Now we have all thought of simply testing of actuality for some time and hitting the open highway. Simply observe it to the tip and flip a coin to see if we go left or proper. Perhaps we find yourself on the coast listening to the sound of waves crashing in opposition to the shore line.
Perhaps we find yourself within the mid west amongst countless seas of gold watching the wheat blow rhythmically within the wind. Perhaps we find yourself within the mountains excessive above the lights of everyday life so we are able to get a greater view of the celebrities.
Or worse, perhaps you find yourself damaged down within the “center of nowhere” with no mobile phone service. (This seems to be a recurring theme for our household cross nation highway journeys, however extra on that in one other article.)
That’s what occurred to us on our very first cross nation highway journey. I had taken each precaution I may consider and completed all the preventative upkeep all of the “outdated timers” had stated to do within the months main as much as our first journey.
But right here we’re, for the primary time, in an empty parking zone making an attempt to repair the transmission with tape and zip ties to make it again to “someplace”. (The tape and zip ties labored by the way in which)
Now this breakdown couldn’t have been foreseen (on the time). It seems one of many strains from the transmission to the transmission cooler simply blew itself out of the facet of the transmission. It wouldn’t be till years afterward our technique to Yellowstone that I might uncover why it occurred and take steps to treatment the issue.
So earlier than I let you know the story of how we bought again on the highway that night time, lets first go over among the pre-trip steps we took to ensure we wouldn’t find yourself on this actual scenario, and among the issues we didn’t suppose to do however have now made positive are a part of the preparing part of our cross nation journeys.
Let’s first go over among the extra apparent belongings you need to do earlier than hitting the highway like getting a contemporary oil change, checking your tire stress, and topping off all of your fluids.
- Oil Change
- Are you going exceed the mileage in your subsequent due change? In that case, or in case you are undecided, Get a contemporary oil change simply earlier than you permit.
- Tire Stress
- Be sure that your tires are stuffed to the beneficial air stress earlier than you permit. If you’re undecided what that stress is, open your driver door, and look on the door jamb. There ought to be a sticker with the right stress to inflate your tires too.
- Protecting your tires on the proper stress will lengthen the lifetime of your tire, in addition to enable you to get higher gasoline mileage.
- Radiator Fluid
- DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR IF YOUR ENGINE IS HOT.
- Some automobiles solely require that the overflow tank be stuffed and can prime themselves off, others require that the radiator cap be taken off to be stuffed. Ensure you use the suitable coolant and process in your particular automobile. If you’re uncertain, the rep at your native auto components retailer can search for which sort you want.
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- This can be a seasonal consideration. Within the hotter months, search for a fluid that may assist to scrub bugs off the windshield. After a whole lot of miles you’ll be able to have fairly the gathering gooey smears on the windshield. Within the winter months search for a fluid with de-icing properties to forestall it from freezing and to assist clear the frost off the windshield.
- Brake Fluid
- Do you want DOT-3 or DOT-4? Once more, in case you are undecided ask your auto components retailer rep, Be sure that it’s stuffed to the complete line, however not previous it. The very last thing you need is to be coming down a steep mountain highway and never be capable to cease.
- Energy Steering Fluid
- One other vital one to ensure is stuffed to the complete line however not previous. You’re going to be on the highway for a whole lot, or presumably 1000’s of miles this journey. Protecting this full will guarantee your tires are simple to show, and extra importantly, that they don’t all of the sudden turn out to be troublesome to show at a vital second.
- Transmission Fluid
- Final however not least of the underneath the hood checks is the trans fluid. This one is on the tip of the listing as a result of it sometimes must be checked with the engine operating, AFTER driving it a couple of miles to get it heat. Take your trip across the block a couple of instances and get it as much as regular working temperature. Whenever you get again, depart the automotive operating and pop the hood. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM THE RADIATOR FANS.
