We love family road trips. They are the perfect opportunity to talk, laugh, spend quality time together, and strengthen family bonds. Even the little ones would have so much to share, and you would get to see how they process their thoughts about their surroundings. Also, when on a road trip, the family learns to be more patient with each other.
Before embarking on a family road trip, you have to prepare and plan early. If you’ll be traveling in a truck, your trip can be economical and fun at the same time. And if you’re considering camping in your truck, you’d save on lodging. If you don’t have a camper shell, you can conveniently store your camping equipment along with folding chairs and tables in the back of your truck. This article will give you essential tips for a memorable family truck road trip.
Table of Contents
Prep Your truck
Vehicle engines are prone to wear and tear, which could reduce their lifespan. One of the most important things to do before a truck road trip is to prep the truck. Failure to take this important step could result in vehicle breakdown and frustration. So, get your engine oil checked and have a professional examine your engine to ensure it is in good shape for the journey.
Also, it’s essential to protect the bed of your truck, especially since you’ll be carrying a lot of cargo that can scratch or damage the truck bed. According to Mil-Spec Liner, a manufacturer of spray-on bedliners for trucks,” The primary application of bedliners in trucks is to protect the truck bed from damage caused by hauling cargo, equipment, tools, or other materials. Bedliners act as a barrier between the truck bed and the cargo, preventing scratches, dents, and rust formation.”
In addition to bedliners, consider installing floor liners and car seat covers because when traveling long distances with kids, you cannot avoid sticky messes. There could be spills from juice boxes, crumbs from cookies, or sandwich fillings dropping at every corner. Having mats and car seats that fit the model of your truck makes it easier to keep your vehicle tidy.
Plan Ahead of the Trip
Planning is essential for everything in life. So before your trip, discuss with your family, including the kids, and plan your route, stops, and ultimate destination. You can do this with a paper map before using an online mapping tool to estimate how long it would take you to get there. Determine how far you can drive in one day and how long you would want your stops to last. Choose your overnight stops and decide if it will be at a hotel or a camp. Your overnight stops can be your anchor points where you can access amenities such as restaurants, shops, and gas stations.
Running out of gas is a common problem that occurs during road trips. So, you may want to note all the areas where you can fuel up along the way. If you are coming up on a stretch without gas stations, ensure you fill up your tank beforehand. Even though you plan your stop, you may want to consider adding quick stops to maximize the fun. Be flexible with your timing so that you can stop briefly for an educational experience if the kids see something that interests them.
Prepare for Emergencies
Everyone wants a smooth road trip free of emergencies, but since we cannot predict the future, it’s best to be prepared for the unexpected. Ensure you have a spare tire in the back in case of a flat. Also, carry a first aid kit, functional fire extinguisher, and jumper cables you could use if your car battery needs charging. It’s best to have a toolbox in the vehicle when driving long distances. Bring along basic tools like screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches that might be useful when performing tasks such as battery recharging and tire changing. Of course, they wouldn’t be useful to you if you don’t know how to use them. So, learn how to use them before leaving home.
Check the weather forecast before leaving home to determine if it will be favorable for your trip. Ensure everyone has appropriate clothing for the weather, and bring a car phone charger so you don’t run out of battery in the middle of nowhere. You may have multiple stops where you can buy water and other food items, but it’s important to always have enough drinking water in the vehicle for everyone. Speaking of food, keep some non-perishable options handy, such as dried fruit, crackers, trail mix, nut butter, and roasted chickpeas. These can come in handy when you cannot find a restaurant or set up your utensils to cook.
