Road Trip Car Checklist

There’s something thrilling about traveling across the country from highway to highway, town to town. For those who are cooped up in the same daily routine, it’s refreshing to hit the road and venture to new grounds. Before you head off, make sure to follow our road trip car checklist to ensure your car is operating smoothly. From learning how to replace rear window lift supports to knowing how often to change your oil, having a strong grasp of basic car maintenance can help you avoid unnecessary bumps in the road.

Tires

No matter where your road trip may take you, you need secure, strong tires beneath you to ensure a safe journey. Check that the tire pressure is properly inflated to avoid blow-outs and help boost fuel efficiency. If you plan on driving through off-road terrain, make sure your car is equipped with a set of tires that can handle the challenge. Off-road, all-terrain, and mud tires provide you with high levels of traction so you can easily drive over gravel, rocks, mud, or any other obstacles while offroading. 

Lift Supports

Replacing lift supports is one entry in our road trip car checklist that might surprise you. Whether they’re propping the hood, trunk, or rear window, lift supports are valuable auto parts that you use virtually every day. Unexpected mechanical repairs on the road can occur, which means that you’ll need the lift support to keep the hood open so that you can check the engine. If you’re camping, you may want to pop the rear window open to let fresh air in the car and prevent it from overheating. Knowing how to replace rear window lift supports and other struts is a crucial skill to keep your vehicle in top condition while road tripping. 

Engine Oil

The life of a vehicle can depend on timely oil changes, so it’s imperative to have the engine oil levels and quality checked before you hit the road. You don’t want to encounter problems in the middle of nowhere and have to interrupt your travel plans, so this is an essential component of our road trip car checklist. If your car uses conventional motor oil, it’ll need to be changed more frequently in comparison to synthetic motor oil. When you’re out on the road, it’s a good idea to check on the oil levels regularly. Once a car engine exceeds 75,000 miles, it’s not uncommon for it to start burning oil more quickly. 

Windshield Wipers

When it comes to the critical vehicle maintenance found on our road trip car checklist, engine checks and oil changes are some of the first that come to mind, but a quick, easy fix that many people forget is changing the windshield wipers. Car manufacturers recommend changing windshield wiper blades every six to twelve months. However, this can vary depending on the driving conditions and the make and model of the blades. When wiper blades are worn down, they won’t make proper contact with the windshield surface. As a result, they will start to smear, leave streaks, and squawk, reducing driving visibility. Check the blades to see whether the edges are worn or have visible tears or cracks. If they do, head to your local auto parts store and get yourself a new set! 

Windshields and Windows

Windshields and side windows are prone to chips and cracks during the winter and often go unnoticed. Even minor chips could weaken the glass and make it more prone to shatter in an accident or when hit with debris like gravel. If you notice any damage in any of your windows or windshields, get it checked out by a professional and repaired as needed. 

Our road trip car checklist offers a few essential pre-road trip factors to check before you strike out on your next adventure. If you need to replace lift supports, check out our wide selection here at Lift Supports Depot. We offer a variety of lift supports, struts, gas springs, and mounting hardware for many different makes and models. Order online today!