MAKE SURE YOU PREP FOR THAT ROAD TRIP

 

Going on a road trip is one activity that so many of us in California love to do. Driving along at whatever pace that suits you. Your favorite playlists going non-stop while you sing along.  Watching the miles flow by with a freedom that we don’t usually experience in our regular routines. However, we'd like to suggest some ideas to more fully enjoy this openness and release from normal worries and constraints. A little preparation in advance of leaving will pay you back during and after your trip.

Here are some helpful actions we found from AAA (click here to see entire article) you can take before your trip that will help keep everything go smoothly.

Have Someone Check Your Home.

Ask someone you trust stop by your home occasionally while you are away.  Have them make sure unexpected deliveries, packages or mail are brought in or taken for safekeeping. If you can’t have someone check your mailbox and doorstep daily, make sure you put a hold on all deliveries and mail at your post office. Hold or cancel any package deliveries from Amazon or any other retailer during your absence.  If possible, install a front door camera that will alert you if anyone does drop something off at your home and have someone nearby you can ask to pick up anything that is inadvertently left at your door. Items left at your doorway not only can be stolen, they can also tip off thieves that your home is vacated and make it a target for theft.

Make Your Home Look Occupied. 

Lights and radios on timers or smart plugs can be set to turn on and off throughout the evening to mimic normal activity while you are gone.  You can even ask your neighbors to park in your driveway so people will see a vehicle come and go from your property. Of course if you have a house sitter, that’s even better.

Secure All Entrances to your Home.

Before you leave for your trip, check that all your doors and windows are locked. This includes making sure the door from your garage into your house is locked as well. Burglars have been known to trigger automatic electric door openers or enter the garage from the back. If  the door to your home is unlocked, they can walk right in. Additionally, make sure you don’t have any ladders available around the outside of your home. Prevent people from trying to enter your home from the upper floors. 

If you have a second car, make sure your garage door opener is not in it if it is parked out on the street.  And don’t leave an extra key hidden under the doormat, in a flowerpot or in a fake rock near the door of the property. Professional thieves know all the common hiding places for spare keys. The best solution is to NOT have a spare key available outside, unattended.

Check Your Alarm System. 

If you have an alarm system, make sure that it is functioning properly. Check your Wi-Fi and/or system batteries if applicable for the system. Make sure you will be notified immediately if something goes wrong with the alarm system, Also, alert your alarm system company that you’ll be away from home and when you will return. 

Clean Your Home

When you return from your trip, you will really appreciate not returning to unappealing messes and odors.  Clean out your refrigerator and discard any items, such as milk, that will go bad before your return home. Wash any dishes, and make sure you take out the trash. If you are gone during trash pick-up day, have someone put your trash receptacles out by the curb and put them away after the collectors have removed the garbage.

Check Your Vehicle!

“A basic road trip inspection will assure a safe and hassle-free vacation,” says Travis Mock, vice president at Car Care Arizona, AAA Automotive Repair Centers. If you have the capability, you can do it yourself . If not, have  your mechanic or dealership service department perform the following: 

• Check your tire pressure. In addition to preserving tire wear, proper inflation will help to avoid vehicle handling concerns such as a loss of control.
• Check your battery health. “Battery failures are sometimes sudden, resulting in being stranded in an unfamiliar place or in less than favorable weather conditions,” Mock says. Plus, a lot of the electrical sensors in the car are sensitive to voltage variations, so battery issues can lead to a check engine light and unpredictable results. 
• Check fluid levels. This includes checking engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant. “Proper levels of these fluids will assure these engine components do not suddenly malfunction,” Mock says. 
• Check belts and hoses for leaks, breaks or disconnections.
• Have your brakes inspected to ensure they are working properly and that brake pads don’t need to be replaced.
• Check your lights. Functional lights keep you and other motorists safe.
• Refill your washer fluid. Bugs, dirt, and road debris can quickly combine to make a mess of your windshield. Ensure your wiper reservoir is full before you drive off. If you may experience freezing temperatures on your trip, be sure to use non-freezing washer fluid to prevent damage to the reservoir and fluid lines.

Pack Supplies in Case of an Emergency. 

Make sure your car has a well-stocked emergency first-aid kit. Also pack enough water and food for everyone on the trip, including any pets. Consider bringing collapsible safety cones and/or flares to put out if your car breaks down. Emergency batteries and cell phone chargers and flashlights should be packed as well. If you could end up driving through cold or wet weather, pack blankets, ponchos and a shovel. Bring parkas and other warmer extra clothes. 

Unload Any Clutter.

You’ll appreciate it during your trip if you make sure your vehicle is cleaned and free of any clutter and trash. Remove any items in the car and trunk that you won’t need on your trip. Not only will this give you more room for comfort and storage, it will improve mileage on your trip.

What About Your Kids? 

If you feel your child is old enough for some responsibility, it’s suggested that you should give them
their own bag to pack some things they want on the trip and that they will be responsible for.  That helps build accountability and helps them to anticipate the trip.  

Also, make sure you have plenty of toys and other distractions—this includes puzzle books, coloring books, and other small manipulatable devices that the kids like. Avoid toys with small, unattached pieces. Include some items that don’t run on batteries or need to be charged. There may be times when an energy source is not readily available.

Also, when you make your audio playlists, don’t forget the kids. Create rules that allow alternating between the adult and kids playlists.  And consider family-friendly road trip activities such as visual scavenger hunts or I Spy games as well.

Map Out Gas or Charging Stations.

Prior to leaving on your trip, make sure you know where gas or charging stations are located on your route. Consider downloading an app to help you locate the gas and charging stations along your route.  This is especially important if you are going to be making a multi-day drive in an EV. It’s best to plan out your charging stops for at least the first day first day.

Enough Snacks and Water?

You will be best served by bringing individually wrapped, low mess snacks. Make sure you bring snacks that your family likes but be sure to include some healthy snacks as well. Bring water or sports drinks to prevent dehydration. And make sure you have a convenient receptacle to store trash and recyclables while you are on the road. No easy access to a trash bag means more clean up at every stop.

Spring weather is officially here and the weather has been lovely! Go ahead and take that road trip you've been putting off. With a little preparation, it's sure to be an enjoyable experience. So go have fun. You might even see me out on the open road!