12 things you need to bring along for the ride in order to be road trip ready

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12 things you need to bring along for the ride in order to be road trip ready

12 things you need to bring along for the ride in order to be road trip ready

Mark Tay

12 things you need to bring along for the ride in order to be road trip ready

All you need is one that’s easily accessible (read: glove compartment) and handled by your co-pilot. Marking out a few landmarks on the map (specifically where to find lunch and where the rest stops are along the way) makes it a great resource that you can fall back on if technology decides fail you at the more inopportune time. Always check your tyre pressure before driving You might not do it as often as you should in Singapore, but ensuring your tyre pressure is on point will make the difference between a smoother, more fuel efficient ride, and spending time standing by the side of the highway figuring out how to fix a flat. On that note… Don’t freak out if you get flat tyre

No matter how cautious you are, sometimes s*** just happens. Don’t freak out if you suddenly hear flapping rubber and your vehicle starts sinking to one side. If you haven’t changed a tyre before, it truly isn’t as difficult as you might think. If you can’t be bothered to watch one of the many YouTube videos to learn how to change a tire, just make your way calmly to the road shoulder and call a car towing service. You should have those details when you picked up your car keys, along with a physical hazard sign that you can now finally use. Make sure your vehicle has a static belt We’re used to the humid weather and short driving distances in Singapore, but when you’re in a dryer climate and travelling for hours, a static belt (a chain-looking bit that hangs from the back of a vehicle and drags along the road) is essential to ground the static electricity your car

It’s not just about enjoying all the good food available in South Australia — it’s also about helping the driver stay awake. Your co-pilot should be the person providing the snackable stream of goodies. Pro Tip No 1: Choose snacks that won’t leave flakes or crumbs everywhere. So go with grapes and cured meats. Pro Tip No 2: Mix and match the flavours to keep the driver’s taste buds guessing (and awake). On the subject of food … Control your eating We know you’re in a land with some of the best seafood and produce in the world, but exercise a little portion control before you get behind the wheel. We Singaporeans have a tendency of going a little overboard with our consumption of scrumptious, well-priced food. And while that might not be an issue if you’re not going to drive too far to your next destination, it can be dangerous when you’re travelling for hours on

Source: Giphy.com A self-drive experience is the best time for you to pull out all your favourite tracks that don’t get enough play with the short drives in Singapore. Make sure you keep the tracks upbeat so everyone’s energy in the vehicle is kept on the up. You can throw in a couple of slower tracks with more “feels” for driving by epic landscapes, but trust us and don’t play more than two Adele tracks in a row. Be wary of changing speed limits

Source: Dreamstime.com Speed limits can and will change along stretches while driving in South Australia, so don’t just go speeding through to the sounds of a 1986 Kenny Loggins track without a care, or you trip might end with writing cheques to the highway patrol. Don’t stretch yourself thin Remember: This isn’t The Amazing Race. There’s no prize for finishing first (not that we even know who you think you’re racing against). A drive through South Australia is all about taking in the scenery and enjoying the freedom of the journey. If you want to just get to the next destination quick, book yourself a guided tour that provides Chinese porridge for breakfast. Be aware of when the sun goes down

In winter (and remember that this is Australia we’re talking about, so that’s June to august), the sun sets incredibly early. 4.30pm looks like 9pm in Singapore. And some roads don’t necessarily have street lamps every 10 metres. So make sure you know how much daylight you have while planning your route to avoid driving around too much in the dark. For more information on South Australia, visit todayonline.com/southaustralia

Source: TODAY

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