What to take with you on a road trip: a big checklist for summer trips

1. Car kit

Before a long trip, it is better to take the car for diagnostics. But even after a full check, it is worth going through the list and putting everything you need in the trunk in case of an emergency. If possible, install a roof box on the roof. Things like a tent and folding chairs will go there: they are not needed constantly, so it is better that they do not take up useful space in the trunk.

A pre-planned route will help avoid traffic jams. And in case of communication problems and dead devices, it is worth taking a paper atlas. And do not forget about consumables! Light bulbs, windshield wipers, a can of gasoline. There is always a chance to bring it back, but it is better than to end up with an empty tank on a deserted highway.

2. What to take:

• jack;
• spare wheel;
• set of car tools;
• compressor for pumping tires;
• emergency stop sign;
• reflective vest;
• towing rope;
• auxiliary starter cables;
• car fire extinguisher;
• gas can;
• windshield washer fluid;
• other consumables (lamps, windshield wipers, batteries);
• first aid kit;
• flashlight.

3. Documents and cash

All participants in the trip will need passports, the smallest ones – birth certificates, four-legged ones – a veterinary passport. It is better for everyone who could hypothetically get behind the wheel to have a driver’s license. These same people must be included in the car insurance in advance.

Bank cards can fail in remote regions. In addition, the payment terminal can be faulty even at a more or less “civilized” point: at a gas station, in a grocery store or at the entrance to a toll road. Therefore, provide a reserve of cash. And documents confirming benefits will help you save in tourist places: student cards, pension certificates, disability certificates, etc.

4. Medicines

It’s all individual. If you’re taking something as prescribed by a specialist or know that you’ll get motion sickness on the road, you know better what to take with you. But there’s also a basic first aid kit that definitely won’t do any harm on the road. For example, it will include painkillers and something for an upset stomach. The first aid kit will be more compact if you get rid of the packaging. But take instructions for those medications whose dosages you don’t know by heart.

Don’t forget to check the expiration dates, otherwise, instead of the expected benefit, the medications will cause unexpected harm. Make sure that the containers with liquids and ointments are airtight and pack the ampoules safely. For example, special thermal bags are needed to store and transport insulin.