How do You Prepare Your Vehicle Before a Long Road Trip

[joedplumber]

Before we take the 1,000+ mile drive to Disney I get the car ready by:

1. Wash & vacuum
2. Oil change
3. New wipers
4. Treat windows with Aquapel
5. Preload all stops and preferred roads into navigation
6. Rotate tires

I think that's about it....

 

[crzy4dsny]

Thoroughly check my tires. Check for nails, screws or anything stuck in them. Check for bulges, soft spots, uneven wear by running my hands around them. And of coarse check pressure, including the spare.

 

[Lewisc]

Stick a bottle of Windex and either a microfiber cloth or a roll of paper towels in the trunk.

I'd check my mileage before doing an oil change or rotating my tires. I'd do either if it was going to be time to do it during my trip or even shortly after my trip.

 

[bigbabyblues]

DH always checks the tires, brakes, and fluids. Change oil if it is getting close. Clean out all of stuff that accumulates behind the back seat and in the basket I keep on the backseat for clutter.

Our van is 9 years old, and we've never had any trouble with it. About a month before our June trip, it had the timing belt and other things replaced for 120,000 miles.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Make sure you have a flashlight with new batteries, some duck tape, and a small tool kit just in case.