Your Guide To Holiday Road-Trip Readiness
The holidays are almost here, and that means many people are about to hit the road to visit family and friends. While you’re busy packing gifts and planning your route, don’t forget another important detail: preparing your vehicle. Taking a little time for pretrip cleaning and essential safety checks ensures that your journey is comfortable, safe and stress-free. (We can’t guarantee that you’ll avoid traffic or awkward family dinners, but at least your trip will get off to a good start!)
Benefits Of A Clean Car For Your Holiday Road Trip
A clean vehicle is about much more than a comfortable ride. It’s also a critical safety measure. It improves driving visibility by ensuring that the windshield, mirrors and lights are pristine. A clean undercarriage makes safety checks easier to perform.
Ready to make quick work of your pretrip cleaning? Xpress Car Wash makes car cleaning a breeze. Start with a fast, convenient pass through our automatic car wash tunnel. Your vehicle will be clean, fresh and ready for your safety checks. Follow that by using our free high-powered vacuum stations to clean the interior, and get rid of any trash with our nearby trash cans. Your vehicle will be clean, fresh and ready for your safety checks.
Pretrip Safety Checks
It’s imperative to give your entire vehicle a once-over and address any potential problems before you head out of town.
- Fluids: Check and top off engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power-steering fluid, and transmission fluid.
- Air Filter: Inspect and replace the air filter, if necessary.
- Battery: Test the vehicle’s battery, and check for any corrosion.
- Tires: Check for signs of damage, adequate tread depth and correct tire pressure (including on the spare).
- Brakes: Inspect the condition of your brake pads, and listen for any squealing noises.
- Lights: Perform a 360-degree inspection to confirm that headlights, turn signals and brake lights are all in good working order.
- Windshield Wipers: Make sure wiper blades are clearing your windshield properly and that the washer fluid is full.
If you uncover any issues or overdue maintenance, get your car to a mechanic before your trip. The last thing you want is to end up stranded on your journey.
Prepare For The Unexpected
Your vehicle is spotless, and you’ve undertaken all of the necessary safety checks. Now, it’s time for the final step: emergency preparedness. Packing a few essentials can make all the difference if weather or car trouble sidelines your road trip.
- Basic Breakdown Kit: Include a tire-change kit, jumper cables, a basic tool kit, reflective triangles, and spare oil and coolant.
- Emergency Kit: Pack a first aid kit, flashlight, phone charger and battery bank, nonperishable food and water, and warm clothing or blankets (especially vital for winter travel).
A little preparation goes a long way to making sure your holiday road trip is as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.
Once you’ve returned home safe and sound, don’t forget the post-trip clean and inspection. Debris, oil and road salt can build up quickly during long-distance trips. This can cause damage to the paint and undercarriage components if not addressed promptly. A quick visit to Xpress Car Wash removes all of those contaminants from your vehicle. It will help protect crucial components and keep the finish flawless for your next adventure.
