Prepping your travel trailer for a road trip
by Gladys Bailey
A travel trailer creates a good opportunity to travel around or head off to a thrilling camping adventure. It's the perfect tool to keep you feeling at home even in the depths of forests. However, before going on that long awaited road trip. You need to take care of a couple of things. Your vehicle needs to be in the perfect shape for any long travels. Don't rev up your engine before you knock these points off your checklist.
Inspect your windows and doors
The windows and doors are an important part of the trailer. When in poor condition, the windows leak air, and that can lead to energy losses. It'll also be pretty uncomfortable if air constantly strikes your face when on your road trip. That's why you need to have windows that insulate you comprehensively. Inspect the sheeting on the windows for any damage. Heavy-duty, double-sided tape can cement the sheeting. Also get some foam material to seal the space between the glass and sheeting.
Doors can pose a safety hazard and open up in the middle of the trip if they are not in good shape. The door needs to be sturdy and not creak or have any slight motions when closed. If you're in doubt, you can have it replaced in a reputable auto parts store.
Check the shocks and struts
If your travel trailer has got a lot of mileage on it, then you need to get under the body of your vehicle too. Shocks and struts are parts of the suspension responsible for guarding against damage caused by bumps and uneven road surfaces. They also assist in keeping the vehicle steady, and having them in good condition will keep your tyres in better condition. If your tyres are wearing out on one side, or you keep on losing control when braking or accelerating, then your shocks are to blame.
Consult a reputable auto shop for the best shocks for your vehicle. Some are meant for lighter trailers, and you may be carrying far heavier loads than your stock shocks can handle.
Ensure the couplings are tight
You don't want your trailer to detach when travelling on a highway. That's why inspecting your fastenings needs to be done to the letter. If the couplings look rusty, then replace them immediately. You could also inspect the condition of your fasteners by taking your trailer for a test drive around your neighbourhood and then confirming if any bolts or screws have loosened up.
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About Me
Hi all! I'm Gary and I run a non-profit which teaches defensive driving skills. Of course, most of my students are in their teens, but I did have one gentleman who had received his license at sixty-two! We use an old speedway track to teach drivers what to do when obstacles are on the road and generally how to react in emergencies. I love what I do! Many companies see the benefit of this program and donate generously. My biggest expense by far is maintaining and repairing the cars we use in training. Not all students gain skills quickly! Even though I'm a driving instructor and not a mechanic, I now know an awful lot about car parts and where to find them. My students are often quite impressed by my broad knowledge base, so I thought I would share it with the world. Thank you and stay safe.