Preparing Your Car for a Summer Road Trip

Summertime is a great time to get out of your hometown and see something different. Whether you are planning a grand tour of the United States, a camping trip a few hours away, or a trip to visit the grandparents, each kind of road trip has one thing in common: your car needs to be prepared. Here are some things that you can do to make sure that your car is ready for your summer road trip:

Check the Tires

Before you leave on your summer road trip, it's important to make sure that your tires are in tip-top shape. Don't make the mistake that I did: once, when I left on a drive across the United States, I needed to get new tires, but I didn't have the money to buy new ones. One of the tires ended up popping along the interstate in Louisiana, which caused my car to slam into a guard rail and catch on fire. On the last major road trip that I took in 2009, my tire suddenly went flat at one of the campgrounds that I was staying at; we had to put the spare on, then find a store, in an unfamiliar town, that would sell a tire to me. This year, we noticed that two of my tires could be replaced, and we are replacing them before we leave.

Check the Oil

Another way to prepare your car for a long drive is to check the oil. If you're going to be driving a long distance, you'll probably want to get the oil changed shortly before you leave, even if your oil has a little life left in it. Who wants to get an oil change while on vacation? This isn't something that you want to avoid, as a car without engine oil won't go too far.

Gas Money

Another essential item to have on your road trip is gas money. On a day trip, filling up your tank in the morning should do, but if you are driving across the country, you'll want to make sure that you have enough gas money to get home again. If you're low on funds, you might be able to find a rest area to sleep in, but there is no free substitute for gas money. Since gas prices fluctuate, you may want to pad the budget a little bit, so you don't run out. The one good piece of news is that you are driving on the interstate on your road trip, your car will probably get fairly good gas mileage.

Water

If you're going to be driving through hot areas, you'll probably want to pack some extra water in your car. There are some stretches of road where the nearest gas station is miles away; you do not want to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere without water. Bring plenty of water for everybody in your car to drink, plus a little bit extra in case your radiator needs any (although if you are picky about the water you drink, water for your radiator doesn't necessarily have to be water you would drink).

No matter where you are going, it is important to make sure that your car is in top shape before you leave your house. By taking care of your car before you leave, you'll minimize your chances of being stranded out in the middle of nowhere while on vacation.