When I was growing up, I noticed that my dad kept the trunk of his car well-stocked with supplies. A lot of the equipment in his car was for his job busting poachers as a game warden, but most of the things he packed in his trunk were for emergency situations.
And there were plenty of times when my dad was able to put his trunk equipment to work.
For example, about 20 years ago my dad was driving home to Oklahoma from New Mexico in his old burgundy Caprice. Just outside of Groom, TX, near the famous leaning water tower along I-40, a hellacious snow storm hit. It was a complete white out, so my dad had to pull over until things settled down.
But things didn’t settle down until a day later.
My dad had to spend the night in his car in the middle of nowhere while a blizzard roared outside. But because he had the forethought to prepare for situations like this, he was able to keep warm with some blankets and avoid ravaging hunger with some MREs
Many of you will be hitting the road this holiday season to visit family, so I consulted my dad, Tom McKay, and asked him what supplies he thinks every man should keep in his car. Here’s his suggested list.
1. Fully charged cell phone. Cell phones have significantly cut down on your chances of being stranded on the side of the road, but don’t count on it as your only line of defense. I’ve been in plenty of rural areas where my cell phone was only worthwhile for playing pong. In addition to you main phone, have a backup one that you can use to call 911. Any old cell phone will do, even if it’s not activated. Cellular carriers are required by law to complete 911 calls from any cell phone. Just throw that old Nokia cell phone from 1999 into your glove compartment and keep it there.
2. 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. Crap! You’re going to be late to your kid’s football game! 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.
3. 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 that rear ended you at a stop light. Get a Maglite and you can also thump would-be car jackers in the head with it.
4. Roadside flares/reflective triangle. When pulled over on the side of the road, you’re basically a sitting duck, hoping that other drivers don’t turn the situation into a clip for one of those extreme video shows. It’s especially dangerous to be hanging out on the side of the road at night. Ensure that you and those around you are visible when you pull over to the side of the road 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 LED “flares.”
5. MREs. You never know when you’ll be stranded for long periods of times in your car. If you’ve ever driven out West, you’ll know that it can be hundreds of miles until the closest source of help. Unless you’ve built up a tolerance for extended periods of fasting, keep some MREs or granola/power bars in the back of your car to munch on while you wait for the tow truck to come.
6. Warm blankets. Tom can tell you firsthand why warm blankets are a must. It got pretty dang cold in his Caprice that night. But 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.
7. Ice scraper. Don’t be the chump that’s out there scrapping their windshield with a credit card at 5AM in the morning. A good ice scraper will set you back just a few bucks, and it will make clearing your windshield much easier and much faster.
8. 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.
9. Water bottles. 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. Or, for after you’ve left a concert and you’re so dang parched!
10. Tow strap. I don’t know how many times my dad saved my butt with this thing back in high school. Towards the end of my blue ’92 Chevy Cavalier’s (aka, “The Smurf”) life, it would just stop running and no amount of cable jumping would help get it started. For moments like these, my dad busted out the tow strap. You just attach one end of the tow 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 steers and brakes while it gets towed to its destination.
11. Folding 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, Green Beret-style.
12. LifeHammer. When you’re trying to escape from a sinking car, this little piece of plastic and metal can be the difference between life and death. Use it to break your window, cut your seatbelt and make your escape.
13. Portable air compressor. My dad feels like this was the best purchase he made for the car. 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.
There are kits you can buy that have a lot of this stuff in them, but I personally think it’s satisfying to assemble your own cache of supplies. And you can put together a better choice of things.
What do you think a man should carry in his car? Give us your tips in the comments!
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the guy with the katana, What the hell?
I would recommend a Ka-bar Becker knife, those things are thick and sturdy and are great for anything, from prying to chopping wood. Also a great self defense tool if you encounter a little road rage
an extra belt, at least the one(s) that run your alternator and water pump.
I keep a Smith and Wesson First responder knife on me at all times but it may be a good thing to stuff in the glove compartment or other area of the car. Comes with a glass breaker and seat-beat cutter. I know S&W isn’t anyone’s first thought for knives but it is solid quality and for $20, it’s really not much of an investment given the utility.
