Getting Ready For The Michiana Winter

Have you ever been stuck on the side of the road in the winter? If you have you know it is not fun. You are cold, wet, and frustrated. The best way to avoid this is to not get stuck in the first place. You do this by slowing down, cleaning all your windows off, and watching out for ice and snow. With winter right around the corner here in Michiana you need to get your vehicle ready. Check you batteries, and connections for any signs of not working at top performance. Look for worn wires and corrosion on the batteries connections, Also this is a great time of the year to have your oil changed and have your vehicle gone over by a mechanic to insure that everything is in working order. If you can afford it look in to getting a set of snow tires, This will give you more traction on icy roads.

What happens if you do get stuck? How do you get yourself unstuck? Start by taking a second to see where you are and how you are stuck. Every one likes to just go strait into rocking back forth, but in most cases you need to dig some snow out from under the tires to get out. The best thing you can do if you get stuck is to be prepared. By having kitty litter or some kind of sand in the back of your car you can give yourself more traction by placing it under the tires. To go along with the kitty litter it is a good idea to have some supplies to help you stay safe in the winter. Water, food, warm cloths, and some road flairs are a good start. Also consider a first aid kit, jumper cables, and a stash of any medication you may need. With the winters we have had in the past couple of years an emergence kit in your car would be a good idea. Better to have and not need then to need and not have.

If you are looking into buying a new car it may be a good idea to look at a vehicle with AWD or 4WD. Also consider all of the other options that you may need in the winter. A good thing to consider is a higher ground clearance. A midsize SUV, like the Toyota Rav4 or the Ford Escape, would be great for any bad Michiana Winter.