Is your Vehicle Ready for Some Football?

Football season is here, and no matter how your team is looking, you can still get excited about those pre-game celebrations. For many, tailgating is the main event and it has gone from a couple of lawn chairs and a six-pack, to a full-on gala celebration. Whether you’re planning an epic feast or something small, you’ll want to make sure you arrive at the game safely and prepared for a good time. Here are a few tips to make sure your vehicle is up to the task.

Clean it up. You wouldn’t invite people over for a party at your house if it was full of old soda bottles and trash. Make sure your vehicle is looking good so you can properly represent your team. If you’re going to be serving food off of your truck tailgate, consider giving it a good wash. You don’t want the fertilizer you picked up last week at the garden center to end up in someone’s hamburger.

Check your tires. You’ll probably be carrying a lot of gear, so the last thing you’ll want to do is change a flat tire while your vehicle is loaded down with party equipment. Depending on where you’re tailgating, you might need to cover some rougher territory than your vehicle is accustom to.

Bring jumper cables. If you’re listening to the pre-game show on the radio, using electricity from it for lights or other equipment, your battery might lose its juice. Be sure you have jumper cables in case you or one of your fellow revelers needs a jump.

Do any prep work the night before. You want to enjoy game day as much as possible, so pack your vehicle and prepare any food you can, early.

Next if you’re affixing any flags or magnets to your car, make sure they are attached securely. A flag can become a road hazard if it falls off your car while you’re going 65 miles an hour down the highway.

Be prepared. It’s a good idea to keep a first aid kit in your car in case of an emergency anyway, but having one in your automobile the day of the game can come in handy. Freeze water bottles to use as ice in your cooler and for rehydrating later in the day.

Also, pack a few extras of items like matches, grill tools and bottle openers, those things have a tendency to wander off and you don’t want to be without them. You’ll also want to bring trash bags and plastic storage bins to carry your trash and dirty dishes back home when the game’s over.

Have fun. The whole point of tailgating is to relax and spend time with friends. Take care of your vehicle and have it regularly serviced at your NAPA AutoCare, and your automobile will have a winning season.

Posted September 29th, 2016