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Who loves a good road trip? I know I do. We grew up taking road trips to save money. Playing the car ride game of license plate alphabet, and for kids today it would be a handheld game or cellphone.

Be prepared, you won’t be alone on the road. Many families will be joining you, as they avoid air travel due to Covid-19. Having a safe car for your road trip is a priority for a successful trip.

There is so much planning for the trip. We plan the itinerary, hotels and fun, but do we stop and remember the most important part. We need to make sure our vehicle is also ready for the trip. If your vehicle is not then that dream road trip could end up being a terrible disaster.

So what are some things to think about before setting out on this road trip? Lets have a look at a few things that we think are important.

Have Your Car Serviced

Oil Change

When was the last time your car had an oil change? This is a service that should be done every 3,000/5,000 miles. Most oil changes come with all of your fluids being checked, but if not it is important to get them checked.

These would be windshield washer fluid, antifreeze and filters. As the mechanic is changing your oil they could see other potential hazards. Your mechanic could even help to prevent a road side disaster.

Tires

Your next step is your tires, you need to have those tires checked for pressure and make sure they have enough tread to get you where you want to go. It is preferable to check the tire pressure while they are cold. Poor tire pressure will effect your fuel economy. Spend some extra time on those tires and not in your gas tank.

Tire tread can be checked with a penny. Insert the penny upside down in between the tread. If you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head then the tread is worn low enough to need replacements. Since you are there looking at the tires, you can also check for uneven wear. Uneven tire wear means that the tires need to be rotated.

Belts and Hoses

Engine belts and hoses are very important when it comes to keeping your car’s systems working properly. Your cars electrical, power steering and cooling systems only work when your belts and hoses are in good repair. It is important to have them inspected, to determine if any are frayed or cracked.  Your belts should also be tightly installed.  Lastly, make sure your hoses are checked for any leaks or drips.

Battery

It’s important to check your battery as well. The connections should be tight and corrosion free. If they have corrosion they should be cleaned with a wire brush. If this is not something that you have done before, you should have a professional clean off the corrosion.

Brakes

Lastly, check your brakes. It they are squealing have them checked before your road trip. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Squealing can mean worn brake pads.

Emergency/First Aid Kit

Just like we plan our clothes for our trip we need to plan for the unexpected. Maybe we won’t need any emergency/first aid supplies and our road trip will be uneventful, that is what we all want. But I like to be prepared.

What are things that you feel are important? We make sure to have our jumper cables, spare tire and car jack. One thing we’ve had for years is a valid AAA plan. That allows for our vehicle to be towed, a gallon of gas or help changing a tire.

We also have a flash light, batteries and our handy first aid kit with all its supplies. We carry our own small pharmacy of supplies as well. No one wants to feel like they need medicine and have to run to a store. Most times when you need Motrin you want it immediately.

Lastly, give the inside of your car a good cleaning and sanitizing. You will be spending many hours there and want to feel safe from any inside hazards. Bring those lysol wipes and hand sanitizer for times that you will be making stops for gas and food.

In closing, road trips can be a memorable way to travel, make it memorable by having your car road trip ready. Happy and Safe Travels.