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How to Prepare For a Road Trip
After carefully planning your weekend getaway, business trip or cross-country travels, it can be easy to forget that your vehicle needs some attention, too. Adding more miles to your trusty car may reveal hidden problems, problems that will be difficult to fix if you’re far away from your local mechanic. (Or dealership, like us at Spartan Toyota!) So before starting on your adventure, it’s a good idea to check off a few items from our lists to prepare for whatever happens on the road. We even included a few tips to help you stay focused and alert during your drive! So keep reading, and have safe travels this summer!
How to Prepare Your Car
1. Have a mechanic look over your car.
If you don’t have your vehicle inspected annually, this step is even more important. A multi-point inspection from a trustworthy mechanic is the best preventative measure you can take before taking off for your vacation. They’ll check your brakes, fluid levels and battery, among other things, and if you take advantage of our services under $20, you’ll get a quality inspection without a high price tag. It’s also a good idea to have your oil changed and windshield wipers replaced, if needed.
2. Inspect your tires.
And don’t forget to have them filled with the appropriate amount of air, according to your owner’s manual. Use the quarter test (detailed here) to check the tread of your tires, and if it’s getting close to the time to replace them, our tire center can supply and install them. It’s important that your tires are in good condition since they have the stopping power to prevent collisions and help in your vehicle’s gas mileage.
3. Don't overload your vehicle.
Not only is bringing less stuff easier to keep up with, but overloading your vehicle with bags, luggage and belongings will place a strain on the handling of your car. Plus, the visibility in your rearview mirror may be blocked, which is a huge safety hazard. If you’re having trouble fitting everything you’d like to bring along for the trip, consider renting one of our Toyota models so you can have the space you need.
How To Prepare Yourself
1. Charge your devices.
Bring the car charger along, too. Charging your devices the night before your trip is a great idea since you never know if you’ll need to conserve your car’s battery or gas. Your phone may drain its battery quickly when using data or searching for a signal, so a full charge is vital for necessary functions like navigation or placing emergency calls.
2. Bring plenty of supplies.
Make room for your emergency supply kit! A well-stocked kit will include a few bottles of water, flashlight and batteries, blankets or an extra jacket. If you have a first aid kit in your vehicle, double check the expiration dates on medications and stock up on bandages just in case. Bring jumper cables along, and ensure your tire changing tools are all there.
3. Bring snacks and coffee.
Caffeine is best to have for those early-morning starts or late-night travels (and even to prevent midafternoon drowsiness). Coffee is an obvious choice, but there’s also tea, chocolate, energy or soft drinks that can help. Roll down the windows or blast the A/C if you find yourself drifting off. If you’re truly in a tough spot, stop the car and take a nap.
4. Bring a GPS.
A huge perk of owning a GPS is that it doesn’t rely on the internet to work, which means if your phone loses signal, you’ll still have accurate navigation. Connect your GPS before starting your trip so a mid-drive scramble won’t distract you from the road.
5. Stay safe.
You know this one. When possible, travel with friends and family and never text and drive. We hope you have a safe time on the road!
If you need your vehicle inspected or repaired before taking a grand family vacation, come see us at Spartan Toyota at 5701 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Lansing, MI 48911. We look forward to serving our customers from Williamston, DeWitt, Jackson, Brighton and Mount Pleasant.