What are the key ingredients to a successful road trip? A painstakingly planned agenda, from the carefully timed route to the exact number of sandwiches, or a complete freestyle approach? High-end camping gear in a 4×4, or just a crate of beer as a stool? What really matters on a road trip, and what sticks with you, is something you learn along the way.
Who’s ready to experience something new? Are you? Ever thought about embarking on a road trip, with or without a bike? We’ve already done some of the work for you and asked ourselves: What are the ingredients for an unforgettable road trip?
When different people with different desires come together, things get exciting. Where do we sleep? Airbnb loft, hotel, pension? We actually want to be right in the heart of nature. What about classic camping? Some of us feel too old for that. Roof top tents are a different story; the mattresses are often comfortable, and set up is usually straightforward. Throw a roof top tent on your car, put your bikes on a hitch rack, grab a couple of pillows, some blankets and supplies, then head off into the unknown! By the way, we’ve already tested which rear-mounted bike racks are most suitable for your eMTB in two separate group tests: Check out the E-MOUNTAINBIKE bike rack test here and the brand-new review in our sister magazine DOWNTOWN here.
Or do we need to plan better? Nah, we’ll stick to the basics and just hit the road. Who’s coming with us? We’re going all out, embarking on the ultimate roof top tent experience with over 20 people, two dogs, and 12 roof top tents on the hottest cars. One thing’s clear: the outcome of a road trip depends entirely on whether we’re setting off on our own, with family, in a group of friends, or with a mix of people. But does it change the essence of what we take away from this little escape from everyday life?
How much planning is too much planning?
Km 196: first stop, Autobahn rest area (our favourite: Marché).
Km 421: second stop, Autogrill XY. That’s the plan. Well-planned = everything runs smooth? Not quite. The Defender is leaking oil by km 72.
Here’s the first lesson you can learn from our trip, and perhaps the most important one: just let go, and let things happen!
The super-friendly mechanic, who happens to be resting at a nearby parking lot, helps us repair the car and immediately shares a tip for a cosy café by the lake on our route. Bingo: apple strudel rather than Marché fries. Everything happens for a reason.
We quickly realise that a road trip like this requires a harmonious balance between planning and spontaneity. This starts with the overnight stay: On a trip for two or a solo adventure into the wilderness, you don’t have to decide beforehand where to stay – you can just spontaneously ask a farmer to stay on their land, or set up camp in a parking lot by the lake. But on our DT road trip, we aim to stay in beautiful spots overnight, places where we’re legally allowed to stay as a large group. Incognito parking by the river with twelve vehicles (including a bright red Pinzgauer)? – quite daring! However, a healthy touch of common sense is always a good complement to all the excitement and enthusiasm on a road trip.
And what about the rest of the planning? In our DT road trip group, freestyle proves to be the way to go. No counting out bread rolls, no dividing up who brings what gear. From roof top tent rookies to self-sufficient Defender owners: everyone packs what they think is right. What we’ll learn from this trip will come in handy for the next one: a woollen beanie against night time brain freeze? – an absolute must in the off-season. Mattress toppers for side sleepers. The cool thing about not being overzealous with organising your trip: there’s plenty of room for surprises. Starting with survival gadgets, like a massive portable power station in the New Defender, and a folding kayak to test the Isar’s rafting suitability (or perhaps the kayak’s own qualities?). If you cover the basics beforehand, you can even switch to cruise control during your road trip. So, world, what do you have in store for us?
The formula for happiness: an open mind
From the very beginning of our DOWNTOWN road trip, one thing is clear: although our participants are all in a different stage of their life, and all have different interests, the group shares a common element: the mindset.
Everyone is eager to experience something new, ready to take each moment as it comes. You can feel the excitement about meeting new people and making new connections, having deep and casual conversations, and embracing unexpected dynamics. The group is enthusiastic about exploring new spots and trying out different camping styles, discovering clever outdoor hacks, and enjoying cool activities.
All together and each on their own – long live freedom!
Breakfast at 9, group hike at 10, dinner at 6 sharp and lights out by 10? That’s not freedom. On a road trip, you learn to go with the flow and explore new paths. Like with an eMTB, it doesn’t matter so much if you end up riding 20 km more than planned, because you just follow your nose. The battery lasts forever in eco mode, and in the end, you discover a little bit more of the world than you knew before.
What’s great: on our Downtown road trip, the loose agenda gives everyone the freedom to do what feels right at the moment: soaking our feet in cold, 16 degree water, riding bikes without worrying about summer snow at high altitudes, kayaking in the rapids of the Isar, having a pillow fight or making love, chilling out, chatting, being silent, simply staring at the sky for two hours without doing a thing. Eventually, everyone returns to the base to have fun together. We grind coffee and discuss the best brewing methods. We expand our camping and outdoor know-how: how do you start a campfire most effectively, and which gadgets are a must for your next roof top tent trip? We have honest conversations around the campfire, interacting with people who were strangers just five minutes ago, learning about their hidden talents and passions. Just like that, because everyone is happy to do so.
When you let go and say goodbye to schedules and fixed ideas, there’s room for moments – funny, surprising, intense, silly. And those are what remain. They inspire us and bring new impulses from the road trip straight into our daily lives.
For the loners amongst us: even – and perhaps especially – on your own, a trip with a roof top tent creates enriching moments. Back home, we carry our impressions and a piece of that tranquillity and peace that daily life often steals from us, and maybe a bit of the digital detox we might have come to appreciate along the way.
In the end, what makes a road trip special isn’t what you expect or plan, but the moments that happen just like that. By not sticking to a fixed idea or a strict schedule, you create space for opportunities. For new, unexpected, and inspiring experiences. Whether on your own or with a group, the saying is spot on: Life’s best adventures are unplanned.
Fancy rising higher into the world of roof top tents? Check out our sister magazine DOWNTOWN for a comprehensive roof top tent comparison test, along with more valuable insights on vacationing with a roof top tent!
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Words: Felicia Nastal Photos: Robin Schmitt, Mike Hunger
