Posted on 08/09/2017 4:42:52 PM PDT by vannrox
When I was growing up, I noticed that my father kept his car well-stocked with supplies. A lot of the equipment was for his job busting poachers as a game warden, but most of the things were for emergency situations that could happen to anyone. And there were plenty of times when my dad was able to put those supplies to work.
Be it a maintenance issue or a snowstorm, keeping the following items in your vehicle can save you time and discomfort, and perhaps even your very life, should an emergency arise. Obviously, the necessity of some items depends on the environment in which you live/are driving through (you don’t need an ice scraper in Tampa) and the season (though it’s best just to stock this stuff and keep it stocked, rather than removing/adding things as the seasons change).
1. Paper maps. Sometimes — okay, plenty of times — Google Maps or Waze doesn’t want to cooperate. And if you don’t have service, their reliability is of no import anyway. It’s always a good idea to keep paper maps handy of the areas you’ll be driving through.
2. Snacks/MREs. You never know when you’ll be stranded for long periods of times in your car. And depending on where you are, you could be dozens of miles from the closest source of help. Keep some MREs or granola/power bars in the back of your car to munch on while you wait for a tow truck to come, or to sustain you for a long walk to a gas station to call for help.
3. Cell phone charger/extra battery. Cell phones, and their batteries, are notoriously unreliable and quick-draining in emergency scenarios. It’s like they know when you need them most. Build some redundancy into your car’s emergency kit by keeping both a charger, and an extra battery. No excuses; they’re cheap these days.
4. LifeHammer. Should an accident trap you in your car, this rescue tool could save your life in a couple ways. It has a seat belt cutter, a steel hammer head that easily breaks side windows, and a glow-in-the-dark pin for easy retrieval in the dark. Every car should have one easily accessible!
5. Flashlight. Good for providing light at nighttime when 1) putting on a spare tire, 2) jump starting another car, or 3) exchanging insurance information with the clueless driver who rear-ended you at a stop light. Get a Maglite and you can also thump would-be carjackers in the head with it.
6. Portable air compressor. When your tire is leaking but hasn’t totally blown out, instead of putting on a spare, you can use a portable air compressor to get back on the road. The compressor fills your tire up enough to allow you to drive to a repair shop to get it fixed. It plugs right into your cigarette lighter. Bonus use: no more paying 75 cents to fill up your tires at stingy gas stations.
7. Windshield wiper fluid. Few things are as indispensable as wiper fluid. Dirty windshield, no fluid, and wet, dirty roads? Get used to stopping every 10 minutes to clean the windshield. Always have some in the car for when you inevitably run out and need it most.
8. Roadside flares. When pulled over on the side of the road, you’re basically a sitting duck, hoping that other drivers don’t clip you. It’s especially dangerous at night. Ensure that you and those around you are visible when you pull over by using road flares, or at least a reflective triangle. The old school flaming flares seem to be harder to find these days as people switch to the LED variety.
9. Jumper cables. You walk out to your car after a long day of work, stick the key into the ignition, give it a turn, and…click, click, click. Crap! You then look up and notice you left the dome light on all day. It happens to the best of us. Car batteries die, so be ready with a set of jumper cables. And even if you never suffer a dead battery, it’s always good to have a set of jumper cables so you can help a damsel (or dude) in distress who needs their car jumped.
10. Tow strap. Get your car unstuck from anything with a tow strap. Attach one end of the strap to the front of the car that you want to pull and the other to the hitch on the back of your car. The stranded driver stays in the dead car, puts it in neutral, and gets freed. Easy as that!
11. Water. For when you’re stranded in Death Valley in the middle of the hottest heat wave on record…or for any other time your car decides to break down on you. Also for when you’ve been on the trail and are parched because you didn’t pack enough in your hiking pack. Always keep a few bottles handy in the trunk.
12. First aid kit. Whether you’re cleaning up a head wound filled with glass shards or fixing a boo boo on your two-year-old, it’s good to have a first aid kit. You can always buy one, but putting together your own in an Altoids tin is more fun.
13. Blankets. Blankets have uses that go beyond emergency situations. It’s always good to have a blanket in the car for snuggling with your gal while you cheer for your team on a cold fall night or for laying it on the ground for a picnic. Get the space-saving (but not very romantic) emergency Mylar variety, or something a little classier like the Paria from Rumpl.
14. Fire extinguisher. Car fires can be especially dangerous because of the flammable liquids coursing through their systems. Keep an extinguisher in the car that can be used not only for your own emergencies, but for others who might be in danger as well. An auto extinguisher is useful, as it will be rated for putting out car-specific fires that are fueled by gasoline and oil.
15. Shovel. There are a couple of instances where a folding shovel might come in handy. The first is when you get stuck in the snow or ice. You can use the shovel to dig some snow out and place some dirt under the tire to get more traction. The second situation is when a car tire gets stuck in a hole or something. You can use the shovel to dig about and create some ramps to help get your car unstuck. Also, it can be used as an improvised weapon.
16. Kitty litter. Kitty litter? For traveling with your cats and they need a potty break? Hardly. Kitty litter is extremely useful as a traction device when you’re stuck in the snow or ice after a skid gone wrong. It’s not usually that you’re buried in snow that keeps your car from moving, but the slickness of the surface you’re trying to move on. Throw a handful of kitty litter in front of the tires, and they’ll have some traction to help get you on the road again.
