We’ve got all thought of simply trying out of actuality for some time and hitting the open highway. Simply observe 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 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 day after day life so we are able to get a greater view of the celebs.
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 accomplished the entire preventative upkeep all of the “previous timers” had mentioned to do within the months main as much as our first journey.
But right here we’re, for the primary time, in an empty car 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 traces from the transmission to the transmission cooler simply blew itself out of the aspect of the transmission. It wouldn’t be till years in a while our technique to Yellowstone that I might uncover why it occurred and take steps to treatment the issue.
So earlier than I inform you the story of how we acquired again on the highway that evening, lets first go over among the pre-trip steps we took to ensure we wouldn’t find yourself on this actual state of affairs, and among the issues we didn’t suppose to do however have now made positive are a part of the preparing section of our cross nation journeys.
Let’s first go over among the extra apparent stuff you wish to do earlier than hitting the highway like getting a recent 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? In that case, or in case you are unsure, Get a recent oil change simply earlier than you permit.
- Tire Strain
- Be sure your tires are crammed to the really useful 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 must be a sticker with the right stress to inflate your tires too.
- Conserving your tires on the proper stress will lengthen 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 crammed and can prime themselves off, others require that the radiator cap be taken off to be crammed. Be sure you use the fitting coolant and process on your particular automobile. If you’re not sure, the rep at your native auto components retailer can lookup which type you want.
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- It is a seasonal consideration. Within the hotter months, search for a fluid that may assist to wash bugs off the windshield. After tons of 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 stop 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, Be sure it’s crammed 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 of cease.
- Energy Steering Fluid
- One other essential one to ensure is crammed to the complete line however not previous. You’re going to be on the highway for tons of, or probably 1000’s of miles this journey. Conserving this full will guarantee your tires are simple to show, and extra importantly, that they don’t all of the sudden develop into troublesome to show at a essential second.
- Transmission Fluid
- Final however not least of the beneath the hood checks is the trans fluid. This one is on the top of the checklist as a result of it sometimes must be checked with the engine working, AFTER driving it just a few miles to get it heat. Take your journey across the block just a few instances 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 way in which again in, and pull it out once more. Now test to ensure 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, it is very important be sure that it isn’t over crammed, as that may trigger extra stress, which might 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 way in which.
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 you might want to see. Throw a recent pair of seasonally acceptable windshield wipers in your rig earlier than hitting the highway. You by no means know when foul climate will hit, and with the ability to see the brake lights in entrance of you isn’t one thing to depart to likelihood.
- First assist equipment
- Nobody plans on getting a reduce on their finger, or stung by a bee, or burned on a camp hearth, however it occurs. You probably have an allergy, ensure you’ve acquired the fitting issues with you want benadryl, to stave off any undesirable signs. You can end up 30 or 40 miles from the closest open drug retailer when one thing occurs.
- Jumper cables
- Positively wish to ensure you have a set beneath the seat or within the trunk of the automotive. When was the final time you place a recent battery beneath the hood? They don’t final without end, and so they by no means give out while you’re in entrance of the auto components retailer.
- Did you test the air in your spare tire?
- This is likely 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, reducing the jack solely to search out out, your spare tire is flat too.
- Does your automotive also have a spare tire?
- Many more moderen automobiles don’t even include a spare. Did you simply assume its beneath the ground mat within the trunk? It will not be. When 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 could have a spare tire or not, preserve a can in your automotive. If you happen to get a flat on a steep mountain highway, or on a darkish freeway, or another 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, nicely lit car parking zone away from the oncoming site visitors to work in your automotive.
- Tire Plug Package
- If you understand how 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 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 useful as a substitute of being stranded over a 5 greenback quart of fluid.
- Bathroom paper
- Hold a roll within the middle console for when ya want it. Lets face it guys, we have now 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 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’t maintain it anymore and has to carry on to the guard rail and lean again with out slipping and if that each one goes nicely 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 little thing for each state of affairs, 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 checklist that you simply 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 aspect of the highway at 2am!
Completely satisfied Travels. -Doug
