More people are going on road trips than ever. Whether they’re taking their regular passenger car or renting an RV for the whole family, road trips and camping have brought much fun to more people and will likely do so this summer. If you want some tips on how to prepare for your cross-country road trip and camping experience, read on for more information.
Beef Up Your Insurance
Being on a road trip and camping experience should be a fun time. You and your family or friends should be excited about this adventure. However, you should seriously prepare for any mishaps that can happen. One of the best ways to do so is by ensuring you have adequate insurance. First of all, there’s car insurance. Some states don’t require you to have car insurance, but if you’re taking a cross-country road trip and camping adventure, you’re not going to be under the rules of another state. Therefore, it’s essential to get car insurance if you don’t have it already. Car insurance will cover you in case your vehicle is damaged or totaled due to a collision. Comprehensive and liability insurance can help you if you’re at fault and must compensate another driver for damage. Collisions may also unfortunately involve another passenger or pedestrian getting injured. If the situation happens to you on your road trip and you don’t have adequate insurance, you may find yourself in a major financial hole. Before you plot out your road trip map, start looking for a reputable car insurance provider you can afford.
Of course, your car isn’t the only thing to insure. Make sure you and anyone else going on your trip have adequate health and life insurance. With health insurance, you have protection that you’ll be able to seek medical treatment without having to break the bank. It’s not too late to get some type of insurance, even if it’s temporary travel insurance. In addition to medical insurance, life insurance is protection in case something happens to you while you’re on the road. With life insurance, the beneficiary has the funds to give you a proper burial and bring your body back home. If the beneficiary is your next of kin, they will likely have money left over to help get their life together, pay bills, and be comfortable in the event of your passing.
Get Vehicle Service and Check Ups
Preparing for a cross-country road trip and camping vacation means you need the right vehicle that is functioning. After all, you may be driving miles and miles for days or weeks at a time. The last thing you want is for your vehicle to break down unexpectedly if you can prevent that by being proactive. Start contacting local auto repair shops if you haven’t been to one already. Get quotes for their servicing rates, so you can find the best deal to repair your car ahead of time. You want auto professionals to check out everything from your brakes to your transmission to your tires. Before you go on a road trip, it may be a good idea to get brand new tires, so that they are ready and less likely to flatten or be worn down. If you got new tires recently, your service professional can rotate them to ensure you have even tread.
If you plan on taking several people on this road trip and camping adventure, you don’t want to put them in a smelly, dirty, funky car, do you? Auto servicing can do both interior and exterior work to make your car look, feel, and smell new again. If you tend to eat in your vehicle, you may have crumbs and spills buried in the seats. They may also produce unsightly smells that may be embarrassing when you have a passenger. Interior auto servicing can vacuum your car, shampoo upholstery, and wipe down all of your surfaces.
It may also be time for auto exhaust repairs to ensure your vehicle can function properly. Your car exhaust consists of an interconnection of sensors, pipes, and mechanical devices that dispose of exhaust fumes that can be toxic if you breathe them in. Remember, these exhaust fumes come from your engine’s combustion process that allows your car to operate at all. Your exhaust system ensures that you and other passengers aren’t poisoned by these fumes. A properly functioning exhaust system also helps your car function quietly, as the combustion process would be noisy otherwise. It also helps to reduce your carbon impact on the environment, as poor exhaust fumes can add to pollution. When driving on a road trip and camping adventure across the country, you’ll be putting a lot of mileage on the road. If you care about being as environmentally safe as possible, you don’t want any vehicle spouting the worst unhealthy exhaust fumes into the air.
Not getting this timely update can also impact your driving ability for such a long trip. If exhaust parts are malfunctioning and leaking, your engine won’t perform well and could break down when you’re in a part of the country you’re not familiar with. Plus, you don’t want to risk your loved ones not being safe because of exhaust, allowing toxic gas into your vehicle cabin. A carbon monoxide backup could result in a fatality that could turn a fun trip into a tragedy.
Double Check Your Wheels and Tires
Always remember to double and triple-check your tires and wheels before you head out on the road. After all, regardless of how well your engine is working or steering, if your wheels give out, you’ll be stuck somewhere. That’s why car wheel repair is essential if you need it. Most people focus on the tires but remember, your tires cover the wheel itself. The wheel can also be damaged by a crack or a dent. When you have a damaged car wheel, it affects the structural integrity of any vehicle. It can blow out at any time on the road, which could put you in a dangerous situation that could involve a collision or road skid. If you suspect you have problems with your car wheels, don’t hesitate to pay the money to replace them before heading out. Doing so could save you a disastrous road trip, injury, and expenses. Plus, once your road trip is over, new car wheels can add value to your car and improve your daily performance.
