How to prepare for a road trip.
The road trip is a tradition almost as old as cars themselves.
Waking up early to hop on the open road before the sun has even risen, stopping for breakfast, and taking in all of the sights.
It’s something that many South Africans have fond memories of, but don’t realise the amount of effort that goes into preparing.
While taking spontaneous road trips are fun – and who doesn’t like just hopping in the car and driving – you’ll want to prep a bit first. Do you really want to arrive at your destination and not have a place to stay or have the car fail on you after a few hours? It’s the dream to leave work on a Friday and just relax somewhere for the weekend, but unless your car is in tip-top shape and you’re fully rested, it may not be the enjoyable experience you think it’ll be.
Here are a few ways to prepare for your road trip.
Take your car in for a service and have it checked
Your car is the most important part of the road trip. It’s not only going to get you to your destination, but will protect you and the passengers from harm. Because of this, you’ll need to protect your car as well. If you’re going on a car trip that will take several hours to several days, book it in for a service and have it checked out.
Besides the service, be sure to check that the spare tyre is inflated and in good condition, and that your car includes a spanner for changing tyres and a hazard sign in case of a breakdown. All of your car lights should also be checked and you must be sure to replace any that aren’t working. And finally, be sure that the windows have been washed and all of your mirrors are in the right positions.
Make sure your insurance is up to date and you’re fully covered in case of an accident. You’ll also want to note the value of your car using a car book value calculator or by speaking to the dealership.
Be familiar with the route
Before setting out, be sure to look over a map and make sure you’re familiar with the route you’ll be taking. You’ll want to know which towns you’ll be passing through as well as know an estimate of petrol stations as well. It’s handy knowledge to have just in case something goes wrong or a passenger keeps asking “are we there yet?”
Knowing the route will also help to plan on where you’ll be stopping, which towns look interesting, and where the best eateries are. Not to mention which towns have the best places to pick up snacks.
Keep your devices charged
Be sure to have a car cellphone charger with you. If your phone battery runs out, you’ll need to have it fully charged for an emergency. If you’re using the phone’s built-in GPS and Google Maps or Apple Maps, those tend to drain batteries at an incredible rate. Not to mention listening to music at the same time.
The same goes for stand-alone GPS units. Make sure that your GPS is always plugged in and charging. There’s a chance you’ll need to look at a map for an offbeat destination, or to figure out when the next petrol station will be coming up. Even if you have a map on hand, a device with real-time location services is always handy to have around.
Have cash on you
The world may be moving towards a cashless society, but that doesn’t mean you can use your credit or cheque card everywhere. With toll roads, filling up on petrol, and buying food, you’re going to need to be able to pay for these things.
You’ll more than likely need to carry a few hundred rand in notes and coins in order to pay for any emergency items or if the card machine isn’t working at a rest stop. It’s also much easier to pay for tolls with cash instead of waiting for a card payment to process, not to mention that some tolls will only accept cash payments.
Book a place to stay
Even with spontaneous car trips, it’s best to call ahead to your desired destination and book a room for the night. Firstly, it’s not safe to drive for hours on end, and secondly, sleeping in your car isn’t comfortable. Even if it’s just a Holiday Inn or cheap motel, be sure there’s a place where you can stop and rest for the evening.
Those are the basics you’ll need to fully prepare for a road trip. There are a few other things to remember, such as buying snacks for the car and making sure there’s a torch in your car.