Vehicle Preparedness | Nick's Preparedness

If you’ve ever broken down on an automobile trip, you know just how frustrating it can be, especially when it was completely preventable. This may seem to be a basic post, but I know how easily we can overlook the little things and while breaking down on a road trip is a real inconvenience, in a survival or evacuation situation, car trouble could be disastrous. Keeping our vehicles prepared isn’t as glamorous feeling as taking a trip to the range to run pistol drills, or going hiking with our bug out bag to test the gear, but we depend on our cars and trucks daily and hopefully we’ll never have to rely on our gun fighting or escape and evasion skills. In this post, I am focusing on the mechanical maintenance aspects of preparing our vehicles. To get read about other vehicle preparation considerations, click here for my Vehicle Preparedness category.

How Do I Check My Tires Before a Trip?

There are very few vehicle factors that can have as great an effect on our vehicle’s safety and performance as our tires. Not only do they grip the road and keep us from sliding and spinning, our tires can also let us know of other potential problems with our cars. Lets look at some of the things we need to check on our tires before any trip.

How Much Air Should Be in My Tires?

If ever there was an obvious tire problem, it is a flat, however there’s a pretty big difference from being completely flat and safely inflated. Rule of thumb methods of checking air have been around since pneumatic tires were invented. Kicking the side, pushing against the tire with a knee, and bumping tires with a hammer or small bat are all used, but none can replace a properly working air gauge. Simply unscrew the cap on the valve stem protruding from the wheel and press the gauge against the stem and read the gauge. In the United States. we generally use PSI (pounds per square inch) as our pressure unit for tires. Tire pressure information can be found in the owner’s manual, in the driver’s side door jamb, and most importantly, on the side wall of the tire. The sidewall pressure recommendation should mirror the owner’s manual or door jamb information. If not, you may have the incorrect size or load rated tire which can cause additional issues.

One other factor to consider with tire inflation is that air expands as it heats up so you want to check the pressure in your tires before you begin driving to be the most accurate. Also when the seasons change, you might find several PSI difference that you need to correct. If you don’t have a reliable tire gauge, click on the one below to get one.

When Should I Replace My Tires?

Here in the States we still use the imperial system of measurement based on the inch. For tire wear, we divide that in to 32’s of an inch. Different tire manufacturers may have specific minimum tread depths, however the legal minimum tread depth for tires in most cases is 2/32 of an inch (1.6mm). Now grab your nearest tape measure or ruler and take a look at that. It’s pretty near nothing! Just because they are technically legal, don’t assume that tires worn to 2/32 of an inch are safe on anything other than dry, smooth roads in perfect conditions.

Ideally, we would keep new tires on our vehicles all the time, but that is not realistic. So keep a close eye on the tread. Most tires have wear indicators which are higher sections of rubber in the tread that indicate the tire should be replaced once the rest of the tread matches the depth of the indicator rubber. Also, make sure that you check the depth all the way across the tire surface. An out of line vehicle can have good tread on the outside of the tread and towards the inner side wall be bare and dangerous. you can purchase a tread depth gauge here or use the “quarter method” to tell if you are getting close to needing new shoes for your ride. Take a look at the picture below from tirerack.com to see how to use the quarter to see if you have enough tread. If the tread reaches his head, it is close to 4/32’s of an inch deep.

What Can My Worn Tires Tell Me About My Car?

Tire wear lets us know multiple things about our tires and our vehicles as a whole. irregular wear indicates a possible suspension problem or an alignment issue. Sections of tire that appear higher or lower than the rest can indicate a tire damaged from being under or over inflated or, even worse, a tire that has become separated within. Another noticeable factor in some tire wear can be a vibration that increases with speed. If you notice any of these wear patterns or have any vibrations, have your tires checked immediately. I recently had to replace a tire that still had plenty of tread left because one of the steel belts within the tire broke and could have caused a blow out and loss of control.

What Do I Need To Check Under The Hood of My Car?

The standard answer for years to check the oil, coolant, and transmission fluid if you have an automatic transmission. Cars and trucks have evolved into sophisticated electronically controlled marvels of modern engineering, for better or worse. Getting under the hood of a late model vehicle can leave any of us cross-eyed over where things are so I’ll point out the general things to check and we can each consult our owner’s manual as to the location of the components.

How Do I Check My Engine Oil?

Oil is the life blood of our internal combustion engines. It degrades and becomes less effective over time and use so we must change it as well as the filter that removes any metal or impurities on a regular interval, usually somewhere between 3000-5000 miles for regular oils and higher for synthetics. While we leave the shop or quick oil change with fresh oil up to the fill mark, this doesn’t guarantee it will stay that way. As engines age, they can develop leaks, which we notice where we park sometimes. Also, as the components wear, the engine can begin to gradually burn some of the oil and in the case of a gasket failure, it can even leak into the coolant or vice versa. With this in mind a regular check on the oil level in between services is a good idea.

