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One of the best ways to spend a great weekend with your family and friends is to load them up in your car and set off for a long drive. Here are a few tips to make sure your drive is enjoyable, safe and hassle-free
Maintenance:
Having the car in good shape is the first step towards having a great drive. The locales may be fantastic, but a car that gives up midway is only going to spoil your vacation and make you wish you had stayed home. For maximum effectiveness, have the car serviced a week before departure. This will enable you to rectify loose ends left by the service centre, like loose wheel nuts for instance.
At the time of servicing, all belts, hoses, wiper blades etc. should be checked for damages and replaced if any damaged is noticed.
If you are planning to travel at night, do check the headlight for brightness. Also keep in mind the focus of beam - correct its level keeping in mind the passenger and luggage weight which will lower the rear end of your car and make the beam point more upwards.
Remember without fail to check all the tyres. Make sure the inspection is thorough - check the side walls from inside for injuries, wear or developing ruptures which can result in blowups at highway speeds. Indian highway traffic has gotten faster and you wouldn't want an eventuality like that on them. Don't forget to include your spare wheel in the check!
Stuff to carry :
Preparedness will not only bail you out of trouble quickly if you get into some, it will also have you worrying about fewer things and let you enjoy the drive with a light mind. Here's a list of things that you should consider carrying :
a). A good tow rope of length 20-25 feet and 3/4th inch nylon. In an emergency, you may find a fellow traveler who can tow your car but needs a rope to do so. Never use chains for towing, they not only tend to destroy anchoring points, but can also take away the liberty to brake off from the car towing you in emergency braking situations.
b). One can of emergency puncture repair cum inflator. This is available in the market, and is a must. Most of today's cars run on
tubeless tyres, but if you are using tube-type tyres, do take a new spare tube. This enables sure shot and quick puncture repairs.
c). Carrying an umbrella in the boot is a good idea. Changing punctured tyres in pouring rain or the beating sun is not.
d). Carry one bright torch, it always helps. If you want the perfect lighting, avoid carrying the round ones. Instead, we'd recommend
the square type ones that can be positioned on the ground without rolling. Replacing tyres in the dark can be an ordeal, so make it as easy as you can for yourself.
e). A can of cooling system leak stop is worth carrying to take care of any leaking hoses. Using this is great idea and it will prevent any further engine damage from loss of coolant due to a leaking hose.
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