Summer Travel Safety: Vehicle Maintenance And Travel Preparation
Summer travel is an American tradition loved by millions. While many of us take care to plan our travel itinerary down to the smallest details, vehicle safety is often neglected. Whether you’re traveling by car, truck, boat or an RV, if something goes wrong with your vehicle, it can seriously impact your holiday.
So, before you hit the road this summer, it is essential to carefully check your vehicle beforehand and address any issues you may encounter. This reduces the likelihood of experiencing a problem while traveling. Preparing beforehand reduces the stress of traveling, and makes the experience safer for you and your family. We’ve compiled a list of summer travel safety tips to help.
Key Components
Key components of your vehicle to check before setting off on your travels are:
Tires – If you’re driving, check your tire pressure. This helps prevent avoidable flats. Worn tires are just as risky as low pressure. They can also increase fuel use. Use a tread gauge to check tread depth. Replace any worn tires before your trip.
Fluid levels – Before leaving, check your oil, coolant, and brake fluid. Low levels can cause breakdowns. Running on low fluids can damage your vehicle and lead to expensive repairs.
Battery – Most car batteries need replacing every few years. If it’s been a while, consider a new one. Check for corrosion on the terminals. Corrosion can block current flow. If your battery is over three years old, get it tested professionally.
Wiper blades and washer fluid – Make sure washer jets spray correctly and aren’t blocked. Add screen wash to help clear dirt. This is especially important in dry, dusty conditions. Clean wipers and working jets keep your windscreen clear and safe.
Welding Essentials To Prepare For Mid-Trip Emergencies
Sometimes, vehicle emergencies are unavoidable no matter how well you prepare before traveling. Packing some DIY welding essentials can help you repair any minor faults, saving you both time and money.
Engines & Manifolds
Engines in large RVs such as motor homes are more susceptible to exhaust manifold problems. This is usually caused by heat build up. The area may crack due to thermal expansion, causing leaks. Damage to the exhaust manifold in RVs typically requires disassembly to repair.
Disassembly is time-consuming and can delay your travels. However, Muggy Weld SSF-6 Silver Solder and a simple oxy-MAPP brazing torch can easily repair small cracks that are within reach. SSF-6 is ideal for repairing RV damage as it produces leak-tight, smooth, and corrosion-resistant joints.
While it has a wide range of applications, SSF-6 has been specially manufactured to braze cast iron exhaust manifolds. It can be easily taken with you while traveling just in case of emergency.
Air Conditioning
RV air conditioning systems may also be at risk of damage and splitting due to overheating, but small splits can be fixed using your brazing torch. For repairing damage to the air conditioning, Muggy Weld’s Super Alloy 5 is the perfect option as it has been designed for use with thinner aluminum such as that found in RV air conditioners.
It has the ability to flow through tight-fitting joints to bridge gaps, while also chemically cleaning cast aluminum to remove oil and impurities.
Aluminum Boats
Super Alloy 5 is also ideal for use with aluminum boats (paired with an oxy-MAPP brazing torch).
Accidental collisions with debris in the water or running aground can cause boat seams to split and leak, or damage the propellers. Boat seams are either welded or glued, so you can repair the seam permanently and ensure summer travel safety.
Super Alloy 5 is the perfect color match to aluminum and was designed with boat repair in mind, so always be sure to pack it before heading out on the lake. However, if boating isn’t for you, and you’re planning on hitting the road instead, Super Alloy 1 is the best option for you.
Classic Car Restoration
Perhaps you’re finishing up that classic car restoration so you can cruise along the highway on hot summer nights, and are needing to repair any broken pieces without damaging the original fittings. Super Alloy 1 is ideal for this application due to its low melting temperature, which warpage and base metal damage.
It’s industry approved and has already salvaged thousands of priceless classic car parts, so it’s perfect for fixing up your car and making it travel safe before hitting the road, as well as bringing with you while driving in case you need to make a repair.
For any on-the-go welding work you may need to do on your vehicle while traveling, be sure to pair with Muggy Weld’s Heat Freeze Heat Absorption Paste for extra protection against heat transfer or damage. It was crafted for work on vehicles and is completely reusable with no shelf life.
And now that you’re prepared for any vehicle-related emergency, you’re ready to head off on your travels! Be sure to sign up for our email list to receive summer travel safety tips, articles and more!