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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what about fire extinguisher ?!
I would add fire extinguisher to that list. It can be effectively used to stop a small electrical fire from turning into a full blown inferno.
I’ll have to check into that air compressor.
Great reminders!
Great stuff…
Only tip for cell phones is lithium ion batteries don’t do well in severe cold and lose their charge quickly so charging cord is a must This goes for power tools as well. Keep you Li Ion tools indoors.
handgun
Electrical tape and duct tape don’t take much room and can be used for a variety of repairs.
Can anyone recommend a portable air compressor for this?
Yeah, I second the duct tape addition. Otherwise I’ve been telling myself I’ll get some of these things in my car for a long time, but I haven’t followed through with it.
Extra fluids; coolant/oil
A spare, fullsize if possible
I have a safety vest in case I’m on the side of the road at night.
Rope. Tape.
Pens
Deposit slips
$20 under the floor mat
AC/DC converter.
Duct tape is good, though it must be replaced fairly often in a car which sees some temperature extremes. In a cold climate, winter boots are a good idea, for any occasion where you might have trouble in winter, both for warmth and protection if you must venture out into the snow.
Spare shoes and socks. After going out in difficult weather to dig, push, jumpstart, or other emergency activity, I find having clean dry feet to continue driving provides less distraction.
If you live plan to drive thru mountains in the winter — tire chains. Yes, they will set you back some; but they are cheaper than a complete set of snow tires. And, the alternative is far more expensive. I have counted far too many wrecked cars in high mountain passes from sunshine states and warm areas who don’t have snow tires. Practice putting them on at least once in warm dry conditions.
A Leatherman multitool — good for all kinds of unplanned situations.
First aid kit and CPR barrier. Real men know CPR.
A spring-loaded center punch fits in a center console and breaks glass with less effort than a $30 lifehammer.
In areas where it may snow carry some sand/gravel in addition to a shovel.
Always keep a book or two in the vehicle. If the road is shut down for a long period such as for an accident you can always read. It is also handy for when you are waiting in the parking lot for someone.
Ofttimes when you buy a replacement bulb for a tail signal they come in a two pack, keep that second one in your tool box. Protect it from being broken.
A few tools; Phillips screw driver, pliers, and such. A Leatherman type of tool is fine.
In addition to the afore mentioned duct tape, some wire. Handy to jury rig a muffler/tail pipe hanger.
A pair of gloves, sweatshirt or jacket, and ball cap
A short length of pipe that fits on your tire iron. Gives you more leverage to help remove lug nuts if you have change a tire
a 2x8x8 piece of wood to set the jack base on if you have to change a tire on soft ground.
A small tool box for the stuff.
I personally always have an umbrella in case I am with a lady and it starts to rain then I can be the gentleman and keep her warm and dry
If not your own compressor get your own tire air pressure gauge. Also a funnel and paper towels are good.
I second the Leatherman multitool – always helpful.
My man keeps a gas can in the car. With crazy blizzard like winter months and gas stations that close at 8pm here in Aomori, Japan, he’s relied on the little red can more than once to get home. Truly, you don’t want to get stuck here.
Not to mention, if you had to light a fire, a sprinkling of gasoline will give you a nice WOOSH and get things burning quickly ;)
I second the blanket – football snuggling (when you’re not standing and cheering your lungs out), picnics, keeping warm, padding for transporting breakables… and all around versatile essential to keep in the car.
AND… nice re-use of an old cell phone!! Kudos.
One of my dad’s friends was actually beaten to death with a maglite
14. Your woman.
Definitely a multi-tool, but that should be on a man’s person at all times. A deck of cards can come in handy too.
I live in the south so I don’t know about all this snow stuff but I do know a thing or two about breaking down. Keep either a pitching wedge or fishing pole with balls and tackle behind the truck seat, so you have something manly to do while killing time.
Folding Shovel – put out an engine fire with this and a pile of snow. I swear by it.
