Road Trip Advice?

Hi Jennifer,

- 42 psi front/40 psi rear when tires are cold
- Check engine oil level before you start your trip, when engine is off and car is parked on level ground
- Refuel when fuel gauge shows two bars or higher, since that instrument is a "guess" gauge and should not be relied upon
- Bring sufficient items to keep the kids and adults amused during the trip.

Enjoy!

 

A portable DVD player (one with an extra screen is nice) and something to hang them in. Best Buy and Circuit city both sell some good ones, including one shown in a PC thread about babies that is metal and has a platform that sits pretty high. Headphones are best so the driver doesn't have to listen to the movies but my daughters don't like the headphones so I take my iPod-to-AUX cable and plug the DVD sound into the AUX port and adjust the speaker sound to the rear of the Mystery Machine.

I have one of the holders that hangs between the headrests but the kids can't see it when the babyseat is in the middle.

 

Don't forget to check your spare tire pressure.

 

After one month of Prius ownership she went on a road trip to Florida last May.
1.On the Interstate drive with cruise control as much as possible.
2.Maintain normal speed.
Driving as above @ 74mph I still averaged 49.9 for the entire trip.
Enjoy your vacation!

 

If you don't have NAV, a good (Garmin) GPS is great for those detours/explorations/adventures. Knowing you can always find your way home, or to the motel, allows you to enjoy the side-trips.

 

Be careful if using GPS.
I bought a brand new Garmin Nuvi,it had me going the wrong way on a one way street.
Driving on pasture land when actually on fairly new Hwy.
Plus several just plain wrong directions!
I even downloaded the newest update before leaving for my trip.

 

bring a pillow or cushion.. ur back might need it..
dont drink too much water before u leave.. less bathroom stop and less bladder pain..

 

battery chargers for cell phones and a good 120 ac inverter?

 

After following Patrick's advice, be sure to press the Tire Pressure Monitoring System reset button under the steering wheel. It looks like ( ! ).

 

for crying out loud... nobody mentioned that you have to stop in Amarillo for a *free* 72 oz steak? come on!

Braum's is good too...

 

Take a container of cold loin lamb chops and another with hard boiled eggs to eat while you drive.
Apples and bananas if you have a strange aversion to eating meat and eggs.
Low fibre food to reduce toilet stops.
Cut lunch in the morning and save big bucks on lunch at a Greasy Joe's Roadside Diner.
Nothing beats a TomTom GPS. Even Toyota now have TomTom/Toyota GPS navigation in an optional car sound system now. The best use the best.
Toyota Australia: Fleet - Fleet news & links - Latest news
Don't restrict fluid intake, it causes kidney stones and they hurt, you can get adult disposable nappies. (daipers) so you can most likely get them for the kids regardless of age.

 

Just returned from a round trip from Dallas to Shreveport (200 miles each way) on one tank, with cruise control set at 65mph. Still two pips left at the end. Don't think I would have been able to achieve that kind of efficiency without CC.

With kids in tow, I find it best to stop and let them out every two hours or so (or the length of one movie.) Depending on their age, you may want to plan certain 'must see' spots along the way to keep them fresh and interested. Also gives the driver a chance to stretch.

 

next time you make that drive and you see the exit signs for kilgore and/or longview, be sure to wave hi to me! :wave:

 

Having made several 300+ (each way) mile trips to Seattle I found that a 1/2" home chair pad used in the front seat bottom helped keep the bolsters in the seat bottom from pinching mine! For Air conditioning, I would "auto cool" for a few minutes and then slowly work the fan speed down to as low as i could still be comfy, set the temp to about 70. Freeway max here is 70, I would use cruise in the 68-71 range. Trip includes run over Cascade Mtn. range but normally I average 46-50MPG. Hope that helps.

 

Perhaps you're already on the road, but I'll still add my comments for those about to embark on the same type of trip:

1. Consider passenger comfort first -- set the A/C on auto at a reasonable temp (I use 78 to start and drop it if there are complaints).
2. Set the tire pressure at 44/42, but drop it back if people complain about the rough ride.
3. Get a long male-to-male cable for your iPod so the backseat passengers can make a couple of song selections.
4. Set waypoints on the NAV system so there is always a reasonable answer to "How much longer 'til . . ."
5. Don't drive Interstate the whole way!! Get out on some more scenic U.S. or state highways and see some sights. This also is likely to increase your mileage and your time traveling. Still, it adds to the enjoyment.
6. Stay in the right lane and follow a big rig (at a decent interval) so you learn to accelerate on the downhill and decelerate on the uphill. This will produce significant gas savings.
7. Use cruise control only when you have to. I find I only get sleepy when I drive Interstates using cruise control -- I lose focus and get bored. Enjoy the changing scenery and engage your family in conversation about what you see and where you are going.
8. Enjoy the fact that no matter what MPG "sacrifices" are made for passenger comfort, you'll be getting double or triple (or better) mileage than any other vehicle on the road -- except for those other Prius drivers!!

 

wow! very cool! can you still kick your hat off your head?

 

Haven't quite worked up to the 72 oz yet, maybe next time


Rob