If you’re about to embark on a road trip, whether you’re traveling solo or with a group of your friends or family, having a safe vehicle should be your top priority. While you should always want a safe vehicle, driving for long distances and at high speeds can make this even more vital. So to ensure that you’re able to keep yourself and everyone else out there on the road safe during your travels, here are three tips for readying your car for a road trip.
Check All Your Fluid Levels
When checking that your car is safe, one of the first places you should look over is your engine. If you know your car has had problem areas before, make a special effort to double-check those areas and ensure that everything’s running how it should be. Additionally, Alex Leanse, a contributor to Popular Mechanics, recommends that you always check all your fluid levels before you hit the road for a long trip. See that the levels for things like oil, your radiator, brake fluid, power steering, transmission, and your windshield wipers are all where they should be. If something looks low, make sure you top it off and do a little more investigating to make sure you’re not leaking this fluid from somewhere.
Look At Your Tires
Another area that’s vital for the proper function of your car is your tires. Without properly inflated and functioning tires, you put yourself and every other person on the road at risk of being involved in a car accident with you. It’s easier than you might like to think to get a flat tire or a blowout that could make it nearly impossible for you to retain control of your car. To keep this from happening to you, Jeff S. Bartlett, a contributor to Consumer Reports, checking the tire pressure in all tires, including your spare. You should also look for signs of wear and tear, like lose of tractions, rubbing, baldness, cracks, and more.
Consider Getting A Professional Trip Check
If you’ve looked at everything you can think of to ensure your car’s running well but you’re still feeling a little uneasy, Amanda Thomas, a contributor to Quick and Dirty Tips, recommends that you should consider getting a professional trip check before you hit the road. By taking your car into a professional mechanic and getting everything looked over, they’ll be able to tell you if there’s anything you missed or anything that should be addressed before you start on your travels. Make sure you go to a mechanic you trust so that you can feel confident in your vehicle once you leave their shop.
Before you leave on your next road trip, consider using the tips mentioned above to ensure your vehicle’s ready for all that time spent driving.