First of all, great article.
A couple of things I would have added to the list:
1. Hydraulic bottle jack – usually inexpensive, sturdier and easier to use than the crappy jack that came in your car.
2. 4-way tire iron – if you don’t need it, odds are pretty good you can use it to help someone else
3. Stan’s tire sealant – they will curse you at the tire shop, but it may mean the difference in getting down the road and sitting there with a flat.
Also, it never hurts to have a good basic set of hand tools and an extra change of clothes….
If driving far across desolate wilderness areas I would have an AR7 or the new Ruger take down 10-22 with a brick of .22 LR CCI ammo behind the seat or under it. Very handy for obtaining food or even for self defense. I would also keep a warm covering for the entire head, a knife and a sharpening stone and a comfortable pair of boots you can change into along with some leather gloves.
A thief was able to get enter my vehicle and take the $3 in change from the tray while leaving behind the $30 multi-tool laying on top of it
Condoms, Accidents happen all the time.
In the back seat.
Have the radiator hoses and fan belts replaced when still in good condition and keep the old ones in the spare wheel well.
2 or 4 litres water (4 pints or a gallon)
I once got caught with a nearly dry sump when the engine oil mysteriously vanished. At least 2 litres (4 pints) of engine oil.
Instead of the MRE, cans of fruit salad. The sugar is energy and the syrup is also a drink.
Hat. Almost any kind is better than none. Gloves, cheap fleecy jacket with hood, umbrella, a few dollars in change well out of sight. $100 in notes under a rear seat cushion or floor carpet.
Assorted tools, fuses, spare light bulbs.
Piece of strong board about 300 square cm (40 sq inch) to put under a jack on soft ground.
On road trips, vacuum flask of hot water, instant coffee, sugar, cup, spoon, pack of biscuits (cookies).
Paper maps.
Great article! My son has his license now and I want to put an emergency kit together for him. Thanks for the tips!
i thik the list should include a seatbelt cutter, and some sort of tool kit…..i keep a toolbox mounted to my pick up with all sorts of things in it,but i also keep a small toolbox in my wifes car, i stock them both with cheap tools so that loosing them on the side of the road is no big deal, ive even given them away to stranded moterists, or left them with friends who needed them, i have alot of friends that dont own the simplist tools…….what ever happened to the manly art of making ones ownn automotive and home repairs…..maybe that should be ur next article
How about WD 40 and Duct Tape, a tool kit, with wrenches, pliers screwdrivers etc. an extra complete set of bulbs and 4 sets of all the fuses your car uses. That’s what I would also have in my car. And always, always have a notepad and a working pencil/pen you my never know when you need to make little jottings or notes.
I would add:
1. Fire extinguisher (for a car near you just involved in accident and gone on fire and occupants can’t get out – this has been reported). I keep mine inside car. N.B. Get it serviced regularly.
2. Foot-operated tyre pump (although tiresome to use – I’m aware of the pun) for when you are far from home and the 50pence air hose for tyres at yet another petrol station (UK) is busy – again – and its been far too long since you checked the tyres – again.
3. Set of waterproof clothes and thick gloves – for when you become stuck in middle of nowhere and it’s chucking it.
A general ‘bail out’ bag/survival kit which will vary depending on your locality. Basically you want something that in the even of a major natural disaster (zombie apocalypse as some like to refer to it) you will have enough gear to get back to a safe location and survive out in the woods for a few days if need be.
Here in Florida most of the natives have never seen an ice scraper. A coworker of mine went to Alaska for business and ruined a credit card scraping ice. He had never even seen snow before! He had seen the ice scraper in the car but had no idea what it was for.
A trained mind re: daily life and the emergencies that can arise.
I’m sure it’s been mentioned, but a toolbox is something I keep in the back. You never know when you’re going to have to put on your handy man hat.
As the great man said, “If they don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.”
I still refer to this article as I build my car kit. My suggestion: a fleece jacket especially for those random cold days during the spring and fall.
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