duffel bags and don't want to admit it.
|
duurtlang
> davedave1111
02/24/2014 at 17:13 |
|
Right. I missed that one. I had imagined camping to be honest. Hotels make this trip both more comfortable and more expensive.
|
davedave1111
> duurtlang
02/24/2014 at 17:24 |
|
Yeah, it's an odd combination for people driving a Lada :)
|
Ferrero1911
> duurtlang
02/24/2014 at 17:34 |
|
We're planning on staying in hotels, but we'll probably end up getting a tent when we get there and doing some camping. Because we're driving we hope to be able to get cheap hotels outside of the main tourist areas. Most of our hotel bookings will be last minute because we want to be flexible on how long we stay in each place, so we'll have to see how it goes.
Jobjoris
> Ferrero1911
02/25/2014 at 06:54 |
|
As long as you run that beautiful RWD 3-box saloon over the Nordschleife (JUST DO IT!) I'm okay with that. Any pre-defined plan for the Route you're going to do?
Bird
> davedave1111
02/25/2014 at 18:00 |
|
We're definitely taking the pack light and purchase what we need strategy. For tools though, I got a good deal on a Harbor Freight set I'm going to take. I always need the tool I don't have, and it never fails that when I overpack on tools, I don't need any of them. There's a point of dimishing returns I think (I'm not packing a MIG welder), but I'd rather lug around the extra weight than not have what I need.
The ultimate (and highly unlikely) success would be to make it all the way through the trip, and only use the tools to work on other peoples cars!
Right now our car is basically registered to an 'agent'. Right before we go we're going to switch it to us...still a couple details to be worked out there honestly, but we know for sure we can get an export tag and insurance at the least. It's just a few days short of how long we intend to be there.
|
Ferrero1911
> Jobjoris
02/25/2014 at 18:44 |
|
75 hp at The Ring sounds terrifying. We do plan on doing the Stelvio Pass and hopefully some other epic roads as well. Our route is still up in the air, but we are starting in Estonia and then headed to St. Petersburg and Moscow. From there we'll continue west until we get to Amsterdam. We are purposely not planning exactly where we'll stop each night so that we are free to discover places as we go.
|
Jobjoris
> Ferrero1911
02/26/2014 at 03:33 |
|
It doesn't matter how much bhp you have on the Ring. I've been passed by 'locals' with over 100bhp less then my self a hundred times. It's all about the experience, it's epic. San Gottardo or Passo Della Novena (Nufenenpass) are also great roads, both in Switzerland.
I took a brief look on you website regarding your trip, looks awesome. First part will take the most of time as roads are not that well in Mother Russia. Maybe try visit Riga (Latvia) as well, it's great. And Antwerp: fantastic city! I suppose Rotterdam isn't the most interesting (I live between Antwerp and Rotterdam), I would suggest visiting Breda.