5 Essential Summer Roadtrip Tips

Summertime is here, and it’s officially roadtrip season! Even if you’ve already crossed the country a few times by car, you might find something helpful in this article.

• Prepare your car. Check your oil and filter, top off all fluids (including coolant and windshield wiper), check your tires’ air pressure (including the spare), and rotate your tires if you haven’t in the past 6 months.
• Plan your route. Don’t only rely on technology, make sure you have a printed map and / or itinerary with you. Check weather conditions and road conditions where you’ll be to make sure you’re not driving into construction or a storm. Finally, estimate what time you’ll be passing through major cities — if you’ll be there during rush hour, it might make more sense to take a different route, early dinner, or something more time efficient.
• Bring an emergency bag. Make sure you have jumper cables, tire pressure gauge and tools to change tires, a first-aid kit, flashlight and batteries, duct tape, bottled water, and energy bars.
• Be prepared for emergencies. Sometimes things can go wrong even with the best planning. If something happens, pull over to the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights, put your car in park, set the emergency brake, and point the wheels away from the road. Make sure you have AAA or another emergency road service’s phone number handy.
• Keep your passengers safe. Seat belts save lives, and everyone should stay buckled in at all times. Children under 12 should be in the rear seat. If you ever feel fatigued, either switch drivers or pull over to rest.

If you have concerns about an upcoming road trip, our experienced service professionals will be happy to help you out. Come see us at 14295 Airline Hwy, Gonzales, LA, 70737, call us at (225) 743-8200, or you can check our current inventory online at any time. We are proud to serve our neighbors in the Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, Denham Springs, Prairieville, and Zachary areas.