The summer road trip is a cornerstone of the classic coming-of-age film formula. Contrary to what the movies tell you, the average age of people on summer road trips is 35.
Another common plot point in any road trip movie is the car, which constantly breaks down at some point in the film. This trope is more accurate. While chances are that your vehicle will get through the whole trip, any time you use your car for an extended period, you risk some malfunction.
We’ll offer some advice on how to get your car ready for a road trip so that breakdowns don’t happen.
1. Check the Fluids
An automobile is a complex machine requiring specific amounts of fluids to work properly. While filling up every fluid before a road trip is unrealistic, taking a few minutes to check car fluids can be a great start.
Each fluid has a specific function, and having too little of them can cause serious problems. For instance, failing to change your oil will cause it to be less effective as a lubricant. Parts of your engine will rub and scrape against each other, and the engine will corrode due to the unmanaged heat.
2. Inspect Tires
One of the most obvious and straightforward to manage parts of road trip preparation is checking your tires. Flat or low tires reduce the car’s performance and make it much harder to control.
The advantage of tires over fluids is that they’re much easier to replace in a pinch. You can find a replacement tire in almost every town in America, and they’re relatively easy to replace if you have the right equipment. For this reason, we recommend having a jack in your car.
3. Clean the Car
While having a dirty car won’t cause you any trouble on a road trip, it might not be that comfortable. If you’re the type who’s claustrophobic or bothered by unclean spaces, we recommend cleaning your car thoroughly before going on any trip.
In some severe cases, having a car with too much in it can affect performance because the vehicle has to carry more weight. Add the weight of all the passengers you’re taking, and you might spend much more on gas than you planned.
Readying Your Car for a Summer Road Trip
The idea of a summer road trip is enough to make anyone rush to pack, but it’s not something to do on impulse. In addition to snacks, driving shifts, sleeping arrangements, and similar issues, you must ensure your car is ready.
In the paragraphs above, we’ve discussed a few ways to prepare your car, but there’s always more to learn. We encourage you to read our blog to learn more about auto glass and auto glass repair.