Even for the seasoned nomad, every road adventure is a foray into the realms of the unknown. It entails exploring new destinations, experiences, people and something out of the usual palette and that requires adequate preparation to make the journey safe, successful and enjoyable.
Planning a road trip isn’t a walk in the park. A small mistake in the preparation can result in serious blowbacks and a little foresight on your part could pay off spectacularly. Here are top five ways to adequately prepare yourself for your next road trip.
Plan Your Itinerary
It is always advisable to develop a detailed travel itinerary before you begin the trip. Do a route plan and research the various routes that you will use ahead of time. You can find online the best route planner app for Android and iOS that you can use to plan your route ahead of time.
Check to see if some of the routes and destinations that you are planning to visit are open and the hours during which the many rest stops along the way are operational. Performing a thorough research ahead of time will save you from some nasty and unexpected surprises on the trip.
It is always prudent to map out and choose all your planned rest stops ahead of time before you start the trip. Research and mark out the convenience stores, gas stations, rest stops and motels that you might use during your trip. It is safe and efficient driving when you have a clear idea of where you are going and the stops you are going to make.
Budget
Road trips cost money. In fact, you will be spending money even before you embark on the actual trip. That is why it is always prudent to budget and approximate what the entire trip is likely to cost. Some of the costs that you should factor in for a road trip include the following: –
- An approximate cost of gas for the round trip
- Lodging rates along the route
- Cost of food
- Cost of servicing the car before you embark on the road trip and during the trip
- Cost of acquiring gear for the road trip
- Miscellaneous costs
On top of budgeting, ensure that you carry your credit cards and enough cash with you. Road trips are a costly affair and you may have to grapple with numerous miscellaneous costs. Carrying some cash and credit cards with you will help you tackle any emergencies and extra costs that you may incur on the road.
Service Your Car
Before you hit the road, ensure that your car is in tip-top shape. Take your car to a mechanic and have it serviced and tuned up in readiness for a long road trip. Some of the areas that you should prioritize including doing an oil change and checking out on the coolant. The vehicle’s brake fluid and power steering fluid should also be checked. Because you will mostly be driving on dusty or muddy terrain and in unpredictable weather, ensure that the vehicle’s wiper fluid is topped up.
Other areas to focus on before embarking on a road trip include the vehicle’s air filters, radiator, battery and the hoses. Get your mechanic to inspect the vehicle and fix any potential issues ahead of time. The car should be well-tuned and primed for those long road trips beforehand. If you overlook any aspect of the vehicle’s maintenance, it is most likely going to rear its ugly head down the road as you push the vehicle to its performance limits on those long, winding and often desolate highways.
Ensure that you have filled all the tires to the correct psi and that you have a spare tire. If you aren’t sure of the vehicle’s correct psi rating, look for it in the car’s user manual. If you have a tire gage, you can use it to determine if your car tires have optimal pressure. Alternatively, you can simply take your car to the gas station and have the attendants do this for you. Gas stations will allow you to use their air pumps for some small fee.
Even if all your car tires are new, always remember to carry a spare tire as well as the tools you need to replace a punctured tire like the tire jack or a torque wrench. Tire troubles can be unpredictable. Even with the best preparations and new tires, you could also run into some tire trouble.
Like with your car tires, ensure that you check the psi level in your spare tire. It should match that of the rest of the tires in the vehicle.
Pack the Essentials for Your Road Trip
You will need plenty of essentials for a road trip. The amount and type of this will depend on the duration of the trip and the type of activities that you are planning to partake of. Create a comprehensive checklist of the items and gear that you will need for your trip. These can include: –
- Plenty of comfortable clothing and shoes
- Toiletries
- First aid kit
- Medication including prescription and OTC
- Plenty of water
- Snacks
- Flashlight
- Portable car jump starter
- Car chargers
- Car dash cam to capture road incidents, accidents and some rare moments
- Some GPS device
- Sleep masks
- Cargo box
- A stowable day pack
- Emergency beacons
- Coolers
- Travel pillow
- Phone mounts
- Body wipes
- Windshield water repellent
- Road Atlas or Maps
- Picnic blanket
- Tie-down straps
- Water bottles
- Cooler
- Ratcheting straps
- Sunglasses
- Face masks
- An outdoor puffy and blanket
- Sun shade and windshield protector
- Power inverters
- Some entertainment
- Flip flops or slippers
You don’t have to pack all of these. Create a checklist of what will serve your needs best on your road trip and pack it up.
Invest in the latest tech gear
If you want a more comfortable camping experience, you need to shop around for the latest tools that will add convenience and ease. The first thing you might want to check out is a GPS navigator that comes with a real-time weather tracker. If you are planning a trip to some remote area, you need to make sure you’re going the right way. A GPS navigator can help you chart safer routes and find out any potential dangers that lie ahead.
In addition, you might also need to bring a portable grill if you are planning an outdoor barbecue. To minimize the risk of forest fires, look for a rechargeable induction grill. Pick a brand that could last the entire trip. There are models you can easily transport, so take your time choosing one with a long-lasting battery and portability features.
Then again, all of these gadgets would be useless if they are fully drained during the trip. For this reason, you might as well purchase a solar generator for camping. Whether you need to charge your smartphone or backup power for your induction grill, a solar generator will come in handy during an emergency. All of these tools may cost a lot, but the convenience and comfort they bring will make for an unforgettable trip!
Do Some Medical Checkups
If you are grappling with some serious medical condition, book an appointment with your doctor and inform them of your planned trip. Ask them to recommend any prescription medicines that you might need for your trip.
Don’t forget to have your documents on the ready, including your car insurance and a valid driver’s license in order before the trip. Ensure that you begin packing your items a day or two before the trip. Last minute packing is often fraught with forgetfulness and other errors of omission.
Happy road-tripping!
