Planning to hit the road and leave the busy side of the world for some relaxing vacation? Perhaps you want to beat the dullness of your daily life with a breathtaking adventure? Whatever the reason, you would not want your trip to be spoiled with inevitable circumstances. Therefore, it’s important to take note of what items you must bring before a road trip.
Here, let us discuss the essentials you must pack in your bags or store in your car at all times. This doesn’t only apply to road trips, though. You may find this helpful even when driving daily.
What should you prepare?
Granted, nobody wants to think about getting into a car accident or experiencing sudden mechanical problems while on the road. Unfortunately, though, these issues are inevitable situations. That’s why it’s always important to have a contingency plan by having an emergency kit and accessories in your car, regardless if you’re going to Wichita or anywhere in KS.
First, whether you’re driving a car or borrowing one, don’t leave without having these road trip car essentials:
- Driver’s license
- Car manual
- Car registration and insurance information
- Extra car keys
- Phone number(s) for roadside assistance in case of emergency
- Spare tires with a tire jack and tools for changing tires
- Water-resistant flashlight in case an accident occurs during the night
Moreover, no one wants to get caught up in a hassle. Certainly, many road-trippers want to have fun, incident-free adventures. But, it still pays to be prepared. Don’t leave your home without a roadside emergency kit. Even though you may have some of these items at home, like an air compressor or materials for repairing a tire, having a complete kit in your car is convenient.
In addition, if you’re planning to go to a place with remote establishments and roads (like Utah) where there are long stretches of highway without any gas station along the way, you may also want to store some of these supplies.
- A quart of oil
- Wiper fluid
- Brake fluid
- A jug of coolant or water
- Portable gas container
Where should you store your kit?
In general, the trunk of your car is a good place for keeping all of your emergency items. However, if you find yourself unable to go to your trunk, it’s wise to have enough room to keep your emergency kit inside the car.
For example, you can place them under your seat or at the back seat. With that, you can access all your supplies with ease. You should also remember to check your emergency kit every once in a while.
Before any trip, you should have your car inspected from the engine down to the tires so you don’t have to worry about sudden mechanical failures while traveling. Prioritize repair and routine maintenance to ensure your safety.
To sum up, having an emergency kit is not optional. Optimistically, you will never need to use it, but it’s always nice to have one for security and peace of mind.
