Shopping For Road Trip: Your Fall Road Trip Check List

When most people think of road trips, they think of summer. However, fall is the perfect time to take a road trip if you can. There are fewer crowds because most schools are in session, and the weather is not so brutally hot. You may even find off-season rates at your favorite hotels. Whether you’re planning on hotel stays, car camping, or doing a mix of both, there are a few things you should consider adding to your shopping list before you head out.

What Should I Check On My Car Before Traveling?

Even if you keep your car in good shape and always perform periodic maintenance on time, going on a trip puts extra wear and tear on all of your vehicle’s systems. So, you have to follow some standard procedure before you go traveling with your favorite car. Before you begin your journey, check on the following items:

Tires

Check the tread on all of your tires and rotate or replace them if necessary. While you’re at it, make sure all of your tires are appropriately inflated, including the spare. Check your car’s manual to find out how much pressure your tires need depending on how many people and how much luggage will be traveling with you.

Battery

When your car’s battery dies, you’re stranded. If your battery is nearing the end of its expected life, replace it.

Brakes

You need to know you can depend on your brakes to slow or stop the car when necessary. Get your brakes checked for wear before going on a road trip of any length.

Safety items

Check your headlights, windshield wipers, and washer fluid to help you maintain good visibility, especially when driving at night or during inclement weather.

Fluids

Check all of them: power steering, brake, transmission fluids, as well as engine oil and coolant levels. You should know how to change your own oil, so do that, too, before you go.

What Should I Pack For A 10 Day Road Trip?

You can’t fully prepare for every contingency, but you should put some forethought into packing for a road trip. Start with the bare necessities, and thoughtfully add on small things for comfort or possible emergencies. Don’t forget to pack:

• A few items to make interior car cleaning easy, such as a microfiber rag, leather wipes, and a small bottle of window cleaner.
• A spare bottle of engine oil, just in case.
• A first aid kit for you, including sterile bandages, hand sanitizer, and allergy medicine, as well as any prescriptions that you need to bring along.
• A first aid kit for your car, with jumper cables, flares, a tire pressure gage, and a flashlight.
• A cross-body bag to keep your valuables close.
• Sunscreen.
• Rain gear.
• A reusable water bottle and coffee cup.
• A cooler with a drain spout to make it easy to empty when all the ice melts.
• Swimwear and shower shoes, because you never know where you might need to shower when you’re on the road.
• Small toiletries. Just the basics will do.
• An emergency blanket.
• Emergency food in case you get stranded. This is in addition to your road trip food that you plan to eat each day.
• Duct tape for patching almost anything in a pinch.

With a little preparation, you can pull off your fall road trip without a hitch. A perfect preparation can always help you enjoy the most out of your road trip and not be in an uncomfortable position in the middle of the trip. Be safe, and enjoy the open road! Make memories for yourself.