Spring has sprung, and that can only mean one thing: summer’s rapidly on its way. For many, this means the start of an exciting season spent road tripping from one end of the country to the other or to abutting states.
If you’re planning a summer road trip, be sure to pack the following 7 items in your trunk or hatchback that you’d be nuts to leave home without.
- A roadside emergency kit. You can either buy one outright, or make your own. Whatever you do, make sure that you’ve got everything you’ll need for an emergency, including jumper cables for your car’s battery, fix-a-flat, a first aid kit, road flares, spare tools, and a flashlight.
- Emergency cash. Because you never know when you’re going to need to fork over some emergency money for an auto repair, and you should never count on every establishment in the world being able to swipe a credit card.
- More maps than you need. We’re talking paper maps (you know them, the kind that are a nightmare to fold), road atlases, and a few smart phone apps that can work with or without GPS to help keep you from getting lost.
- Blankets and spare clothes. Weather can be unpredictable, no matter what time of year it is. Picture yourself far from civilization, broken down on the side of the road in the middle of an unnaturally cool summer night. What’s the one thing you’ll kick yourself for not having brought? That’s right, some protection from the cold.
- Sunscreen. Speaking of protection, the night is not the only time of day that you’ll need to physically protect your body from the elements. Pack enough sunscreen to keep you lathered up and safe from the sun’s rays.
- Water. If you throw at least three gallon-sized containers of water – you know them, the kind you can pick up at the grocery store for about a buck apiece, maybe less – into your trunk or into the back seat of your car, you’ll never have to worry about dehydration if your car breaks down and you get stuck having to wait for a tow truck in the summer heat.
- Food – non-perishable. Pack a few cereal or protein bars. These not only serve to tide you over till the next meal, but also will provide enough energy when you need it most.
Before you take off on a road trip, be sure to have your car serviced. Use Openbay to compare pricing and book service from quality local shops with the click of a button.
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