17. Multi-wick candles. If you’re stranded in a broken-down car in the winter, you might need more than just a blanket. An actual heat source will come in mighty handy. Have a multi-wick candle (the single wick kind don’t provide adequate warmth) on hand (and matches!); it can keep your car warm for quite awhile. Candles are expensive, so make your own on the cheap (and you save even more money going scentless).
18. Ice scraper. Don’t be the chump who’s out there scraping their windshield with a credit card at 5AM in the morning. A good ice scraper will set you back just a few bucks from most any convenience store, and it will make clearing your windshield much easier and much faster.
19. Hat and gloves. Along with a blanket, make sure your head and hands stay toasty warm too. The thicker the better here; you aren’t going for fashion, but survival.
20. Tire chains. Not only are tire chains handy in wintery mountain passes, they’re actually required in some states. Don’t get stuck in the mountains; don’t get a ticket for not having chains.
Last updated: January 30, 2017
Add a solid tow rope in case you need pulling out of snow, mud or a ditch. I’d also say a small collection of bungees to strap down larger items or to keep the trunk lid closed when carrying a larger item.
Cigars, a punch or cutter, and a lighter.
Some black plastic garbage bags. Rain coat and wind breaker in an emergency. Will help keep the heat in and doesn’t take up much space.
I carry most of the items except the winter things. I live in Florida. Also have two cans of tire inflator plus plugs. Also a 9mm Helwan, (a perfectly good effective gun but would not kill me if it were stolen).
I had not thought of the food items but probably not that useful here. Also keep a small tool box with basic wrenches, 3/8 socket set, Leatherman and Swill Army knife.
I have an army surplus shovel, a really good one too. I might stick it in the trunk now that I think about it. It is folded and in it’s own carrier.
Also a couple of empty water bottles. Could carry gas in them if I had to. Also about half a jug of coolant. Two flashlights both LED.
Surprisingly, all of this does not take up much space.
I can’t wear flip-flops. I
‘d replace the fishing pole with a net.
The bottle opener should be on the list along with
matches
charcoal
sunglasses
small ice chest
If you have a big vehicle then add a 10x12 easy-up canopy
I’ve always kept most of those items in my truck...used to tell friends I could ride out a nuclear attack in my truck!
Tools. Lots of them - metric or SAE depending on what you’re driving. Jacks, a come-along, tow straps. Hand warmers. Tarp. Flash lights - more the merrier. Volt meter and some wire and lots of electrical tape. Jumper cables. Starting fluid. Water. Oil. P/S fluid. Knife. Pistol. And at least a pint in case you’re going to be on the side of the road for awhile. I drive old stuff so being on the side of the road is a regular occurrence for me. :)
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Actually, we have all that stuff and more in our Expedition, and most of it in the other cars too.
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I forgot to mention that I have a cheap tracfone which I just keep for emergencies. Also a couple pair of vice grips in the tool box.
In addition to the other wrenches, a couple of adjustable wrenches. Also a large box of matches.
Duct tape... good for patching a worn hose or silencing a backseat driver.
Yes. Beach or park chairs, towels, sunscreen, Kleenex, wipes, changes of clothes for everyone, cases of water bottles, puke cups/ bags (very important if you have kids who sometimes puke in cars). Triple A card.
Extra Depends
When I was in college, I used to keep several rolls of athletic tape in the car. I always said it was the most useful stuff on earth.
I now carry duck tape. Even better.
Its snows here all year long. Ours come in on boats and planes.
Especially since your car is filled with comic books, ropes, duct tape and condoms...
What’s a mountain? Florida is so flat I can stand up and see Georgia
>>Portable air compressor . . . Bonus use: no more paying 75 cents to fill up your tires at stingy gas stations.
A manly man has compressed air in his garage, feeding a self-retracting hose reel. Compressor buried in basement so the noise isn’t in the garage where you’re working.
And a Koozie.
Agree on the duct tape. Not a fan of it for “permanent” repairs, but it can be a great temporary fix to get you to a better place.
Also big fan of tire plug kits and a portable compressor. I went through a spell where I picked up nails regularly. I assume someone hauling construction scrap was using the same route to work as me. Anyhow, it got to the point that I could plug a tire and reinflate it faster than I could have hauled out the jack and spare and changed it. Keep a garbage bag or some cardboard so you can lay on the ground if you’re in nice clothes or it’s raining.
It’s also wise to be familiar with your vehicle. Plenty of message boards out there that are car-specific. Find out what is a common problem and either fix it before it breaks or have the means to fix it on the go.
I’ve learned to hate in-tank fuel pumps. They generally go without warning, and then you’re stranded. Worse, you can’t fix them without dropping the tank. On every pickup I own, I cut a hole in the bed and put in a marine hatch right above the fuel tank access. Then, with a spare fuel pump, I at least have a chance to get myself back on the road if/when it dies, and I can change them out regularly with some ease. Not always practical to do in cars unfortunately as the tank is generally under the back seat.
Hmm...well, OK, then, I guess my advice to carry snowshoes all year is right out...
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