Tires
The only thing connecting the car to the road. An underinflated tire at speed and under load runs hotter, grips worse and wears faster, so before a long trip set the pressure with your load in mind.
The car
The car and its systems: what it goes through on a long trip
A run across town and a full day on the road put very different loads on a car. With a full load, in the heat, on long climbs and after many hours of nonstop work, weak spots show up faster. It helps to know which systems take the brunt.
Cars rarely fail out of nowhere: they usually give warning signs first, and on a long drive it matters most not to ignore them.
This is about how these systems work in most passenger cars; we don't compare models. Your owner's manual will tell you exactly how your car's systems work and what its indicators mean.
The systems that matter most on the road
Six components and features that matter more on a long trip than they do in town.
Brakes
On long descents the pads and rotors heat up and braking can fade. Engine braking in a lower gear takes some of the load off, and an unusual squeal or a soft pedal is a reason to see a mechanic before you leave.
Lights
On a long trip you'll almost certainly drive at dusk or in bad weather. Clean headlights, working bulbs and headlight aim adjusted after loading help you see the road without blinding oncoming drivers.
Engine cooling
Heat, a slow climb and a full car are tough conditions for the cooling system. Watch the temperature gauge: if the needle climbs above where it usually sits, ease off and think about stopping.
A/C and ventilation
A stuffy, overheated cabin tires the driver as much as the road itself. Working climate control helps you stay alert, and the defroster keeps the windows from fogging up in rain and cold.
Driver-assist systems
Cruise control, lane keeping and collision warnings take some of the routine off a smooth road. But they don't notice driver fatigue and don't relieve you of the duty to watch the road.
How the car changes under a full load
With every seat taken and the trunk packed to the lid, the car accelerates more slowly and takes longer to stop. That's easy to forget after your usual light trips, so for the first few hours drive a little more gently and leave a bigger following distance.
The rear of a loaded car sits lower, so the headlights aim higher and can dazzle oncoming drivers. Many cars have a headlight leveling control; check the manual for the recommended setting with a full load.
A roof load changes how the car behaves in crosswinds and on curves, and it also raises fuel use. The higher the center of gravity, the more carefully you should take curves and react to side gusts.
Read next
- Preparation
What to check yourself before a long drive and what to have a shop look at ahead of time: pressure, tread, fluids, lights, wipers and the spare.
- Faults
Overheating, a flat tire, a dead battery and warning lights on a long drive: the signs that tell you it's not safe to keep going.
- Road-trip car
Choosing a road-trip car by what you need, not by make: cargo space, fuel use and range, seat comfort, ground clearance and what to carry along.
Sources
- Russian traffic rules (official text)
- Your car's owner's manual (in general terms)
- Road safety materials (in general terms)
The Russian traffic rules are summarized from the official text in force when this page was prepared, and rules change from time to time. Cars differ too, so before a trip check the current version of the rules and your own car's owner's manual.