To check the oil, turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to pour back down through the engine to the oil pan. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean then reinsert it and remove it to read the level. The oil should be between the low and high marks on the stick. If it is low, add the proper grade oil. If it is overfull, contact your mechanic. Engines that start “making oil” can have serious problems that can cause engine failure if they aren’t fixed.

How Do I Check My Transmission Fluid?

If you have an automatic transmission, you will likely have a separate dipstick for the fluid level, however some newer cars have a sealed transmission that can’t be checked. Consult the owner’s manual for details and how to accurately check the fluid. Most vehicles require that the engine be running and the shifter be in park or neutral. If the latter is the case, make sure you have someone to hold the brake and shift to neutral for you to check. Repeat the same remove-wipe-replace-remove then read steps as for the engine oil.

If you have a manual transmission, it will have a fill plug on the side that is usually only accessible from under the vehicle. For either transmission, look at the ground where you normally park for leaks to warn you of a potential problem.

Should I Check My Battery Before A Trip?

Most batteries today are “maintenance free” which usually means they are sealed and not meant to have water added to the cells. Because of the acid in the batteries, its not recommended to attempt to add water or chemicals to batteries unless you know exactly how, so for our purposes, battery maintenance will be limited to the outside shell of the battery and the terminal posts.

A good electrical connection is crucial for our vehicles to start and run and for the alternator to recharge the battery and maintain it. Look closely at the battery posts and cables. If they are becoming corroded or look to have a crusty looking material around the posts or cables, they need to be cleaned. You can use a regular wire brush but you can get one that much better for the job by clicking the picture below.

Once the posts and cables are clean, a mixture of baking soda and water can neutralize any corrosion or acid that has gotten on top of the battery and leave it clean and ready.

What Else Should I Check Before I Travel?

Antifreeze/Coolant: Our engine coolant prevents overheating as well as freezing in cold climates. Most cars and trucks have a plastic surge tank that we can see the coolant level through and it ranges from “cold” level to higher “hot” level because coolant will expand as it heats up. DO NOT OPEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR OR RADIATOR CAP WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT! The pressure can cause an overflow and severely burn you. It is also important to check the protection level of your coolant before cold weather sets in each year. You can buy a tester by clicking the picture below to make sure your coolant won’t freeze this winter.

Brake Fluid: Brake fluid is usually an indicator of our break wear. If it gradually gets lower over many thousand miles, it could simply be that our brakes are worn and it takes more fluid to fill the calipers, however brake fluid below the fill mark on a master cylinder with visible levels lets us know that we could have a leak or need to inspect our brakes for excessive wear. If you have a manual transmission, the clutch may have a similar master cylinder and fluid level as well.

Power Steering Fluid: Low power steering fluid can cause difficulty when steering, especially at low speeds and often causes a moaning or whining noise when the steering wheel is turned. The system recirculates the fluid repeatedly through the pump and lines so low power steering fluid is indicative of a leak.

Final Thoughts on Preparing Our Vehicles For A Trip

If we aren’t 100 percent sure of our abilities to inspect and perform an adequate check on our vehicle, I propose that we do two things. First, we should have a reputable garage, dealership, or quick oil change station that we trust inspect and maintain our vehicles at the regular service intervals that our owner’s manual recommends. Second, we should work to become more familiar with how and where to check all of the important components of our vehicles and how to perform some of the repairs commonly needed. You can start by learning the basics of changing a tire on my blog post here.

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What Should I Take if I Am Forced To Evacuate?

With hurricane season upon us in the eastern and southern United States and wildfires burning throughout the western states, the probability of evacuations in some areas is almost guaranteed. Don’t think, however, that we who aren’t on the coast or surrounded by dry forests or grasslands are immune to potential evacuations. Many other issues can force evacuations. Consider a train derailment with cars carrying some form of hazardous gas such as chlorine. What about a radiation leak from either a nuclear power plant, or radioactive material in transport? If we live near a road, railroad, or navigable body of water, we are subject to chemical exposure in the event of an accident. Another cause for evacuation is some form of civil unrest. While I have no objection to standing my ground, some times we have to realize that simple probability tells us that standing alone against an angry mob laying siege to our home is suicide and serves no purpose. We should all consider the possibility of an evacuation.

Why Should I Have An Evacuation Plan?

Evacuations are very similar to Bug Out situations with the exception that we often have a little more time to evacuate if we stay aware of the news and other surrounding factors. I mentioned this idea in my post on situational awareness that can be found here. Usually the cues are listed on the news and weather programs and can be readily heeded if we have a plan in place. Other times we need to have keen senses about the changes we see around us, both physical and societal.

Having a tested Evacuation Plan is much like trying our bug out bags on an overnight trip. We can adjust things based on the actual feedback we get from trying our our plans. Having an evacuation vehicle set up only to realize its impossible to load everything because of space or getting everything loaded and realizing that, while it fits, the weight of the load makes traveling unsafe is not what we want to learn with a wildfire bearing down on our home.

