With the dead of summer taking hold across Greater Sydney and all of Australia, many people are thinking about taking a road trip. While getting in the car and travelling around the country can be much fun, it does take some preparation on your part. At Phil Gilbert Hyundai, we are all too familiar with stories of people who took off on a long road trip impulsively and due to a car problem, realised their mistake quickly. To make sure your summer is not ruined we thought it would be helpful to talk about the four easy ways to ruin your summer road trips and how you avoid them.
Mistake #1: I am Sure It is All Fine!
The last thing you want to do is assume your car is ready for a summer road trip. Summer driving in the heat and humidity of Australia can put some significant stress on your vehicle, that is why it needs to be in top shape. Before you pick out your dream destination, be it a day trip to the Blue Mountains or a more intimidating trip like tackling the Red Centre Way, you need to get in touch with your dealership or mechanic, to schedule a complete car servicing and check-up. While each vehicle needs different things, the experts at Phil Gilbert Hyundai Service believe that there are some critical must-dos for all cars, trucks, and SUVs including:
- Checking your wipers
- Fluid levels
- Battery strength
- Tyre condition
- Engine check
- Brakes
- A/C check
Both our Croydon and Lidcombe service centres, offer a complimentary shuttle, comfortable guest lounge with a big screen TV, fresh coffee, and complimentary Wi-Fi. There's no reason to make preparing your car for a summer road trip any less enjoyable than actually being on the road!
Mistake #2: Don't Worry About Packing, Just GO!
The car is in top shape, and you have got your destination all picked out, so it must be time to hit the road, right? Nope. Despite how much of a pain it can be, you do need to put some thought into packing. The key is to pack for both the destination and the trip. No matter how long a trip you are planning to take everyone should bring along the following basics:
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun damage and dangerous glare
- A solid supply of water and snacks
- A first-aid kit that includes hand sanitizer, cold packs, band aids, alcohol wipes, your particular medicines, matches, and a list of your medical contacts
- Blanket or warm clothes, because the heat of the day can disappear quickly at night
Mistake #3: Believing Technology Never Fails
We will not waste too much time on this one. The answer is, technology, no matter how fancy or cutting-edge can fail. To avoid putting yourself at unnecessary risk, you should make sure to travel with a few extra tools such as a Portable GPS navigation system if the one in your car stops working and most importantly, a paper map. Yes, believe it or not, paper maps still have a place in the world! Trust us; it is worth the extra effort.
Mistake #4: Skipping the Research
If your driving attitude is mostly based on winging it and hoping for the best, it is time to put a little more effort into your road-trips. Few things are more annoying than having to sit in traffic because you did not check to see if there would be road construction on your route. This also goes for checking the weather forecast. Don't put your friends and family at risk, make sure you are not going to drive through a major storm or bushfire.
