A lot of people will dread the long road trip. Especially if they know there’s going to be kids in the back screaming for the whole ride because they’re bored, uncomfortable or just plain unhappy. A long trip in any circumstances can be pretty tiresome. If you’re going to be on the road for a longer amount of time, even more so. The car is one consideration of course, but there are many areas worth considering when you know there’s a long trip coming up. You may have already lent thought to some of the tips and considerations below, but they can help you start to think about other areas of your road trip which you might not yet have considered. Everyone has different priorities, and each person worries about different things, and these might just open you up to other considerations to ensure you get the best out of your trip.
Is The Car Good To Go?
First of all, you need to make sure the car is mechanically sound. You might think it is, having been driving it short distances for a long time, but when you’re about to drive for a long time, over a wider distance, it pays to be sure otherwise you may end up looking for an auto repair service so book a car service or ask a mechanic to check out something you’re not sure about first. You can do some of this yourself, like checking your oil level, or listening out for any strange noises. Double check whether there are any warning lights on the dashboard too. If you’re happy that the car is mechanically sound it’ll lend you confidence for your forward journey.
Check The Tires
You must check these, especially if you’re driving somewhere off the beaten track. Make sure you have a spare tire ready to go just in case, and a jack so that you can change them over. It might be that they need to be pumped up a little, and if you have a pump you can do it yourself. Check the tread depth too because if the tread is worn or damaged you’ll likely need a new tire. If you’re not sure how to, you can grab a tread measurer online for pretty cheap at somewhere like Amazon. You can also grab tire inflators if you didn’t want to do it at your local petrol station. A worthwhile investment which can save you time in the future.
Try To Keep The Kids Entertained
This is far easier if there are two adults going on the trip, leaving one to keep the kids entertained and the other to drive. Devices are a saving grace here, tablets can be used to play games and watch movies. Just make sure you bring charging cables so that they can be charged on the go. If your car doesn’t have this function, bring a power bank. Failing this, magazines and books can be another great shout, as well as handheld games consoles like the Nintendo Switch. Over really long distances they will lose their effect, but in the short term there’s nothing wrong with giving them devices and distractions so you can focus on the road. Tire them out before getting into the car too. Doing so may mean you can be in for a quiet few hours as they sleep it off. Just make sure you take them somewhere where they can really burn off the energy.
Plan Your Breaks
You and whoever else is driving will need breaks. There’s no two ways about it. These might be quick coffee stops to stretch your legs, or longer overnight breaks in a hotel if the occasion calls for it. These need to be planned for. You have to make sure you know where you’re stopping off. On busier roads, you can expect rest stops all the time but if you’re really travelling into the sticks there may be a lot of road between each one. Check this online and plan it all out so that you know exactly where you’re stopping and for how long. Double check the petrol situation too. Most stops have pumps, but there are some who don’t and you need to know this in case you need to stop off somewhere else to fill up the tank. A mistake like this can cost you a lot of time if you end up stuck on the side of the road waiting for breakdown recovery to turn up with a can of petrol.
*This is a collaboration post
Copyright: Image by StockUnlimited