- Pull your transmission dip stick. Wipe it clear with paper towel, then slide all of it the way in which again in, and pull it out once more. Now verify to ensure the fluid is between the “Good” strains. Whether it is beneath, then add some with a funnel by pouring it down the identical tube the dip stick goes it. Once more, it is very important make certain it’s not over stuffed, as that may trigger extra stress, which may result in a break down in the midst of Oklahoma. (see above image)
Now that listing could seem fairly apparent, but it surely by no means hurts to have it in your guidelines. The next listing is made up of issues which have both bitten us within the rear finish, and at the moment are on our listing, or that now we have picked up from different nomads alongside the way in which.
The Forgotten Gadgets:
- Windshield wipers
- Chances are you’ll not even discover how dangerous your windshield wipers have gotten over time, or solely give it some thought when it’s raining and you’ve got that one streaky spot proper throughout the place you want to see. Throw a contemporary pair of seasonally applicable windshield wipers in your rig earlier than hitting the highway. You by no means know when foul climate will hit, and having the ability to see the brake lights in entrance of you isn’t one thing to depart to likelihood.
- First support package
- Nobody plans on getting a lower on their finger, or stung by a bee, or burned on a camp fireplace, but it surely occurs. You probably have an allergy, ensure you’ve bought the suitable issues with you want benadryl, to stave off any undesirable signs. You may end up 30 or 40 miles from the closest open drug retailer when one thing occurs.
- Jumper cables
- Undoubtedly need to ensure you have a set underneath the seat or within the trunk of the automotive. When was the final time you place a contemporary battery underneath the hood? They don’t final eternally, they usually by no means give out while you’re in entrance of the auto components retailer.
- Did you verify the air in your spare tire?
- This is without doubt one of the mostly neglected pre-trip chores. Odds are you haven’t even given it a second thought. The air stress will seep out over time, and there’s nothing extra aggravating than lastly getting the flat tire off your automotive, placing the spare on, decreasing the jack solely to seek out out, your spare tire is flat too.
- Does your automotive actually have a spare tire?
- Many more moderen automobiles don’t even include a spare. Did you simply assume its underneath the ground mat within the trunk? It is probably not. If you are out within the driveway checking to make certain, have a look and ensure you have a technique to jack up your automobile in the event you want too.
- Repair-A-Flat
- I can’t stress this one sufficient. Whether or not you might have a spare tire or not, maintain a can in your automotive. When you get a flat on a steep mountain highway, or on a darkish freeway, or another sketchy scenario, its a lot simpler and safer to squirt some fix-a-flat in your tire for 30 seconds, and get your self to a safer, degree, properly lit parking zone away from the oncoming visitors to work in your automotive.
- Tire Plug Equipment
- If you know the way to make use of one, throw one in your glove field. Chances are you’ll get a gap greater than the fix-a-flat can deal with within the tread of your tire, however you could possibly plug it, then hit it with the fix-a-flat to get your self off the freeway.
- Spare fluids
- Does your truck burn oil like mine does? What a couple of transmission or energy steering leak? Throw a small milk crate within the trunk with some spare fluids in it to maintain them from rolling round, and in the event you want them, you’ll have them helpful as a substitute of being stranded over a 5 greenback quart of fluid.
- Rest room paper
- Hold a roll within the middle console for when ya want it. Lets face it guys, now we have it simple. If we all of the sudden get the uncontrollable urge whereas altering that tire, its a simple downside for us. However go forward and inform your stunning bride that she’s bought to carry it till the tow truck will get right here since you didn’t pack the fix-a-flat, after which when she will’t maintain it anymore and has to carry on to the guard rail and lean again with out slipping and if that every one goes properly that she has to make use of leaves since you threw away the quick meals bag with the napkins in it. That ought to make for a enjoyable night proper?
Clearly you’ll be able to’t pack a spare the whole lot for each scenario, however these few gadgets received’t take up a lot room and I’ve seen with an older automobile like our 97 GMC Suburban they are typically the issues we’d like most frequently.
Did you see one thing on our listing that you just didn’t consider?
Do you might have one thing in your pre-trip listing that we didn’t consider?
Remark and tell us! We’d love to listen to from you and your remark may make a distinction for a fellow nomad on the facet of the highway at 2am!
Joyful Travels. -Doug