A road trip means freedom of movement, scenic views and significant savings if you travel with a large company. But some are hesitant to fulfill their dream because of the organizational difficulties of such a trip. And it's true - before leaving, you need to take into account many different nuances and prepare well. Especially if the trip is planned to be long. But then the impressions will remain for a lifetime.
Thule brand expert Kirill Sinelnikov told about what you need to take care of in order to remember the days spent on the road with a smile.
Tips before going on a road trip
1. Get a checkup
Imagine: the final preparations behind, you get into the car, enthusiastic and full of joyful anticipation. There are several days (or maybe weeks?) Of the long-awaited journey ahead. But before you had time to drive a dozen kilometers, an annoying breakdown happens. It's a shame, isn't it?
So that your journey does not end without really starting, you need to take care of the technical condition of the car in advance. Even if you have passed the inspection quite recently, do not be lazy to do it again. Pay particular attention to the braking system, chassis and engine. You cannot save money or time on safety.
2. Make a list of things you need
If you are lucky enough to have a phenomenal memory, you can ignore this point. But we would advise you to play it safe, so as not to reproach yourself later for inattention. It is most convenient to make a list of things by category: first aid kit, clothing, etc. In this case, the risk of getting confused and missing something important is minimal. A standard must-have for an auto-traveler looks like this:
- Full set of documents: passport, insurance policy, driver's license, full package of documents for the car. If you plan to cross the border, be sure to check in advance what additional documents you may need.
- First aid kit for you: pain relievers, antipyretics, medication for indigestion and allergies, dressings and antiseptics.
- "First aid kit" for the car: pressure gauge for measuring tire pressure and compressor pump, towing rope, jack, wrench set, pliers and pliers, sapper shovel and warning triangle.
- Hiking set: gas burner, dishes, cans or bottles of drinking water, cutting board, folding knife. Even if you are planning to eat in a cafe, sooner or later you will want to stop in a picturesque place and have a tea in the fresh air.
- Product set: tea, coffee, a little sugar and salt, stew, bread or croutons, cookies, energy bars. Of course, if you plan to spend most of the journey as a "savage", the grocery list needs to be expanded. For example, you can grab a pack of pasta or cereals.
3. Take a cooler bag with you
This tip is especially true for summer travel. Of course, it is generally better not to take perishable food with you.But on the way, you may be tempted by a ripe watermelon or other food that requires cold storage. In this case, the cooler bag will be irreplaceable.
As a bonus, you will receive another life hack (which, we hope, will not be useful to you): cold blocks from the thermal bag can be used as first aid for burns and bruises.
4. Arrange things correctly
Place items that you may need on the road closer - preferably in the salon so that you can take them without stopping. For example, small bottles of water, snacks, or warm items if cold weather is expected. Arrange bulky items in the trunk in order of priority.
Proper baggage distribution is also a safety issue. If the car is heavily overloaded in one place, this will lead to a shift in the center of gravity and make the car less stable. A great solution is to place some of the things on the roof. Convenient autoboxes will help with this. Now there is a large selection of such travel accessories, so you can easily choose the one that suits you in size and functionality.
5. Plan your rest points in advance
The quieter you go, the further you'll get. This saying will never cease to be relevant. Concentration and well-being of the driver is the key to the safety of any road trip. Therefore, when planning a route, think about where you will rest and sleep. Try to keep the distance between points no more than 300-400 km per day. Along the way, you can make short stops to eat and stretch your legs a little.
6. Make a playlist
Did you know that singing together brings people together? This is believed to form a special emotional bond. Road trip is a great opportunity to test this theory! Therefore, try to compile a playlist of your favorite music in advance. Just don't forget to take into account the musical tastes of all the participants of the trip, otherwise, instead of a feeling of unity, you will receive dissatisfied comments and disputes.
On a long journey
7. Keep your car tidy
Arranging things neatly at the start of the journey is only half the battle. It is much more difficult to maintain order along the way. And still try to do it. Each item in your car should have its own place to which it returns after use. And let them call you a bore. But in the event of force majeure, you will know exactly what and where to look.
8. Don't neglect rest
At the first signs of fatigue - eyes stick together, there is a heaviness in the back of the head, it became difficult to focus your gaze - stop moving immediately. Even if you do not have time to reach the planned rest point, stop at the nearest possible place. Do not try to be heroic, set records and make a bet "but I bet I will travel 1000 km in a day." It is always better not to get there than to “move”.
9. Use navigator and maps
Every road trip must have an element of spontaneity. But few people want to be in the middle of an unknown country road at midnight. Avoiding this turn of events will help navigator... Just keep in mind that mobile Internet coverage on the road will not always be stable enough. Therefore, download the offline map in advance, or even better - grab it in paper form.
10. Enjoy!
“In any, even the most thoughtful trip, something will definitely go wrong,” says Kirill Sinelnikov. - And your task is to perceive the arisen problem as an adventure. Even an unpleasant experience can become a great story and give dozens of reasons to say in the future: "Do you remember how we ..." Therefore, gather a warm company, get in the car and be sure: you will have a great trip! "