How To Complete A Road Trip Without Destroying Your Car

A road trip is like a high-intensity workout for your car. And just as such a workout can put you at high risk of a sports injury, a long car journey can put your car under a lot of strain – which could lead to an unwanted breakdown if you don’t correctly prepare for the drive ahead. 

So that your epic journey isn’t cut short, consider taking a few of these protective measures to prevent damage to your car.

Don’t overload your car

As tempting as it is to squeeze as much into your car as possible, you should be very careful not to weigh your car down. Driving an overloaded vehicle can pose many dangers including:

• Reduced stability and handling due to an altered center of gravity
• Longer braking distances due to the added weight carrying more momentum
• Strain on the suspension, which could cause a lot of wear
• Extra demand on the engine, which could cause overheating
• Added pressure on the tires, which may increase the risk of a blowout

If there is significant rear end sag or the car is bottoming out over bumps, it is probably overloaded. Most larger cars can carry a lot of weight, but smaller cars aren’t typically designed for the added weight of roofboxes, multiple suitcases or heavy equipment, so bear this in mind when choosing a road-trip-worthy vehicle. 

Plan plenty of stops

Planning plenty of stops isn’t just important for giving yourself a rest from driving, but also for giving your car a rest. Stopping every two hours can let your car cool down – which could be important if it’s at maximum capacity and it’s a hot day. It also gives you a chance to inspect your car for any problems.

Monitor fluid levels

Throughout your road trip, make sure to check fluid levels like oil, coolant and brake fluid. A common cause of breakdowns on a road trip is running out of fluids. Only ever check fluids when the engine is cool as to get accurate measurements and avoid injuries (wait a couple hours after you have stopped or check in the morning before you depart). Make sure to also check fluid levels on flat ground. 

Consider paintwork protection

Long car journeys can expose your car to all kinds of things that can damage your paintwork. Investing in a ceramic coating for cars can not only make the exterior shinier, but could protect it against various environmental hazards like bird dropping, sea spray, mud and UV light. Other solutions like paint protection film can provide added protection against scratches, but costs more.

Check your tires

Checking tires is very important before setting off on a road trip. Firstly, make sure the tire pressure is good – driving on underinflated tires could increase the risk of a blowout. Next, make sure the tire tread is not too worn or that there’s no damage to tires. A good time to replace old tires could be just before a road trip, so that there’s little risk of tires failing.