Our 'Car Essentials' check list before a long drive

This is a true blue Hashim post. Here goes:

Extra water for car

Drinking water for passengers

Torch

First aid kit

Tool kit

Step knee in perfect condition and jack.

Diary to record fuel, mileage, location details

Music

Packets of sweets and munchies / energy bars

Cell phone charger

Umbrella

Absolutely necessary

Child seat if traveling with an infant, toddler or young child.

Good tyres.

Good headlights –the new internally adjustable headlamps are very useful.

A small pipe to act as a fulcrum to open very tight tyre nuts on SUV’s or large cars.

Points to consider before a long car trip:

The amount you want to spend on the trip will dictate several aspects with regard to the following:

Reliability, safety features, fuel economy and maintenance.

Use own car (based on age, reliability) or hire a larger, safer, newer car.

Self drive or with a driver.

Type of terrain to be traveled on.

Distance of trip.

Number of people traveling and amount of luggage.

Cost difference between petrol and diesel is normally not enough to warrant change of car or rule in favor of hiring one.

Check list prior to trip

Check tires, including the step knee.

Check that the jack set is complete and know how to use the jack.

Check lights

Check all fluids

Check battery

Carry spare keys

Check the manual for nearest 10,000 km checklist, for one-off changes required.

Include a first aid kit with all possible required personal medication.

Water and chocolate and lots of hard boiled sweets for the driver.

Torch

Tool kit

Spare water

Diary for fuel stops, amounts, mileage and locations.

All required vehicle paper work including registration and insurance must be in order.

In short any car that can comfortably accommodate the number of people that are traveling and their luggage can do for a trip, with a thorough check up, service and a little care.

As budgets increase, include as much safety as possible, but keep in mind that 80% of safety is between your ears. Any amount of safety added to a car may not save a reckless high speed driver, while many “fronties” go from one end of India to the other without incident.

Happy driving,

Hashim