A fairly fat, stable candle, some matches, and a metal coffee can. Put the candle inside the coffee can on the floor of your car, light it with the matches, and let it burn for awhile. The heat exchange between the candle and the coffee can makes it act like a radiator. It can raise the temp in the small airspace of your car up to around 50 degrees…
Has anyone mentioned one of the most important items ever? Toilet paper!
Note on water bottles – if you live in a climate where it freezes regularly, note that water can expand considerably when frozen and break a plastic bottle. This leaves a nice mess in your trunk come spring. If you keep water in your car, buy one or two of the aluminum bottles or keep plastic bottles sitting in a waterproof bin.
Not being in an area that gets snow (well maybe once every 20-30 years), I’ll second virtually the whole list. I carry flares, Jumper cables, water, flashlight(s), blanket(s), ice scraper, a small sponge/squeegee, 1st aid kit, multi tool, Papertowels, Handiwipes and either baby wipes or toilet paper. Haven’t needed a tow strap or shovel, so haven’t carried them
Baby wipes are a must for the car! You don’t know how amazing these things are before you have kids, but they’re something you’ll keep around long after you’re done wiping butts and changing diapers. They make for handy cleanup after tire changes and other unforeseen roadside repairs, or messy in-car road-trip meals, for that matter. (Also, they’re indispensable for unsticking the scroll ball in your Apple Mighty Mouse.)
I know this will get lost among all the comments, but I’ll give it a try. I think #4 should be modified. In Italy (and perhaps many other EU states) require that the driver have a reflective vest in the glove compartment. Something like:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ROG9FE/ref=asc_df_B000ROG9FE986933?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B000ROG9FE
Add a poncho: i always have a cheap, vinyl poncho in orange or yellow. It’s amazing how often it’s raining when you have to change a tire!
I’m a big “every day carry” fan. Those small, packable tools that I never want to be without.
Pretty good list! I have a few additions. Spare batteries for the flashlight. Actually you may not want to leave the batteries in the flashlight unless you are righteous about checking and changing them out on a regular basis BEFORE they leak. A snow brush or small broom. A small tool kit with basic tools to tighten a loose screw, nut or bolt, like a loose battery clamp. Include duct tape, electrical tape, a small tube of 100% silicone adhesive /sealant, some wire and maybe even a hose clamp. Extra gloves and those chemical handwarmers. You can kneel on an extra glove to change tire in snow. Tire chains/cables. Be sure you have spare fuses. Toilet paper is a must and those hand wipes are great. Try to get individually wrapped ones to put in tool kit for emergencies so the kids won’t use them up. Extra large water for travel in desert areas. Large trash bag as emergency rain coat or ground covering. (might save a good shirt or pair of pants) You can get a a small ammo can (metal or plastic) to put a lot of this small stuff in. Some other handy items are a survival space blanket, matches, a jug of kitty litter or sand for traction on ice and some insect repellent.
Here is a different tool instead of a Life Hammer. I have one in both vehicles and it is called Res Q Me http://www.resqme.com/features_specifications.html .
Some of this stuff is seasonal and geographically specific.
If you do car camping remmeber the ax bucket and shovel also.
Instead of just an air compressor, you might consider a combination compressor and jump starter (the kind with its own battery and built-in cables). Being able to jump your car without help is great, and if you need to help someone else it’s often much easier to carry the unit to their car than to find a way to position your car next to theirs. Just remember to recharge it after each use.
If you have an older car with a distributor, a can of WD40 can be helpful. If water gets in the distributor it can ground out the ignition system and the engine will stop and not restart. But a few squirts of WD40 (the WD is for “Water Displacement”) inside the distributor cap will displace the water and you’ll be good to go. I always keep a small can in my ’69 Ford truck since those old breaker-point ignition systems are especially susceptible.
Spare fuses of the proper type and rating are handy, too. Newer cars have the plastic blade type and old cars have the old glass kind.
