Tips For Traveling with Your Dogs This Summer Beware of Jeep Recall

No one wants to get into an accident especially when they have the entire family in the car. When the National Transportation Safety Board announced during peak vacation time that close to 3 million Jeep Vehicles currently on the road today aren’t as safe as they should be drivers took notice. As of last night 1.56 million Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokees and Jeep Liberty vehicles have been subject to a very serious safety recall. According to Chrysler this Jeep Recall will involve installation of a protective shield meant to reduce the likelihood that in the event of a rear-end collision gas tanks mounted behind the rear axles of the two Jeep models might leak and catch fire.

The safety notice extends to even more Jeep Vehicle drivers about 1.2 million to be exact will be subject to service action, though most according to the manufacturer, will undergo no modifications. The only modifications would occur if one of those Jeep Grand Cherokees were equipped with an aftermarket trailer hitch not built by Chrysler. This is something that appears to increase the risk of a gas tank being damaged in a collision. The hitch would be replaced by a factory trailer hitch designed to minimize the risk of a fire.

We know many of our readers have planned to go on vacation this summer and will be taking their dogs along with them. That for the most part means traveling by car. Whether you are traveling 50 miles or 5,000 miles it is so important to make sure the vehicle you will be traveling in is safe and secure for the entire family. Scheduling time to take your car to the dealer in order to have a recall dealt with is an annoyance and inconvenience but it is time spent ensuring your family’s safety.

1. Make sure your tires are all properly inflated. Weather change wreaks havoc on tire pressure. Take a few minutes next time you are at the gas station to check them out and put in some air or take some out according to what your tire requires. Properly inflated tires not only keep your family safer but they save you money on gas.

2. Check your oil to make sure it is clean and that you have more then enough. You will be putting a lot of stress on your car that it most likely is not used to. So if it has been a while since your last oil change consider having it done before you get on the road.

3. Check your wind shield wiper blades. If they are old consider replacing them. The change from Summer to Winter back to Summer is hard on rubber parts and they often get brittle and break. You do not want to be driving down the highway and hit a heavy rainstorm if your wiper blades are not up for the job.

4. If your car has a spare tire make sure it has been checked and ready in case of emergency. I know most people never think of their spare tire because they rarely if ever have used one. But they too need some regular maintenance to ensure they are ready to use.
5. Check your alignment. A poorly aligned car is no fun on a long trip. Plus it is terrible on your gas mileage.

6. Check your tires treads are they road worthy or is it time to get new tires? Yes it is an expense but it is one that could put your family in serious danger if there is a problem. Driving back and forth to school and work might be fine with worn tires but get on the highway going 60 – 80 miles and hour and those tires become a major hazard.

7. Call your local dealer to check for recalls on your car make and model. Some recalls are things that should be taken care of beore you get on the road and others can wait. When I took my car in for service there was a recall on where a fan was placed inside the engine. It was not something that put me in any danger but it was something that needed to be fixed to ensure my car would perform on the road as it should. However like with the current Jeep Recall there is a real safety concern that should be dealt with as soon as possible because it could mean the difference between walking away from an accident or serious injury or even death. Be honest with yourself if it needs to be fixed schedule an appointment to have it done don’t risk your family’s safety. Recalls are covered by the manufacturer so you should not have to pay for it.

Be sure your dog is secure in your car. That means they should not be able to walk around and find their way onto the driver lap. There is nothing more dangerous then having your dog on you lap while driving. They impair your ability to react to dangers and can be a danger if they touch the steering wheel or jump down between your legs or move the clutch. Not only that but in an accident the airbag in your steering wheel will crush your dog between you and it. Don’t put yourself or your dog in danger.

Make sure that your dog is up to date on all vaccinations before you leave home. Technically when crossing state lines you have to show proof of vaccinations that are up to date. Plus you have no idea what dogs or other animals your dog will come into contact with don’t put them in danger.

Flea and Tick Medications as well as Heartworm are a must when traveling in the summer. If you live in a city you might not have any issues with these parasites but take a walk in the country and you will see fleas and ticks. If you are traveling to the South even if it is to a city make sure your dog is protected.

If your Dog Gets Carsick check out this post for the only product that helped Davinia to stop throwing up in the car.
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