Top 11 Car Accessories You Need For a Long Road Trip

Taking a long road trip is one of the joys of life. From an hours drive to your favourite secluded fishing spot, to crossing the Nullarbor Plain, it is important to be prepared for such a drive with the right accessories. We know alot of our readers enjoy caravanning, but for this list we will assume you are only driving your car or 4WD.

1. Tyre Pressure Gauge
   One of the most important car accessories, it is important to monitor the pressure of your tyres. Especially when travelling for long periods at high speeds, it can be extremely unsafe to have your tyres at a low pressure. When driving on bumpy dirt roads, it is advisable to have your tyres at a lower pressure so a tyre pressure gauge is extremely important. We recommend the Michelin digital tyre pressure gauge with the tread depth indicator which also allows you to check the health of your tyres.
2. Air Compressor
   If your tyre goes flat and you are in the middle of nowhere, you could find yourself in alot of trouble. A 12 volt air compressor is highly recommend to carry with you on your road trip. Some of the cheaper 12 volt compressors will take a long time to pump up a 4WD tyre. We recommend a heavy duty 4WD air compressor, and none are better than the award winning Dr Air Pro Flow 150L AC495. Consistently our best seller and our customers rave about this product.
3. Tyre Repair Kit
   In the worst case scenario and your tyre has a puncture, a tyre repair kit will come in handy. Another useful product is the Liquid Patch. This can you be used in an emergency to allow you to still drive your car with a puncture.
4. Jack
   Most cars should already come with a scissor jack in the boot. Before you begin your journey, make sure you check that you bring the jack with you or you will struggle to repair or replace that punctured tyre.
5. Jump Starter
   Having a flat battery in the city is a hassle, but all it takes is a phone call to the RAC and a van will be on the way to your rescue. This is a different story on road trips where you may not have mobile reception or RAC do not service the remote area. Jumper leads also will not be effective unless you have a spare car handy. The solution is a portable jump starter. Our pick is the Super Mini Booster jump start kit.
6. Emergency Windscreen
   When driving in the outback, there is a higher risk of something happening to your windscreen. The combination of faster speeds, wildlife, uncovered roads and you have a situation where a cracked windscreen can be a common occurrence. Emergency windscreens will allow you to safely drive with a smashed windscreen, although bear in mind this is only a temporary solution.
7. Driving Lights
   When driving far out of the city, you will find the street lights poor or non existent. If you are driving at night, you will be completely reliant on your headlights or high beams. A powerful set of long range driving lights can make a huge different when driving in near pitch black. It will also allow you that extra split second to spot animals, such as kangaroos which may cross the road. The Roo Lite 220XP is our pick, as it can light up a distance of 850 metres in front of your car.
8. Kangaroo Whistle
   One of the most important accessories when driving in the country is the animal whistle. These whistles attach to the outside of your car and emit a high frequency sound which scare off animals. Experienced travellers of the Australian outback would have come across a kangaroo jumping on the road as their car is heading towards it. This not only can cause serious harm to the kangaroo, but it can also severely damage your vehicle and result in an accident. Animal whistles range from the cheap disposable type to the more expensive electronic whistles such as the Shu Roo MK4.
9. Jerry Can
   For those who are driving to such a remote area in which there are no petrol stations within a reasonable range, a jerry can is used to carry extra petrol for the journey. Without the jerry can, certain destinations cannot be reached as they are too remote.
10. Radiator Coolant
    Whether you are going on a long road trip or just heading to your local grocery store, it is wise to keep a bottle of coolant in your car as a precaution. Ensure your radiator is topped up before you set off on your journey.
11. Tool Kit
    Every car is supplied with basic tools supplied as standard. The tools provided, are usually enough to get you out of a jam, such as changing a spare tyre. If you require something a bit more comprehensive, there are motorist tool kits available which you can easily fit into your boot. A maintenance tool kit such as this will provide enough tools to fix a broken down car.

Taking a long road trip can be an extremely memorable and enjoyable experience. But in the end, your safety is the most important. We encourage you to bring the right accessories on your trip to ensure you come back from your adventure safe and sound.