Tangent and Albany Auto Repair

If you've ever stepped in the door you know all about Kenzie, Ashley and Bailey. They're the black labrador girls in the office. They're our girls and we're fortunate to bring them with us, they not only come to work with us but we also travel with them, and they go camping with us too. We've learned a few things since we got Kenzie in 2012 about what you need when you travel with your pet.  1. A go bag - it's the term that my Mom has always referred to as the bag you grab when you're headed out the door. I have a few of them, one is for the girls. It has all the needed items from water dish, leashes and disposal bags.  2. Water - I get a gallon jug and just refill it at the house, we also have a collapable silicone water dish, it's compact and it works great for the girls.  3. Leashes - while the girls are trained to be off the leash most places require that you have your dog on a leash, this is for the safety of your dog and for other ... read more

Unless you just had them replaced before any road trip you should have your brakes checked. We do free brake inspections and they're a quick and easy way to make sure you're ready to go on your trip. We realize you're busy packing and wrangling your family, but a few minutes to make sure you're safe is really all it takes.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

99% of us have a map built into our phone and yes I use mine all the time, but before any long road trip make sure you know the route you're taking and get yourself a good map. A few years ago I went and purchased an atlas of the USA and also one of Oregon.  We've been planning a road trip for a few years now. We haven't decided on when or where yet, but it's great to be able to look at the map and find places that we would like to go and to put them on the list. Most of us have GPS on our phone and while those are great, there are times that you may not have service and knowing how to read a map is important for those times.  Give us a call for all your automotive needs and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures,  Heather

Camping is great, but it can be stressful so we made a top 10 list of things to make your adventure a little less stressful. 1. Try it at home first - give it a dry run. If you've never put your tent up or set your trailer up before; you need to try it before you get to your camping spot. Nothing makes tempers flair faster and will ruin a perfectly good day than arguing with your husband/wife/friend/significant other about how things should go. Trust me - try it at home first, a good dry run will save your sanity and your trip. 2. Your camp site. If you thought about it ahead of time you likely have a reservation in your favorite area or you're adventuring somewhere new for the first time. Summer in Oregon is a bit fleeting so the campgrounds fill up fast around here, so if you're head somewhere without a reservation be prepared to have to go to more than one campground to find a spot.  3. Packing list for people - you'll need one for everyone who is going ... read more

Number 4 - Chargers Most all of us have smart phones and if you're anything like me I would rather listen to the playlist on my phone rather than the one the radio is providing. Many times I am also using my phone for navigation or I am just browsing while Jason is driving. No matter what you're using your phone for the likelihood is that it's going to drain your battery and that means it needs to be charged. Make sure you have the right charger for your phone and maybe an extra for those traveling with you. Keep the peace in the back seat - bring extra chargers.  Give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Number 3  Tire checkup - before any trip to either the beach or the grocery store you do a walk around your vehicle to make sure all of your tires are properly inflated. It's a quick and easy way to make sure you're safe on your journey. A few years ago we were headed out for the weekend. I had everything and everyone loaded in the car. We were ready to leave when Jason did the walk around and we had a flat tire. We had picked up a nail at some point and had to have it repaired before we could leave town. It was just a little hiccup, but I am glad we checked before getting on the freeway and having a bigger issue.  Basically just make sure you're ready and safe too. If you're concerned about your tire pressure or if you need us to take a look for you stop by or give us a call and let us take care of you.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Number 2 .... this is the really important one Have snacks. Maybe it's just the Mom in me from having littles, but snacks are so important on any road trip.  Now that the kids are older it's easier for sure, but I am still picky about what they eat in the car - crumbs are a pain and I'm the one who has to vacuum my car. We try to stay away from sticky things, we have wipes, but it's just easier to stick with the things that aren't sticky. Jerky, crackers, popcorn, granola bars, grapes, things along that route are typically what I pack in the car still.  Along with the snacks everyone needs a reusable water bottle. I swear we have 50 of them, we might as well use them, plus it's easier to refill them as we go than to buy a new one.  It doesn't matter if it's a day trip or a week long trip - you still need snacks.  Happy Adventures, Heather

Number 1 Before any long road trip you should have a pre-trip inspection done - we will check out your entire vehicle including all the fluids, brakes, tires and suspension and not forgetting about your battery and belts. We want you to have one less thing to worry about while you're off adventuring. This should be done one to two weeks prior to your trip on the off hand chance that you do need to have something repaired or serviced prior to your trip. It gives you a little time to breathe and it makes that last minute stuff easier when you have your vehicle.  Give us a call and let us take care of you. 541-791-2886 Happy Adventures, Heather