Are you looking to explore your inner Kerouac and embark on a potentially life altering road trip? There’s no better way to get to know your culture and yourself than spending a few days or weeks aimlessly driving the country. Before you get going, you’ll need a vehicle. Not just any vehicle though, you need a reliable and safe mode of transportation for your voyage. If you plan on renting a car, it should already be mechanically sound enough for anything the open road may throw its way. If you’re taking your own car, make sure certain aspects of the mechanical upkeep are accomplished before you depart.

You’ll Need Tires

If you find a way to drive a car without tires, you’re pretty cool. For the rest of us normal folk, the health and safety of the tires on your vehicle are one of the most important maintenance priorities. Especially if you’re preparing for a trip of hundreds if not thousands of miles, checking the tire pressure and tread depth are two of the basic tasks you can do to ensure your tires are good to go. For tread depth, use the penny test. Simply insert a penny into the tread groove of your tire with Honest Abe’s head upside down and facing you. If you can still see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread is too low and it’s time to replace your tires. Also, don’t forget to fill your tire pressure to the psi requirement on your vehicle. You can find it on the side of the tire or in your owner’s manual.

You’ll Need Fluids

If it’s been a while since your last checkup, take your car to the mechanic and make sure everything is up to par for a long trip. If it hasn’t been an eternity since your vehicle has been looked at by a professional, then there are a few fluid-level checks you can do to make sure your transmission and engine are ready and willing for the task at hand. First thing, check your oil levels. If it’s low, fill it. If the oil looks like tar, it’d behoove you to take it in for an oil change before you leave. Also, check the transmission fluid, because typically transmission fluid doesn’t need to be refilled. Again, if it looks filthy you’d be better off getting it replaced. It’ll also save a ton of time and money in the future. Lastly, pop open your coolant reservoir and make sure there’s adequate antifreeze levels. One of the worst things that could happen would be if your car overheats, and leaves you stranded on the side of the road. That’s how horror movies start, so try to avoid that.

You’ll Need Stuff

Once you’ve got all the mechanical stuff squared away, make sure you have a few things for your car just in case. Think of it as a first aid kit for your vehicle. In this kit, include jumper cables, some engine oil, a small gas canister, coolant, a tire pressure gauge, snow scraper, and mostly importantly a spare tire with a jack. In the horrible event that you are stranded in the middle of nowhere without cell phone reception, bring extra blankets or a sleeping bag to keep warm.

Conclusion

No doubt your road trip will be filled to the brim with unforeseen adventures. Before you leave, make sure your vehicle is up to the task mechanically so you don’t waste time and money fixing your car while on the road. Follow these basic steps and your adventure will be legendary, one for the ages, or maybe just a lot of fun.