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Summer is here and it's the perfect time of year to take a road trip. There are so many cool places to go and things to see that can add some special moments to your trip if you choose to drive instead of fly. Before taking a road trip, it's always wise to perform some safety checks on your car. Nothing can spoil a road trip like an unforeseen complication that could have potentially been avoided. Here are 5 easy car safety checks that everyone should do before taking a road trip. 1. Check your fluid levels. The most important fluid to check is your engine oil. It's basically the lifeblood of your engine and is quite easy to check. Under the hood of the car you will find a small dipstick on your engine that should be marked "Oil". To check your oil, make sure you car is cooled off and parked on a level surface. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a paper towel, put it back in and pull right back out. There is a mark near the end of the dipstick that will show the high and low markings - if it's low, you should bring it in for an oil change or service before taking your trip. Under the hood you will also see some clear containers with different colored fluids - this would include your power steering fluid, brake fluid, and possibly clutch fluid if it's a manual transmission. The containers will have a high and low line on them as well to see where the fluid levels are. You may also want to check your windshield wiper fluid while you're in there. 2. Check the weight load capacity on your car. Inside the door jam of your car, you'll find a few stickers. One of them lists the maximum load capacity for your vehicle - which includes both passengers and cargo. It is important to not overload your vehicle because you could potentially damage your suspension or drive-train not to mention you may also decrease your gas mileage. 3. Check the air pressure in your tires and the tread level. While looking at the stickers on the inside of your door jam, you will also see mention of the recommended tire inflation pressure. You can check the air pressure in your tires using an air pressure gauge and many of the gas station air compressors have these built into them. Making sure you have the correct tire air pressure not only can ensure better gas mileage but you and your passenger's safety. A penny is a great way to measure the tread depth on your tires. If you use a penny, line up the Lincoln Memorial on the back with your tread. If the top of the Memorial is hidden, you have more than enough tread for a long road trip. If you turn the penny around and can see the top of Lincoln's head, you need new tires before taking your trip. 4. Check that you have a spare tire and that it has air in it. Open your trunk and make sure you have a spare tire. It's important to check that it's properly inflated because a flat spare tire is useless and dangerous. You also want to make sure you have the tools available to change your tire like a jack and a lug nut wrench. A flashlight would also be helpful as well as other emergency equipment like a first aid kit. 5. Check the outside of your vehicle - lights, wipers, and windows. It's just as important to check the outside of your vehicle as it is the inside of it. Make sure all lights are working. Check your wiper blades to ensure they're not worn as this could pose a safety hazard during rain. Lastly, check your windows to make sure they're clean to ensure you can see clearly. These 5 easy safety checks can help to ensure a safe road trip. All of these checks are things you can do yourself, but always read your owner's manual and if you have any questions or concerns bring your car in for service. Aside from these tips, some good music and snacks always help to make for a successful road trip. Happy travels!

Bandages/ cleansing wipes Tums Antibacterial Soap Sunscreen Safety Pins Pain Reliever Lotion Chapstick Neosporin Feminine products Diapers Baby Wipes Sometimes we find that we leave our house so fast that we have forgotten to do some 'getting ready' essentials. These items just stay in the car in case we need them. These things are minty gum, deodorant, mascara, eye shadow, a brush and hairbands. These things will usually take care of everyone if they ran out the door before they finished getting ready in the morning. What types of preparedness items do you have in your car? Stefanie is a wife and mom to three cute kids. You can find her blogging about travel, crafts, recipes and life at Making of a Mom. Contact Lynch Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Inc. 282 Wolf Run Mukwonago, WI 53149-8470 Sales: (262) 214-3892 Service: (262) 214-3951 Parts: (262) 214-6285 Hours Monday8:30am-8:00pm Tuesday8:30am-8:00pm Wednesday8:30am-8:00pm Thursday8:30am-8:00pm Friday8:30am-6:00pm Saturday8:30am-4:00pm SundayClosed