A small set of tools (pliers, adjustable wrench, screwdrivers) are good to have.
Finally, I’ve helped several folks out at highway rest stops with a roll of Gaffer’s Tape. This stuff is like duct tape on steroids — it’s a high-quality cloth tape with a very strong adhesive that’ll stick to just about anything, yet peels off without leaving residue behind. You can get it at photography supply places like bhphoto.com.
Test the cell phone before you count on it. An analog-only phone can’t connect to a digital-only network. Just try to make a call. If you get a message from the network, the phone will work.
Call me lazy, but the #1 thing that has saved my butt has been an auto club membership. From a breakdown on a local freeway to locking the keys inside the car in BFE, AAA has come through.
The only time they didn’t was in Kauai when the rental car tire popped – apparently the one tow truck on the island was going to be busy for hours. (I just stuck on the “mini” spare myself and drove it back to the rental place).
Oh, that reminds me to echo the need to add a full-size spare to the list. (Kind of irritating that many cars can’t fit a full-size tire in the spare compartment.)
Great list! I also keep a pair of old hiking boots and thick socks in the trunk. I need to add some the things you suggest though. I especially like the idea about the old cell phone.
Hand Sanitizer. Any time you go through a drive through, toll, or other place where either money is exchanged or you make contact with public use facilities, you run the risk of bringing some pretty nasty germs into your life. Big Mac with extra special special sauce.
I was just reading a blog yesterday about icy windshields – a spray bottle of winter solution Rain-X windshield wiper fluid. Spray it on your windows and you’re good to go. Haven’t had the occasion to try it out yet; I’d be interested to hear how it works!
In Wisconsin we always include a big bag of kitty litter. If we get stuck on ice we throw handfuls around under the tire to get traction. It’s cheap and comes in a really durable bag.
Another use for a blanket — a real woollen one: Forty-odd years ago, when I was 19, I arrived at an accident scene just seconds after the crash in the middle of the night in the middle of winter in the middle of nowhere in northern Finland. A Volga taxi had met a VW van head on. The vehicles where stuck in each other, the taxi driver was dead (three ways), the people in the front seats of the van where stuck and unconscious, the taxi’s engine was on fire, and the flames were scorching their faces.
I got a blanket, stomped through the ice in the ditch beside the road, soaked the blanket in the water below to make it heavy, then threw it over the burning engine. It immediately quenched the fire.
Normaly the jack that comes with the car is inadiquit. I replaced the factory jack with a large scissor jack with a wider base. I drive an old suburban so I put together a survival kit just in case. I always cary twentyfive foot chain with hooks, a cresent wrench, a moving blanket becouse they are as thick as a quilt along with a blanket. jumper cables, screw drivers, four way lug wrench, small compressor and road flares, being a mechanic by trade, you see people that get stranded all the time.
kitty litter! if you get stuck in an ice storm or if you just get plain stuck in winter, you can use tat shovel to lay down some traction. and if you drive a light truck like mine (ford ranger 4×4), it’s great to store in the back to add some weight to the rear when you’re not stuck.
good list, though. getting stranded in a cold winter or in the middle of nowhere is no joke.
I’d try and keep it to things that 1) help you get help, 2) help you survive, 3) help you get out of there.
Things to consider adding:
Get your ham license and ham radio. Or at least a CB.
Car charger for cell phone.
combo compressor/jump start.
Chemical hand warmers if you live in cold areas.
Multitool (leatherman, gerber)
Duct Tape
Revolver
#10 is handy, but using it that way is actually illegal in most states.
Don’t forget a couple of smokeless candles during cold weather driving. One candle can heat the interior of a car for hours.
I can remember commercials growing up as a kid from a gas station (can’t recall which one though) on how to handle emergency situations and in one segment they demonstrated the use of ladies nylons to replace a broken fan belt – worked fine in the commericial, not sure anyone ever put it to the test in real life.
