Road travel is freedom of movement, picturesque views and significant savings if you travel in a large company. But some do not dare to fulfill their dream because of the organizational difficulties of such a trip. And it's true - before leaving, you need to take into account many different nuances and prepare well. Especially if the trip is planned long. But then the impressions will remain for life.
Things to take care of in order to then remember the days spent on the road with a smile, said Thule brand expert Kirill Sinelnikov.
Tips before traveling on a road trip
1. Have a checkup
Imagine: the last preparations behind, you get in the car - inspired and full of joyful expectation. Ahead of a few days (or maybe weeks?) Of the long-awaited journey. But before you managed to drive a dozen kilometers, as an unfortunate breakdown happens. It's a shame, right?
So that your journey does not end, so plainly and not starting, you must take care of the technical condition of the machine in advance. Even if you have passed the inspection recently, do not be too lazy to do it again. Pay particular attention to the brake system, chassis and engine. You cannot save money or time on safety.
2. Make a list of necessary things
If you are a happy owner of phenomenal memory, you can neglect this point. But we would advise you to play it safe, so as not to reproach yourself for your carelessness. It is most convenient to make a list of things by category: first aid kit, clothes, etc. In this case, the risk of getting confused and skipping something important is minimal. The standard auto-traveler masthead looks like this:
- Full set of documents: passport, insurance policy, driver’s license, a full package of documents for the car. If you plan to cross the border, do not forget to find out in advance what additional documents you may need.
- First aid kit for you: painkillers, antipyretics, medications for indigestion and allergies, dressings and antiseptics.
- First-aid kit for a car: a manometer for measuring tire pressure and a compressor for inflation, a tow rope, a jack, a set of wrenches, pliers and pliers, a sapper shovel and a warning triangle.
- Camping set: gas burner, dishes, cans or bottles of drinking water, cutting board, folding knife. Even if you plan to eat in a cafe, sooner or later you will want to stop in a picturesque place and have a cup of tea in the fresh air.
- Grocery set: tea, coffee, a little sugar and salt, stew, bread rolls or crackers, cookies, energy bars. Of course, if you plan to spend the greater part of the journey "wild", the grocery list needs to be expanded. For example, you can grab a pack of pasta or cereals.
3. Bring a cooler bag
This tip is especially relevant for summer travel. Of course, it’s better not to take perishable products with you. But along the way, you may be tempted by ripe watermelon or other food that requires cold to store. In this case, the cooler bag will be indispensable.
As a bonus, you will get another life hack (which, we hope, will not be useful to you): cold blocks from a thermal bag can be used as first aid for burns and bruises.
4. Distribute things correctly
Put items that you may need on the road closer - it’s best to go to the salon so that they can be taken without stopping. For example, small water bottles, snacks, or warm clothes if the weather is cold. Place bulk items in the trunk in order of priority.
Proper distribution of baggage is also a security issue. If the car is heavily overloaded in any one place, this will lead to a shift in the center of gravity and make the car less stable. A great solution is to place some of the things on the roof. Convenient auto boxes will help. Now there is a large selection of such travel accessories, so it’s easy to find the right one for you in size and functionality.
5. Plan your vacation spots in advance.
The quieter you go, the further you'll get. This saying will never cease to be relevant. Concentration and well-being of the driver is the key to the safety of any road trip. Therefore, when building a route, think about where you will relax and spend the night. Try to ensure that the distance between the points does not exceed 300-400 km per day. On the way, you can make short stops to eat and stretch your legs a bit.
6. Create a playlist
Did you know that singing together brings people together? It is believed that this forms a special emotional connection. Road trip is a great opportunity to test this theory! So try to pre-compose a playlist of your favorite music. Just do not forget to take into account the musical tastes of all participants of the trip, otherwise, instead of a sense of unity, you will find dissatisfied comments and disputes.
On a long road
7. Maintain order in the car.
Gently lay out things at the beginning of the trip - it's only half the battle. It is much more difficult to maintain order throughout the journey. Still, try to do it. Each item in your car should have its own place, to which it returns after use. And let you be called a bore. But in the case of force majeure, you will know exactly what and where to look.
8. Do not neglect the rest
At the first signs of fatigue - eyes stick together, heaviness appears in the back of the head, it becomes difficult to focus your eyes - stop moving immediately. Even if you do not have time to get to the planned point of rest, stop at the nearest possible place. Do not try to heroism, set records and bet "but we bet I will drive 1000 km in a day." It’s always better not to drive a bit than to “move”.
9. Use the navigator and maps
Every autotravel should have an element of spontaneity. But few people want to be at midnight in the middle of an unknown country road. The navigator will help to avoid such a turn of events. Just keep in mind that not always the coverage of mobile Internet on the road will be quite stable. Therefore, download an offline map in advance, or better yet, grab it in paper form.
10. Enjoy it!
“In any, even the most thoughtful trip, something will definitely go wrong,” says Cyril Sinelnikov. - And your task is to perceive the problem as an adventure. Even an unpleasant experience can be a great story and will give dozens of reasons to say in the future: “Do you remember how we ...” Therefore, collect a warm company, get in the car and be sure: you will have a great trip! ”