Preparing an Emergency car kit: Winter Edition One thing that worries me and thousands of others during the winter months is to become stranded. Warmer climate areas always tend to think that they may never need snow tires or to be prepared for any winter weather at all and this is never a good way to think. My prime example is Alabama in January 2014 hundreds of motorists were stranded on I-20 for two days or more because of Winter weather. The national guard was called into the state but not all of the motorists were reachable - I know of no deaths however I'm sure there were several victims of frostbite , dehydration and other known issues that were caused from being stranded. All of which could have been prevented if they had been properly prepared for an event such as that one. Here are the top 5 Essentials that we feel should be in your vehicle during the winter months to help be prepared in case you're to become stranded in freezing temperatures. 1. Map - Most people would not think of this because with today's technology we all tend to use our GPS as most cell phones have them built in it is definitely easier to obtain than before. You should always keep a good ol' classic paper map in your vehicle. Most will fit right under your seat or behind if it has built in pockets. The purpose of this is that yes a GPS may be made available but it is still operated on batteries. If those battery are to die and you have no clue where you are the paper map will be able to help you. 2. Blankets , Extra clothing - One thing that you have to worry about during the winter months is the cold weather. Keeping warm is definitely a need greater than most. We suggest heavy blankets such as wool or thermal so that the heat from your body will hold in the blanket and not escape. 3. Water, Food - Having food and water is important because you could be stranded for a few days or even weeks depending on the circumstances. Just remember that an average person can go up to three weeks without food and only one week without water. Personally I keep two 2 liter bottles in my van at all times. 4. Winter tools - Every car should have a basic necessities kit already in place which should include items such as Flashlights, Flares, Jumper cables etc.. For the Winter months a few items you may want to add are: - Deicer - Compact Snow Shovel - Hand Warmers - Snow Chains and any other items you think you may need. 5. Have a plan- Being prepared for almost every situation will ensure that you will have a better chance of surviving without harm if you were to become stranded. One way that can help not only you but ANYONE that drives your vehicle is to have a printed out plan or instructions - You can leave this in your glove box so that other drivers may have it and know about the kit in the back. Make sure to tell them where the plan is if they're going to be driving your vehicle. We hope this helps you in preparing for this Winters travels! This post was written by Sandra S. Sandra is the owner/author of Confessions of a stay at home mom a well known mom blog featuring useful tips, recipes, giveaways and so much more.

There are several advantages to bringing your child along with you when buying a new car. Car seats, door handle height, ride height, and accessibility are all factors that need to be considered. Even if you don't decide to bring your child with you, you must bring your child's car seat along. It is important to know if the seat will fit properly and allows you to have easy access to your child. Anyone who has ever climbed into the backseat of a vehicle, just to buckle their child in, knows how important these factors are when purchasing a new car. Testing it out before your purchase is thinking ahead! While we're on the topic of car seats, how many children do you have in a car seat? Are you planning on having another child during the life of this vehicle? Another great reason to bring your child safety seats with you to shop for a new vehicle is to determine if all of your car seats will fit. Some families may need to consider other vehicle purchase options after testing it for themselves. Does your child enter your current vehicle independently? Is that something you are looking to foster in the near future? Allowing your child to enter vehicles on their own while test driving will provide you with insight to their usability. It will give you visual confirmation that the ride height and door handle placement will work best for your child's needs. Do you have teenagers? If you have a teen or tween, the likelihood that your new car purchase will later become the first vehicle they drive is high. Bring your teen along for their opinion. Ask if they like the vehicle and if they would be comfortable learning to drive it later. Do you want your child along but aren't sure if they will be patient during the entire process? There are several preparation methods that can help reduce wait time. Consider pre-qualifying for your purchase before you shop. Take a moment to call ahead to make sure the children will be accommodated in the best way possible. Ask for a sales representative that works best with children. Bring items that you would usually use for their entertainment in the car. Ask a friend or family member to come along. Your car buying experience should be one that the entire family can be a part of. Bring the kids, grab the car seats, and get ready for a fun day for everyone! If you liked this article, you may be interested in reading about Preparedness Kits for Wisconsin Drivers. We also recommend you read about 5 Quick Safety Checks to Do Before a Road Trip. Author Note: Pamela Maynard is a blogger and owner of the blog Mom Does Reviews. In her blog she provides her readers with greatest deals, specials, family and parenting tips, as well as truthful product reviews. Follow her on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Let's face it: we use cell phones all of the time now for work, play, keeping in touch and more. Sadly, too many people are while driving as well. Just think about it. In the amount of time it would take you to just glance at your cellphone so much can happen. In just that split second someone could change lanes, slam on the breaks, walk in front of the car, an animal could wander onto the road. An accident can easily take place. So follow these very simple suggestions and keep everyone on the road a little safer. Cell Phone Safety Tips: ? Never text while driving. ? Never read messages while driving. ? Make calls, text and read messages while the vehicle is stationary or pull over. ? If you must use the phone be sure to use a "hands-free" accessory that works with your phone. ? Always keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. ? Try to drive after an angry or stressful situation. Unless in a dangerous situation. Emotional conversations and driving do not mix. ? Mount your phone when using it for directions to travel. This is also a great way to take speakerphone calls. ? If your phone is connected to your car's power source, disconnect your phone before using jumper cables. The power surge could damage your phone. It's best to always make important call that can't wait before you begin your trip. However if for some emergency reason that you absolutely need to dial while driving, follow this simple tip: Dial only a few numbers, check the road and your mirrors, then continue dialing. Lastly remember to dial 911 in the event of an emergency such as a traffic accident, fire, medical emergency or road hazard. As always follow your state's cell phone laws. Cell phones can be a great way to help someone else during an emergency. If you liked this article, you may like this article on Prepardeness Kits for Wisconsin Drivers. You may also be interested in reading about Safety Checks to Do Before a Road Trip.

