How to get your Car ready for a Road Trip?

Everyone is excited about the different seasons, be it summer, winter, or monsoons. Regardless of the season, when you’re planning a road trip, it is best to include scheduled maintenance for your vehicle as well. Just like you need to be prepared for your road trip, so does your vehicle and having it completely checked will simply ensure that you do not face any problems that could have been avoided.

The first thing to do is to completely clean your vehicle, which includes taken out even the pieces of paper and left over stuff. To ensure it is thoroughly clean, get a vacuum cleaner and use it to make the vehicle spotless. There are two reasons for cleaning the vehicle; one is to be more comfortable in the vehicle and second is nothing hazardous is lying around. This would be a good time to lift the mats and check for things that may have wandered underneath, and while their out, give them a good scrub and wash.

The next step is to take your vehicle for a complete maintenance checkup, preferably to a certified or known dealer. This comprehensive check should include filling the vehicles fluids, checking the air pressure in the tires, and most importantly checking your spare tire as well. If you don’t have one, this would be a great time to invest in one. Navigation is critical to a good road trip, and getting lost in unfamiliar land will simply get you in another adventure.

With a good navigation system, you can be rest assured that you are on the right track at all times. Due to their increasing popularity, GPS navigations systems these days are reasonably priced, and usually come with an easy installation process. If you have a GPS system in another vehicle that you aren’t using, you can always make the switch to the vehicle that you will be taking on the road trip. For those who do not want to invest in a standalone GPS navigation system due to the cost factor or minimal use, a GPS application for mobile phones is a great choice. These applications are easy to use, and you simply need to key in your location and let the satellites take you to your destination.

A freezer is a great accompaniment for both short and long road trips and helps saves petrol. By packing daily needs such as water, juices and sandwiches, you minimize the number of stops hence you stop fuel usage when starting your vehicle. However, trips to the bathroom are important, and this could be the time to reload your car cooler. Also makes sure you have small garbage in the vehicle in case any of your passengers get car sick or the likes.

Maintenance of the exterior of the vehicle equally important as the interior, and there are some crucial components that can’t be ignored. Many drivers drive even after one headlamp has burnt out, because they feel that they safe as long as they’re visible, but there are two on every vehicle for a reason. In terms of lights, many vehicles are fitted with fog lights and the reason is not to enhance the exterior aesthetics of the vehicle, but to increase visibility for you and other vehicles in inclement weather. Checking these aspects of the vehicles should be done regularly and not just before a road trip. Other lights to check are brake lights, emergency lights and of course signal indicators. It is highly recommended that to carry a first aid kit or survival kit, which prove handy in case of an emergency.

The above are just a few things to check before taking a road trip, and if you’re unsure about anything, then seek professional help.