We have all considered simply trying out of actuality for some time and hitting the open street. Just comply with it to the top and flip a coin to see if we go left or proper. Maybe we find yourself on the coast listening to the sound of waves crashing towards the shore line.
Maybe we find yourself within the mid west amongst limitless seas of gold watching the wheat blow rhythmically within the wind. Maybe we find yourself within the mountains excessive above the lights of daily life so we will get a greater view of the celebs.
Or worse, possibly you find yourself damaged down within the “middle of nowhere” with no cellphone service. (This seems to be a recurring theme for our household cross nation street journeys, however extra on that in one other article.)
That’s what occurred to us on our very first cross nation street journey. I had taken each precaution I might consider and finished all the preventative upkeep all of the “old timers” had stated to do within the months main as much as our first journey.
Yet right here we’re, for the primary time, in an empty car parking zone attempting to repair the transmission with tape and zip ties to make it again to “somewhere”. (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 strains from the transmission to the transmission cooler simply blew itself out of the facet of the transmission. It wouldn’t be till years in a while our method to Yellowstone that I’d uncover why it occurred and take steps to treatment the issue.
So earlier than I inform you the story of how we bought again on the street that night time, lets first go over a few of the pre-trip steps we took to ensure we wouldn’t find yourself on this actual state of affairs, and a few 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 few of the extra apparent belongings you need to do earlier than hitting the street like getting a contemporary oil change, checking your tire strain, and topping off all of your fluids.
- Oil Change
- Are you going exceed the mileage on your subsequent due change? If so, or in case you are unsure, Get a contemporary oil change simply earlier than you permit.
- Tire Pressure
- Make positive your tires are crammed to the really helpful air strain earlier than you permit. If you aren’t positive what that strain is, open your driver door, and look on the door jamb. There ought to be a sticker with the right strain to inflate your tires too.
- Keeping your tires on the proper strain will lengthen the lifetime of your tire, in addition to aid you 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. Make positive you utilize the correct coolant and process on your particular car. If you might be not sure, the rep at your native auto elements retailer can lookup which type you want.
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- This is a seasonal consideration. In the hotter months, search for a fluid that may assist to wash bugs off the windshield. After a whole bunch of miles you may have fairly the gathering gooey smears on the windshield. In 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? Again, in case you are unsure ask your auto elements retailer rep, Make positive it’s crammed to the total line, however not previous it. The last item you need is to be coming down a steep mountain street and never have the ability to cease.
- Power Steering Fluid
- Another necessary one to ensure is crammed to the total line however not previous. You’re going to be on the street for a whole bunch, or probably hundreds of miles this journey. Keeping this full will guarantee your tires are straightforward to show, and extra importantly, that they don’t out of the blue turn into troublesome to show at a crucial second.
- Transmission Fluid
- Last however not least of the below 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 a number of miles to get it heat. Take your trip across the block a number of instances and get it as much as regular working temperature. When you get again, depart 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” strains. If it’s beneath, then add some with a funnel by pouring it down the identical tube the dip stick goes it. Again, it is very important be certain it isn’t over crammed, as that may trigger extra strain, which might result in a break down in the midst of Oklahoma. (see above image)
Now that checklist could seem fairly apparent, but it surely by no means hurts to have it in your guidelines. The following checklist is made up of issues which have both bitten us within the rear finish, and at the moment are on our checklist, or that we’ve picked up from different nomads alongside the way in which.
The Forgotten Items:
- Windshield wipers
- You could 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 it is advisable see. Throw a contemporary pair of seasonally acceptable windshield wipers in your rig earlier than hitting the street. 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 package
- No one plans on getting a lower on their finger, or stung by a bee, or burned on a camp hearth, but it surely occurs. If you’ve an allergy, be sure you’ve bought the correct issues with you want benadryl, to stave off any undesirable signs. You might end up 30 or 40 miles from the closest open drug retailer when one thing occurs.
- Jumper cables
- Definitely need to be sure you have a set below the seat or within the trunk of the automotive. When was the final time you place a contemporary battery below the hood? They don’t final without end, and so they by no means give out if you are in entrance of the auto elements retailer.
- Did you test the air in your spare tire?
- This is likely one of the mostly missed pre-trip chores. Odds are you haven’t even given it a second thought. The air strain 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 actually have a spare tire?
- Many newer autos don’t even include a spare. Did you simply assume its below the ground mat within the trunk? It will not be. While you might be out within the driveway checking to make sure, have a look and be sure you have a method to jack up your car should you want too.
- Fix-A-Flat
- I can’t stress this one sufficient. Whether you’ve a spare tire or not, maintain a can in your automotive. If you get a flat on a steep mountain street, or on a darkish freeway, or every other 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, effectively lit car parking zone away from the oncoming visitors to work in your automotive.
- Tire Plug Kit
- If you know the way to make use of one, throw one in your glove field. You could get a gap greater 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 helpful as an alternative of being stranded over a 5 greenback quart of fluid.
- Toilet paper
- Keep a roll within the heart console for when ya want it. Lets face it guys, we’ve it straightforward. If we out of the blue get the uncontrollable urge whereas altering that tire, its a simple downside for us. But go forward and inform your lovely bride that she’s bought 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 every one goes effectively 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?
Obviously you may’t pack a spare all the pieces for each state of affairs, however these few gadgets gained’t take up a lot room and I’ve seen with an older car like our 97 GMC Suburban they are usually the issues we’d like most frequently.
Did you see one thing on our checklist that you simply didn’t consider?
Do you’ve one thing in your pre-trip checklist that we didn’t consider?
Comment and tell us! We’d love to listen to from you and your remark might make a distinction for a fellow nomad on the facet of the street at 2am!
Happy Travels. -Doug