The holiday season is nearly upon us, and for many, the excitement starts with the road trip to your vacation destination. Road tripping is fun … however, if you are unprepared, they can take a nasty turn for the worst.
In reality, a road trip needs careful planning with a number of things taken into consideration. Check out this road trip checklist from Imperial Auto!
First things first:
- 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 brake 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
If you have no idea how to check these things – or if you know your vehicle is needing a bit of a service rather book it into your nearest reputable service centre.
- 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
- Ensure 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
- Don’t forget to remember
When you are making your list of what clothes and holiday essentials to pack – make a separate list of these important road trip travel necessities:
- Valid driver’s licence
- Valid vehicle registration
- Money for toll gates
- Petrol card
- Music
- Cell phone charger
- Items to entertain the kids
- Refreshments
- Extra water
- First aid kit
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