Going on a long road trip is one of life’s true joys. You get to see and experience the world like never before, taking it all in from the comfort of your vehicle.
However, if you’re going to a dusty location, like the desert or somewhere like that, then you’ll need to take extra precautions. While these trips might be dry, they still pose all sorts of challenges.
Check Your Air Filters
The first thing to do is to check your engine’s air filters. In normal driving conditions, these remove particles from the air and prevent them from getting into the engine where they could affect the fuel-burning process.
However, if you are going to a dusty location, these filters will have a harder time. That’s why it is a good idea to take a spare pair with you so that you can swap them out halfway through the journey and replace them with newer ones.
Get Protective Seat Covers
You should also try equipping your vehicle with protective seat covers. These are useful if you are planning on getting in and out a lot and don’t want muck and dust to harm your interior fabrics.
Protective seat covers are inexpensive and often made of stretchy fabrics you can pull over your seats. However, fitting them over the back seats can be a bit more difficult, so allow some extra time for that.
Use Mudflaps
You also want to consider attaching some mud flaps to your car. These are handy when you want to reduce the amount of dust your rear wheels are kicking up and spewing everywhere.
Mudflaps are particularly helpful when driving at low speed. Even though they are simple, they can prevent dust from coming back into the cabin on a hot day through the rear windows.
Drive Safely
If conditions are dusty on the road or track, drive safely. Small particles can increase stopping distances, so increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front compared to regular driving conditions.
Also, be wary of visibility. Traffic on a dusty road can kick up so many particles that it makes it challenging to see where you are going, a common problem in desertified regions.
If you can’t see anything, pull back and head to the side of the road until the visibility clears. Don’t drive at speed during these conditions as you could go into the back of the driver in front.
Use Your Headlights
Related to this last point, it’s also a good idea to use headlights. These can sometimes improve visibility in dusty conditions and alert other road users to your presence.
LED headlights are the best since these tend to have the most piercing beams. However, you could also equip your vehicle with overhead lights if you anticipate severe visibility obstacles en route.
Put Your Air Conditioning In Recirculating Mode
Another tip is to put your air conditioning in recirculating mode. This way, it won’t extract air from the external environment that might clog up your filters.
Air conditioning units can last a day or two in dusty conditions. But after that, the filter becomes clogged and they stop working as efficiently, if at all.
Just be sure your cabin interior is as dust-free as possible before putting the climate control into recirculating mode. Sometimes, opening doors can clog up the interior and do even more harm to your air conditioning system.
Check Your Vehicle
During the journey, you’ll want to check your vehicle regularly to ensure it is still roadworthy. Make sure you check the pressure of the tires on the car wheels and wipe the door mirrors down periodically.
Also, do the occasional brake test when safe to do so. These can alert you to any changes or if you have contaminated brake pads (which can be a problem in some dusty environments).
Be Prepared For An Emergency
It’s also helpful to be prepared for an emergency if you go on a dusty road trip. That’s because your vehicle is more likely to break down when conditions are less than ideal.
Carry some spare parts with you like air filters so you can fix your car if it breaks down because of the dust. Also, bring plenty of oil to lubricate the engine and a tire pressure gauge so you can see if you are getting a flat.
Emergency kits with survival supplies are also helpful. Water and extra food are essential if you think you might be stuck at the side of the road for a while.
