Americans love road trips, especially during the summer. So many vacation spots are dotted around the country, and many people prefer to see the sights by driving instead of flying. The idea of taking a road trip fires the imagination and the excitement of discovery.
However, taking a road trip means more than getting your bags packed and making sure you have enough bottled water. You’ll depend on your car, SUV, or truck to drive you across the country. To make sure the journey is as smooth as possible, here are five things you should plan to do before you head out into the wild blue yonder.
1. Check the Tires
Do a quick visual scan of the tires. Do any of them look flat or low? Have you had problems with a tire losing air pressure lately? You want to ensure that your vehicle’s tires will last the trip. If you know how to do it, you can check the air pressure yourself and make sure the tires are inflated properly.
If a tire is over- or under-inflated, a number of problems can occur. The ride can be bumpier than it should, and the tires could wear out prematurely, overheat, and even experience a blowout. Your owner’s manual can tell you what the tire pressure should be, though it’s also usually inscribed on a sticker pasted to the chassis when you open the front driver’s door.
2. Go For a Drive and Check the Brakes
While it’s good to schedule an appointment with a mechanic before a road trip, checking beforehand for anything that seems off is a good idea. You’ll want to listen for any abnormal whirring, squealing, or grinding noises. You’ll also want to check that the brakes are working, all the lights within the cabin come on, and the vehicle changes gears smoothly.
Brakes failing on a road trip not only will cause a delay in your travels; it’s also a dangerous safety hazard. If the brakes feel off to you, mention this to your mechanic when you bring it in, along with anything else strange that you notice.
3. Check the Turn Signals and Headlights
Aside from making sure everything in the cabin works and the drive feels smooth, you must also ensure the lights outside of the vehicle are in working order. This means checking the headlights, turn signals, and brake lights. The last thing you want it s a ticket for failing to engage your turn signals while driving in an unfamiliar locale, or worse, getting into or causing an accident due to malfunctioning lights. Luckily, car lights are easy and cheap to replace if you notice any aren’t working.
4. Check the Fluids
There are a number of fluids to check in your vehicle before you start driving long distances, including the oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, and windshield washer fluid. Save yourself time and trouble by taking your car to the auto-care shop to have all of these fluids and other important systems checked.
5. Schedule an Appointment With Your Mechanic
Any maintenance you’ve been putting off should be done before the big trip. This means any oil changes, tire rotations or alignment, checking the brakes professionally, and checking for tire-tread wear. Inform your mechanic of any issues you’ve noticed with your vehicle before you get out on the road.
Have Fun
With your vehicle in working order, you can enjoy a fun, safe trip. Now all that’s left is to make sure you have plenty of snacks, water, clean clothes, and everything you’ll need to enjoy your destination. Make sure you’ve got your hotel stays lined up and all your emergency gear, and then head out to experience America’s favorite summer pastime, the road trip.
