Who doesn’t like to take a road trip? Summer vacations open up many great destinations, and going by car gives you a chance to stop and see the sights on the way. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it’s great! But there’s nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.
First: Make Sure Your Car is Working Right
You can’t always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. The most important thing is to make sure that car repair items are a part of your road trip planning. Schedule a trip inspection to help you prepare your vehicle for your big adventure.
- Tire pressure and tread condition
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid check
- Transmission fluid check
- Washer and wiper condition and fluids
- Belts and hoses
- Air conditioning
- Headlights
All the items mentioned are part of any good vehicle maintenance plan. These are things that you want to take care of anyway, but they all become more key as you plan for your trip.
They will always save you bucks in the long run and may prevent inconvenient and pricey delays on your trip. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss the world’s largest ball of string, would you?
Next: Pack What You Need for the Trip
Make a road trip checklist (and check it twice) so you have all you need for your trip. You should consider more than just clothes and personal items, because you’ll want to have a safe trip. Take a travel kit with you that contains things like jumper cables, water, your AAA emergency road-services membership card, flares, a charged mobile phone, and other items.
Consider the weather when you’re packing that kit, too, and pack a blanket and some rain gear.
You want your vacation to be as free as possible from emergency breakdowns. Start your road trip planning by scheduling your vehicle trip inspection with Metro Motor. Let us help reduce the probability of car trouble as you hit the open roads!
Vehicle care information made available by Metro Motor is presented as helpful advice for general maintenance and should not be construed as instructions for at-home vehicle service. Be sure to consult your owner’s manual and a licensed, professional mechanic for diagnostics and repair.