How to Plan for Your Next Long-Haul Drive

Taking a vacation can often be a great way for you and your family to enjoy some time together away from the stresses of work and study. However, with rising flight prices and travel limitations, taking such a vacation can seem out of reach for many families. For this reason, more and more families are looking to the benefits of staying a little closer to home and simply driving to their holiday destinations. Driving to your vacation can be a great way to not only save money on your travel but can be a great time to spend with the family and interact. The key to a successful and stress-free long-haul driving adventure with the family all comes down to planning, however, for many families, this is their first experience and are unsure what to plan for, or even what to bring along for the ride. If this sounds like you, Amsoil Dealer - James Martin has put together a few tips to help you on your way.

Plan for the Worst

One of the biggest mistakes that are made when planning for a long-haul driving trip is the route, or more importantly, the one route. If you're using a mapping service to plan your journey, take note of the alternative driving routes that are offered and keep them as your plans B or C. It can be difficult to predict traffic congestions of holdups along the way, however, it's is easy to plan for them. While your alternative routes may not seem to be the fastest, they will be a lot quicker than getting stuck in traffic on your journey.

Keep Your Load Secure

If you're planning a camping trip or even if you have a lot of items to bring along it's likely that your will be utilizing your roof. No matter what it is that you store on your roof-racks, be sure that it is thoroughly secured. Often times motorists will pay little attention to the strength of their cables or how their roof-stored items are placed which can end up in you either losing items along the way, or cause accidents to occur. One of the most common problems that occur during a long-haul drive is an overheated engine or one that runs out of oil. The day before your journey, speak with Amsoil Dealer - James Martin at (717) 776-4040 and get a bottle of synthetic oil to not only use prior, but to keep as a spare for the journey. The benefits of a synthetic oil change near Chambersburg range from a car that runs smoother to a car that uses less fuel, so it pays to do it before a long-haul drive.

Share the Driving

It can often be difficult for drivers who are new to a long-haul drive to understand how mentally and physically exhausting such as drive can be. If possible, make the journey with somebody who you can share the driving with. Swapping the driving for being a passenger every few hours can be a great benefit to how you feel when you arrive.

Bring Food and Drinks

It's never a bad idea to stop and take a break whenever you feel tired, if your passengers are just feeling hungry it can be better to press on with the driving. For this reason, we suggest bringing a picnic basket or small lunch boxes for your passengers. A bottle of water or juice, some sandwiches, and a few snacks can keep you on the road and keep your passengers happy and less distracting.

Prepare Your Car With a Synthetic Oil Change Near Chambersburg

When it comes to your car, preparation is key to ensure it doesn't break down along the way and runs smoothly. Before you drive, speak with your mechanic about any maintenance they suggest you do prior to a long drive. Small fixes can be the difference between a happy journey, and one where you spend a lot of time stranded hoping that somebody will drive past. If you're looking for a quick way to boost the performance of your engine and help it along the journey, the benefits of a synthetic oil change near Chambersburg are many. Speak with Amsoil Dealer - James Martin at (717) 776-4040 and ask about the range of high-quality synthetic oil products which can give you the best synthetic oil change near Chambersburg. Such benefits include a reduction in fuel usage and engine damage, keeping your engine running smoother and with less costs along the way.