Get Ready For A Road Trip - Get A Travel Kit List

Get ready for a road trip with these simple tips and don't forget the roadside travel kit list. A travel kit is a great way to be prepared while you are on the road.

(NC)—After months of fighting snow, wind and ice, Canadians are gearing up for summer road trips. The key to a successful trip is all about the planning and preparation – from your packing list to your roadside travel kit.

Here are some tips to make sure your summer road trip is the best it can be:

Schedule a Full Service Check-up

Avoid the disappointment of spending your vacation at a roadside repair shop by taking the necessary precautions beforehand. A vehicle tune-up and fluid top-up two weeks prior should leave enough time if there are any necessary repairs.

Chances are during the winter months, you or your mechanic added more antifreeze to your radiator's coolant mix to prevent it from freezing. In excessive amounts, antifreeze can actually reduce cooling efficiency, resulting in higher engine temperatures. Have your mechanic check the concentration and adjust or change the coolant if required.

Choose The Right Fuel

Protect your engine by filling your tank with a high-quality gasoline. “Gasoline primarily contains carbon and hydrogen molecules, and combustion can create a residue, called “gunk”, which is a build-up of carbon particles on critical engine parts,” explains Ken Mitchell, an engineer from Shell Canada. “All three grades of Shell gasoline contain a Nitrogen Enriched Cleaning System which helps clean-up the performance-robbing gunk left by lower quality gasolines.”

Pack A Travel Kit

Make sure your bases are covered by packing the following essentials:

• A rechargeable flashlight

• A first aid kit including a blanket

• Non-perishable food and water

• Flares and a jumper cable

• Extra fluids like transmission oil, washer and brake fluid

• A pen, paper and disposable camera in case of an accident

• The contact numbers for your insurance agency and your roadside service provider

Wherever your epic summer drive takes you – the Cabot Trail, the TransCanada through the Rockies or through waving wheat fields of the prairies – these tools can help make sure that summer of 2011 delivers a road trip with the right kind of memories.

Road trips are a great way to vacation with your family. You will make some unforgettable memories when you take a driving vacation with your family. Be sure to keep a trip journal and take lots of pictures so you can all relive this fun trip idea over again.

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Get Ready For A Road Trip

Get Ready For A Road Trip. It's summer and time to think about that old favorite family vacation, the road trip. Get some important tips and fun ideas for your driving vacation.

(NC)—After months of fighting snow and wind, Canadians are gearing up for summer road trips. From a little kid tucked in the backseat heading to the cottage, to a group of friends loading up the car for a camping trip, almost every Canadian has an epic summer drive memory.

Unfortunately, many also have memories of their vehicle being broken down on the side of the road with no help in sight.

A little proactive maintenance is the first step for a worry-free trip. Schedule a full service check-up two weeks prior to hitting the road including a tune-up and fluid top-up. Chances are during the winter months, you or your mechanic added more antifreeze to your radiator's coolant mix to prevent it from freezing. In excessive amounts, antifreeze can actually reduce cooling efficiency, resulting in higher engine temperatures. Have your mechanic check the concentration and adjust or change the coolant if required.

Help your engine perform at its best by filling your tank with a high-quality gasoline. “Gasoline primarily contains carbon and hydrogen molecules, and combustion can create a residue, called “gunk”, which is a build-up of carbon particles on critical engine parts,” explains Ken Mitchell, an engineer from Shell Canada. “This gunk has a porous surface that can negatively affect the performance of your vehicle. Some high-quality fuels, like all three grades of Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, clean and protect critical engine parts from the build-up of gunk while you drive.”

Along with your personal packing list, you'll want to be equipped with a travel kit for your vehicle. Essentials include: a rechargeable flashlight, a blanket, non-perishable food and water, flares and a jumper cable for your battery, and the contact numbers for your insurance agency and your roadside service provider. For longer trips, it never hurts to have extra fluids in the trunk – just in case.

The last piece of the puzzle for any road trip is getting where you need to go. Thanks to smartphones and Google maps, it's never been easier to plan your route and explore every nook and cranny of this great country, right down to where your next fill-up will be.

“There's nothing worse than rolling into a small town late at night when your fuel tank is on “E”, and not knowing where to go,” said Mitchell. “To help, Shell has developed a Shell Station Locator Mobile App for use on your iPhone or Android. The app allows users to search for Shell stations by city, postal code or GPS, check station hours – and even refine a search by specific fuel type.”

