Before hitting the road, AAA urges drivers to stock an emergency kit, test their car's battery & inspect all tires. https://t.co/Yh5lcq6H3j pic.twitter.com/dSr9CozHiz

— AAA (@AAAauto) May 15, 2017

Summer has come to Watchung, NJ, and those enjoying our local parks are getting a reminder of why it's called the Garden State. Many families are determined to take advantage the fair weather, and strike out on a road trip this season.

Before you pack up your spacious new Ford truck or SUV, however, the AAA recommends drivers take a few precautions:

• Pack an emergency kit…

There are a lot of cases where a generic product will do the job just as well as a name brand, and often at a cheaper cost. But when it comes to auto maintenance and parts, generic parts simply won't do. When you're out on the road, you don't want to be putting your trust in budget brake pads or sub-standard suspension parts. You want to have the best, and that means using only Motorcraft parts to service your Ford vehicle, available at our service center here at Liccardi Ford.

The next time you're thinking about procrastinating when it comes to having your vehicle's oil changed, or even worse, avoiding the necessary service altogether, consider this: modern car engines are incredibly sophisticated pieces of machinery with hundreds of parts, many of which are constantly rubbing up against one another at breakneck speeds--not to mention extremely hot temperatures.

Slick’s specialty? Oil. See how he takes on an extraordinary oil change in this #F150.https://t.co/kPy89Z2gtW

— Ford Motor Company (@Ford) March 3, 2016