Ultimate Road Trip Checklist: Maintenance & What to Pack

Ah, the open road. The sights and sites. The sounds and…smells? No matter the destination, nothing quite beats a road trip with family – especially in 2020. But making your way from A to B takes a good amount of preparation, planning and a perfectly packed pack of stuff for the drive.

So, toss a dart at a map and load up your SUV. The road beckons.

Maintenance Tasks

All your best-laid plans are worthless if your car breaks down mid-trip. That’s why road trip maintenance is an important task to do before numbers start rolling up on the odometer. Some common and important maintenance tasks to complete before your road trip include:

• Change engine/motor oil
• Replace old windshield wipers
• Fill windshield wiper fluid reservoir
• Check and replace any low fluids (coolant, transmission, brake, etc.)
• Rotate and inflate tires, including the spare
• Align wheels
• Inspect brakes and replace pads and rotors if necessary
• Change old air filters
• Inspect belts and hoses
• Test batteries and replace if necessary
• Towing inspection if necessary
• Check all headlights and taillights

Depending on your vehicle’s service schedule, you may be looking at a quick oil change or the whole auto-maintenance shebang. Always check with your service center or vehicle’s manual for a breakdown of necessary maintenance tasks per your car’s mileage or year.

Even an Ultimate Driving Machine needs a tune-up before long road trips. If you’re starting your trip from Miami, or if you happen to find yourself stuck in South Florida with a dead battery or a blown tire, contact someone from our Miami BMW service center. We specialize in repairing BMW vehicles as well as many other makes.

Items to Pack

Your road trip would be so b-o-r-i-n-g without some fun and games to keep you entertained. Here are essential items and other optional things you’ll want to add to your “road trip packing list.”

Vehicle Essentials

• Vehicle registration
• Insurance card
• Car manual
• Spare tire
• Jack & tire changing tools
• Jumper cables
• Motor oil
• Empty gas container
• Emergency roadside kit
• Your emergency roadside kit should include a tire pressure gauge, pocketknife or multitool, blanket, spare clothing, drinking water, snacks, first-aid, flashlight, sand or cat litter, and extra batteries.
• Personal Essentials
• Bug spray
• Paper towels or wet wipes
• Towels
• Basic hygiene items
• Umbrella
• Phone charger
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Reusable water bottle or travel mug
• Hand sanitizer
• Trash bags
• GPS device
• Physical map (as backup)
• Money for tolls

Nice-to-haves

• Music playlists
• Camera
• Audio books
• Road-trip games for the family
• Tablet holders
• Pillows
• Rear window UV shade
• Gum
• Comfy shoes
• Small cooler
• E-pass for tolls
• AAA, BMW Roadside Assistance or a similar service
• Stain remover (Tide To-Go)
• Sleeping bag, self-inflating air mattress, and tent
• Roof rack
• Trunk or cargo organizer

Authentic BMW roof racks and trunk organizers: We’ve got those and many more car accessories for your road trip. Contact Braman BMW Miami, your South Florida BMW dealer, or call us at (786) 577-5220 to order BMW accessories, make an appointment for road trip maintenance, or ask about any of our auto service specials. Enjoy your travels!