We have now all thought of simply testing of actuality for some time and hitting the open highway. Simply comply with it to the top 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 towards 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 daily life so we are able to get a greater view of the celebs.
Or worse, possibly you find yourself damaged down within the “center of nowhere” with no cellular 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 I had taken each precaution I may consider and accomplished all the preventative upkeep all of the “outdated timers” had stated to do within the months main as much as our first journey.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 attempting to repair the transmission with tape and zip ties to make it again to “someplace”. (The tape and zip ties labored by the best way)
Now this breakdown couldn’t have been foreseen (on the time). It seems one of many traces from the transmission to the transmission cooler simply blew itself out of the facet of the transmission. It wouldn’t be till years in a while our strategy to Yellowstone that I’d uncover why it occurred and take steps to remedy the issue.
So earlier than I let you know the story of how we acquired again on the highway that night time, lets first go over among the pre-trip steps we took to verify we wouldn’t find yourself on this actual state of affairs, and among the issues we didn’t assume to do however have now made certain 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 on your subsequent due change? If that’s the case, or in case you are unsure, Get a contemporary oil change simply earlier than you permit.
- Tire Strain
- Make sure that your tires are stuffed to the beneficial air stress earlier than you permit. If you’re unsure what that stress is, open your driver door, and look on the door jamb. There needs to be a sticker with the right stress to inflate your tires too.
- Preserving your tires on the proper stress will prolong the lifetime of your tire, in addition to aid you get higher fuel mileage.
- Radiator Fluid
- DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR IF YOUR ENGINE IS HOT.
- Some vehicles solely require that the overflow tank be stuffed and can high themselves off, others require that the radiator cap be taken off to be stuffed. Be sure you use the proper coolant and process on your particular automobile. If you’re uncertain, the rep at your native auto components retailer can search for which type you want.
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- It is 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 possibly can 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 unsure ask your auto components retailer rep, Make sure that it’s stuffed to the total 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 necessary one to verify is stuffed to the total line however not previous. You’re going to be on the highway for a whole lot, or presumably 1000’s of miles this journey. Preserving this full will guarantee your tires are simple to show, and extra importantly, that they don’t out of the blue turn into troublesome to show at a crucial second.
- Transmission Fluid
- Final however not least of the below the hood checks is the trans fluid. This one is on the top of the checklist as a result of it usually must be checked with the engine working, AFTER driving it a couple of miles to get it heat. Take your trip across the block a couple of occasions and get it as much as regular working temperature. Once you get again, go away the automotive working 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 best way again in, and pull it out once more. Now verify to verify the fluid is between the “Good” traces. Whether it is beneath, then add some with a funnel by pouring it down the identical tube the dip stick goes it. Once more, you will need to be certain it isn’t over stuffed, as that may trigger extra stress, which may result in a break down in the course of Oklahoma. (see above image)
Now that checklist could seem fairly apparent, however it by no means hurts to have it in your guidelines. The next checklist is made up of issues which have both bitten us within the rear finish, and are actually on our checklist, or that we have now picked up from different nomads alongside the best way.
The Forgotten Objects:
- 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 it’s essential 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 probability.
- First support equipment
- Nobody plans on getting a minimize on their finger, or stung by a bee, or burned on a camp fireplace, however it occurs. If in case you have an allergy, ensure you’ve acquired the proper issues with you want benadryl, to stave off any undesirable signs. You might 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 below the seat or within the trunk of the automotive. When was the final time you set a contemporary battery below the hood? They don’t final endlessly, they usually by no means give out when you are in entrance of the auto components retailer.
- Did you verify the air in your spare tire?
- This is likely one of the mostly ignored 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, reducing the jack solely to seek out out, your spare tire is flat too.
- Does your automotive also have a spare tire?
- Many more recent autos don’t even include a spare. Did you simply assume its below the ground mat within the trunk? It will not be. While you’re out within the driveway checking to make certain, have a look and ensure you have a strategy to jack up your automobile should you want too.
- Repair-A-Flat
- I can’t stress this one sufficient. Whether or not you could have a spare tire or not, hold a can in your automotive. For those who get a flat on a steep mountain highway, or on a darkish freeway, or every other sketchy state of affairs, 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, effectively 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 might be able to 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 few 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 should you want them, you’ll have them useful as an alternative of being stranded over a 5 greenback quart of fluid.
- Bathroom paper
- Preserve a roll within the heart console for when ya want it. Lets face it guys, we have now it simple. If we out of the blue get the uncontrollable urge whereas altering that tire, its a straightforward drawback for us. However go forward and inform your lovely bride that she’s acquired 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 be able to’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 effectively 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 possibly can’t pack a spare every part for each state of affairs, however these few objects gained’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 checklist that you just didn’t consider?
Do you could have one thing in your pre-trip checklist 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!
Glad Travels. -Doug