Evacuation Planning Considerations

Ideally, we could take everything we wanted to protect with us, however this is impossible. The good news is that there are more ways now than ever to help limit our loss should disaster strike while we are evacuated. The following are some items and ideas to consider for a solid evacuation plan. Take a look at my video below for a quick rundown of some of my personal thoughts on evacuation.

Evacuation Vehicle

If you have ever seen the movie “Dante’s Peak” with Pierce Brosnan, you likely remember the jacked up Chevy Suburban 4X4 that they forded the river in to escape the volcano. When bug out or evacuation vehicles come to mind, that one seems like it would be the best choice for the job but reliability and room are some of the key items we need to look for. Utilizing every driver in the family or group in a separate vehicle is a possibility to move as much to safety as possible, however, remember that the more vehicles we take, the more fuel expense we will incur. Another consideration no matter the vehicle or vehicles we chose, we will have to park them somewhere and hotels, motels, and any other place you might stop for a rest will be full of other evacuees as well. I have a few Ideas that might help simplify the process. You can also see some everyday vehicle preparedness ideas in my blog post here.

RV’s For Evacuation

While it might not be cost effective to purchase a recreational vehicle just for evacuation purposes, many of us have or have had some sort of travel trailer or motorhome. With careful planning, these can be very effective vehicles to use in an evacuation because you can use the space for both storage as well as temporary shelter when you are away. Packing the vehicle with items we want to evacuate with may crowd the interior, but we can usually find some other method of storage once we reach a safe destination for the bulk of the belongings. A mini storage unit or one of the portable sheds that can be delivered can house a lot of things while we use the RV for a place to live and the cost of a storage unit vs. the price of lodging in a motel is an amazing difference.

Enclosed Trailers For Evacuation

Much like a recreational vehicle, these trailers are enclosed from the weather and can be towed behind one of the family vehicles, however they aren’t set up to be used as shelter even though it’s still better than being out in the weather if you have to stay in it. The added benefit to enclosed cargo trailers is that we have open space and no furnishings to weave things into. These trailers are also much less expensive than an RV so keeping one on hand and maintained for emergency evacuation is much more financially feasible if you have no plans to use an RV for recreation.

One item of concern for any vehicle evacuation setup is making sure we can fit what we need to in the allotted space. It pays to do a test run whenever we have time and aren’t rushed to determine the best layout of the items in the vehicle. Once that is determined, we need to take several photos or draw a diagram of the layers of packing so we don’t have to try and remember the layout in a rush.

Using quality tarps and straps, we can make an open utility trailer fairly weather resistant, however its much more difficult to prevent theft. Click on the items below to take a closer look and see if you can use them to help you:

Evacuation Vehicle Safety

In an emergency, its easy to ignore safety, however when it comes to vehicles, we cant afford to overlook safe loading and handling. Just because we have cubic feet or inches to spare in a vehicle or trailer doesn’t mean we can fill it full of more things. loading back seats to the roof can lead to objects becoming projectiles in a hard stop or collision. Improperly loaded pickups, suv’s, and trailers can cause poor handling and lead to dangerous conditions on the road. The more things we want to evacuate with, the larger vehicle we will need to haul it safely.

Replacing Items Left Behind in an Evacuation

Most of us who have a permanent residence almost always collect much more stuff than we could ever move in one trip and likely wouldn’t have enough time to load it if we had the transportation available. With this in mind, it’s time for us to consider what we really must take with us and save vs. what has no sentimental value and we are willing to replace if it is destroyed. It is a personal decision and one that should be made as a household or family and we should consider how to transport and store anything we refuse to leave well ahead of time.

Photographing Belongings For Insurance Purposes

We live in an instant photograph age and have phones with cameras on them better than the ones used professionally by photographers fifteen years ago. With the help of this technology, we can catalog our belongings as proof to insurance companies if they are damaged while we are evacuated. A conversation with your insurance agent as to your policy limits is also important to consider when preparing for a potential loss.

Anther benefit of the digital age, as it pertains to evacuation and bugging out, is the availability of digital storage. We can scan thousands of pages of documents and photos to a single flash or thumb drive. Planning ahead and taking a few hours to scan and save our documents and photographs digitally can make them much less likely to be lost permanently in a fire or disaster. We should update and review these files on a regular basis and keep a copy of the files on a drive stored in the cloud or at another location such as a safe deposit box so we have a backup to our backup. Grab a multi pack of these by clicking the picture below:

Final Thoughts on Evacuation Prepping

Leaving our homes in an emergency is usually a trying and uncertain task, but some effort on our part before hand can limit the stress and potential loss involved. As with all other parts of prepping, this takes some planning and practice. Carving out a few hours to review and plan can make a difficult situation much more palatable if we ever find ourselves in one.