Road trips make for great family memories, but a breakdown can turn one into a stressful ordeal fast. A little road trip car maintenance before you leave can prevent most of the trouble before it starts. Here are a few simple checks to help your trip go smoothly.
Check Your Tires Before You Go
Tire problems are one of the most common reasons drivers end up calling for help on the highway. A few precautions can prevent most of them. Always inflate your tires to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI before leaving. You’ll usually find that number on a sticker inside the driver’s door frame or in the owner’s manual, not on the tire itself. While you’re checking pressure, look over each tire for cracks, tears, or bubbles in the sidewall. Have any of these replaced right away, since they’re a warning sign of a coming flat.
Be mindful of how much you load into the vehicle, too. An overloaded car puts extra stress on your tires, which can cause them to overheat and blow out on the road, especially in hot weather. Check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s maximum weight rating before packing the camping gear. Spreading heavier items evenly and keeping the trunk from bottoming out helps protect your tires and suspension on longer drives.
Pack a Basic Repair Kit
Small problems can often be fixed on the spot if you have the right tools with you. Before you leave, put together a simple repair kit with a socket wrench, a couple of screwdrivers, some duct tape, and a quart of oil. It doesn’t take up much space, and it can save you a long wait for help over something minor.
It’s also worth packing a flashlight, jumper cables, and a portable phone charger. None of these take up much room, but they can make a roadside stop far less stressful if something does go wrong.
Give Your Car (and Yourself) a Break
Vehicles tend to break down when they’re pushed past their normal limits, which happens more often on long highway stretches. Driving at very high speeds for hours at a time increases wind resistance and makes your engine work much harder than cruising at a more moderate speed. Varying your speed and taking breaks helps ease that strain, and it gives you a chance to stretch and stay alert behind the wheel.
If you’re planning a multi-day trip, build in a stopover instead of trying to drive it all in one stretch. Yes, it adds time to your trip, but it gives your vehicle, and you, a real chance to rest. That’s usually a better trade than risking an unexpected delay from an overheated engine or an exhausted driver. This kind of road trip car maintenance doesn’t take much time, but it makes a real difference. Checking your tires, packing a few basic tools, and pacing your drive are simple habits that go a long way toward avoiding a breakdown.
Check Your Auto Policy Before Your Road Trip
A car breakdown can turn a road trip into a headache, especially if you’re unprepared for it. By building these habits into your road trip car maintenance routine, you can spend your trip making memories instead of waiting on repairs. And don’t forget, roadside assistance can be added to most auto insurance policies for extra peace of mind on the road. Give an AIS Insurance Specialist a call at (888) 772-4247 to talk through your travel plans and make sure you have the protection you need, especially when you’re far from home.
The information in this article is obtained from various sources and offered for educational purposes only. Furthermore, it should not replace the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms, and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
