Sharing your excitement with you as you are able to make this trip.someone else will have suggestions concerning your trip and oxygen.I have no tips being i dont drive.Have a blessed and safe visit.MJ

You can purchase an AC converter for your auto which will allow you to use you concentrator in your car, but you have to carefully check the amps/watts ratings and wiring. Cheaper converters are inadequate for long term use. We need to know more to provide better information.

Bottles are easy to transport. Just use common sense. Be careful of any bottles that have a handle valve instead of those requiring a wrench. You dont want them to be rolling around; they can open and thus leak.
Also note that every state has some kind of requirement for transporting bottled oxygen. For private use there is often at least a limitation as to number of bottles or total volume. In most cases Dont ask, dont tell is the rule.

However, if you are currently using a major oxygen supplier, they likely have contacts along your route and at your destination if your visit is for five days or more, they may be able to loan you a POC or have a loaner concentrator at your destination as well as exchange bottles as though you had never left home. I would suggest talking to them first.

Thank you MJ. That was so sweet. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
Sorry Gnott, I should have been more specific. I only need oxygen at night & with activity. Decided to take my concentrator because we're stopping overnight both ways and it just seems easier to take mine. About the tanks, I think my supplier told me to not carry them in the trunk. But it would be easier if I packed them in a box so they would not roll all over, than taking up floor space in the car. Because I guess my concentrator will have to go behind one of the seats. Can my concentrator go in the trunk if I can find a way to keep it from rolling? Thanks.

Forgot Gnott, the tanks are the wrench types.

The "at home concentrator" must be kept in an upright position when being transported. Just be sure that it is secured some way that it doesn't tip/drop. I see that you live in FL...Is it really very hot during Dec/Jan where you will ne traveling? If not too hot, then tanks can go in the trunk. Your box idea sounds good...otherwise towel/old blanket to keep them from rattling/ noisy on the road.

I have used my O2 supplier's Travel Dept. for 14 hr road trip. Supplier delivered a concentrator and 8 "E " tanks to replace 8 empty tanks. They also delivered an extra regulator gage/ washer/cart/and winch...all at no charge. This is certainly one of the advantages of using a nation-wide oxygen supplier. Apria and Lincare are the only ones that I know of...perhaps there are also other ones. And of course, I travel w/my own extra gadgets.

Will be repeating all of the above for a 3 hr trip/for several days during this holiday season.

BTW/ Only "catch" is that the O2 supplier requires 2 wks notice.

Enjoy your holiday trip.

Just wanted to mention that if you can handle it & have a good regulator, run at, say, 2 lpm instead of 2 lpm/cf. In this example cf means continuous flow - where the regulator is always blowing 2 liters per minute. The plain 2 setting only blows 2 liters per minute when you inhale. That setting can extend your tank time.

Gnott; I had a friend try the converter on a trip & it didn't work with a big concentrator.
really messed up her trip, as she hadn't made an alternative plan.
As you said it only works if car is running (or batteries drain fast) and knowing "specs" is very important).

SO;
I use my portable tank with "pulse regulator" while in the car.
a "C" tank lasts several hours on #2 pulse, which works for me just sitting. If i want to go longer I get a "D" or "E" tank that I put where ever is handy. Making sure it's secure if in an accident.
(i like mine near as I have to adjust for higher flow if crossing a high altitude mountain)
I don't travel as much as I used to, but when I do I feel more secure taking my own stuff.

I seatbelt the concentrator in the back seat like a passenger.
I take several 4 or 6 packs of my small backpack tanks (my company brings the B & C tanks in a cardboard carry box) in center of trunk so other things "packed" them in not to move.
I also take several E-tanks "just in case" for at night ( at 2LPM continuous flow an e-tank lasts about 4 hours; on pulse a looooong time).
the E-tanks i would wrap them in towels so they couldn't clank & also put them in middle of trunk with suitcases packed around them.

the point to me was packing any tanks so they couldn't clank & they couldn't "shift or roll" around.
i always centered them with suitcases & other stuff on the sides & back so IF i were to get in a wreck they still would be safe from back, sides & even top in case of car "roll over".

ps. my company also has the option to send tanks & concentrator ahead.
I have used thier "send ahead" service & it is nice, but they want 1 month advance notice so sometimes just easier to take my own stuff & either exchange tanks for fresh at destination or haul enough for the whole round trip)

also; I asked about leaving tanks in hot or freezing car. my delivery man said he packs van full every night for next day delivery and he leaves tanks in van in all weather so I don't worry about that aspect any more.

ps. here is a chart that gives duration of tanks both CF & pulse that may help you "plan" how many & what size may best suit your needs.
https://www.phc-online.com/O2-tank-duration_a/151.htm

I used to camp with no electricity & would take 2 E-tanks per night, to get me thru night at 2 continuous flow....i would set an alarm to wake up & change tanks in middle of night.

My mom puts the back seat down so the extra O2 is right behind her and my dad (the one on O2) . She gives him a new one or a half full one depending on where they are driving or how far. And she always has at least 3 extra tanks in the back just in case. She also brings the face mask too in addition to his cannula just in case. It's better to be overprepared than under prepared. She also brings all his meds in a bag for the day as well. If you're going for longer then I would bring double what you need. Or a couple days extra. Even if unnecessary, its nice to have extra. If you get anxiety I would bring your anxiety meds in the bag too. They bring extra xanax as well.

Enjoy your trip!!! HUGS.

Thank you all so much. As usual DS friends always come through! Y'all are the greatest. Thanks to all the technology we have today, I can search all day online and find all kinds of info, and I do appreciate all that knowledge. But practical experience combined with that knowledge is the best IMHO (as gnott would say).

So I have it all figured out now. Instead of having all that stuff on the floorboard behind us, I'm putting the concentrator on the seat with seat belt, thanks jarca. And, the small portable tanks in a box wrapped in towels in the trunk. With two women in the car traveling north and visiting for 8 days, I'm sure there will be plenty of stuff to pack around, on top, and in that box with the tanks!! So they'll be quite safe :). Wow jarca, you are the traveling expert, camping and everything. Sweet Lynn was right, you are amazing!

Wishing you all a safe, healthy, happy very merry Christmas! Big hugs.....
Joan

glad I could help.
Yes, I used to travel quite a bit for the 1st 3 years on 02.

Then I started having pain; 02 may slow me down, but my pain holds me back now days. People can see the canula, so they don't understand when I say that my pain keeps me from doing more than my 02 does.

I hope you have a wonderful trip & Merry Christmas :)