The average cost of a holiday for a family of four from the UK is £4792. On top of that, the average Briton spends approximately £220 a week when on vacation. When considering this, it is understandable why many Brits are opting for a holiday at home, especially as summer temperatures here in Blighty are rising year on year. In this article we examine the things you must consider before setting of on your next big road trip.
Inflate
Driving on a flat tyre has far considerably more effects than potentially causing a blowout. Automotive testing has found that an underinflated tyre can increase your fuel consumption by around five percent. So not only will your fuel bill be much heftier that it should be, you’re also doing more damage to the environment.
Not only does a blowout put you at a serious risk of crashing, it can cause devastating consequences to other road users, and it’s a nightmare to get fixed, likely damaging the rim in the process. Handling levels are massively affected by tyres that are underinflated as well, with stopping distances increased and steering taking a similar knock. A car tyre inflator is easily stored in the boot, taking up limited space and will seem like a priceless purchase when you’re stood on the hard shoulder.
For many drivers the biggest issue that exists is ignorance in regard to knowing their vehicle — check what actually comes as standard. Marketed as a space saver, most car manufactures in recent years have opted out of providing consumers with a full-size spare wheel, and in its place, you will find tyre sealant foam. Be comfortable that you know how to use it before heading off into the abyss, and if it’s a spare wheel, learn how to use a jack.
Maintain
Engine maintenance is essential, particularly if you don’t want to be left stranded at the side of the motorway with a blown head gasket! An engine check takes a few minutes but could save hundreds of pounds. Grab a bit of kitchen roll, pull out your engines dip stick, wipe away the oil and re-dip it to check your levels. If you’re running low, top it up. Most of us will ever only venture under the bonnet as soon as something goes wrong e.g. a Vesuvius-like cloud bellowing from the engine. Despite an exact timescale of how often you should check your oil not existing, experts suggest if you’re a regular driver you should check it at least once per month. Let your oil run too low or use the wrong one and you could be looking at serious damage to your car’s components.
Clean
More often than not, travelling to the nicest locations across the country involves more than just motorway driving. Therefore, ensure you have your washer bottles topped up. Country roads that lead to some of the nicest camp sites are also used on a daily basis by tractors and other farm machinery, which are likely to spray muck over the roads. Following Google maps can be tricky enough, never mind having to do so with darkened out, dirt covered windows.
Home comforts
Once you’ve given your car all the TLC necessary, it is time to turn your attention to yourself. Due to the fact the radio can become ridiculously repetitive, it may be worth considering setting yourself up with a lengthy playlist to help you on the road. If you fancy a few laughs along the way, a nice addition to Spotify as of late is the Best of British Comedy playlist, which includes a range of excerpts from stand up shows and BBC series Mock the Week.
If you’re embarking on a journey that will extend beyond usual mealtimes, then it’s definitely worth packing the cool bag with a few snacks, to keep your stomach ticking over. It’s important that you don’t overlook drinks either – remember to take plenty of cold and hot drinks such as water and organic coffee to keep you hydrated on your trip.
With more than 12,000 campsites here in the UK, it is clear the nation is awash with options for a staycation. So, what is stopping you?
