Anything I should know?

Ass , gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

Ass , gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

That is definitely not a rule.

There isn't anything I can't think of...just use common sense. Always be polite, if you DO have anything to offer, you can, but it isn't required, there are enough people who will pick you up for free, if they ask something from you, just wait for the next car.
There are loads of people who just want to hear your travel stories without anything in return.
But really...just, use common sense.

Repeatedly flash a smile that cuts to the point, advertising loudly, "I am not a serial killer. I am not a serial killer." People in my hometown aren't particularly fond of hitchhikers seeing as how Jeffrey Dahmer spent a short time here.

Where I'm backpacking at the moment (and hitching rides all the time) it's really common (Methven, New Zealand). It's really simple, got money to spare? Don't be a tight arse and offer some petrol money. Pretty tight on money? Just be nice and entertain them.

Every time we see a hitch hiker we look at how much room we have, and if there's room we don't think twice about picking them up. We never ever expect anything in return. So I suppose if you have like a $5 note to spare or something, thats's MORE than enough and could even be considered unnecessary.

I just can't bring myself to hitchhike. I always have this fear that whether I pick someone up or if I'm the hitchhiker then I'm going to get hacked to pieces. I guess it stems from an incident in my childhood when a family friend's son was murdered by a hitchhiker he picked up. It's a shame I can't get past that because I know plenty of people who hitchhike and nothing has ever happened to them. It just seems like such an easy way to travel/meet awesome people.

Be white and non sketchy looking. If your neither of the two good luck getting a ride.

Be prepared to blow the truck driver. Them's the rules of the road.

Drivers do often expect something in return. No, not blowjobs, they usually seem to expect an interesting story or conversation with you. So it definitely pays to have a few good yarns, if you entertain them they're more likely to go out of their way for you and help you with things like accommodation and whatnot. One time, I decided it would be fun to put on a different accent for every driver who picked me up. French, English, German, Slovakian (randomness FTW)... I came up with totally fabricated life stories for each accent. Twas fun for all.

Meh, there really isn't many rules. Just be grateful and try to have some sort of conversation.

And yeah, like the guy above mentioned, it won't be so easy / safe if you're not white (depends which corner of the world you're in) or somewhat normal looking.

And yeah, like the guy above mentioned, it won't be so easy / safe if you're not white (depends which corner of the world you're in) or somewhat normal looking.

It won't be easy if you're somewhat normal looking?

Dont panic

Bring a towel.

It won't be easy if you're somewhat normal looking?

Smartass.

sell them your soul on a piece of paper in return for the ride :)

definitely have a good story prepared. If you've got a good story that's long enough you might end up with more than just a ride. You might get lunch or coffee out of it if it's long and interesting enough.

Bring a towel.

Also always make sure you know where it is

The other day I hitched a ride, and they gave ME weed for coming with them. I gave them directions on where to go and fixed their snow chains and put them on. It was fucking awesome. Then I taught them how to get a refund on their lift passes.

So basically, picking up a hitch hiker could be handy. You never know.

NEVER put your feet on their dashboard.

Be clean, don't be smelly...

Pick a place where the cars have to slow down anyway.

NEVER put your feet on their dashboard.


Well...again, I think that that's just common sense, no?

I hitchhiked with a couple of russian guys one time in a stolen car, when I got in they said they were going to rape me but the one who spoke english just made Borat jokes all the way down the road. He said they were gay, and asked me to direct them to male prostitutes. I was on loads of drugs and it seemed pretty normal at the time.

http://www.therevoltpress.org/80days.shtml

If you scroll to the bottom of that page there is a little hitchhiking guide I wrote a long time ago. I hope it's still of use.

^ :) I've seen the guide you're talking about before through some co-oincidence. Maybe you linked me to it once, and it is good. Hi Anne.

Repeatedly flash a smile that cuts to the point, advertising loudly, "I am not a serial killer. I am not a serial killer." People in my hometown aren't particularly fond of hitchhikers seeing as how Jeffrey Dahmer spent a short time here.

http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/xp/premiere_photo/20050906/16/83202828.jpg

;). That dude comes off as the worlds biggest "douche".


@OP: It's pretty much all here, so nothing much to tell you.

^ :) I've seen the guide you're talking about before through some co-oincidence. Maybe you linked me to it once, and it is good. Hi Anne.



Hi :)

Please get on msn sometimes.

alright, i've done my share of hitching across he US and despite the obvious this is what I have learned.

1.look a little dirty and sad.

it works. don't get to the point of being hobo nasty, but a normal looking young white guy who looks kinda dirty and confused will get picked up by a lot of people. the trick is too look like a normal guy in a bad situation.


2.have a story to match.

mine was typically something like this:

ME-thanks so much for stopping. ive been stuck out there for the last day and a half.

THEM-where you going?

ME-well I'm mid point from wherever to wherever, I just got a call from my grandpa back home and he is on his deathbed. I wasn't doing much where I was at; just working at the local gas station and when I heard grandpa was dying I decided I had to see him one last time, I mean my grandpa took care of me when I was little because my parents were crackheads...ect

THEM-hop in, have you eaten?

