Don’t leave home without these road trip checks

Australians love a holiday road trip – whether it’s a long weekend escape from the city, a couple of weeks in the caravan over the school holidays or an open-ended pilgrimage around the country or into the outback.

Now, as the warmth of summer fades, is the perfect time to start planning a winter getaway.

While deciding where to go and what to do, make sure to give your car some TLC too. With the help of eric Insurance we’ve put together a few simple checks that will help you make your holiday road trip safer, more comfortable and more convenient.

First things first, check your records and the recommended servicing schedule from the manufacturer in the owner’s manual. If your vehicle is close to the due date – or mileage – for its next scheduled visit, then we recommend booking it in for the prescribed check-up before undertaking any long-distance travel.

If you can, get the service done a few weeks before you plan to depart on the road trip as this will ensure that any potential concerns noted by the technicians can be rectified in time. It also allows any new components – even as basic as oil filters and spark plugs – to bed-in properly before being put under stress.

If your vehicle doesn’t need to be serviced anytime soon, then there’s still a checklist of items you should tick off at home before a long road trip.

First of all, check all the fluid levels to make sure the engine is operating properly.

Find the dipstick, which is usually located beside the engine and, in modern cars, is highlighted by a brightly coloured ring-type handle. Fully remove the entire device, wipe the oil off the end with a clean cloth then replace it and spin around 180 degrees. Pull the dipstick out again and check the oil level is between the highlighted minimum and maximum level markers.

Ideally, check the oil before starting the engine as this will give a more accurate reading. If it has just been running, some oil will likely still be circulating through the engine and it could give a lower reading, which could lead to you accidentally overfilling it. To prevent this, let the engine cool down for 10-15 minutes before checking the oil level again.

Next, check the engine’s coolant bottle and, similarly, make sure its level sits between the minimum and maximum levels.

If you’re heading to the ski slopes for winter, it pays to know the temperature rating of the coolant and whether you should add any anti-freeze additives to prevent the liquid from freezing when parked for long periods of time. The consequences of this can be catastrophic.

No matter where you’re headed, there’s a greater chance you’ll need to use your windscreen wipers more in winter. So, check the washer fluid level and re-fill it to the brim. For the same reason, you can buy specific windscreen anti-freeze additives to prevent the water from icing up.

Another handy hint is to apply a hydrophobic solution such as Rain-X to the front and rear windscreens. This helps keep the windscreens as clear as possible for optimum vision.

Naturally, shorter winter days also mean you’re more likely to need to drive with your headlights on.

So, check both the low and high beams on either side are working, as well as any additional Daytime Running Lamps or fog lights. Give the lenses a good clean too.

Also make sure that your indicators, brake lights, reversing lights and the rear number plate illumination are all operating properly, and clean any road grime away from the lens of front and rear-mounted cameras.

If you’re towing a caravan or trailer on the road trip, make sure you inspect its brake lights and indicators too.

Also ensure that the safety chains and shackles are in good condition, and the towball is well greased.

The most important safety feature on your car are its tyres; if they’re not working properly then neither will any of the car’s fancy electronic driver aids.

Before any road trip – no matter how short – regularly check the condition of your tyres, including the tread depth, look for any cuts or bulges in the sidewall and, obviously, scour for any sharp items such as nails and screws that could be lodged in the tread and cause a puncture.

When checking the tread depth, find the notches within the grooves that radiate around the circumference of the tyre. If the main tread blocks are at the same height as these notches (known as tread wear indicators) then the tyres need replacing immediately.

In any case, check the tyre pressures are correct on all four corners. Look for the tyre placard, which is usually located on the inside of the driver’s side door jamb and will display the recommended pressures. These can differ for the front and rear tyres, and when the vehicle is loaded with passengers and luggage.

Remember, your car actually has five tyres so make sure you also check the spare tyre too. You never when you might need it.

If you are heading to the ski slopes, check the weather conditions before you leave and also whether you are required to carry snow chains.

And here’s a hot tip, rent them before you leave and, again, practice fitting them at home. There’s nothing more frustrating that trying to solve a puzzle in a puddle of slushy snow while wearing mittens in the freezing rain. Trust us!

Even if you check-off everything, unforeseen incidents can still happen. And a holiday can go downhill faster than an Olympic ski jumper if you’re stranded far from home.

Which is why it is also imperative to have the peace of mind offered by a roadside assistance package, like the one included in the Tyre and Wheel Insurance policy offered by motoring insurance specialists, eric Insurance.

As part of the competitively priced 12-month Tyre and Wheel Insurance policy, eric Insurance provides coverage for tyre and wheel damage not caused by an accident with unlimited puncture repair claims caused by potholes, kerbs, nails, screws, and blowouts, and up to four tyre replacements per year.

If the issue means you can’t get driving again, the policy includes emergency travel and/or accommodation if you’re stuck more than 100km from home, up to $500 to cover car rental if your vehicle is immobilised for more than two days and up to $100 towards towing fees if required.

In the event of your vehicle having an unexpected mechanical issue, the policy includes roadside assistance that can be called upon anytime, anywhere to help get you driving again.

Find out more about how Eric Insurance can boost your road trip peace of mind.

Tyre and Wheel Insurance is issued by Eric Insurance Limited ABN 18 009 129 793 AFSL 238279 (eric). This article may contain general financial product advice that does not take into account your personal financial circumstance. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for full terms, conditions, benefits and exclusions before considering this product.