Preparing For A Road Trip
What kind of maintenance does my car need before a road trip?
Basically, the things you want to do is make sure that your tires are inflated to the proper air pressure, because that will help you get the best gas mileage. You want to make sure that you have good brake fluid. You want to make sure that you have good air conditioning fluid. Make sure that all of your levels are topped off, so that you don't have to worry about them while you're driving on the road. Also, you want to make that your brake pads are operating properly. It's also a good idea to start off your trip with a nice, fresh oil change.
Should I rent a car for a road trip?
Renting a car for a road trip can be a really good idea, it kind of gives you a new car to drive and one of the things of today is; a lot of people have leased vehicles so they are somewhat limited on the mileage that they can use per year. But with a rental car you can get unlimited mileage, so you can go on a nice long road trip and not worry about the mileage caps. Another thing is you can also get some nice accessories, such as having a GPS in your car. And also having a satellite radio system. Because there are some long stretches of road where you only get am radio so it's nice to have that extra entertainment system in your car. And also, if you have a break down, the rental companies are very good about coming out and making sure that everything's fixed up for you.
What items should I bring on a road trip?
You want to make sure that you have the basics to prepare yourself in case of a breakdown or in case of an emergency. You want to make sure that you have road flares. You want to make sure that you have a flashlight in case you break down during the evening. You want to make sure that you have a good spare tire. Sometimes you can even get portable air compressors, and that can be helpful in case your tires are running low. You can then fill them out right there on the side of the road. You want to make sure that you have good safety equipment, and you want to make sure that you are going to be taken care of in case you get stranded along side the road. It's nice to have a few snacks with you inside your car. You can have food that you can eat while you are driving along the way so that you're not making too many stops. It's also nice to have a bottle of water in the car, so that way you can stay hydrated while you are driving.
What is a 'CB radio'?
A CB radio is basically called a citizen broadcast radio. It's a radio that operates on free air frequency, and it's something a lot of truckers use. I think it can be a handy tool to have in your car if your driving in a lot of open stretches, because a lot of times in very open stretches through the desert, through some of the open countryside, you might not be able to get cell phone reception. The CB radio might be good backup in case you are stranded along the road, or even if you need directions from a trucker.
Where can I get maps for my road trip?
There's a variety of sources for you to get maps, and one of the best sources for maps is actually to go through AAA. They can do a thing called TripTik where they can actually map out your route for you and tell you exactly where you need to go and how to get there. You can also go to book stores and get large maps as well. Another source for getting maps is also online, and those are good for getting basic directions and looking at basic distances to determine where you're going.