ME-no


I think you get the picture. make them feel sorry for you. if you have the right kind of people it works MUCH better than having an entertaining story. It also yields free meals, the ability to sleep over a long ride, and sometimes cash.



3-truckstops, and rest stops are your friend.

you get one helpful trucker with a CB. he will broadcast your story and it can be possible to hop from truck to truck at truckstops without any trouble. I can often beat greyhound across multiple states.


4-carry shelter

it doesnt matter how good you are if you hitch enough in the US you will find yourself having to sleep outside sooner or later, you will appreciate having a small tent and a bag when this time comes.


5-carry a bible

certain christians like to pick people up, they are saps for a sob story, and if you yourself are a good christian you can get these people to bend over backwards helping you.


6-read people.

If you get picked up by hippies dont be afraid to ask if they have a joint to smoke, if you get picked up by a "larger person" in a nicer car, casually bring up having not eaten. you can even go to the point of using dif. stories for dif. people.


7-avoid major cities, slums

common sense, but not mentioned enough. this is the USA. you do not want to hitch through the bad part of LA. nuff said


Using this method I can hitch from almost anywhere to almost anywhere in the US with no problems. it is very common for me to make long trips faster than could be done on a greyhound, eat free meals, sleep in the back of some truckers truck, and have more money in my pocket when I reach my destination than I did when I started.

as a last note. NEVER SET DOWN YOUR PACK.

i don't know what you carry, but my gear plus my pack cost me about 1000. this is my sleeping bag, my shelter, my clothes, all my survival gear. I don't want to lose it, and assholes will take it.

Don't put your feet on their dashboard.

Well...again, I think that that's just common sense, no?


Nah. I saw on TV an Ozzie trucker saying that about hitchikers, how some 'disgrace' the vehicle they are in. Truckers are pretty particular about their trucks.

And then it happened to me.
So when I stopped for petrol I went round the back & had a Joint by myself.
Otherwise I would have shared it...

Another time, when he got out, I got out to check the oil in my car, & saw under the hood, the hitchiker rob the ashtray of the roaches...

Another time, I had a 5$ note in the centre consol,
I noticed he noticed it, so I did nothing, I then moved my head away from see the $5 note & his arm started to prepare for getting it.
I did that a few times, each time he moved, so I go "oh, better put some gas in later & picked up the $5 note"
He settled back in the seat, a bit disgruntled I think, oh well.

So, I like to pick up Israelis they are fun & appreciate what you do for them.
Most of the ones here have just done their service & are travelling the world to see what its about.
They only have a little bit of money after finishing.

So, I like to pick up Israelis they are fun & appreciate what you do for them.
Most of the ones here have just done their service & are travelling the world to see what its about.
They only have a little bit of money after finishing.

Where do you live/work?

If they stop for gas and their windows are dirty, get out and clean them.

Hitch hiking is fun as. I read xannex' guide and well, it's very practical, it's also kind of unrealistic.

Don't sit in the back? Why? What if there are people in the front seats.

People aren't murderers. Some are. But that could happen any where. Do you take 101 precautions when walking at night? Probably not. So chances of you getting killed when getting in a car are slim to nil.

Carry a leatherman every where you go with you as well (I do, thanks survivor man). If you're a hitch hiker, you'd benefit from one any way. You'll feel 100 times safer with one on you.

It goes without saying that if there are people in the front then sit in the back. Nothing there is unrealistic because it's all been applied. That being said, it's also specific to myself and my experiences. I maintain that sitting in the backseat is bad news.

Being a girl I guess it also pays to be more cautious. As a guy who really couldn't give a fuck...I just go with it. A ride is a ride.

The driver is exactly that, the driver. They have to concentrate on the road so you have the upper hand. This is how I look at it: My chances of getting bashed walking home from the pub are far greater than anything ever happening when I hitch. I hitch every second day, twice, and I have no issues. But again, I suppose that's because I'm a guy. Women would attract trouble (but also would get a shit tonne more ride offers).

Where do you live/work?

In NZ!,
Its not that big, 1000Km x 300Km (x2)
Sorry don't really want to say.

Oh in NZ theres a smelly Hungarian Hitchhiker out there.
I saw him a on a TV show (Lyn of Tawa) first & then on the road.

The second time I saw him I picked him up, asked where he had been, he gives me a bit of a run down on the last 2 days.

The third time I saw him I relised what this guy is doing is Hitching thru NZ continuously.
Getting lifts all the time, not caring where he goes, probably sleeping in a tent every night. The getting up & hitching again & again...

So I ignore him now.

A Hint for chicks is to TXT the rego plate of the car to someone each time you get a lift.
Another is to wave friendly like to the next truckdriver coming the other way & say "Oh thats ?Bob? he knows my father etc etc"

A Hint for chicks is to TXT the rego plate of the car to someone each time you get a lift.
Another is to wave friendly like to the next truckdriver coming the other way & say "Oh thats ?Bob? he knows my father etc etc"

That's really good advice actually. Will definitely try that.

