Prepare Your Vehicle For A Safe Road Trip This Summer

Summer months are filled with outdoor sports, camps and a long-awaited vacation.  Taking a road trip is a relatively inexpensive way for your family to travel this summer, but is your vehicle ready for the long, winding road?  Check out these tips on how to prepare you and your vehicle for its summer adventure.

Drink Lots of Fluids

Vehicles, like people, need fluids to function properly.  Not consuming enough fluids can lead to a number of irritating, vacation-damaging events.  Be sure to check the oil, coolant, transmission fluid and wiper fluid before you leave.  Don’t forget to take along some drinks and snacks for you, too, so you don’t have to make any extra stops.  It will save you time and money.

Better Safe than Sorry

When writing your “to-do” list of activities that must be completed before the trip, add vehicle maintenance at the very top.  Inspect the vehicle tires, wiper blades, brakes, hoses and belts, and test the battery.  The vehicle manual should provide a maintenance checklist that would be helpful to reference during the inspection.  It’s also important to map out the trip before you leave so you will know the safest, most efficient route.

In Case of Emergency

No matter how well you have prepared, life is unpredictable and accidents do happen.  Prepare a roadside emergency kit.  The emergency kit should include a first-aid kit, jumper cables, a jack, an air pump, blankets and pillows and extra water and snacks.  Be sure to remember your cell phone.

Last, but not least, don’t forget your camera at home.  The preparation may have been stressful, but it will all be worthwhile when you are able to enjoy a relaxing, anxiety-free vacation.  Have fun!

Reed Brothers Automotive is located on Route 355 at the Shady Grove Metro at 15955 Frederick Rd in Rockville, Maryland 20855. Call Reed Brothers Automotive in Rockville, Maryland at 877-681-5021 or visit our website www.reedbrothersautomotive.com