Everything you Should Have in your Car for a Road Trip
Going on a road trip is a classic American pastime. It’s a great chance to experience the outdoors or a new city that is both budget-friendly and incredibly fun. While road trips offer a great opportunity to spend time with your friends and family, it’s important to be prepared for emergency situations and dangerous roads.
Whether you’re the master planner of the road trip, or someone who’s getting excited about their next adventure, there are a few things every road trip car should have to stay safe and have fun. Here are some road-tested tips for having the ultimate road trip experience.
Jumper Cables or Portable Jumper Box
These products can be a life-saver on the road. Having your battery die on the middle of a highway or at the campsite because you left the cabin lights on can damper some spirits on a road trip.
Having a device that can not only jump-start your car in a pinch but can do it without another person’s car is safe and convenient. The great thing about devices like this is that you can charge them with any micro-USB cord (like the ones in your car), and it has ports where you can charge other electronic devices like phones, tablets, and GPS systems.
Emergency Tire Spray & Sealant
With all the driving that you will do on a road trip, your odds of getting a flat tire only go up. Depending on when and where you’re traveling, tire stores can be few and far between, and hopefully, they’re open when you need them. While the best advice is to have a full-size spare tire in your car with you, that’s not always possible.
When you’re in a pinch, having a small can of emergency Tire Spray. This aerosol can repair a flat in minutes by sealing the tire from the inside. Although it is not a complete fix, this product is enough to fix small leaks and get you back on the road to find a shop that can seal the damage permanently.
Water & Snacks
What is a road trip without tons of unhealthy snacks and drinks? While loading up on chips and soda is an essential part of every gas station stop, it’s never a bad idea to buy a few extra things for the car.
On road trips, it’s not too uncommon for people to get stuck in their cars. It could be inclement weather like heavy rain or snow, or maybe your car stopped working on the side of the road. For whatever reason, it is always a good idea to travel with plenty of extra water and a handful of snacks. This is especially true when driving in the Southwest during the summer. Temperatures can reach over 110 degrees, so having an extra gallon of water in the car is a must.
Flashlight
Having a stand-alone flashlight might feel obvious, but many people don’t carry them in their cars. And no, the flashlight on your phone isn’t going to cut it in case your phone is dead.
Owning a decent flashlight for your car is important for nighttime situations or when you need to get a better look under the hood of your car. A simple flashlight can have dozens of emergency purposes and is something easy to throw in your console box and forget until you need it.
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Fun & Games
Being prepared for a road trip doesn’t just mean survival protection and emergency precautions. The whole point of a road trip is to spend lots of quality time with your friends and family.
Especially if there are children on board, it’s incredibly important lots of games and activities ready. Even if your “road trip” is just taking your kids to school, having entertainment in your car can be a game-changer.
You should have a healthy mix of activities to do in the car but also games you can play once you’re parked. This might mean downloading some fun phone apps and movies to entertain your kids or bringing along a football or frisbee to play outside. No matter who is in your vehicle, keeping your guests entertained will ensure that everyone is having fun while keeping the driver less distracted from the road.
Window Breaker & Seat Belt Cutter
Emergency situations are no fun to talk about, but they’re less fun when you’re not prepared. There are hundreds of scenarios where people in a car would need to cut themselves free from their seatbelt or break their window, but few tools in the car that can do this.
This is why every car should have a Window Break/Seat Belt Cutter combo. Car safety is a popular market right now for manufacturers, so it’s important to research which products will actually perform as marketed in an emergency situation. Further, while having one in your car is great, having multiple in your car for each section or seat is excellent.
There are few safety tools that are as important as this one. Since these products are generally cheap (under $10 a tool), it is highly advisable that every car should have at least one.
Conclusion
Road trips are a great way to explore new areas and spend quality time with your loved ones. However, to maximize your potential to have a great experience and avoid emergencies, it’s important to be prepared.
One way to stay safe on the road is to limit your distracted driving. A great incentive to stay off your phone while driving is by using the app This App Saves Lives. The TASL app tracks you when you drive and rewards drivers for not using their phones when on the road. Drivers who use the app are able to gain points and rewards to popular brands and local restaurants!
Going on a road trip can mean driving around new drivers and putting your car under unusual stress. Drivers in certain areas can be more distracted or use different driving patterns that can throw you off after a long day of driving. Further, the hundreds of miles of driving a day and strenuous road conditions can lead to problems with your vehicle. Therefore, regardless of how far you’re driving; it is always better to take a few extra steps to make sure your car is safe and ready for anything.
