Travel Emergency Kit

Driving for road trips in the summer needs to be worry-free and smooth sailing to afford maximum fun. Before you pack up the car, check out these travel tips.

Check the tires and see that you put in all season or summer tires. Around a pound of tire pressure is lost each month from a standard tire so check the tires prior to leaving. Correct tire inflation is a must if tread separation and blowouts are to be avoided since ideal contact between road and tires is maintained.

Keep a close eye on fluids. Change the car oil if it has not been already. The owner manual for your vehicle specifies what the manufacturer recommends for the oil. Take a look under the hood and inside the radiator to see about the antifreeze and coolant mix. Temperature is regulated optimally by keeping the ratio of coolant to water steady at 50 to 50.  Give the entire car a front to rear bumper inspection. Bring the car over to a mechanic for inspection of the hoses and belts.

Make sure your wiper blades are still in tiptop shape and not over the average lifespan of one year. A car battery that is four or five years old must go straight to the repair shop to be looked at and assessed for reliability in the long drive ahead.

Your car should be equipped with an emergency kit. Keep clothes free of tire change dirt by covering them with a spare blanket and bring along emergency gear particularly first aid kits and flashlights plus some jumper cables and flares. Take with you extra pairs of gloves and paper towels along with some water and washer fluid plus non perishable foods but do not forget to bring tools such as screwdrivers and pliers especially wrenches.

Most people cram practically everything they can in the car when heading out for a road trip from coolers to CDs to suitcases and pillows. Our advice is to bring only what is necessary. Leave the shampoo bottle at home as there will be some at the hotel for you. Six or seven pairs of shorts is enough for the trip since there are washing machines at your destination place anyway.  When done picking out what you will bring pack them just so that they do not interfere with your view of the road.

Evening out the load is suggested but for stuff in pickups it would be best to have the heaviest ones located in the middle to minimize problems when unloading.  Road mishaps are primarily caused by a lethargic person at the wheel. Make a point of getting enough sleep before hunkering behind the wheel for a long drive. Beware of caffeine containing coffee as the buzz does not last and you soon are faced with a dopy feeling. Pull over often and if there are two of you driving switch every hour so you can rest.

People might view their small bladders as annoyances but they are actually the reason superhighway fatigue risks are lower since it causes them to make frequent stops to pee.  The constant driving can often get to people and they become impatient ending up with road rage incidents on the interstate. Heed this advice play nice. No one likes a road hog so do not be one and just let that speeder pass you plus do not tailgate. The roads would be a lot safer if people all just learned to get along. Consider these travel tips and your road trip in the summer is bound to be a success.

Originally published here.

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