How to prepare your car for a road trip

Buy an atlas and a GPS. If you have an atlas make sure it is current. Everyone swears by GPS's these days, but a good atlas can get you out of a jam if your GPS fails. The last thing you want to do is get lost on your vacation.

Don't wait for the last minute! Make sure any major repairs are done. Either get under the vehicle yourself (If you can do it safely) or get your mechanic to put it up on a lift and do an inspection. This way you will have plenty of time, if there are any problems, to repair or have the vehicle repaired.

Check your tires. Make sure your tires are at the the proper pressure. Low pressure causes extra heat to buildup that can cause to a blowout at high speeds. There should be instructions for checking tire pressure in your owner's manual or ask your mechanic. You also need to take a good look at the tires, check the sidewalls and tread very carefully for foreign objects, cuts or bubbles. To check the tread wear, put a penny, with Lincoln's head pointing down, in one the treads of the tire. If you can see the space above Lincoln's head, you need new tires. Check where the tread meets the sidewall inside and out if they are wearing more on one side you need a wheel alignment...and a set of tires.

Spare tire. Check your spare, so you are sure it is inflated to the proper pressure. Make sure that your lug wrench, lock nut key (if you have locking lug nuts) and jack are in the trunk and working properly.

Check your drive belts. If you've never had one go on the road, you don't want to start now. Make sure they are not loose, cracked or glazed. If they are, they need to be replaced.

Check your coolant. If your trip will take you to or through places that are a lot warmer or cooler than where you live, check or have your coolant's mixture of antifreeze and water checked, so the vehicle's cooling system will not freeze or overheat during your trip. Obviously, if the coolant needs to be changed, do it or have it done by your mechanic, at this time.

Check the glove compartment. Make sure you have your owner's manual, registration and insurance card in there and make sure the registration or insurance isn't going to expire during your trip. You may want to carry them in your wallet in case the vehicle is stolen. If you don't have the owner's manual, check to see if you can get a replacement from your local dealer or download the manual in a PDF file if it is available on the manufacturer's website.

If your vehicle is close to being due for an oil change, transmission service or other minor maintenance, get it done now.

Check your windshield wiper blades. You know it's going to rain at least one day on your trip, if you have the slightest doubt, change them.

Check your air filter. A dirty air filter will reduce your vehicle's fuel economy. It is too easy and inexpensive to change to let it cause a problem on your trip. It should be changed about every 10,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer's recommendation, so if it is close enough, change it. If it has still got some life, take the vacuum to it.

Check your tires again. If the tire pressures are not about the same as they were last time you checked them, you need to check or have them checked for leaks.

Clean out your vehicle. The heavier your vehicle is, the more fuel you will burn. Think logically, if you are going to Disney World in the middle of August, you can leave the snow chains in your garage. If you are heading out on a ski trip in January bring some wool blankets in case you get stuck, but you can probably leave the fishing gear and swim fins behind.

Check your fluids. Not just your oil, but your transmission fluid, coolant, power steering, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid. It's annoying when something gets on the windshield and there is no wiper fluid.

Start out clean. Vacuum your vehicles interior, and wash the exterior or take it to the car wash before you pack it. It won't run any better, but you won't get your luggage all dirty and it will look and smell clean for your trip

Check the tire pressures. It seems redundant, but it is necessary. Some vehicles have different ratings for light loads and heavy loads and some even have ratings for high speeds. So pack the car, load up the family and head down to the gas station to set your tire pressures to the correct settings. Check your owner's manual or the tag on your door jamb for this information. Always set your pressures when your tires are cold.

The night before or day of your trip

Fill the gas tank. No it's not going to stay filled, but you want to go a few miles before you have to stop. Plus, it's usually less expensive at your local gas station than out on the highway.

That should be about all you need to do to prepare your car, hopefully this was helpful...

What? I told you to go before we left!

...have a fun safe trip.

Car Maintenance and Repair Tips : How to Check Car Tire Pressure

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