![]() The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. She is currently working on a travel memoir. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Also, be sure to communicate your travel plans to others.There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. This could include things such as jumper cables, car jack, flares, flashlight, first aid kit, water, blankets, toolkit, etc…Try to think ahead and have an emergency plan including phone numbers of friends, relatives, and/or towing companies that can help you out along your journey if needed. Gas: Although, this might seem like a no brainer, I’ve traveled with people whose gas warning light came on 30 miles out of town, so this goes on the list.Įmergency kit: It’s always a good idea to have emergency supplies in your vehicle. Make sure you have all required documents in/on the vehicle, and don’t forget to keep your AAA or car insurance contact info handy. Also take care of any warning indicator lights that have come on.ĭocuments: Check that the tags and registration are current on your vehicle as well as insurance coverage. If the time is coming near, have the maintenance performed before a long road trip. Maintenance: In addition to an oil change, check your vehicle maintenance records to see when it is due for its upcoming inspection. Better yet, have a professional do the looking. Harsh temperatures can cause them to crack over time and become virtually useless when needed.īelts/hoses: Get under the hood as best you can to look for cracks, drips, leaks and the like. Wipers: Check the condition of the windshield wipers. Windshield: If you’ve been ignoring that chip on the windshield, now is the time to get it filled before it turns into a worrisome crack on your vacation. Repair any bulbs or fuses that are out before hitting the road. Lights: Have a friend or family member help you check that all vehicle lights are functioning properly (brake, reverse, turn signals, brights, flashers etc…). (Note: if you're traveling somewhere cold, use wiper fluid that won't freeze.) Don't forget to check your spare tire.Įngine Fluids: Make sure your engine has sufficient levels of all its fluids including (but not limited to) oil, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc… If your vehicle will be due for an oil change soon, it's good idea to get that taken care of before hitting the road. Be sure your tires have sufficient tread. Have any such things removed and patched. Tires: Check the air pressure of all vehicle tires.(The recommended air pressure for your vehicle is usually listed inside the driver’s side door and/or owner’s manual.) Also be sure to check the condition of the tires.It’s easy to have a nail or such stuck in your tire without even knowing. If you aren't used to vehicle maintenance, this checklist could help you spot problems that are simple to fix, but could be disastrous if left unaddressed. If you've got a road trip on the horizon, read on to see how you can start preparing your vehicle now. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. The last thing you want on a road trip, is for your vehicle to be broken down on the side of the road chocked full of disgruntled familymembers.and that's the best scenario when it comes to car trouble.Īvoid hazards and inconveniences by using the Road Trip Safety Checklist before heading out of Dodge. You can download and print the PDF version at the end of this post. So I called on all my resident experts to help me create the extensive Road Trip Safety Checklist. I learned a lot about vehicle safety from my dad who was always meticulous about inspecting his vehicle before a road trip. ![]() That's probably because I was raised by parents who loved to go on road trips. If you've been following me for a while (especially on instagram), you know I love to travel.
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