1

Prep your car

This is hands down your No.1 priority, to ensure that your vehicle is in optimum condition for your road trip. And these are the things you have to look at:

1. Tyres (pressure, tread depth, wheel balancing, wheel alignment, inflate the spare wheel)
2. Brakes (you need to replace the brake pads if they are worn out)
3. Air-conditioning (if the air-conditioner breaks down during your trip ... *shudder*)
4. Fluids (engine oil, coolant, transmission, brake, power steering, windshield washer)
5. Hoses, belts, wipers (check for hose leaks, do you need to replace your timing belt, is the wiper rubber still good)
6. Lights (headlights, signal lights, brake lights all working)
7. Battery (is the life span coming to an end)
8. Spark plug wires (look out for wear and tear)

You can do these checks yourself or you can send your car to maintenance centres such as TYREPLUS Malaysia and leave it to the professionals to do the job for you. TYREPLUS Malaysia has more than 50 outlets across the country (www.tyreplus.com.my) so there's bound to be one near you.

2

Top up toll payment cards

That means your SmartTAG and Touch 'n Go cards. The last thing you need is to be stuck at the toll gate with insufficient credit and there's a long line of tired and irritable motorists behind you.

3

Power up

Charge mobile devices and power banks the night before. Also, bring along the charger cables so that you get to juice up your devices in the car.

4

In-drive entertainment

Smartphones and tablets tend to do the trick. If the tablet doesn't come with a data plan, download your movies or songs so that you get to play them offline. Don't forget your earphones too. Or maybe just read a book.

5

Snacks and drinks

This is important not just to stave off hunger and thirst but to help the driver stay awake. Feed the driver when he starts to get dozy. Strong menthol lozenges or sour plum can also perk him/her up. Otherwise, the driver should pull off the expressway for a power nap at the rest areas.

6

Lock the doors, set the alarm

Check that you have locked all the doors and closed the windows (including bathrooms). Remember to activate your house alarm system. And make sure that your autogate is closed as you drive away.

7

Gas and stove

Turn off the gas regulator (or what we call the "gas tank head") and the stove too. Very important. You know why.

8

Standby medicine

Pack basic medicine such as paracetamol, motion sickness pills, diarrhoea pills and charcoal pills. Don't forget the plasters.

9

Put down the toilet seat lid

If you are going away for a few days, you should put down the toilet seat lid to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in the bowl water. Think aedes.

10

Neighbourly help

Tell the neighbour whom you trust how long you will be away, and ask him/her to keep an eye on your home. If your neighbour is helpful, maybe you can ask nicely if he/she can water your plants every two days. You know how hot it can get during Chinese New Year.