Vehicle Check Before A Long Road Trip - Vol.223
Getting stuck in-between cities on a long road trip is nothing to look forward to. It can be inconvenient and even dangerous to seek help in the middle of nowhere from unfamiliar strangers. That's why it's important to always perform a vehicle check before taking a long road trip to make sure that this unfortunately event doesn't happen to you.
The Battery
The average lifespan of a car battery is typically about 4 years under normal driving conditions. That time can greatly depending on whether or not you live in a part of the world that is characterized by extreme weather patterns. All it takes to check a battery to make sure that it is proper running condition is small handheld device known as a voltmeter. The voltage on the device should read anywhere from 12.4 to 12.7 volts to be in good working condition.
Tire Pressure
One of the most common problems that motorists run into on long trips is to blow a tire. The intense heat generated by the road in addition to the constant pounding of hundreds of miles can wear down already problem-ridden tires and leave you stranded. Although most cars are equipped with a spare tire somewhere on the vehicle, these tires are usually only designed for temporary use and may not be able to get you to the next town if you are very far off.
Before leaving for your trip, use a penny to check the treads on the tire. Tires should always have more than 2/32" remaining to be considered safe for the road. Make sure that your tires meet these requirements and properly fill up your tires with air before leaving. Good tire pressure can not only help to keep your car on the road, but it can improve overall gas mileage on your vehicle.
Brake Pads
Proper safety depends on the ability to slow your car down in the event of an emergency. Check the brake pads on all four of your brakes and also check to see if your emergency brakes are in good working order. The last thing you want to have happen is for you to be driving down a steep hill when your brakes decide to go out.
Automotive Fluids
Underneath the hood you'll find a few different essential fluids required by your car to operate. The most important of which includes oil, transmission fluid, break fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid. If you don't know where all these compartments are, consult with your vehicles manual and top those off these fluids before leaving. While you are under the hood, you might also check the windshield wiper fluid so that incase it rains or you run into one or two bugs along the way, you'll be able to see.
Emergency Supplies
One thing that is often neglected in pre-trip inspections is to check to see if you have the right supplies in case of an emergency. That means that you should check to see if you have a jack in the car to change a tire, cones in case you break down, and spark plugs in case of an emergency. All these items might seem like overkill at first, but you'll be thankful you have them if something does happen.
Buy A Reliable Car
The longer you've owned your current car, the more likely you are to break down during a major drive. If your car is starting to get up there in miles, you might want to consider importing a car from our website PickNBuy24. We ship quality used vehicles from Japan to customers residing in Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean. Our vehicles will get you back on the road and restore you peace of mind next time you take a big trip.