We have now all thought of simply trying out of actuality for some time and hitting the open highway. Simply observe it to the tip 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 will get a greater view of the celebrities.
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 might consider and finished 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 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 strains 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 option to Yellowstone that I might uncover why it occurred and take steps to remedy the issue.
So earlier than I let you know the story of how we obtained again on the highway that night time, lets first go over a number of the pre-trip steps we took to ensure we wouldn’t find yourself on this precise scenario, and a number of the issues we didn’t assume to do however have now made positive are a part of the preparing section of our cross nation journeys.
Let’s first go over a number of the extra apparent stuff you wish 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 in your subsequent due change? In that case, or if you’re unsure, Get a contemporary oil change simply earlier than you permit.
- Tire Stress
- Make certain your tires are crammed to the advisable 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 ought to be a sticker with the right stress to inflate your tires too.
- Protecting your tires on the proper stress will lengthen the lifetime of your tire, in addition to make it easier to get higher gasoline mileage.
- Radiator Fluid
- DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR IF YOUR ENGINE IS HOT.
- Some automobiles solely require that the overflow tank be crammed and can high themselves off, others require that the radiator cap be taken off to be crammed. Be sure to use the precise coolant and process in your particular automobile. If you’re uncertain, the rep at your native auto components retailer can lookup which sort you want.
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- This can be a seasonal consideration. Within the hotter months, search for a fluid that can 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, if you’re unsure ask your auto components retailer rep, Make certain 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 vital one to ensure is crammed to the complete line however not previous. You’re going to be on the highway for a whole lot, or probably 1000’s of miles this journey. Protecting this full will guarantee your tires are straightforward to show, and extra importantly, that they don’t all of the sudden turn out to be tough to show at a crucial second.
- Transmission Fluid
- Final however not least of the underneath the hood checks is the trans fluid. This one is on the tip of the record as a result of it sometimes must be checked with the engine operating, AFTER driving it a couple of miles to get it heat. Take your experience across the block a couple of instances and get it as much as regular working temperature. Whenever you get again, depart the automotive operating 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 ensure the fluid is between the “Good” strains. 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 certain it isn’t over crammed, as that may trigger extra stress, which might result in a break down in the midst of Oklahoma. (see above image)
Now that record could seem fairly apparent, nevertheless it by no means hurts to have it in your guidelines. The next record is made up of issues which have both bitten us within the rear finish, and at the moment are on our record, or that we now have picked up from different nomads alongside the best way.
The Forgotten Objects:
- Windshield wipers
- Chances are you’ll not even discover how unhealthy 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 that you must 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 go away to likelihood.
- First help package
- Nobody plans on getting a lower on their finger, or stung by a bee, or burned on a camp hearth, nevertheless it occurs. If in case you have an allergy, be sure to’ve obtained the precise issues with you want benadryl, to stave off any undesirable signs. You would end up 30 or 40 miles from the closest open drug retailer when one thing occurs.
- Jumper cables
- Undoubtedly wish to be sure to have a set underneath the seat or within the trunk of the automotive. When was the final time you set a contemporary battery underneath the hood? They don’t final endlessly, and so they by no means give out while you’re 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 actually have a spare tire?
- Many more moderen automobiles don’t even include a spare. Did you simply assume its underneath the ground mat within the trunk? It will not be. While you’re out within the driveway checking to make sure, have a look and be sure to have a option to jack up your automobile should you want too.
- Repair-A-Flat
- I can’t stress this one sufficient. Whether or not you’ve a spare tire or not, preserve a can in your automotive. For those who get a flat on a steep mountain highway, or on a darkish freeway, or another sketchy scenario, 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, stage, properly lit parking zone away from the oncoming site visitors to work in your automotive.
- Tire Plug Equipment
- If you understand how to make use of one, throw one in your glove field. Chances are you’ll get a gap larger than the fix-a-flat can deal with within the tread of your tire, however you could possibly 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 should you want them, you’ll have them useful as an alternative of being stranded over a 5 greenback quart of fluid.
- Rest room paper
- Maintain a roll within the heart console for when ya want it. Lets face it guys, we now have it straightforward. 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 obtained 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 each one goes properly 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 scenario, however these few objects gained’t take up a lot room and I’ve observed with an older automobile like our 97 GMC Suburban they are typically the issues we want most frequently.
Did you see one thing on our record that you just didn’t consider?
Do you’ve one thing in your pre-trip record that we didn’t consider?
Remark and tell us! We’d love to listen to from you and your remark might make a distinction for a fellow nomad on the aspect of the highway at 2am!
Comfortable Travels. -Doug
