Getting Road Trip Ready!

Summer is right around the corner and for lots of us, that means road trips. We just got back from one. It was quick, but it was fun and we got in a lot of things we wanted to do. Many people will be hitting the road for the summer. If you are, too, then you want to be prepared. Don’t forget the most important thing: If you aren’t renting a car, then you need to get your own road trip ready.

Have you checked your car recently?

I love a good road trip, but it can be scary if you aren’t ready for the weather conditions being thrown at you. Traveling through several state, or even just several terrains, can be vastly different. This is not the time to just “see how it goes”. You need to prepare. Now, I know the very basic of car maintenance. I can check my oil and put air in my tires and I could probably put on a spare if I was strong enough. I can even jump a car if need be, but that’s about it. It’s always smart to go get your car checked out before your trip. A licensed professional can do this for you, but they can also show you how to check it yourself, so you know when to come in and get the replacement parts you need. 

Is your car comfortable?

You may find your car fine for jaunts around town, but you’ll be spending hours at a time in it and may end up finding that it’s not the best for road trips. Several years ago, I got into an accident that totaled my car and I had to get a new (to me) one. When I test new cars, I always sit in the back seat to make sure there’s enough leg room, even if I never sit back there. This is especially important if you travel as a family. 

My new car is a Kia Soul, which gives us quite a bit more room to stretch out for long and short trips. It also gets a lot better gas mileage, so I can go farther on a tank of gas. That means road trips are more budget-friendly for me, in addition to being more comfortable. 

Are your brakes good?

If it’s taking a little more pressure than needed to stop your car or you hear some squealing when you slow down, those aren’t good things. You don’t want to find out your brakes are shot when you’re in the middle of nowhere. Just because I read about how to slow down a car on the highway when your brakes fail, doesn’t mean I want to have to use that information. Make sure you know when to get yours replaced.

Are your fluids topped off?

Don’t forget to check important fluids, because there’s nothing worse than ignoring crucial maintenance and then ending up either broken down, overheated or doing irreparable damage to something that then costs hundreds or thousands of dollars to replace, making your road trip totally not budget-friendly by the end. You can check all your car’s fluids yourself, so you know what needs to be taken care of before you head out…and remember, keep a large bottle of water (a two-liter or gallon jug) in your trunk for emergencies.

Do you have an emergency kit?

Want to read more tips for traveling worldwide on a budget? Check out my blog at Shereen Travels Cheap or find me on Facebook or Twitter. You’ll also find product and website suggestions, packing tips, current deals and a whole lot more to help you travel better for less!