How do you prepare your auto for a road trip?
- Thread starter hardcore302
- Start date
I drive 1500-2000 miles a month already, so what's a road trip? Ditto for oilBabe's car. I usually just do the daily/weekly checks and make sure the tire pressure is in range. If an OC would be due during the trip, I determine if we are talking about a few miles overdue, which I'll probably just let it slide until we get back, or if it's imminent, which means I'll change it.
harbor
Site Donor 2025
All of the above plus I clean all glass inside & out (RainX for a winter trip) and make sure the portable charger is fully charged.
Check the oil and washer fluid levels, check the trailer lights, and hit the road.
Ditto. I also look for any leaks on the garage floor. My unit is high mileage so I make sure the water pump and rad are good to go, that the coolant level is constant and there are no drips at the power steering pump and hoses. All looked at during the weekly checks. For winter driving I carry a gallon of windshield washer fluid.
Our road trips usually mean a round trip from NY to Florida so I change the oil before we go. The rest is fluids, air in the tires, phone chargers, Rain X...
i keep my cars in decent shape so going 10 or 1000 miles today is doable with little preparation. check tire air pressure (including spare), fluids, weather. bring emergency kit up to date for climate, route and destination (usually including an appropriately lawful firearm). get paper maps from aaa (backup to smartphone map app). carry some extra cash. inform loved ones of my route and any stopover points. if needed, reserve first night hotel stopover. fill cooler with snacks & drinks, including some microwave gear for any hotel stopover. enjoy.
Like others the car is always ready to go but visibly check all the fluids under the hood. Me I require a little more attention so I visit the chiropractor couple days before leaving and again the day after I get back. Long periods in a vehicle are he11 on my back.
Top off the tank. Check the oil, tires, coolant. Glock 17 in the consul with 2 spare mags.
I haven't travelled more than 200 miles from home since I retired 2 years ago...would really like to head south for a bit this winter...these long, cold northern Michigan Winters are getting older than me.
Only 2 spare mags? i hope they are the 33 rounders.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
I'm not big on checking the fluids on the cars. If it isn't on the ground when I drive away, where else would it be? I can't remember the last time I ever had to top anything off on any of the cars.
Nick, every time you get gas you should:
-Check the oil (add if its even an ounce low)
-Check the antifreeze level and specific gravity
-Brake fluid level and health with a corrosion strip
-Clean the windows
-Check the tire pressure and get the rocks out of the tread
-Brake pad thickness and grease the slide pins
-Fully charge the battery
In addition, before setting off, you should make sure you have in the trunk:
Enough supplies for at least two oil changes
Spare starter, alternator, belts, hoses, and ignition coils
Full size jack and jack stands
Full size spare
Full tool kit
Jump pack
Jumper cables (in case the jump pack dies)
AAA membership
Several blankets
A few cases of water
I'm surprised you don't know this already.
I’m the same way, but I still check the antifreeze, oil and tires (don’t forget the spare), and toss in a small tool kit I have in my assigned car just in case. Big trips get the toolkit from my Jeep.
I always laugh and wonder what I could possibly fix on the side of the road with a few wrenches, sockets, pliers, and screw drivers on my minivan or Camry, but it gives me peace. It also has a tire plug kit, which I had to use twice on the junk tires my van came with.
I did have to fix a leaky AC drain on a minivan once on a trip from IA to the Outer Banks. Did that in the Parking lot in Kitty Hawk while the kids climbed the dunes. I added gasket maker and wire to the kit after that, as I had to stop at Napa for those items, and a piece of rubber hose.
I screwed up and forgot to put in the windshield scraper on the trip we took to Northern IL last week. I need new wiper blades anyway, and already switched to winter washer fluid, so we survived.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
I don't even pull the dipstick when I change the oil unless it's my first time with my car. Both Jeeps I'll pour in 6 quarts and the Camry gets 4 quarts and I close the hood.I don't carry a single one of those things except spare tires!
Gas up if necessary. Other than that, our cars are ready to go. Actually, that's the point; I expect them to be ready at any time if necessary.
All the checks that have been mentioned already including the spare tire or the kit if that is what you have.
I also washed and waxed the car. Just seemed like the thing to do. Give the seats a nice cleaning and treatment especially if you have passengers.
I also washed and waxed the car. Just seemed like the thing to do. Give the seats a nice cleaning and treatment especially if you have passengers.
check fluid levels, tire pressure. Will clean the window and possibly the interior if it's bad and I'm gonna sit in it for a while. Or not.
Doesn't the pepsi become DEF fluid?
Doesn't the pepsi become DEF fluid?
