Living in the countryside offers many benefits, including cleaner air and ample recreational space. It also means you’ll need a reliable vehicle and maintain it yourself.
The Countryside Offers Few Mechanics
Rural areas offer few mechanics or auto dealerships where you could take your car, truck, or SUV for servicing. You’ll need to stock up on essential auto tools, such as a tire pressure gauge, which costs between $5 and $15. Purchase a set of screwdrivers and wrenches, plus a chamois cloth for cleaning the interior.
Learn to Do Essential Maintenance
Teach yourself to change the oil in your vehicle or at least know how to check it and add a pint. Know where all of the major fluids in the car should go and how to check them.
Learn how to change a fan belt and how to change a tire. Your trunk should also contain a tire iron, manual jack, and a spare tire. Although most vehicles come with a small emergency tire, they can’t handle normal speeds. Purchase a fifth full-sized tire for your vehicle and stow it in your trunk.
Pack an Emergency Kit
Finally, pack an emergency kit in the trunk. You’ll need flares, a flashlight, an NOAA weather radio, an emergency blanket, a change of seasonal clothing, cans of food, a can opener, and at least one gallon of drinking water. Your kit should always contain separate water for use in the vehicle. You will sometimes need water to cool the radiator. Pack a small can or bottle of each major vehicle fluid in the kit.
Ideally, you’ll never remain stranded for long, but your kit needs to provide enough water and food for three days of survival. The Illinois Department of Transportation reported more than 313,000 motor vehicle crashes in 2015 alone. Prepare for a disabled vehicle before an accident happens, so you can remain safe.
Consider Rural Vehicle Needs When Car Shopping
When you need to shop for the best-used family car on a budget but also need a vehicle that can navigate rough dirt roads with potholes, shop online first. Start by researching websites like Edmunds and Car & Driver. These industry publications often publish articles on the best-used cars in various vehicle classes.
For a rural vehicle, consider an electric SUV. These tough rides offer the power of a 4×4 without gas-guzzling. Many electric SUVs offer massive horsepower; the motor on the Tesla X generates 670 horsepower, while the engine upgrade generates 1,000 horsepower. Both options offer an all-wheel drive.
Many used SUVs offer a range of about 200 miles, but some travel up to 300. New electric SUVs offer ranges of about 300 miles. If you can work with a 200-mile range, a Kia Niro EV offers a great bargain, although it doesn’t go off-road well.
Have a rapid charger installed in your garage. For an investment of a few hundred dollars, you’ll be able to charge your vehicle at home in a matter of hours instead of needing to plug it in overnight. Plugging it into a typical electrical outlet works but requires about 12 hours. The rapid charger takes about three hours.
Shop Savvily for Situation Appropriate Vehicles
Everyone loves the countryside lately. Even the agtech industry underwent a boom in 2021 with investments nearly doubling to about $4 billion between the third and fourth fiscal quarters. If you reside in a rural area or want to do so, purchase a vehicle that can handle the roads and go the distance.
