Camping trip coming up?
Get your car checked before you load it up. Tyres, cooling, brakes, suspension, battery and towing, all looked over before the long drive.
- Tower 2/591 Dorset Rd, Bayswater North
- Subaru specialists, all makes welcome
What is a pre-trip check?
A pre-trip check is an inspection of the systems that work hardest when a car is loaded for camping or towing: the tyres and spare, cooling, brakes, suspension, the main and auxiliary batteries, and the towing gear. At Baywrex in Bayswater North, a technician works through each one with your trip in mind, whether that's sealed roads to the coast or corrugated gravel in the High Country. A loaded car is heavier, works harder on hot climbs and needs more room to stop, so small faults show up sooner. We look at all makes and models, and we're Subaru specialists. Tell us where you're heading, when you leave and whether you're towing, and we check the car against that trip. We explain what we found in plain English and quote any work before it's done, so nothing goes ahead without your OK.
Six things that matter more with a loaded car
A car packed for camping is heavier, often towing, and heading somewhere a breakdown costs more than a tow home. These are the systems that feel it first.
Tyres + Spare
Tread, pressures and the spare you forgot about.
Tread depth and sidewall condition on all four, pressures set for the load you're carrying, and the spare checked and inflated.
Cooling
A loaded car on a hot climb works hard.
Coolant level and condition, hoses, radiator cap and fan operation, and the radiator checked for leaks and blockage.
Brakes
More weight means more stopping distance.
Pad and rotor wear, brake fluid condition and the lines and hoses, so the car pulls up properly with the extra weight on board.
Suspension
Ready for the load and the corrugations.
Shocks, springs, bushes and ball joints checked for wear and leaks before the corrugations find them for you.
Battery
Main battery and the dual battery for the fridge.
The main battery tested, plus the auxiliary battery, isolator and wiring that keep the fridge running at camp.
Towing
Towbar, couplings and trailer lights.
Towbar mounting and tongue, coupling and safety chains, and the trailer plug and lights tested before you hitch up.
How it works
- 01
Book before you go
Send the form below or call us. Give yourself a week or two before departure so there's time to fix anything we find.
- 02
We check it over
A technician works through tyres, cooling, brakes, suspension, battery and towing, with the trip you're planning in mind.
- 03
You hear what we found
We explain it in plain English and quote any work before it's done. Nothing goes ahead without your OK.
Book before you load up
Tell us where you're heading, when you leave, and whether you're towing, and we'll call you back to arrange a time. Prefer to talk now? Call 0410 164 954.
Where to find us
Phone
0410 164 954Opening Hours
- Mon – Fri9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday9 AM – 12 PM
- SundayClosed
Pre-trip check questions
Is a pre-trip check only for 4WDs?
- No. Any car that's about to be loaded up for camping or hooked up to a trailer benefits from one, whether it's a 4WD, a wagon or an SUV. We look at all makes and models, and we're Subaru specialists.
Do you check the trailer or caravan as well?
- We check the towing side of your car: the towbar mounting and tongue, the coupling, safety chains, and the trailer plug and lights. If you'd like the trailer or caravan itself looked at, mention it when you book and we'll tell you what we can do.
What happens if you find a problem?
- We stop and talk to you. We explain what we found in plain English and quote any work before it's done. Nothing goes ahead without your OK, and you decide what gets fixed before the trip.
What should I tell you when I book?
- Where you're heading, when you leave, roughly how much you'll be carrying, and whether you're towing. Mention anything the car has been doing lately too, like a noise, a warning light or a pull under braking, so we can look at it during the check.
Sort it in the workshop, not on the track
Book a pre-trip check before you head off, and spend the trip at camp instead of on the side of the road.