I’m not one for driving, I’ll take a back seat (sometimes literally) and just let Tom take over, especially in summer. There’s so much maintenance for a car during summer not to mention the feeling of the sun on your ‘trucker arm’ and the agonising wait until you get to your beach destination. I’ve included some product links from some brilliant companies, here are our collaborative summer road trip preparations to make sure you’re on the right track for summer.

SUMMER ROAD TRIP Preparations

Summer is probably the most popular season for a road trip and it is certainly true to say that the open road can be that bit more appealing in fine weather. However, hot conditions can take their toll on any vehicle, so what sort of preparations should you take to make sure that you and your passengers remain cool as well as looking after your car? 

Change Your Oil

Some drivers are convinced that oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or so. Although there is some credence given to this figure if you have an older car, more modern vehicles can drive much further between oil changes. Nonetheless, driving in hot conditions, especially at high speed on the motorway, or motoring on dusty tracks will mean your oil comes under more pressure. If you tow a trailer or a caravan, oil needs to work harder, too. Therefore, if you have not changed your oil for a long time, then do so before a summer road trip.

Plan Your Journey

I’m a lover of a good plan, whether it’s for diet plans, holiday plans or for your shopping. Planning is important, when preparing for a long stint behind the wheel, it is a good idea to plan your stage so that comfort breaks are part of the day. If you choose to travel on major routes, then services can be all you need, but many road-trippers prefer country roads without the same frequent rest points. If so, then working out a good break stop in advance from an up-to-date road map can mean that you continue your journey in greater comfort.

Check Your Tyres

Busting a tyre is no fun at the best of times, but on your way to the sunny destinations you have planned? No thanks! Jacking up a car with a boot full of bags and additional weight is no fun, if you are unlucky enough to suffer a blowout. Tyres can be that bit softer in high temperatures, so it is worth checking them all – including the spare – ahead of a summer road trip. Ask a professional tyre expert to do this for you, if you are unsure what look out for and purchase the best quality tyres from a reliable tyre dealer network like Point-S that you can afford, if any need to be removed.

Don’t Overheat

When sitting in a hot car for hours at end, staying cool is essential, particularly when you have little ones in the back to consider. Make sure your air con is functioning fully before setting off and have a few cool drinks ready to keep everyone’s thirsts quenched. A couple of frozen water bottles on board means that cooled drinks are possible even after your car has been in the sun for a few hours.

Do you have any top tips for making your journey stress free?