Peyton and I are gearing up to head out on our first road trip of the year as soon as school gets out. But before we head out on our adventure there are a few things I like to do to make sure our vehicle is ready.
Detail the Inside
Let’s be honest, this winter was brutal! And it took a toll on the inside of my car. From all the muck and gunk that gets tracked in on our boots to just the general day to day nonsense, it’s in a dire need of a deep clean. Every spring and fall I like to make an appointment with a local car wash to have the inside of my car deep cleaned. This means they shampoo the seats, floor and wipe down every surface getting rid of that winter muck and yuck. When I get my vehicle back it’s like having a brand new car! It smells fresh and clean plus it looks like it was just on the showroom floor.
Routine Maintenance
Every spring and fall I make sure to take my SUV into the dealership and have any routine maintenance done as well as a once over to check for major repairs. The tires are rotated if needed, the oil changed, all fluids checked. This is also the time I’ll do those bigger checkups. Before hitting the road I like to make sure my vehicle is in it’s best shape and can handle the strain of being driven hundreds of miles on hot summer days.
Update GPS
Now that vehicles are more sophisticated and come with GPS, satellite radio and more this is the perfect time to make sure all those are up to date. Especially the GPS. You don’t want to be traveling in an unfamiliar area with an outdated map so don’t forget to update your GPS too. This is also a great time to make sure your phone is up to date with all software updates. I use my phone as my GPS so it’s important to make sure I keep it update as well.
Charging Cords
It’s a miracle how these charging cords grow legs and walk off. Now is the time to make sure that you have a charging cord for your phone and other electronic devices you will be bringing with you. Be sure to check them too. Sometimes wires fray or burn out. You do not want to be on a 7-hour car ride and discover your phone charger is dead.
Road Side Emergency Kit
Now is the time to switch out some of those items in your roadside emergency kit. Summer requires a few different items than winter. Plus with our winter emergency kit, I tend to have blankets which are bulky. Now you can take those out and put in a lighter blanket. It’s also a good time to switch out snacks, ones that can withstand the extreme heat of summer. Check your supply of bandaids. Summer activities tend to lead to many more cuts and scraps that require bandaids.
These are just a few things I do to get my vehicle ready for our first road trip every spring.
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