We bought our 2011 Grand Caravan Crew on Monday, and our first road trip is coming up in November which will be about 2200 miles round trip from Waco, Tx to Phoenix, Az. I'm just curious to know what others who have traveled in a similar van would suggest us adding to the van for the trip.

The van has a single DVD VES system, but given it was used it was missing the remote and headphones, so I'll order those. Also it doesn't have the uConnect add-on, but I've just ordered a Jabra Freeway BT speakerphone which is about 1/4 the cost of getting uConnect added. But what else? Also the family is me, my wife, and our 2 and 5 year old kids.

Thanks for any suggestions --

Sam

 

You should get this to haul more luggage:
http://www.yakima.com/shop/cargo/car...-21#TABSANCHOR
http://www.etrailer.com/Roof-Cargo-C...ma/Y07186.html
http://www.rei.com/product/784512/ya...ro-21-roof-box


You just missed the sale of it on REI and etrailer, where you could have bought it for $600 shipped.

 

Good idea! I hadn't thought of this... but does having one of these decrease the MPG? We're already looking at about $350 for gas (2200 miles, 24 mpg, and $3.75 per gallon) so I'd hate to add anything that'll increase our fuel costs for the trip.

Update: I just found this link - http://goo.gl/E8nJ7 - where a guy did a very intensive review on the SkyBox 16 and concluded he looses about 2 mpg when it's attached. For us on a 2200 mile trip this would equate to about $30 in gas which might not be a huge deal given the extra space we'd gain.

But thanks! I'll definitely talk this over with my wife and we might have to order one of these. Anything else you guys would suggest for a long road trip in the Caravan?

Thanks ..

 

Rolls of nickels, dimes or quarters. Give one to each child. If they misbehave, take one coin. Whatever is left at the destination is their reward for good behavior. The one with the most coins left gets it doubled at the end of the trip. It worked for us many moons ago. One daughter is now a budget analyst for the US Air Force. Hmm.

 

OMG that's a totally awesome idea! My kids are only 2 and 5 so though this may work for the 5 year old the 2 year old would more than likely try to eat the coins But maybe we can keep them up front or use something else that may work just as well.

Cool! Thanks --

Sam

 

Don't know how much space you need, but if you have a hitch there are those flat cargo carriers that mount to the receiver. Big enough to strap a couple big plastic totes/coolers/etc to and I wouldn't think it'd affect mileage much being behind the van.

Just an idea.