Play it safe by adding a spare tire or two to your truck. If you’re unfamiliar with changing tires, you should learn how to do so before setting out on your road trip and camping adventure. While you can always call an auto pick-up service if you break down on the road, it may take longer to get to you in rural or desolate areas. In case you run into a jam, having a spare tire may be able to help. You should also make a list of auto repair shops on the route you’re traveling. Being aware of such locations can help you if your tires give out or you have other problems.
Keep Things Cool
How does your car AC feel now? If your vehicle doesn’t provide cool enough air, now is the time to seek AC services. After all, if you’re going to be on a road trip and camping experience this summer, you don’t want to be stuck in your car in a heat wave without the ability to cool down. After all, the car can severely overheat, which can be detrimental to a child or animals in the car for too long. When driving cross country, you may be driving through regions much hotter than the summers in your location. Areas such as the south, particularly the southwest can be very dry and hot. States such as Arizona, New Mexico, and a part of Texas can easily reach over 100°. If you’re not used to such high temperatures, you don’t want to be in a situation where you can’t constantly cool down, especially while on the road. If you have passengers with you on this road trip, they also don’t want to be left sweltering in any car.
Another way to keep things cool is packing a cooler in your vehicle. Pack some ice, fresh fruit juices, sodas, water, and your other favorite beverages. You can keep it stocked while on the road by stopping at markets to replenish it as needed. Keeping a cooler with cool drinks can make sure you stay hydrated, which is essential on a regular day, especially a hot one. According to Healthline, people should consume at least eight-ounce glasses of water daily. However, when it’s extremely hot, you likely need even more water than that. In addition to water, you may want to have other hydrating drinks, such as coconut water, and Gatorade, which restores your electrolytes. Pack hydrating fruits and vegetables like watermelon, pineapple, and cucumber.
Sign Up for Emergency Assistance
You’re a good driver and scheduled auto servicing, so you may feel confident about your road trip and camping experience. However, someone else on the road may not be a good driver and may hit your vehicle. Even if there is no collision, you may drive over a pothole or crack. Your car can shut down without warning at any time. If that happens, you may need to call local towing services to assist you. The first line of defense is having a number you can quickly contact. If you haven’t already done so, sign up for an emergency service such as AAA. You can get an app on your mobile phone, and have their number written down. It’s also a good idea to travel with a map of roadside assistance, gas stations, and auto shops pinned or circled, so you know the closest ones nearby on your route.
Don’t make the mistake of having everything only on your mobile phone. What happens if you have an emergency and your phone isn’t charged? You can always lose your phone, or it may become cracked and unusable until you replace it. That’s why it’s essential to have emergency contacts also written down and placed in your glove compartment, purse, or pocket. It’s always good to have a physical map, despite the accessibility of Google Maps on your phone.
Locate a Garage and Storage Facility
While on your road trip, you may want to safely put your vehicle somewhere as you take a day trip nearby or go on another vehicle like a boat. Look out for RV storage facilities that you can use in your temporary location. You may also want to find a temporary parking garage for your passenger vehicle. Such storage will give you peace of mind that your main mode of transportation is safe as you go away for a day or a few of them.
Pack Wisely
When you take a road trip or camping adventure, you need to pack wisely. Once you get your cooler in your trunk, don’t forget you’ll need clothing and other equipment. If traveling in summer, pack light airy clothing that can keep you cool. If your road trip takes place during another season, your clothing should fit that weather. Pack based on the activities you plan to do. If you know there will be some beach time on this adventure, pack the appropriate bikinis, swim trunks, and sandals. For full camping, you should have a tent, sleeping bag, camping food, and more. Doing your due diligence to pack beforehand can prevent you from having to drive around looking for stores that may or may not have the items you need.
Get ready for a fun road trip and camping experience you’ve been looking forward to. Whether this is a solo trip, family adventure, or friend getaway, it’s bound to be a good time for all involved. Just remember to use this list as a guide, so you can be prepared and avoid issues with your car, packing materials, and health. Have a fun camping and road trip adventure across the United States!
