Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Your Road Trip

1. Check your tyres

Tyre pressures and tyre wear are 2 key points that are easily checked by any driver. Firstly, a close visual inspection of your tyres can highlight uneven wear, cracks in the rubber, nails or objects embedded in the tread or minimal tread depth. All these should be rectified prior to any journey to provide the confidence of minimising tyre blowouts or punctures.

Tyre pressures are also key to a safe and comfortable drive as well as providing the fuel economy benefits of providing less rolling resistance when running on correctly inflated tyres. Tyre pressures should also be correlated with any increased loads you may be hauling and never vastly exceed manufacturers recommendations contained within the owner’s manual.

Always ensure your spare tyre is inspected and pumped up to recommended pressure to enable its use if called upon.

2. Check your lights and indicators

Enlist the help of the kids or your nearest mate and get a visual inspection of all your external lights prior to setting off. Whilst the headlights and the indicators can be easily checked on your own it pays to have someone at the rear of the vehicle to check correct brake light illumination as you press the brake pedal.

Also check your fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them. Whether an early start or a trip to the snow, your fog lights are invaluable if confronted with the limited visibility of a blanket of fog and mist.

Come into Repco or shop online to get the right globe or bulb for your vehicle. Grab a spare or two to stow in the glovebox and never be caught short again.

3. Check your fluid levels

Coolant levels, oil levels and brake fluid levels are all relatively easy to check with reservoir and dip stick locations advised in the owner’s manual.

When it comes to topping, up your local Repco store hold both small and large bottles of oils and coolants whilst also carrying a range of funnels to ensure you don’t spill these all over your engine bay.

Repco also stock a wide selection of oil, coolant, and fuel caps to keep your fluids where they work best so always check the seals and general condition of your fluid caps when checking fluids.

With the bonnet up it also pays to top up your washer fluid reservoir with a suitable windscreen cleaner and clean water. You’ll be surprised at how bug and dirt encrusted your front and rear screens can become so a clear line of sight is crucial to safe motoring.

4. Check your windscreen wipers

As well as having an ample volume of windscreen cleaner you will also require the effective function of your windscreen wipers to keep your vision clear.

Check your windscreen wipers by carefully lifting them from the windscreen and running a damp cloth or chamois along the rubber blade to remove any debris or road grime. If significantly worn or displaying an uneven sweep pattern across your windscreen it pays to replace these.

5. Check your brakes and wheel bearings

Whilst not as easy to accomplish as the other items on this list, an hour or two spent in the driveway with your jack, wheel brace and torch can save untold hours roadside.

This also applies to any caravan or trailer you may be towing as these can spend months at a time idle prior to your trip and need suitable attention to avoid catastrophes.

On a solid and level surface raise each wheel off the ground and rotate the wheel to listen for any grinding or unusual noises. Also hold the wheel at the top and bottom and attempt to wiggle the wheel to see if any slop or looseness in the wheel bearings are present.

If no slop or unusual noises are present, then lower the vehicle or trailer down and loosen the wheel nuts. Raise the vehicle once again and brace with axle stands. Removing the wheel will give you a chance to visually check the condition of the brake pads and brake rotors as well as any loose or worn steering or suspension components.

If anything looks out of order or requires attention but you don’t have the confidence to fix it yourself it pays to book your vehicle in to your local mechanic for a professional service to give you the greatest peace of mind.

Repco has your road trip vehicle maintenance sorted

Memorable experiences don’t just happen when you reach your destination but can be had whilst clocking up the kilometres on your way there. A comfortable and safe driving experience is paramount to getting the most from your time away and with these simple pre-trip checks you can hit the road in confidence.

Repco are your trusted name for all your vehicle maintenance requirements. With our helpful staff or our easy to use Rego search tools we ensure you get the right car parts and fluids to suit at the best prices.