How to Build the Perfect Road Trip Kit for Your Car

Summertime is road trip season and drivers all over America will be gathering their friends for long hauls in their cars, trucks, and SUVs. A road trip can be spontaneous, so it’s wise to keep some items in your vehicle for whenever the mood for an adventure strikes. 

 

Below is a list of 10 items needed to make up the perfect road trip kit for your car. 

 

1. First aid kit

It’s always a good idea to keep a first aid kit on board, but they’re especially useful on road trips where you may be in unfamiliar territory and far away from any medical clinics. 

 

2. Flat tire fix

There should be space in your trunk for a donut tire with a tire iron or a flat tire sealant. Neither one of these items is designed to travel long distances, so it’s wise to keep both on hand in the event you suffer a flat tire far from civilization.

 

3. Coolant

Summertime road trips will keep the air conditioning running for long stretches at a time, which can potentially overheat your vehicle if you’re low on coolant. Keep a container of coolant handy and keep an eye on that engine temperature gauge. 

 

4. Multipurpose tool

A multipurpose tool can always come in handy if ever you need scissors, a screwdriver, knife or any other simple tools. You never know what you might need on a road trip while your toolbox is back at home in the garage.

 

5. Snacks

What’s a road trip without snacks? Keeping some non-perishable items in the car can not only save you from having to make grocery stops on your trip, but also save you a little money as well. 

 

6. Pillows and blankets

Someone may want to get a little shut-eye during the inevitable long drives, so some pillows and blankets can be good to keep in your road trip kit, especially if you’ll be taking turns driving with a fellow traveler. 

 

7. In-car phone charger

It’s just too easy to forget your phone charger, especially for a more spontaneous road trip. Keep a car charger on hand so either you or your passengers can plug in as needed.  

8. Books

A book of jokes, riddles, brain teasers, trivia, or other activities can keep passengers entertained and engaged with one another during any particularly long and/or uneventful drives.

 

9. Trash bag

The trash from food and drinks can really pile up on a road trip. A trash bag is a small and easy object to store in your road trip kit that can make a big difference in the comfort and cleanliness of your journey. 

 

10. Spare cash

Keeping a small amount of spare cash hidden in your car is a smart choice, as you may encounter a cash-only business if your trip takes you across rural areas. What’s more, that business may just be something you can’t pass up, such as an ice cream stand. 

 

Start Your Road Trip at Zimbrick

A perfect road trip kit is just part of your preparation for a long drive. But where your journey really starts is at Zimbrick Automotive in Madison, WI.

Our service center can perform any necessary repairs or preventative maintenance needed to keep you safe on your road trip. Schedule an appointment for a tuneup today and make it a road trip to remember with an assist from Zimbrick.