Going on a long road trip is something you’re probably very excited about or the complete opposite. It takes a lot out of you being in the car for hours and hours. Even if you love being on the road, it can shatter your mood when something goes even a little pear-shaped. Here’s our tried and tested road trip preparation checklist to ensure your drive goes smoothly from point-A to point-B.
We recommend you follow this list about a week before you hit the road.
Make Up An Itemised Packing List
How often have you gone on a trip and facepalmed when you realised you’ve left behind an essential item? Stop that from happening by writing up a list a week or at least a few days in advance. This way, you have time to think of your most important items, and when the day comes to pack, you’ll remember everything.
Trust us, not only does this stop that ‘oh bugger’ moment, it saves you a surprising amount of money on buying new chargers, toothbrushes, socks, etc.
Give Your Car A Clean
You’ll be spending a lot of time in your car, so before it gathers a new layer of servo sausage roll crumbs and wrappers, make sure to give it a clean. A dusty car can actually make us feel unwell, which is the last thing you want to battle when stuck in the cabin for hours on end.
Get Your Car Serviced
A professional service makes sure your car is ready to take on the journey ahead. Some people are happy to touch up their vehicle themselves, but a minor service gets you the thumbs up by a professional and trustworthy mechanic.
With our WinWin Service voucher, you pay a small fee and get thousands of dollars worth of labour value, absolutely free. All you pay for is parts and oil, so it’s pretty much the same as doing it yourself but handled by a bonafide pro.
Our Goodyear team will
- Check under the hood
- Check your brakes
- Run a safety check
- Make sure all your lights and systems are working
And all that is completely labour free with our limited offer vouchers.
Before heading off on your road trip though, you should get your tyres professionally checked by a trusted mechanic at the very least to minimise the chances of a flat or punctured tyre.
TIP: Goodyear Autocare offers free tyre and air pressure checks on your vehicle. We will also make sure there are no signs of damage, then return the tyre to the correct PSI.
Stock Up On The Essentials
If you’re a handyman or mechanically minded, it’s always good to have a toolbox stocked with the essential tools to help in the case of a breakdown.
The best tools to have in your car toolbox are:
- Wrenches
- A socket set
- Pliers and wire cutters
- Screwdrivers
If you don’t feel comfortable making self-repairs, make sure your roadside assistance service is still running. A study found that 86% of Australian licensed drivers aged 18-24 leave all safety checks to a professional or another trusted person, such as pressure and tread of their tyres. Two in five drivers also don’t feel comfortable changing their own tyres.
It’s becoming increasingly more common to leave maintenance to a professional, and there’s no shame in that! After all, you want to give your vehicle the best treatment and use your spare time to pursue other skills for yourself.
Still, there is stuff you can do! While getting ready for a long road trip, make sure you have the following items in your car for simple car repairs and maintenance that anyone can do.
Spare oil – checking your oil is pretty simple; just make sure the oil line is at the right spot on the dipstick. Make sure to also check your oil daily while on a big drive. If it gets too low, top it up. Click here for a more detailed oil check tutorial.
Coolant – keep an eye on your car’s coolant levels. If it looks low, fill it to the recommended level. Make sure to do this when your car engine is cool and not running hot.
Windscreen washer fluid – bugs and dust are par for the course when it comes to road trips. Proper windscreen fluid helps keep your windows clear and your view unobstructed.
First-aid kit – each car should be kitted with an emergency first-aid kit in case the worst happens. Throw some valuable extras in it, like batteries, a flashlight and some reserve water.
Plan The Trip & Account For Breaks
Check your trip route before you set off and make sure the weather looks good, the roads are safe, and no urgent updates may affect your travels. Visit the road authority website to gauge if your trip will be smooth sailing or if roadworks and shotty roads may interrupt it. In this case, it may be best to seek an alternative route. Make sure to include regular rest stops into your plan as well so you can get some blood back into your legs and refresh your spirit.
If you’re staying the night, do some research prior to arriving. When you get to a town after a long day of driving, you’ll likely pull into the first motel you see. You can make the stops part of the experience by scouting some interesting places to stay!
Pack Securely
An unsecured suitcase flying from the boot to the front of the car can spell disaster. If your vehicle is packed to the rafters, you may become a danger to yourself and other drivers. You should be able to see clearly through the back window, and nothing should rest higher than the headrest of your backseat.
In a crash, luggage can become fast-moving and potentially lethal projectiles, so ensure all your luggage is secured and properly stowed. If you have an enclosed boot, then your luggage is not a danger to you while driving. If you drive a hatch or wagon with no boot, secure your luggage with netting or straps.
Ready For Your Road Trip?
Get to your destination safely and with enough energy to enjoy it. We hope our guide on getting ready for a long road trip helps you as much as it helps us. If you want to get three great services labour free, purchase a WinWin Service voucher. Get in quickly, they’re limited and only available at certain Goodyear Autocare centres.
