The holidays have officially begun and that means it’s time for a getaway – road trip style!
To help make sure your road trip is a success, Imperial Auto have given us a checklist with everything you need for a perfectly planned holiday drive.
- Do a pre-travel car check
It’s a good idea to do a few quick checks to make sure your car is road trip ready. It will only take a few minutes but could save you a lot of trouble. Here’s what you need to check:
- Fluids (oil, break-fluid, water and coolant) – this is an under-the-bonnet check.
- Leaks – following the under-the-bonnet checks of the fluid levels, it is a good idea to check for any leaks from various components and hoses underneath your car.
- Lights – check all globes, including break lights.
- Wipers – ensure the wipers are clearing the water from the windscreen.
- Wheels and tyres – check the tread and the pressure. Also check the steering to see if the vehicle pulls to one side.
- Spare wheel – make sure you have one and that it is properly inflated. Also ensure you have a jack, and spanner and while you are at it add in jumper cables.
- Brake pads – the composite inner part needs to be above 5mm thick. Also make sure your handbrake is working correctly.
- Ensure vehicle registration is up to date.
- Eliminate towing troubles
If you are towing a caravan or trailer be sure to tow the line with these checks:
- Ensure compatibility between your vehicle and the trailer or caravan you’re towing.
- Make sure it is roadworthy and that you have the correct license.
- Check that all the necessary components are in place and that they are in good working order. These components include: the tongue, the hitch, the coupler, safety chains and brake and lights systems.
- Driving with a trailer or caravan generally requires increased concentration. Ensure you have enough space to overtake and remember that making turns are more difficult.
- Have a plan
Although throwing caution to the wind and driving off into the sunset spontaneously sounds romantic and fun… planning things out is a much safer option. Here are some things to consider:
- Decide what route you are going to take and work out estimated travel time. Make sure you know the directions.
- Plan what time of day would work better for you to travel.
- Plot rest stops and decide if you need to sleep overnight somewhere to break up the trip.
- Pre-book overnight accommodation.
All checked? Happy road tripping!
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