Its summertime again, with the inviting blue skies and hot weather daring you to get on the road. These are just the most ideal conditions for a road trip. You have all been looking forward to this and the whole family can’t wait to hop in. Before setting off for the journey, you ought to check that your car is up to the task. Some of the things you will pay keen attention to include the tires, tire pressure, brake fluid, coolant and oil. Actually, you will be better off changing the oil.

Here’s a detailed look at the things you should do to gear up for a road trip in summer:

Check the tires
Remember, your car will be rolling on tires throughout. Therefore, you must make sure that you have checked them properly. Observe each keenly and see whether there is need to buy a new set. Replace the ones you feel doubtful about. When you are driving on an open road, you don’t know how far apart tire centers are. You cannot imagine getting a flat while in the middle of nowhere. Confirm that the tire pressure is ok. Do the same with the spare wheel as well. Nothing could be as frustrating as going to replace a flat tire only to find that the spare is also flat.

Go for an oil change
For your car to make it through a long drive, you have to change the oil. It doesn’t help to add new oil over the old. You are going on vacation for heaven’s sake. The last thing you want is a disruption. Change the oil by flushing out what is left and replacing it with new oil.

Carry enough money for gas
This is one of the most essential items on such a trip. You can start by having a full tank before departure. Get a map of the areas you will be touring. Locate where the gas stations are and estimate the distances between them. Carry enough money for refilling your tank. After driving for some hours, stop at the very first station you come across and top up. In case you are running on a low budget, the best option would be to designate some stopovers where you could spend the night. When budgeting, increase the gas allocation by a few dollars to take care of fluctuations in the prices of gas.

Water
Carry some extra packs of water for drinking and a little more just in case you notice the radiator shows some signs of overheating.