Liviu Marcus
Road trips are a lot of enjoyment! Whether you are off for a weekend in another state or hitting the road for a month, there is something very special about going on a driving vacation. Nonetheless, many negative things could happen while being far from your home, and you should be ready for some bad situations which could occur. Following are some of the things that you should do before you proceed on your next journey.
Make Sure Your Car is Covered
Be sure that your vehicle has complete insurance coverage before you begin your road trip. In most states, you are already expected to carry standard auto insurance, but you might want to ask your insurance agent about any extra coverage you may need for your trip. As an example, you may prefer comprehensive insurance that will compensate your car in case of theft or damage. You can also prefer to take roadside assistance to keep you from being left stranded in a strange place.
You should pay special attention to whether the end date of the car warranty is to be found. In this case, the cost of a mechanical breakdown is completely covered for you. It gets even better, as in some cases, free roadside assistance is available if your car is still under warranty. When traveling, you’ll still save money, even for your car’s critical parts’ failure en route. When the old car protection is going to expire, you can buy an extended car warranty to worry less.
Three weeks prior to the travel, indeed, get a qualified mechanic to conduct a comprehensive inspection on your car to make sure that it is okay for the trip. You may encounter a lot of trouble if you drive at high speed for a long time, so checking it before leaving is a must. Make a careful check of the road up to where you want to go and make sure your car is well structured for it.
For example, in case the road is wet and icy, ensure that winter tire is on standby.
Plan Your Journey
Planning contributes so much that for each road trip that was indeed OK to happen, that is worth the time, money, and energy you used to create that road trip in a way. Therefore, you will be exactly at the known point where it will take you, and there you will not be endangered by some unexpected obstacles. On the contrary, if you find yourself a novice in the trucking world, it is advisable not to drive for more than 168km per day and you should have regular breaks to avoid getting drowsy because your driving will not be any further until you become experienced enough. In case your window of mobility has no more room for the distance you had planned to drive, you may be required to leave some days in between that journey.
Days before ago, people would all navigate using paper maps. Among all of us rather utilizing smartphones as navigators has now become the new norm. On the other hand, for the surrounding areas that are without any signal from the cell phone network in general, there is nothing that you get this kind of information easily anyhow. The reason for this is if the GPS antenna loses its signal it will have to have another physical map for future contingencies. It then becomes possible to encounter places loaded with unexpected turns or bits of difficulty that are out of your range to handle, however, this is not preventable, and therefore one must take things as they come and try and take the back roads. Delete from your mind mentally all the gas stations and rest areas that are listed on your roadmap to know exactly the water tank where you load a boiler, have a break, and offload the WC.
Personal work package – this is the first aid kit including things that you might use when suffering from a worse situation on the road. This first aid kit should not have complicated stuff and the whole thing should look like some basic bag with a whistle, flashlight, batteries, first aid supplies, blanket, water and snacks, pen/paper, and a basic toolbox. For example, waterproof rain jackets, mittens, and a waterproof bag with those items in (warm cloths) that could used immediately should be kept on hand. The car essentials followed from this are a pair of jumper cables, a tire pressure gauge, and a flat tire repair kit and jack.
Final Checklist
A week or so before your trip, you might also wish to take your car for a long spin, to ensure that everything is working okay and that you can detect no unusual sounds coming from the engine. Fill your tank with fuel and ensure that your tires are well inflated. Remove any garbage and undesired items from the interior of your vehicle. Make sure to keep crucial papers, insurance materials, and emergency numbers in the glove box for easy access.
Sleep well the night before you start off to ensure that you give complete concentration and attention to the road. Pack as much water and healthy snacks as you can because they will save you if you end up being stuck in traffic. Send an email to someone back home to be your emergency contact. Touch base with them often while you travel to inform them that all is well. In such a way, they can inform the authorities should they fail to hear from you after a certain period.
All the hard work has been done and well planned, so you are ready to enjoy the road trip with confidence and no worries. If you give yourself time to cover a daily distance, you will be able to relax and see interesting places on the way. And also take a camera with you to take some wonderful pictures that you will share at home with the whole world when you get back!