So no matter where your epic summer drive takes you – the Cabot Trail, the TransCanada through the Rockies or through waving wheat fields of the prairies – these tools can help make sure that summer of 2011 delivers a road trip with the right kind of memories.

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Is Your Child Ready For A Seat Belt?

Is your child ready for a seat belt? Without a booster seat, Safe Kids Canada says a child can sustain serious internal injuries in a crash if the vehicle lap belt rides up on to the soft abdominal area rather than staying on the bony hips and thighs. More safety tips can be found online at www.safekidscanada.ca.

(NC)—When your child outgrew their forward facing car seat, did you move him or her into a booster seat? If you did, you're one of the growing numbers of Canadian families that use this important safety device, says Safe Kids Canada, the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children. In order to be properly protected, children need to use a booster seat in the car from the time they outgrow their forward facing car seat until they are at least four feet nine inches (145 cm) tall.

Still many Canadian parents skip the booster seat stage, leaving their children vulnerable to serious injuries, or even death, in the event of a crash.

Do you think your child is ready for a seat belt? Here's how to tell:

1. Shoulders:

Does the vehicle shoulder belt lie in the middle of the shoulder and across the middle of your child's chest, without touching the neck? It's dangerous for the seat belt to touch the neck because it can be easily injured in a crash.

2. Hips:

Does the vehicle lap belt rest low on your child's hips, under the belly area? The seat belt should lie on the hip bone area, not on your child's internal organs.

3. Seated Height:

Is your child at least 25 inches (63 cm) from tailbone to top of head while sitting up straight in a chair?

4. Knees:

Do your child's knees bend comfortably over the edge of the vehicle seat without causing them to slouch forward in their seat? This helps your child stay comfortable, which prevents slouching.

If you answered “yes” to all four questions, your child is ready for a seat belt on its own.

These tips are part of the 2011 Safe Kids Week campaign, Give your kid a boost!, which runs from May 30 to June 5 and is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, with community grants supported by the Honda Canada Foundation. Learn more about booster seats or to find out if your child is ready for a seat belt online at www.safekidscanada.ca.

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Are You Ready To Purchase A Motorcycle?

Are you ready to purchase a motorcycle? Check out these tips about what to research and what questions to ask before you make that purchase.

(NC)—While true motorcycle aficionados will ride their bike regardless of the weather, most Canadians shop for a motorcycle in spring and summer. With Father's Day approaching fast, indulging in a nice cruiser, sport motorcycle, touring motorcycle or dual sport might seem like a good idea – and a deserved treat.

Before you jump ahead and buy on impulse, make sure you research your purchase properly. A 2010 Ipsos Reid survey commissioned by autoTRADER.ca reveals that while Honda, Yamaha, and Harley–Davidson are top online searches, most buyers spend approximately three months searching for the perfect ride before making their purchase.

“Most people selling or purchasing a motorcycle have an intimate relationship with bikes: our research shows that most of them consider that purchasing a motorcycle is a dream they've always wanted to accomplish,” says Cole Reiken, Director, Automotive Marketplace for TRADER Corporation. “To avoid any bad surprises, they should prepare their purchase and make sure their emotions don't control the purchasing decision.”

The following tips should help you keep both feet on the ground – until your next motorcycle ride, of course:

Ask Questions

– Don't be afraid to ask the seller how many miles are on the motorcycle, if it is still under warranty, or recent maintenance or repairs completed, with information on the quality and age of replacement parts.

Set Your Budget

– While prices differ according to the make, model and year of the motorcycle, the average price is about $10,000. This should not be the only consideration though: make sure you also plan for maintenance and insurance fees as well.

Identify Your Needs

– Ask yourself what you will use your motorcycle for: will it be to drive on the highway, in the city or for cross–country? Are you looking for comfort, or is speed and performance your main focus? Remember to also consider your height and weight – one size doesn't fit all.

Make Sure You Have The Proper Driving License

– To drive a motorcycle, you'll need a license – and a helmet. There are different types of licenses depending on which motorcycle you'd like to drive, so make sure you take all necessary courses and accreditations before hitting the road.

Meet The Seller In Person

– Whether buying a motorcycle online on a classifieds site or at a dealership, it's important to meet the seller, see the motorcycle, and try it – even if it's just in the parking lot. Make sure you're properly insured and are licensed though.

With these tips in mind, feel free to start your quest for the perfect motorcycle!

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