Over the years, I’ve made more long trips in my cars than I can count—heading out to car shows that range from a couple hundred miles to a couple thousand round trip. And over time, I’ve built a mental checklist of things I like to look over before hitting the road.
I always start with the basics—check the oil, check the tire pressure. Then I give the tires a good look to make sure there’s no strange wear that might cause problems later. From there, I move on to a full inspection, something I actually do several times a year. That means checking all the lights, horn, windshield wipers, and then digging into everything under the hood and underneath the car.
Anytime I’m under the car—changing the oil or just poking around—I’ll start at one end and work my way to the other, eyeballing every bolt, suspension part, and any place that could spring a leak. It’s not just about being road-ready; it gives me the confidence that everything is where it’s supposed to be and looking like it should.
And believe me, I’ve found things. Some examples? A broken engine mount on my ’31 Model A, missing cotter pins and loose bolts on the steering rack of my ’36 Chevy, even a few broken exhaust hangers. Little things like that could have turned into big problems if I hadn’t caught them early.
And then, of course, there’s the cleanup. Depending on how dirty the car is, it’ll get the full treatment—wash, vacuum, windows cleaned—before I pack it up and get ready to roll.
The point of all this? Take a little time to inspect your car or truck at least once a year. Top to bottom, front to back. Make it part of your routine. You’ll get to know your vehicle better, and trust me—you’ll be glad you did.
That’s all I’ve got this time—so get out there, check your ride, and keep Kruzn!