How to Prepare for Winter Road Trips - Cook Portable Warehouses

Winter is the time for road trips and holiday travel. Whether you are going to visit relatives or just on a quick family trip during the kids’ break from school, it’s essential to be prepared.

Taking certain precautions before your family heads out on the road means less headaches, reduced stress and ensures your safety if winter storms happen to strike.

Don’t forget your Cook Portable Warehouses is the perfect place to store those vehicles, equipment and other expensive items and keep them out of potentially damaging weather. To learn more, read this blog post.

Here are 6 important musts to prepare you for wintertime road trips!

Tune up your vehicle

It’s a smart idea to double check that everything is working perfectly before the roads become icy and snowy. This is especially important if you have a couple of long road trips planed this winter.

Make sure your mechanic change your vehicle’s oil, air filter and check all belts and hoses to make sure they are in tip-top shape. If you are really handy with tools, you can even change the oil yourself.

Don’t forget to check the coolant level to ensure your engine and heater keep running at a high level.

Test your battery

Have your car or truck’s battery load-tested, especially if it is older. Colder weather means that batteries don’t hold their charge as long and you don’t want to get stuck somewhere with a dead battery.

Check the tires

It’s essential to check the tire pressure in your tires (according to the ideal pressure for your vehicle’s make and model). Fill any tires that are lower than that number. Take time to check the amount of tire tread as well. If certain areas appear to be worn out, have your tires rotated by a professional.

Or, if you’re in need of replacement tires now is the time to do it. Although it’s a big expense, it’s worth the peace of mind that you won’t get stuck in a snow drift or icy patch.

If you are traveling in very snowy or treacherous areas, you might need to invest in snow tires or tire chains. No matter where you are traveling it’s important to know the basics of changing a tire, just in case.

Evaluate windshield wipers

Your windshield wipers are one component that is often forgotten but play a critical role in safe wintertime driving. Check to make sure your blades are in good shape and aren’t leaving streaks or making a loud screeching noise.

Also, make sure to purchase some extra windshield washer fluid, so you don’t run out at a bad time this winter.

Be prepared

The Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared” is right when it comes to wintertime road trips. Make sure you have at least a half tank of gas at all times to prevent your gas line from freezing.

Also, make sure your car has those cold weather musts like an ice scraper, jumper cables, extra windshield fluid, etc.

Pack an emergency kit

Everyone should have an emergency kit in the truck of their vehicle. And this kit should be customized according to the season. For your wintertime kit, stock a shovel, sand/rock salt/cat litter and warm clothes or blankets. Items you should keep year round include non-perishable snacks, bottles of water, a flashlight, gloves and a first aid kit.

For more home emergency preparedness tips and advice from Cook Portable Warehouses, download the free resource below!