Thanksgiving is fast approaching and Sears Imported Autos knows that it takes a lot of preparation to get the family together to have a good time—even more so if you’re also preparing to travel. We’ve come up with some tips to make sure that those of you planning to drive this year will arrive safely, and with all the sanity you need to enjoy a great meal with your loved ones—or at least not add to the stress.
Maintenance
Visiting family can be stressful enough without a flat tire or a busted transmission. Before you go, make sure that all those little things that you have been ignoring over the past few weeks are checked or fixed. Even if you don’t sense any problems, going in for a maintenance check could help save you time, money, and your blood pressure in the long run.
Schedule a pre-road-trip inspection at our service department so we can check your vehicle’s:
- Tire pressure and tread
- Brakes
- Battery
- Oil
- Transmission, brake, and steering fluids
- Spark plugs
If you haven’t already prepared for fall, now is a good time to get your coolant flushed and replace your wipers and fuel filter if necessary.
Pack light
If you’re planning to stay for a few days, it’s a good idea to pack lightly. Not only will this help you and your family stay organized and save space, it will make it easier on your car—if you have a lighter load, you’ll also get better gas mileage. If it is possible, arrive early to prepare your dish, or bring something simple that you can just heat up in the oven or even pick up on the way. Just be sure to bring some road trip snacks so no one is hangry during the ride.
Expect the unexpected
Don’t just prepare for the unexpected things your family might do or say—be sure to do research for your trip. Leave early and come back late and find the best route to avoid bad holiday traffic. Schedule stops for when everyone is hungry or stir-crazy. Make sure you have an emergency kit in your car with things like road flares or a reflective triangle, blankets, a flashlight, and maps in case your phone or GPS fails you. You should also make sure you have jumper cables, a spare tire, a car jack and lug wrench.
Relax
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be that stressful if you’re prepared. Simple planning can make the holidays a lot easier on everyone and allow you to enjoy spending time with your loved ones.
