Be prepared & take this advice seriously...

1. Wash the van. Fill every fluid the van needs transmission, gas, oil, clutch, power steering, windshield washing, coolant, brake, and any others

2. Next,duct tape anything sharp or hanging loose in the van. You may even want to tape some windows to make what's inside the car less visible to those outside the car. Otherwise, bring a large blanket or tarp to cover up your equipment. It is a good idea to keep the cover on at all times except for if you are sleeping in the van; then you could use it.

3. GetAAA membership. It costs $49, but it is a small price to pay for what they give you: 200 miles towing, bail bonds, hotel discounts, and directions if you get lost - the whole nine yards. It is definitely worth it, especially if your vehicle is in bad condition or hasn't been running well. You can get it by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP. Other highlights of membership include: road service and towing, battery charging, jumping, flat tire service, emergency fuel delivery and lockout assistance, trip planning, free maps, lowered hotel rates (good luck affording a hotel; you're not the Vandals), passport photos, $250 emergency check acceptance, and some other benefits I don't understand well enough to explain.

4. A basic tool kit is essential. Here are some things I feel it should include: a hammer, vice grips, wire cutters, a soldering iron (with solder), a wrench to fit the bolt on your carburetor in case you run out of gas. As for screw drivers, 1 Phillips and 1 standard plus any that fit the bolts on your guitars. One of those "50 screwdrivers in 1" would be great. Some less common stuff to put in your tool box include a flashlight (if you can get your hands on a Maglite, lucky you), 3 sharp objects (scissors, a razor, a machete style knife), a tire iron and a car jack for when your tire pops which it will. Don't forget jumper cables, and an ice scraper if you are going up north to Canada, or if it is fall or winter.

5. Some miscellaneous things you will have to load up on are rope or bungee (25-50 feet should do) to hold your broken van together as well as stuff on the roof and thousands of other things. A good place to steal it is the chain hardware store. You can cut off behind the counter how much you need for free.

6. Maps are usually a good idea. Your local bookstore or gas station or your AAA membership is a good place to find them. If you're really covering some ground, go all the way and buy a road atlas. It has all 50 states and Canada in one book. Less to carry, less to lose. If you are a lucky punk and you own a Powerbook, you can buy a map for your computer of the whole world for a price you can afford.

7. Never put your own band's sticker on the truck. All that says to people is "Our nice equipment is in here, so come get it." Lots of different band's stickers on a van can also say "kid" which is sometimes the equivalent of a neon sign proclaiming, "I'm probably fucked up on something so Officer Unfriendly, come harass me."

8. Bring your own supply of toilet paper, as most clubs and rest stops don't have it. So what if you look like an asshole carrying it - your butt will be clean, won't it? A great place to get the toilet paper is your piece-of-shit boss's bathroom or a restaurant you don't like's bathroom.

With this much shit (don't forget that you still have to fit equipment in there somewhere), space can be a problem. Basically, you have none left in the van. Here is what you can do when you run out or to prevent running out. If you have a vehicle that can do this, I have seen people put luggage racks on their roof. You need a padlock for these and many other things. One thing most people don't think of is packing upwards, A lot of people only pack their van from back to front only 3 feet high. Avoid this - go as high as you can. Taking the bottom heads of the drums and putting them inside each other can save space. If you have a box half empty then throw out the box and let the stuff roam free or put it in another box. A trailer is a good thing for space in addition. Look in the classifieds in your local paper or a Want Ad type press thing. It is not worth the money to buy a new one, Before you buy, though, make sure your van has a tow. If you are interested in renting one, I believe the major car rental companies rent them. If you do use one check the connection every time you get out of the car - they have been known to come loose.

9. Bring boxes. Bring every cable you own, power bars, Never forget your guitar picks,
If someone helps you out - give them free merchandise.
Be Polite
Never steal from those who helped you.
Sleeping pills might be a good idea.
Towels, soap & shampoo for cleaning at truck stops etc.
Bring carpet to put your drums on.
Bring a hand truck to help lug equitment around.
A tent to camp out in to save money.
A fire extin. for the van.