Christmas Holidays 2016 - pre road trip vehicle checks

Christmas Holidays 2016 - pre road trip vehicle checks

Posted by greengrub Wooden Toys On 11th Oct 2016 In Aussie Xmas, Australian summer, Car maintenance, Christmas 2016, Christmas safety, Holiday fun, Queensland summer, Road safety, Road trip, Safe holidays, Summer holidays

Ensuring a happy and safe road trip with the Kids – drive a reliable vehicle

I’m ticking this one off my Christmas to-do list early, having the car serviced next week!

Mechanics suggest now’s the time to get your vehicle serviced if you intend taking a road trip over the Christmas holidays and I tend to agree. It’s one less thing I have to worry about as things get hectic with the wooden toy business and general Christmas craziness.

Living in Queensland I’m familiar with the extreme Aussie summer temperatures which can play havoc with poorly maintained vehicle cooling systems and cause overheating. Also distances between townships can be significant and road surfaces not ideal so good tyres, including a spare, are a necessity. Finally I always ensure I have well maintained brakes as these are literally a life saver. Combined with good tyres these can make the difference between stopping or not in an emergency.

As a more official checklist I have included the NRMA’s pre trip checks. The first three are deemed the most important but they suggest you or your mechanic check the remainder to limit the possibility of vehicle problems while on the road.

  1. Treat your car to a Lube by changing oil, and potentially other fluids if not done for a while
  2. Service cooling system including changing coolant
  3. Check tyre condition visually and adjust pressures as recommended by vehicle manufacturer
  4. Check exhaust system for corrosion or loose fittings
  5. Check brake pad/ disk remaining life
  6. Check battery terminals and fastenings

As you get closer to the day of travel the NRMA also suggest you pay particular attention to how you pack your vehicle. Ensure weight is distributed as evenly as possible and limit the amount of loose items in the passenger compartment as these can do serious injury in the event of an accident.

I hope these tips have been helpful and I trust you have a safe and enjoyable holiday when the time comes to pack the car and head off.

Greg

Another great tip for a successful road trip is heaps of entertainment for the kids. Check out our online Educational Wooden Toy and Jigsaw Puzzle Shop HERE for some super entertaining Toys and Puzzles.

Christmas-2016-road-trip-car-safety-checks

#drivesafely #holidayfun #christmas2016 #australiansummer #summerholidays #roadtripwithkids

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