Car trips are an excellent option to enjoy a fun and adventurous vacation that can easily be cut short if we find that our car has problems during the journey. A breakdown on the road can turn the expected trip into a hell of stress and financial outlay that will surely leave you unpleasant memories, so learning about how to travel by car and avoid problems should become an inescapable part of the process of preparing your vacation. . So before you pack your bags and hit the road, take some time to check your vehicle and make sure it’s ready to hit the road safely. Here we leave you the main steps you must follow if you want to travel by car and avoid problems.
5 tips to travel by car and avoid problems
1. Check all the components
The horn, the windshield wipers, the air conditioning system, the interior and exterior lights are elements of our car that do not matter much if they do not work when we are circulating in the city, but that can become vital for a long trip on the road. Therefore, it is necessary to review them thoroughly if we want to travel by car and avoid problems. On websites such as autoparts.co.uk, garages, dealers and even gas stations you can easily get the parts you need when they are in poor condition and you have to replace them.
2. Check the wheels before going out
Most people don’t usually look at the condition of their tires until one of them goes flat. But, being one of the most essential characteristics of a vehicle, tires are the first thing you should take into account when traveling by car and avoid problems. Make sure they are not worn – it can be done easily by observing if they keep the drawing – or directly change them if you haven’t been to the workshop for several years. If they are in good condition, make sure they are inflated to the correct levels. The required amount of pressure should be listed in the user manual. Finally, check that the spare wheel is in good condition and that you have the hydraulic jack in the trunk.
3. Take a look at the engine
Another essential thing you have to do to travel by car and avoid problems is to check the engine. Open it up and check all fluids: oil, power steering, brakes, transmission, and windshield washer fluid as well. Examine the hoses and belts for cracks and rips. And do not forget the battery: it is marked with the month and year it was installed in the vehicle, and is in danger if it is more than three years old.
4. Put the security elements to the test
Make sure the seat belts unroll and retract as they should after fastening and are not forced. A seat belt that breaks on impact will not help. You also need to make sure the brakes are working properly. If you notice that when braking the car takes a long time to stop, or if there are strange noises, take it to the mechanic.
5. Take an emergency kit with you
Being stuck on the road, especially in bad weather, can lead to danger and helplessness. Therefore, before leaving home it is necessary to know the different emergency services you can go to (061, Guardia Civil, your insurance company or the European emergency number if you travel outside of Spain) to prepare an emergency road kit with items that can make you and your vehicle survive until you can get help. You can create it yourself or buy it already prepared, but in any case it must contain:
- Flashlight
- Battery clips
- Extra gasoline
- Oil and antifreeze
- Air compressor to inflate the wheels
- Snow chains
- Tool box (screwdriver, punch, wire cutters, adhesive tape …)
- Extra warm clothes and blankets
- Bottled water and non-perishable food (energy bars)
- First aid kit
