With summer just around the corner, chances are you’re already dreaming about a fun summer road trip. Road trips are a great way to turn a vacation into something more, with the journey forming a large part of the adventure.
A successful road trip depends on your car not letting you down, which is why it’s important to take precautions. Prevent problems from affecting your road trip with the following tips.
Get your tires checked
Your tires can experience a lot of wear during a road trip, so you need to make sure that they’re in the best shape possible before you set off. Check your tires for signs of wear, and replace any tires that might be on their way out. It’s a good idea to pack a spare tire so that you can won’t need to delay your journey if you experience a puncture en route.
Check the electrics
Your car can suffer from many electrical problems that could put a dampener on your road trip. From faulty lights to sluggish air conditioning, you can prevent problems by testing all of the electrics in advance of your road trip. If you notice that something doesn’t quite seem right, get it checked out and repaired. It doesn’t hurt to keep some spare bulbs and fuses in your car in case you need to make some replacements.
Top your fluids
Running out of oil or other fluids is something that’s preventable, and shouldn’t be something that ruins your road trip. Lift up the hood, check that your oil, water, transmission, break and steering fluids are all at the right levels. Making some simple checks can save you a lot of grief later on, so make a list of everything that needs checking in advance of your trip. An auto repair specialist will be able to do this for you as part of a maintenance check. Remember to check the date of your battery too and replace it if it’s more than three years old.
Take some spare keys
It can be easy to lose your car keys, and doing so will leave you with some hefty fees to pay while on the road. It doesn’t hurt to invest in some extra keys and keep them in a purse, or your luggage in case you might need them.
Keep an emergency car kit
In the event of a breakdown, you’re going to need to know that you’ve got supplies on hand to see you through. Your emergency car kit should include some basic items like a torch, a first aid kit, jumper cables and other essentials like warm clothing, water and food supplies. Check you’ve got everything you need before you set off and remember to replace any used items along the way.
Planning the perfect road trip requires some essential checks before you go, but you also need to have a plan. Setting your course, deciding your where stops will be and set yourself a budget will all help to prevent problems that could turn your road trip into a disaster. Get planning and take all the right precautions to make for a successful road trip that you won’t forget.