Oh and something EVERY one should know: It's not fucking funny to stop for hitchers then take off just as they get to the car. Will actually throw at rock at the next car to do that.

Bring a towel.

remember your towel!

Well...again, I think that that's just common sense, no?

some of us lack that obscure trait called 'common sense'...

7-avoid major cities, slums

common sense, but not mentioned enough. this is the USA. you do not want to hitch through the bad part of LA. nuff said

how is it 'common sense' to 'avoid major cities'. Are people less likely to let you hitchhike due to them more likely being commuters to the suburbs and city center? People more likely to arrest you? something else? Explain.....

And define 'major city'. I mean does it have to be anything larger than say, New Orleans? Is there a certain size limit you can determine to say 'too big to go to'? Is it a population thing? How 'spread out' it is? (Houston is known for being a spread out metro ares though the pop is around 5 million total, 6th largest US metro area...

so where should I stop at?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_metropolitan_areas

how is it 'common sense' to 'avoid major cities'. Are people less likely to let you hitchhike due to them more likely being commuters to the suburbs and city center? People more likely to arrest you? something else? Explain.....

And define 'major city'. I mean does it have to be anything larger than say, New Orleans? Is there a certain size limit you can determine to say 'too big to go to'? Is it a population thing? How 'spread out' it is? (Houston is known for being a spread out metro ares though the pop is around 5 million total, 6th largest US metro area...

so where should I stop at?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_metropolitan_areas

Technicalities are cute. But not nearly as cute as reading comprehension.

He was merely saying not to try it in the slums.

Technicalities are cute. But not nearly as cute as reading comprehension.


he said avoid major cities, slums. That means avoid the major cities AND the slums. If he meant 'avoid the slums in major cities' he would have said 'STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THE GHETTO' or something similar....or I thought it odd

He was merely saying not to try it in the slums.:):) thank you for explaining it :):)

Technicalities are cute. But not nearly as cute as reading comprehension.

He was merely saying not to try it in the slums.

Lawl, this is kinda funny because Star Wars Fan suffers from some form of autism and sometimes he has these weird obsessive bouts during which I picture his typed words as him talking really fast and uncontrollably, with spit spewing from his lips. Anyway, I remember he posted a dumb thread in SG a few days ago listing all of the major metro areas in the US and talking about them like a crazy. I don't know if this thread started that or if it was the other way around but haha.

Lawl, this is kinda funny because Star Wars Fan suffers from some form of autism

Aspergers specifically, yes. And I don't 'suffer' from it either :P

and sometimes he has these weird obsessive bouts during which I picture his typed words as him talking really fast and uncontrollably, with spit spewing from his lips.I do type that way sometimes, but there have been timesI have done that.

When speaking, if I get to that mode; more often I lecture more and see that I'm in a monotone voice so I try to change the pitch to stress certain parts of it. It also helps to speak louder due to stuttering lol.

Anyway, I remember he posted a dumb thread in SG a few days ago listing all of the major metro areas in the US and talking about them like a crazy. I don't know if this thread started that or if it was the other way around but haha.This thread started me about thinking of posting that thread about Us Metro areas actually, correct. the bolded part I did. It made me think about that again (been reading about some cities for a while)

Be prepared to blow the truck driver. Them's the rules of the road.

George Carlin FTW

lawl, but now that you've settled down, Star Wars Fan, do you not think posting a thread listing hundreds of metro areas off of wikipedia is pointless and boring?

lawl, but now that you've settled down, Star Wars Fan, do you not think posting a thread listing hundreds of metro areas off of wikipedia is pointless and boring?

I was hoping we could have a discussion on them. I also pointed out how New Orleans was pwned (I specifically focuses on that on how their pop decreased 22% from 2006 to 2007 and loled.

that and discussion on how the cities looked, the colors, etc.

see Shanghai a an example.
http://photos16.flickr.com/23513007_200f67f44f.jpg

besided they could have ignored it XD

lol, assburgers

lol, assburgers

what about asspies? :p

what about asspies? :p

Doesn't have the same kind of pronunciation. Though if it did that would be win.

Doesn't have the same kind of pronunciation. Though if it did that would be win.

lol k

lol, assburgers

Hahahaha.

You have to make conversation, perhaps tell them a story or two, and shut up if they ask.

That said, don't look like a hobo (my first hitchhiking I was dressed in train-hopping (hobo) gear), small towns (like nowhere PA) are more likely to get you picked up than interstates, a map is always good to have, and I'd recommend a knife (for everything, including security).


Fun story: Once out of the hundreds of times my pastor went hitchhiking he had a guy pick him up and tell him how he was gonna rape him and start waving a gun.... so popped the dudes eye out and bailed. So military training could be good too, as well as hitchhiking in the morning/daylight hours.

Ass , gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.
Very true.

I picked up a hitch hiker last year and he stuck his willy in my bum :)

^ lol :)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hitchhiking-how-to-from-a-man-with-2000-miles-und/

hehe

watch jay and silent bob lol, they have the rules of the road on there :D:D