How to Properly Prepare Your Vehicle for Vacation
Summer officially begins on June 21, but the season for camping and fun road trips is already well underway. Before long, it will also be vacation time for many Quebecers.
What can you do to properly prepare your vehicle and avoid unpleasant surprises? During an appearance on the TV show Salut Bonjour, The Car Guide journalist Louis-Philippe Dubé answered this question and shared several helpful tips.
“It all starts with a mechanical inspection, and you shouldn’t wait until the day before departure to do it,” he emphasized right from the start. Ideally, you should have it done at least a week in advance to identify any potential problems or parts that need replacing. Because even though mechanics are less busy than during tire-change season, they’re going on vacation too!
Tires, being the only point of contact with the road, obviously deserve special attention. You should monitor tire pressure and tread wear, since underinflated tires or those with worn tread can increase fuel/electricity consumption and the risk of a flat tire, as well as compromise handling and safety. If you don’t have the tools, a quick stop at a gas station will allow you to adjust your tire pressure (following the manufacturer’s recommendations).
Later in the column, Louis-Philippe discusses the importance of having a 12-volt battery in good condition, since it’s often put to the test during the holidays: plugging in an electric cooler, watching movies, charging the kids’ devices, and so on. “Checking it is easy. You can go to an auto parts store and have a technician test it or replace it if necessary. That can prevent a lot of problems,” he says.
Our reporter also offers a series of tips for the thousands of drivers who need to tow a trailer carrying a boat or a camper, for example, as well as advice on how to plan your trips effectively, including using the various apps available. And let’s not forget the famous emergency kit in the trunk: does yours contain all the essentials?
