Travel and Car Maintenance

by Kirk Mueller

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Travel and Car Maintenance by Kirk Mueller

Vehicles need to be in good shape too before a trip. Getting stuck or broken-down in the great outdoors is much less convenient than in the city.

For off-road travel, four wheel drive vehicles are preferred. Vehicles with high ground clearance, e.g. pick-up trucks, are often OK. Cars are occassionally acceptable (be sure of conditions if you must go in a car). The items below are intended for the vehicle and are above and beyond the supplies brought for people.

Make sure your vehicle's fluid levels are correct before you leave and there are no leaks. Things to bring: tire pump (car battery driven ones are nice), Safety Seal Tire Plugger Kit, car cover, shovel, fuses, jumper cables, a good jack, a 1 ft. X 1 ft. piece of plywood (to support the jack in soft sand), a 1 ft. X 5 ft. roll of chicken wire or carpeting (for traction in soft sand), 30 ft. of 500 lb. min. test chain with hooks, duct tape, electrical tape, fire extinguisher, two quarts of motor oil, 1 gallon of water, 1 gallon of anti- freeze, one quart of transmission fluid, one pint of power steering fluid and one pint of brake fluid. Bring extra gas in a gas can (with funnel or pour spout) if your internal tank provides insufficient range. Bring some tools to do minor repair work. Screwdrivers, open and box end wrenches, tire pressure gauge, etc. are recommended.

All hoses and belts must be in good shape (no chunking, leaks, bulges, splits or unusual wear). The duct tape mentioned above can be used to seal hose leaks. The spare belts will allow the vehicle to be driven if a critical belt (water pump or alternator) breaks.

The battery must be in good shape and fully charged. Be sure the specific gravity (acid density) is correct and the cells are full. The terminals should clean, e.g. no corrosion build-up. The battery should not be near the end of its service life.

The vehicle's suspension must be tight. Lubrication (grease those zerk fittings) is a normal part of routine maintenance and will help prevent problems.

A car cover or window shade will help keep internal temperatures down.

All tires must have good tread, adequate air pressure and don't leak. Tires with thin tread, high or low air pressure are more easily cut by sharp rocks. Make sure the spare has adequate air and is in good shape also.

Your best protection from getting stuck is to TRAVEL IN PAIRS. One vehicle can pull the other out of a ditch. Use the chain with hooks to pull the stuck vehicle out. The carpeting and digging mentioned below will also help. Attach the hooks to the frame or other special attachment points. Do not attach it to (most) bumpers or suspensions. Do not jerk the chain as vehicle frames can be bent. Rope is not recommended as it can spring back and harm people standing nearby. A blanket draped over the middle of the rope or chain during pull-out can minimize springback. Chain has very minimal springback. Wire rope has enough springback to take precautions. Fiber rope and nylon straps are very dangerous and shouldn't be used. They can spring back and go right through your leg.

If you get stuck and don't have a winch or another vehicle, follow this procedure: Dig the excess sand out from the front of the wheels. Tamp the remaining sand down hard in front of the wheels. Lay chicken wire or carpeting just in front of the drive wheels. Let about half the air out of the tires. Keep your steering pointing straight ahead and drive slowly out. Try not to spin the tires or you might dig yourself deeper. Don't let anyone stand behind the vehicle while trying to get out. They could get hit by items ejected by the drive wheels. Drive slowly but steadily to the nearest firm surface. Refill the tires with the pump.

Off-road driving is forbidden in most areas. Park within 25 ft. of the edge of the road where feasible.

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