Road trips can make amazing memories. It’s even better when you’re in a Land Rover, in our humble opinion. But, nothing spoils a road trip faster than car troubles. It’s stressful to feel like you’re stranded somewhere.
No one wants to trust their Land Rover to a mechanic they are not familiar with, or risk driving it back and making the problem worse when you know something is wrong with the vehicle. That’s why it is essential to prepare your Land Rover for the trip to minimize the risk that something goes wrong. Performing some key vehicle maintenance a few days before you head out is important. Here is what needs to be done.
Top-Up Fluids
Your Land Rover needs a handful of different fluids to run smoothly. If you are approaching time for an oil change then it is wise to get one before the trip. Other fluids may need to be changed out too. Here’s what to consider:
- Oil changes: Your vehicle will be running a lot during your trip, so the impact of having poor quality oil or old oil will be more serious. While normally you might wait a few days to get that oil change, you could be fitting in months of driving on your trip. So, it is best to get the oil changed before you head out.
- Radiator fluid: Travelling somewhere hot for your road trip? All of that heat could put a strain on your vehicle if it doesn’t have enough or proper radiator fluid. We suggest you check up on your radiator fluid levels to avoid damaging your vehicle through heat.
- Transmission fluid: Like oil, transmission fluid needs to be changed every so often. For Land Rovers, this is typically every 30,000 miles or once every two years, whichever happens first. If you’re due or will be during the trip, it is wise to get the transmission fluid changed now.
- Brake fluid: Your vehicle relies on fluid for its brakes to work properly. The fluid can get air bubbles that cause dysfunction.
- Power steering fluid: If your Land Rover has power steering, it uses fluid to work. This fluid should be flushed every 50,000 miles.
Consider the Tires
How well will your tires fare over the trip? Take a look at them for signs of excessive wear, pulls, or other problems. Tires should have 4/32 of an inch remaining in order to be operable. If you’re approaching that mark, it’s time to get new tires. What if you’re not sure? Your mechanic can help you decide if you need new tires before the trip.
You may also want to get the tires realigned before the trip. When tires move out of sync that slowly does damage to the vehicle and wears out the tire tread in unusual patterns. This can cause dangerous pulls and other issues with the vehicle.
It is also wise to check their pressure to make sure they are within the right range. Tires that are too low or too high in air pressure can be a liability on a road trip and cause a flat or damage to other parts of the vehicle.
Handle Other Maintenance
If your Land Rover needs other maintenance before you head out, you should get it done. Possibilities include:
- Brake pad replacement
- Air filters
- Light bulbs
Prepare for Your Trip
There are also a few other items you should take care of to make your road trip go as smoothly as possible:
- Fill the vehicle up with gas before you depart and try to keep it above a quarter tank, you never know when you’ll see a gas station next on trips through rural areas.
- Bring a spare tire, spare windshield fluid, and other vehicle accessories on the trip.
- Clean the inside and exterior to make it more comfortable for the trip.
Get Professional Support
If you’re too busy prepping for your trip to get all of this done, you can trust the experts at AutoScope to handle it for you. Use our free shuttle to head back home and keep packing and return for your Land Rover when you’re ready. We’ll make sure that it is in ship shape so you can get busy exploring without worry.
Allow AutoScope to get your Land Rover ready for your road with top-tier service. Schedule your appointment at one of our three locations today!