Tailgating games and car care!

Fall is approaching and that means football season!

What better way to celebrate than tailgating the games, but is your car up for it? 

Check out ways to maintain your car to make football season a breeze!

Here are some things to consider: 

• You'll want your car to be clean inside and out! check out this detailing blog on ways to clean and keep it clean during the whole football season!
  
  
  
• Get your car in shape before you go. Check out this blog on how to keep up with your wear and tear items and fluids!
  
  
  
• Next is the cold weather issue. Make sure you are dressed for the weather, you don't want to use the car’s heat and waste the battery or gas trying to stay warm. Then make sure your car is preheated before leaving again to ensure it runs smoothly all fall and winter.

• Check your car battery before and during tailgating; there are many reasons and usages for the car’s electric, but you don’t want to leave yourself stranded after the game. Make sure you have jumper cables and/or a jump box that is charged and ready to go, just in case. You could also consider using a generator for tailgating.

• Then the parking lot is a whole other mess of issues. Just remember to take it slow, pedestrians have the right away and always be ready to stop! There will be a lot of people, vehicles and areas set up for a party. Just be mindful and getting there early might help avoid that.

Which car is the best to pack up and tailgate from:

• Usually and traditionally, a truck’s tailgate was used for the party. As it can be a table and the bed can easily tote all of your tailgating needs.
  
  
• Make sure you know how much weight your car can hold before causing a problem; this information can generally be found on the inside of the driver’s door jam. Having a car over it’s weight limit can ruin the brakes, suspension, tires, etc. Then there can be a slew of problems during and after overloading the car (turning, driving slower, tires deflating, accidents, tickets for slow driving), so, just make sure you stay within the guidelines and use another vehicle if needed. Plus, if your insurance finds out your car was overloaded after a claim was placed, they can decide not to pay for it in some cases. Don't forget, a car that os over the weight limit also may block the visibility!
  
  
• If you do have a lot in a car, make sure you evenly distribute the weight. It also might be a good idea to have one vehicle for the goods and another to tote everyone around in.
  
  
• Another idea and popular these days is using an RV. They have enough space to put all your belongings and people and they usually have fridges, cooking space and equipment.
  

• Try to get some lessons in before driving it around other vehicles and in tight spaces with a lot of people. 

• Know the height and width before driving on highways.

• Have someone help with backing in or practice first, they are large vehicles with a lot of blind spots.

What you need to keep the grill, the gadgets, the games and coolers good:

• Make sure you, first, have plenty of ice for your drinks, uncooked food and all the rest. Keep the uncooked meat away from all other cooked and ready to eat food. So this means you will need at least two coolers and the space for them.
  
  
• Next, you need a grill (AND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER) and something to put out the coals before leaving for the game. Maybe this means you need a metal box or something that won’t melt or catch fire. This could be a metal tool box in the back of a truck.
  
  The grill will have to be at least 6-8 feet away from any vehicles, especially from the gas tank.
  
  
• Of course, no drinking and driving. Wait it out, have a designated driver or call for a ride.
  
  
• If you have a TV and/or speakers there, make sure to secure it the the vehicle or wherever it may stay; you don’t want a busted TV or car in case something happens.

Have fun, be safe and happy tailgating!