Auto Teacher Shares Top Tips For Preparing For Road Trips

Can you remember your last road trip?

Perhaps it was a bit of a blur because everything was happening and you were running late because the kids couldn’t pull themselves away from their gadgets, or work ran overtime, or that one friend or family member that just seems to leave everything to the last minute popped by for a quick visit.

Do you remember checking over your vehicle to make sure that it was up to making the trip you were heading out on?

A TAFE NSW Automotive teacher Nathan Malmborg has shared his top tips for ensuring your car is ready for a road trip this holiday season.

The advice follows an NRMA report which found the organisation had more than 130,000 roadside assistance calls in a 12-month period for issues with wheels and tyres.

The number one piece of advice from Mr Malmborg, with his decades of industry experience, was to make sure your tyres weren’t too worn and were inflated correctly.

Mr Malmborg said a few minutes of your time to check over the vehicular basics was a small price to pay to help safeguard your family on a long car trip.

“Often in the haste of trying to get on the road it’s easy to forget to check the simple things,” Mr Malmborg said.

“Making sure your vehicle is ready for the trip is essential and there are some straightforward things you can do that could be the difference between getting to your destination safely and sitting by the roadside waiting for help.”

Among Mr Malmborg’s top tips were checking tyre pressure and inflation levels.

“Follow your owner’s manual to ensure what the optimum inflation level is,” he said.

“Underinflated tyres are a leading cause of tyre blowout.

“This one’s important not only to prolong the life of the tyres but to make sure you and your family stay safe on the road.

“Also check the wear indicator on your tyres.

“The grooves of your tyres should be at least three millimetres deep.”

When checking your tyres, remember to include your spare.

Mr Malmborg said an effective set of windscreen wipers ensured you could see the road clearly, so remember to check the blades for any splits in the rubber edge.

“New wiper blades cost only about $30 a pair and are simple to replace,” he said.

Mr Malmborg said oil was the lifeblood of your engine, providing lubrication for the moving parts inside the engine while also cooling and cleaning these parts so your car continues to run smoothly.

“To check your engine oil, locate your dipstick underneath the bonnet and make sure the oil level is between the two markers at the end of the dipstick,” he said.

“Top the oil up as needed.

“Ensure all lights are working, including lights on trailers and caravans.

“This is a pretty obvious one but do a quick check of all lights, including your indicators before you set off.”

Mr Malmborg said regular servicing throughout the year was the best way to ensure your car was reliable.

“You’d be surprised how many people don’t get their cars serviced regularly,” he said.

“Regular servicing improves safety, boosts performance, and enhances fuel economy.”

• Topics:

• Holidays
• Motoring