Before heading out on a road trip, you need to make sure that your car is going to handle the rigors of the road. After all, there is no road trip if your car is not going to make it to your destination. Road trips can be a lot of fun, but you have to take some safety precautions when driving and also doing some routine maintenance beforehand.
It doesn’t matter if your car is new or has a few miles under the hood. It needs to be inspected and there need to be some precautions taken. Are you sure that your car fluids are ok? Is your insurance up to date?
Don’t take anything for granted and make sure your car is up to snuff. In this article, we will go over several of these precautions to take ahead of time to make your road trip unforgettable for the right reasons.
1 – Check insurance and warranty
When you are on the road for hours a day, things are much different than commuting to work or heading to the grocery store.
These miles can do a number on your car and even when it is new, you can end up with some problems. Make sure that you have roadside assistance from your insurance or sign up for AAA before heading out. When you are far from home, even a dead battery can get expensive.
If you don’t have an extended warranty, look into getting one for older cars if yours has expired. Read some Endurance warranty reviews, for instance as this can save you a lot of money when you have a problem on the road that requires some repairs.
Long hours driving can make decision-making problematic. If you do end up in an accident, you’ll need to have the right insurance to cover you. Call your insurance company before heading out to make sure you have the proper coverage.
2 – Do an inspection
Taking your car to a mechanic to check out before you go away is never a bad idea. If you already have some servicing that needs to be done according to your F150 manual then this is a good time to get them done. At the same time, they can take a look to make sure everything is in good working order.
If you would rather not pay a mechanic then you can do some of the inspection process yourself. Check all of the fluids to make sure that everything will work properly. The brake fluid is very important as a small leak or low fluid can end up being a major problem later on.
Also, your tire pressure is very important. Check your manual to see what the proper tire pressure should be and then use a gauge to check. Add or release some air depending on what you find.
3 – Inspect the belts
A broken timing belt while on a road trip is a quick way to end your vacation prematurely. Make sure it has been replaced if it is past the recommended mileage. When it is not yet due to be changed, you should make sure that there is no wear and tear on it.
