Things to remember to check before a road trip
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveIn recent years the summer holiday abroad
has lost its appeal and many of us Brits are opting to stay in the country,
indulging in all the United Kingdom has to offer. Going away often results in
spending a week turning our noses up at the cuisine and designating hours
hunting for the British pubs. Therefore, although it may be somewhat of an
overused cliché, there’s no place like home.
If you’re going to drive the length and
breadth of Britain on your aptly named staycation, you’re going to want to
ensure the journey is as comfortable and as stress free as humanly possible.
With that in mind, we are here to help you ensure you’ve considered all the
essential checks before hitting the road this summer.
1.
Tyres
We all know the dangers caused by driving
on a flat but having your tyre explode at 70mph won’t be the only risk you’re
running. Automotive testing has found that an underinflated tyre can increase
your fuel consumption by around five percent. So not only will your fuel bill
be much heftier that it should be, you’re also doing more damage to the
environment.
Getting a blowout is a driver’s worst
nightmare. Not only does it put you at a serious risk of crashing and causing
detrimental harm to other road users, it’s a nightmare to get fixed and is
likely to damage the rim. Handling levels are massively affected by tyres that
are underinflated as well, with stopping distances increased and steering
taking a similar knock.
It may seem like a given but checking what
comes as standard with your car is a must. Marketed as a space saver, most car
manufactures in recent years have opted out of providing consumers with a
full-size spare wheel, and in its place, you will find tyre sealant foam. Be
comfortable that you know how to use it before heading off into the abyss, and
if it’s a spare wheel, learn how to use a jack.
2.
Engine
You wouldn’t set off on the road trip
without ensuring you had yourself well fed, so why do it to the car? An engine
check takes a few minutes but could save hundreds of pounds. Grab a bit of
kitchen roll, pull out your engines dip stick, wipe away the oil and re-dip it
to check your levels. If you’re running low, top it up. Most of us will ever
only venture under the bonnet as soon as something goes wrong e.g. a
Vesuvius-like cloud bellowing from the engine. Despite an exact timescale of
how often you should check your oil not existing, experts suggest if you’re a
regular driver you should check it at least once per month. Let your oil run
too low or use the wrong one and you could be looking at serious damage to your
car’s components. It is also worth checking your battery every so often too. Investing
in a car battery
charger is a good idea, should worst come to worst!
3.
Keep it clean
If you’re going to be visiting some of the
countries most idyllic locations, it’s fairly unlikely that you’re going to be
spending the entirety of you’re trip on the motorway. Therefore, ensure you
have your washer bottles topped up. Country roads that lead to some of the
nicest camp sites are also used on a daily basis by tractors and other farm
machinery, which are likely to spray muck over the roads. Following Google maps
can be tricky enough, never mind having to do so with darkened out, dirt
covered windows.
4.
The creature comforts
Now you’ve considered the checks to ensure
the car is running without any hitches, its time to think about yourself and
guaranteeing the journey is as enjoyable as possible. Due to the fact the radio
can become ridiculously repetitive, it may be worth considering setting
yourself up with a lengthy playlist to help you on the road. If you fancy a few
laughs along the way, a nice addition to Spotify as of late is the Best of British Comedy playlist, which
includes a range of excerpts from stand up shows and BBC series Mock the Week.
As overpriced sandwiches tend to be the
only thing on offer at most motorway services, planning a picnic and packing a
few snacks may be worth the initial time spent, simply to keep the kids happy
and limit the amount of times you hear the timeless phrase, ‘are we there yet?’
Don’t forget to pack drinks either – remember to take plenty of cold and hot beverages
such as water and organic
coffee to keep you hydrated on your trip.
As the staycation has proved its popularity
in the past number of years, and a lot more people are choosing the good honest
British view as opposed to the Spanish sun, fill the tank and buckle up.
Remember this quick guide and it’ll take some of the stress out of the journey
as well.
Author Bio
Jonny Gilpin is a copywriter for digital marketing agency, Mediaworks. Originally from Northern
Ireland, but now based in Newcastle, he specialises in current affairs,
lifestyle, and sport.
Sources
https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/motoring/cars/maintenance/spare-tyre-or-tyre-foam
https://www.edentyres.com/the-benefits-of-having-the-correct-tyre-pressure/
https://www.autocar.co.uk/best-engine-oil
https://www.ingearauto.com/blogs/news/how-to-check-your-car-before-and-after-a-road-trip
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Created on Dec 18th 2019 10:13. Viewed 964 times.