Preparing for Your Next Road Trip

Road trips can be great memorable events for everyone involved, but it is best to keep the adventure fun and exciting rather than the how-do-we-get-through-this variety. Valley Hi Toyota can help you make the most of the “road” part of your road trip. As with any trip, it is all in the planning. And when it comes to your vehicle, proper planning can be broken down into two categories: Maintenance and Outfitting.

Get Your Maintenance Ahead of Time

The first thing to do is consider any upcoming maintenance for your vehicle.  If you know approximately how many miles your trip will be, check if your next scheduled maintenance visit falls within the expected length of your trip. If so, consider having the scheduled maintenance performed prior to the trip.  Inform our service advisor of your upcoming trip so they can perform a pre-road trip check on your vehicle that will cover many of the areas we are about to list.  Because even if your scheduled maintenance is not coming up, there are four primary things to check on your vehicle in enough time prior to your trip that you can have anything taken care of in time.  

• Fluids – Again, if your oil should be changed within the miles of your trip, have it changed in advance.  Also, check the quantity and quality of your coolant, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Packed with people and luggage,  your car will be heavier than usual, so your brakes will work harder than usual. Make sure your fluid is full, and ideally, have your pads checked.  It isn’t just your mechanical fluids to consider.  The warm summer weather brings out bugs, which often meet their demise on your windshield and obscure your view, so make sure your washer fluid is topped off.
  
• Tires – Obviously, you will not want to make a trip on worn tires, but if you are anywhere close to the time of your next tire rotation, have that done in advance as there is no reason to have the trip exacerbate any existing uneven tread wear. Check for any bulges, gouges, or other visible damage, and have anything you find inspected by a professional to see if it points to a possible problem for your trip. Make sure you have a tire pressure gauge with you and check your pressure prior to and during your trip. And make sure not to overlook the condition and pressure of your spare tire..
  
• Filters – Check your engine’s air filter so that it can breathe cleanly during your trip, but also consider changing your cabin filter so you can do the same.  You may be going through areas that are dusty or contain allergens, and a fresh cabin filter makes a big difference.
  
• Belts and Hoses – Chances are your car has one serpentine belt that handles the alternator, air conditioning compressor, water pump, and other accessories. Give it an inspection to see any sign of fraying or cracks. Look for the same on any visible hoses, and look for any signs of leakage on the hoses themselves and at junctions.

Optimizing Through Outfitting

This part is a bit more fun.  Think about the type of trip you are taking and what kind of accessories you can add to your car to make the drive more enjoyable and to be better prepared for the unexpected.  A most obvious example is if your trip could be more enjoyable with bicycles, or some other large piece of sporting equipment, bring them along with roof or rear mounts.  Or, if it just looks like you will be packed to the headliner with cargo, add some roof storage to give yourself some space.

If you are camping, hiking,  or engaging in other outdoor activities, think of adding all-weather floor mats that can empty out with a good shake and possibly add the same protection for your cargo area. If your rear seat passengers bring tablets to pass the time, we have universal tablet holders that mount to the back of the front seats.  Consider also that our accessory department has comprehensive emergency assistance and first aid kits to prepare for the unexpected. 

Road trips can be great, memorable events for everyone involved. Proper preparation can help you have the best trip possible. When it comes to preparing your vehicle, our Valley Hi Toyota Service and Accessories departments are ready to help.

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