What could be more enjoyable than a road trip to unwind and get away from the hassles of everyday life? Tag a few friends along and you are in for an epic time!
That said; you do need to prepare your car for the same because trust us, you do not want that car to break down in the middle of nowhere forcing you to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get it back on the road.
At www.garagedeed.com, you will get to find out what you need for such trips but right now, we want to talk about preparing your car for a long road trip, and here is the checklist.
A Complete Checklist to Prepare your Car for a Long Road Trip:
- Get the Car Analyzed
Your car may look and feel fine as you are driving it but that doesn’t mean that you can overlook the importance of having it assessed.
Simply get a mechanic to do a general inspection of the car and while doing that, they are likely to identify issues that you would have otherwise ignored. The mechanic will look at the condition of your car’s body, windows, tires, lights, and anything else that may be unusual.
- Check under the Bonnet
Most motorists overlook the need to check the fluid levels in their cars before embarking on long trips which is quite dangerous if you ask us.
You need to know your coolant level and top up if you are low. You may also have to fix leaks if there are any.
Another thing that needs to be checked is the brake fluid because if you are low on that, then your car is not safe to drive.
- Check for Leaks under the Car
After checking and ensuring that your fluid levels are okay, you then want to check underneath your car for any leakages.
If you see coolant or oil spots on the floor, you may want to enlist the services of a technician to check what could be wrong and correct it.
If you see some oil spots or coolant (also called an antifreeze), which has a shiny texture and appears just like oil, on the ground of your parking structure, have your vehicle checked by a technician.
- Ensure that Belts are Functional
Car belts can make the difference between life and death in case you get into an accident. In that regard, you want to check that all the belts in your car are in perfect working condition.
Check for things like cracks, damage, or wear and get replacements if you need to.
- Check the Engine
The engine is the heart of any vehicle and as you can imagine, if it shuts down, then you no longer have a trip.
Therefore, you want to get a mechanic to check whether the engine is in great condition for your trip. They will check for leakages or freezing and take care of it.
- Safety Precautions
There is no telling what could happen in the course of your trip. You or somebody else may get injured or fall sick.
If and when that happens, you want to have a first aid box at hand to arrest situations that would otherwise be critical.
Ensure that the first aid box has things like painkillers, mosquito repellent, and antihistamines as well.
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- Get a Spare Wheel
Any seasoned driver will tell you that getting punctures can happen when you least expect it. You do not need to take chances if you are going on a road trip far away from home or civilization.
In that regard, you want to check that your spare tire is in good condition or get one if you do not have it already. Still, on that, ensure that you have a spanner and jack because how else are you going to change your tire in case you need to?
- Put your Documents in Order
By documents, we mean your insurance cover, driver’s license, and any fees that you will need to pay along the way.
This way, you won’t have issues with authorities along the way.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you go, you are all set for your road trip if you have done all the things we have mentioned here.
Remember to take your time to learn routes if you are going to a new place, we don’t want you getting lost.
