Safe Self Drive Uganda – Things to check on a rental car before driving off

With lots of things to see and do in Uganda, millions of tourist motorists will take to the highways to get to their favorite holiday destinations in the country. Nicknamed the Pearl of Africa, the country offers a medley of exciting attractions and unusual things that you can’t see or do anywhere else. Not only can you go gorilla trekking in Uganda, but you can also stand in two different territories at once in this country.

Wondrous wildlife, awe-inspiring waterfalls, grand lakes, vibrant culture, and heart-racing ventures all await you in Uganda.

However, before you set off anywhere, you need to prepare your vehicle. So, what exactly do you need to check before you embark on your road trip to Uganda?

Check Fluids (oil, hydraulic, brake fluid, and coolant)

The first thing you should always do is check under the bonnet.

Check the fluid levels first, this is one of the major upsets drivers should be aware of and don’t check often enough. Low levels of coolant and oil fluids are a sign that there might be a little leak somewhere.

Check the brake fluid for the car won’t be safe to drive if the brake fluid is too low. On the other hand, make sure to check the hydraulic, if the level is too low, the steering will be so hard to turn to mean that the car will not be safe to drive.

Check the lights

This is simple but so important because, without the proper working of lights, it will be hard for you to drive at night and in place with fog and mist. 

You have to make sure that the brake lights are fine and these will help other drivers to notice that you are breaking or you have a break to avoid being knocked.

Check if all indicators are in good function. They help to notify other drivers as you are to turn left or right when overtaking and they as well help to show other drivers that your car has gotten a problem.

The front light helps you to drive in the dark and fog.

Wipers

Before setting out on your road trip, just check whether the wipers can clear the water from the windscreen, or are they leaving lines of water that impair your vision? This is so simple, all you have to do is use the windscreen washers to spray your windscreen and then check if the wipers are doing their job.

Wheels and tires

Tires connect your car to the road, this makes them the most important part to check on the car before embarking on your self-drive road trip in Uganda. Make sure that the tires are in good shape, look at the tread depth. Most tires have a tread depth indicator and once the tire is worn to that point, it has to be replaced as soon as possible.

Check the surface of the tire for any notable damage, inflections, and look for bubbles.

It is also important for drivers to check their tire pressure regularly, even if they are not on a road trip. If a tire is overinflated, it will wear in the middle of the tire, and if it is underinflated, it will wear on the sides and edges.

Brake pads

Another important component to consider is your brake pad wear. The brake pads are made up of a metal outer part and composite inner part.

The composite inner part needs to be above 5mm thick. Once the pad wears down below this, we will advise that the pad needs to be replaced.

Make sure your handbrake is working correctly. Your handbrake should not click more than four times before it holds the car in place. Anything more than four clicks would not pass a roadworthy test.

Drive belts

While checking underneath your vehicle, examine the drive belt for any cracks. If your drive belt is damaged or worn out, you may have a total engine shutdown.

This is very important – if anything happens to this belt, you will be stuck within a few kilometers.”

Spare wheel

Check to see if your spare wheel has a properly inflated tire on it and pressure before setting off to avoid being stuck in the middle of the road with a flat spare wheel. On the other hand, check if you have the jack and wheel spanner and if they are working properly.

Steering

Some tests can only be done under driving conditions so for the steering check, we will take the vehicle on the road and see whether the steering pulls in a certain direction – if the vehicle veers to the left or the right. This could indicate alignment problems and if it is the problem, make sure it is fixed (aligned).

Brakes and clutch

While the brake pads are checked when the car is stationary, it is important to evaluate how the vehicle reacts to braking when driving – whether it pulls to either side under braking.

It is unsafe to drive a vehicle that cannot be controlled under braking.