HOW TO PREPARE YOUR NEXT ROAD FOR TRIP

Almost 100 million Americans will go on a family vacation sometime this year, and nearly half of them will choose to make it a road trip, according to AAA. If your family is one of them, you’ll want to be sure to make adequate preparations before hitting the road.

load limit to be sure your vehicle can handle the extra weight or towing. Your vehicle’s load capacity is usually available in your owner’s manual and/ or on the tire information in the driver’s door sill. For information, regulations and resources on towing a trailer, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Association’s website, nhtsa.gov. Make sure any extra load on your vehicle, as a rooftop cargo carrier, is properly secured.

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Bring along everything you and your family might need to stay safe and healthy during the trip, along with items you might need in case of a breakdown or other vehicle emergency. Be sure to include a standard first aid kit, along with bottled water and protein or energy bars, blankets, flashlights and batteries, a phone charger, jumper cables, plus warning flares or triangles. Be sure to have the number of a roadside assistance service programmed into your phone in case emergency.

If you take these steps to ensure your vehicle is in top condition and ready to roll, as well as packing what you’ll need in case of an emergency, you’ll know that your vacation will be fun and relaxing. Doing a little preparation ahead of time will give you the peace of mind to sit back and enjoy the journey. (BPT) of