You don't need to spend a fortune to keep your car looking like it just came off the showroom floor. You can find a variety of cleaning products in your favorite automotive shop. Some brands even offer kits that include a selection of their most popular washes, waxes, and protecting products, all ready for a weekend spent giving your car a much needed spa day. There are some tools that are vital to give your car that showroom shine! Here are just a few to get you started. Automobile Soap- Invest in a soap that is made specifically for cars. Please don't use dishwashing liquid. That is just wrong. Car Wax- If you want the ultimate, "see yourself in it" shine you need a good car wax. Remember, wax on, wax off. Don't forget the Chamois cloths. They are AMAZING to use after waxing to get that glass-like finish. Tire Foam- Nothing is worse than seeing a beautiful clean car with dirty tires. Tires need love too! Vinyl/Leather cleaners- You can't forget the inside and these clean dust and grime from your vehicle's dash board, consoles, and inside door panels. Glass Cleaners- I would prefer you use one designed specifically for automotive glass but you can use an all purpose one as well. Try to find one that repels water to keep the outside of your glass streak free. Upholstery Cleaners- Keep the upholstery sparkling with the right cleaner. You will definitely need a few hours to completely clean your car. I highly suggest cranking up some tunes and jamming out while achieving showroom perfection. After you have washed, waxed, and cleaned until your heart is content, hit the highway and show off your "new" car! We hope you have enjoyed this article. While you are online check out the new inventory offered at Lynch Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM. You can also contact the dealership directly with any inquiries before heading down to check out your next new potential vehicle. Author Note: Bobbie Seacrist is a writer that lives in Maryland. She loves to write about tech, travel, auto, and lifestyle. She owns a personal blog, My Life, Blogged and her own virtual assistant business, Glam Girl Media.

The Best Road Trip Games Before we left for our last road trip, I created activity binders for my kids. They weren't convinced it was a good idea and their doubts made me worry. But now that we are home, I can tell you that they were a big hit and the road trip games made for great boredom busters. Here are some of the best road trip games to play: License Plate Game: There are plenty of printables for the license plate game or you can create your own by making a list as you see the different states. The game is easy - see a license plate, figure out where it's from and mark it on your list. Whoever has the most states at the end of the game, wins! Road Trip Bingo: Again, there are a ton of printables on the internet so there's no need to create your own. Search, print and play! We play blackout bingo because it makes the game last longer. Slug Bug Game: Spot a Volkswagen Beetle and call it out loud. With our rules, classic bugs are worth 2 points, newer bugs are worth 1 point and classic vans are worth 5. On the (very) off chance you see a Herby Bug, it's worth 8. At least one person in the car has to see the bug you are calling for your point(s) to count. We just keep count in our head but you could use tallies on paper if need-be. I Spy: For our most recent road trip, I printed off a couple of 'I Spy' lists. The boys had many things to choose from and they could play together or individually. Alphabet Game: You'll be looking for every letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order, although the letter can be located anywhere in the word. You'll use road signs, billboards, shop names, anything outside the window. EX: Say there is a fruit stand with a sign for Granny Smith apples - there's your A. My family also plays a variation where we find something that starts with the letter. EX: You see a Target -- there's your T. I win: This is a game my dad made up. Basically, you find something (anything) call it and say 'I win'! EX: "10 cows! I win!" Which road trip activities do you take on road trips?? Did you like this article? If so, you may be interested in reading about Preparedness Kits for Wisconsin Drivers. You may also want to read about How to Car Shop With Kids. Author Note: Sara Phillips is the owner and writer for SensiblySara.com. Find helpful tips, family trip ideas and much more by following her on Twitter.