Road Trip Preparation
May 24 is National Road Trip Day!
As May comes to a close, classes are ending, the days are getting longer, and temperatures are slowly beginning to rise. You know what else that means? Vacation. Summer is calling and many American families are planning to spend their free time on the road relaxing and enjoying the sun.
Traveling, in all forms, is at its peak in the summer months. Road tripping and RV-ing are currently on the rise, so much so that Fox News reports that 73% of Americans would rather road trip than fly. Aside from all of the scenic views that are available when traveling by vehicle, travelers feel a sense of freedom by land, with the knowledge that they can stop or change their destination at any point in time instead of following a strict schedule like you would in an airport.
Whether your destination is the beach, the mountains, or just the open road, it is critical that your vehicle is ready to make the journey with you. So before you jam all of your luggage in the trunk, be sure to check the following in preparation for your summer road trip adventure:
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Periodically check and test batteries for proper charging. Summer heat drains batteries faster than the cold of winter.
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Check the air conditioning system for leaks and proper coolant.
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Check the tires for tread and proper inflation.
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Be sure your cooling system has the proper anti-freeze/coolant and all belts, hoses and the water pump are properly working. Never open a hot radiator cap; the liquid inside is a scalding 200 degrees or hotter.
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Verify the viscosity of your motor oil will stand up to hot weather days, 10W-30 or 10W-40.
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Make sure the spare tire is inflated and there is a jack and tire changing tool.
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Test your windshield wipers and change them if they are streaking.
Consumer Reports advises that, as well as checking your vehicle before leaving for your destination, you should also travel with a basic safety kit that consists of:
- Cell phone and spare battery
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Warning light or reflective triangles
- Tire gauge
- Jumper cables
- Foam sealant for flat tires
We don’t like to think that things could go wrong on vacation, but you never know what you will run into on the open road and that is why it is important to be prepared. Here at California Casualty we proudly support our customers and want you all to have a fun and safe summer full of road trip adventures, so before you hit the road, make sure that you and your vehicle are adequately protected for the unexpected you may encounter far from home.
Current customers call a California Casualty advisor for an auto policy review at 1.800.800.9410 or visit mycalcas.com/customerservice. If you are not a customer please contact us 1.866.704.8614 or visit www.mycalcas.com to request a FREE Auto Insurance quote.
Where do you plan on traveling this summer? Or do you have a dream road trip destination? Comment below and give us ideas for our summer travels! And if you are wanting to hit the road, but need a little help as to where check out Fox New’s Top 15 things to do on America’s travel bucket list.
Happy Travels!
More information for this article can be found at:
https://fxn.ws/2Ev0SYm
https://bit.ly/2K2jq5Y