How to Prepare for a Long-Haul Road Trip

America is a nation of road-trippers. It has to be, given how long it takes to travel from town to town, let alone from state to state. Many of us feel like we’re road-trippers through and through when we make such a multi-hour trip, but this feeling dissipates the moment we’re faced with our true major cross-country journey.

There’s nothing as fun or free as taking to the open road, whether you’re making tracks to an event on the other side of the country or seeing the sights as a multi-stop tour with friends. This doesn’t change the fact that road-tripping can be dangerous, though – especially if you’re not adequately prepared. So how do you prepare for a long-haul trip?

Prepare Your Car Thoroughly Before the Trip

Let’s start with the car. Whether you’re driving an old jalopy or a brand-new straight-from-the-lot cruiser, you’ll need to go over some basic checks and maintenance before you even think about hitting your planned route. First off, make sure all your fluids are as they should be – we’re talking engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and even windshield washer fluid. Oil is especially important, being the lubricant that keeps your engine from going kablooey.

While you’re at it make sure to check your tires. These are the parts that touch the road, so you’ll want them to be happy before you go; check the depth of the treads and the tire pressure for each tire – and don’t forget to check the spare! Finally, check the battery’s charged, or even replace it entirely.

Carry a Comprehensive Toolkit

Pre-travel checks can save you a lot of heartache on the road, but there’s no predicting what could happen once you set off. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to build up a go-bag for emergencies and on-the-road maintenance. As well as personal safety supplies like bottled water, nutritional bars, and phone chargers, you should pack a good assortment of different tools for carrying out different tasks. 

For starters, you’ll need wrenches and socket wrenches for tire repairs or accessing parts of the engine. A screwdriver set is always a good thing to have too. You’ll also need a car jack and a crowbar. You can get all of these in one shot from a hardware supplier like RS Americas, so you don’t have to go to the trouble of thinking too carefully about each tool.

Know How to Handle Common Car Problems

Of course, having this stuff means knowing how to use it. You should devote some time, before your planned set-off date, to learning how to do the essential roadside repair jobs. Safely lifting your car and changing a tire is a simple enough job, but one which can cause issues or even severely injury you if done wrong. Ultimately, safety should be your priority when tackling this most gargantuan of trips!