A pre-trip inspection is a key part of any trip and for preventing issues while on the road. Missing a step in your inspection can end up putting you in danger if you happen to miss something serious. Therefore, it’s important to know what you should be looking over…
Pre-Trip Inspection: Extra Safety
Under the hood
It’s good to start your pre-trip inspection by first checking under the hood. Here, you should tip the hood and check your fluid levels, while also keeping an eye out for leaks. Make sure all the caps are tight, especially on the radiator, oil filter, and power steering fluid. Loose caps or low fluid levels could cause serious problems when you’re driving.
Then, check the actual engine block itself. While also looking for leaks, check hoses and fan belts too. Any signs of serious wear or cracking could warrant a replacement of the part. After than, look over the shock absorbers, kingpins, and ball joints for proper lubrication and any wear.
Start it up
Once you’ve checked under the hood, the next part of your pre-trip inspection should be starting the truck up. Some things which may have seen fine at first could actually have some underlying issues. Therefore, in order to detect if anything is wrong, it’s helpful to depress the clutch, start the engine, and check the gauges.
Once you’ve done this, try the clutch out slowly, letting it idle around 650 RPM. Check the gauges once more and be sure the air pressure is building up properly. When everything looks good with the engine, do a quick check of your lights and make sure your mirrors are in the right positions.
One last walk around
Before finishing your pre-trip inspection, it helps to circle your truck one last time and check anything else important. For instance, you’ll want to look over any of the electrical cords, suspension, break pads, and landing gear. You should also keep an eye out for any external damages.
Your tires should especially receive some extra attention. On top of looking them over, keep an ear out for any potential leaks. These issues should be addressed as soon as you can!