Posted on March 4, 2016 by Lewis Automotive Inc in Maintenance
Whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway to ski on the slopes or a week long vacation to relax at the beach, your car will need to be prepped and ready to go for travel. It is important that your car gets some much required attention for maintenance before taking off. Below is the perfect ready-to-go checklist that will help you get ready for your next road trip!
Roadtrip Checklist:
Familiarize yourself with the car owner’s manual.
Take a look under the hood and check: hoses, belts, filters, fluids, and the battery.
Check your lights and mirrors for potential replacement and cleaning.
Take your car for a quick test ride. Turn off the radio and make note of any sounds your car may be making that you can get checked and fixed before traveling. This is also a good time to check the quality of your brakes.
Visit your local auto repair shop for a quick and easy maintenance check-up including an oil change, topping off fluids, and rotating and balancing your tires.
Clean out your car with any trash or unwanted items taking up luggage space. Also, it’s a good time to vacuum floors and wash inside windows.
Double check that your spare tire is inflated and your wheel wrench and jack are readily available.
Create an emergency kit consisting of a flashlight, map, first aid kit, gloves, trash bags, medicine and any other items you might need.
Pack other miscellaneous items such as blankets, pillows, water bottles, umbrella, device chargers, etc.
Fill up your car with a full tank of gas, preferably the night before so you can get on the road first thing in the morning.
Grab some spare change for potential toll roads you might pass.
Pack healthy and delicious snacks and drinks for the road! Double bonus – helps you save on the cost of eating out!
Bring some games and car activities to help the driving time go by quickly.
Create the perfect road trip playlist full of awesome tunes.
Pack your luggage with enough visibility to see out the rearview mirror through the back car window.
Keep in mind, it is always good practice to give yourself at least a week to prep your car for the traveling ahead and make any tune-up appointments needed. But once you’ve checked everything off the list, set your GPS with the correct coordinates and off you go. And just remember, the journey can be just as fun as the destination!
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