If you are planning a long road trip, it is important to prepare your vehicle. You can't just throw your camping gear in the back of an unprepared car and expect the drive to be anything less than miserable. This blog post will give you some tips on how to renovate your van for a long road trip!
Clean your van
One of the first things that you need to do is to clean your van. You might think that this is a bit counter-intuitive, but don't worry! It's not like you will be deep cleaning every nook and cranny of your vehicle. It's just about making it look cleaner than usual so that when people see it, they can tell that you take pride in how well-maintained your vehicle is.
Once you have cleaned it, take some time to detail your vehicle and give everything a nice buff! If the sun hits the car at just the right angle, people can tell that something has changed about your van and they might want to stop by for a visit.
Prepare your bed
The next thing that you need to do is to prepare your bed. In this case, you may need to refer to a bed size chart to figure out the mattress size that will fit your van perfectly. This doesn't mean that you need to buy an entirely new mattress or anything like that though. Rather, it does mean that you should make sure that all of the linens and pillows are ready for a good night's sleep!
When you have a bed installed in the back of your van for sleeping purposes, this means that you are going to have a little more storage space in the front. This is because most of your bedding will take up some room so it's important to plan and make sure that there isn't anything else back here taking up unnecessary space!
Add shelving
You should also add shelving to hold belongings and make more room inside the vehicle. This is where you should keep things like your camping gear, food supplies, and anything else that you are taking with you on the trip. Be sure to label everything so that it's easy for people to find what they need!
In designing the storage space you would like to have in your vehicle, take inspiration from online sources such as Pinterest to get ideas for how you can organize everything. If there is a particular look that you like, it might be wise to set up your shelving in the same way and make things easier on yourself!
Apart from shelving, you can also add other details in your van such as a small dining table for when you want to eat your meals. This will help with organization and provide more room in the front of the vehicle so that people can navigate it without too much trouble!
Pack your van
Once you have prepared your bedding and organized your van with shelves, this means that all of the small items can be packed and ready to go! Just ensure to pack your vehicle in a way that makes it easy for people to access the things they have to use. If you prefer having items in certain areas, then take the time to figure out how best this could work in terms of where all of the small items should go so that there isn't any fighting over who gets access to what!
Get rid of clutter
As much as possible, there should be no food, trash, and clothes to name a few, in the car when driving long distances. This means that you should pack only what is necessary for each leg of travel, and this includes snacks! After all, a messy van is often not a relaxing one so it's important to take care of this before you begin driving.
In the same way, when packing snacks for your road trip, be sure that everything is in airtight canisters or Tupperware containers! This means that there won't be any ants getting into things and making a mess while you are on the go.
Turn on an air conditioner or get a fan if it's hot outside
Take the time to plan out your itinerary for the road trip. In this way, you will be able to figure out the kind of weather that you will have to deal with. Turn on an air conditioner or get a fan if it's hot outside! You can also turn up the heat in your van during the winter months to keep yourself warm.
Fill up with gas before you go on long trips
One of the best practices, before you embark on a road trip, is to fill up with gas before you go. This way, your vehicle will have enough fuel to keep going and won't stop unexpectedly! If you end up running out of gas while driving on the highway, this can be a nightmare for both yourself and other drivers as well. It may also mean that someone has to come to rescue you which isn't ideal in most cases.
Wash and wax your van before you leave
There is nothing worse than driving for hours on end with an unkempt vehicle. If you want to look good while traveling, then you need to wash and wax your car before you leave! A little bit of elbow grease will go a long way in making sure that the van looks its best when people see it on the road. Other people may even take inspiration from your vehicle seeing how you renovated it and how you are keeping it clean and maintained.
While cleaning, you will most likely find scratches that disrupt your vehicle’s classy sheen. Instead of hurrying to the repair shop, use a handy touch-up paint kit to solve minor scratches in a matter of minutes.
When you have a van, it can be difficult to find the space for all of your belongings. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make your vehicle more livable and efficient! Try the tips listed above today to start living in an organized, comfortable home on wheels, ready for any long trip ahead.