Top Reasons Road-Trip Travelers Find Themselves Stranded On The Open Road

Posted on: 18 May 2017

You've got a few days off and a few bucks for gas and food in your pocket, so you are considering grabbing an overnight bag and a friend or two and hitting the open road for a quick, spur-of-the-moment road trip. Road trips can definitely be a lot of fun and lead you to some pretty exciting adventures. However, travelers who jump and run on a road trip without a little forethought sometimes find themselves stranded on the side of the road, nowhere near their intended destination. Before you hit the road for an unplanned road trip, you should take a look at the top reasons road-trip travelers get stranded and in need of an automobile repair service, like Engel's Auto Service & Towing, for help.

Out of Fuel

You fill up the tank and head out without a lot of regard to how far your destination may be or how many miles there could be between one town and the next. Unfortunately, running out of fuel is one of the most common reasons road-trip travelers find themselves in need of assistance. Therefore, even if you fill up, make sure you have at least a vague idea of how many miles you plan to travel and where you can stop for gas along the way. 

Overheated Engine 

The summer sun is beaming down and you will probably be running your car's AC the whole trip. The thing about this is, long hours on the highway with the AC on and the engine running can mean your car's motor will be generating an obscene amount of heat. If your vehicle does not have enough coolant or water in the cooling fluid reservoir, the engine will not be able to cool itself down, so you could end up being with of those poor souls on the side of the road with the hood up and steam rolling out if you're not careful. be sure you check the coolant reservoir before you leave, and toss a gallon of distilled water in the trunk for good measure. 

Flat Tires

It's never a good idea to take a road trip with bad tires, but flat tires happen even if the tires are perfect before you leave. So it is best to ensure before you leave that you have everything you need in the trunk to change a car tire if necessary, such as a basic jack, a tire tool, and a spare. Also, take a tire-plugging kit and a small air pump with you just in case they are needed. 

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