When we went on vacation my father would pack have the trunk with things just for working on the car. Tool box, scissors jack, jumper cables, flares, 2x4x2ft, 4 way lug wrench and a piece of pipe. It probably brought the gas MPG down to 5. I used to do the same thing until I broke down in Kings Mountain NC and had to change the water pump in a parking lot. Today I just take my AAA plus card and go.
If I packed everything listed in the article and comments, I’d need another vehicle just to haul the stuff around. Unless you’re outside a major metropolitan area, then you do not need any of those things except the cell phone. There is cell coverage along most of the interstate system too. But if I were outside a metro area then I would pack more of the things listed.
Some items listed are ok but in Pennsylvania it is illegal to tow a vehicle with a tow rope/strap.
I don’t know how safe compressed air is; but, I often use a bicycle pump to put air in my tires. That would be a good alternative.
Growing up in Manitoba, we were always told as kids that car needed a single candle in it. If you ever ended up in a white-out on a prairie road and got snowed into your car on the side of the road, a single candle would produce enough heat to keep you alive until someone found your car, long after the battery was dead and the tank was empty.
Plus 1 on the blanket. Many, many uses…. Make sure to also have a cravat in the first aid kit- also has many uses…
In the winter my dad kept a bucket or sand (some swear by kitty litter, but it does the same thing) and a small foldable shovel in his car— and put those items in all the family cars.
And a good thing, too. That sand pretty much saved me when my tires froze into a parking lot during a dentist’s appointment: when I went in, everything was slush, and when I came out it was a sheet of ice, and I couldn’t back out of my parking spot.
First, I spread sand around the back tires (rear-wheel drive). Then I used another bit of fatherly advice: I took the rubber mats from the front-seat floor, and wedged those under the backs of the tires. I was able to drive backwards over the mats. I repeated this a few times, collected my floor mats, and THANKED MY DAD!!!
Good items in the list but are some additional items
1.) Gloves (mine are usually a good set of leather work gloves)
2.) Warm Hat
3.) light set of rain gear (changing a tire in the pouring rain in a nice suit is not fun)
4.) Umbrella for the wife (never know when she is going to forget hers and it is going to be pouring down rain)
5.) Safety reflector vest (so can be seen at night on the side of the road)
6.) Electrical and duct tape
7.) fire starter/basicl survival kit (including had warmers for the winter weather)
8.) Chains depending on the weather
9.) maybe some kitty litter again depending on the weather and where I will be going
10.) Cell phone charger
In my old truck I used to carry a extinguisher.
Always want to make sure the heavier items are securely fastened down as you dont want them to turn into a dangerous projectile if your vehicle wrecks for some reason. (dont want the chains or extinguisher hitting you or your family)
Bill Huxley is onto a great idea with the candle in the coffee can. It can keep you toasty warm for hours until help arrives.
WARNING: Make sure to keep the windows cracked. Otherwise you’ll suffer the effects of CARBON MONIXIDE POSIONING.
Along with the portable air compressor I’d suggest a can or two of “FIX A FLAT” which is useful if you’ve had a tire punctured with a nail or screw. It will seal the hole and will hold the pressure when fully inflated.
Sometimes the trunk may become inaccesable and you can’t get to what you need.
If you can carry what you need in the back seat in a small box, it could possibly save your life and prevent frostbite.
I used to feed cattle with my uncle in the winter time. The hay truck didn’t have a heater. He would take a coffee can and insert a roll of toilet paper (with the cardboard tube removed) into the can. Next, he would pour a bottle of rubbing alcohol into the can. The toilet paper acts as a wick. The alcohol burns off slowly as it evaporates. The cab of the truck would get so warm we would sometimes have to roll the windows down!
This is a cheap, safe, and easy way to heat the interior of a car in winter if you are stranded!
- Duct tape and electrical tape. You’ll find a thousand uses.
- A good lockback knife
- Rope and/or tiedown straps
- I keep a 2 liter bottle of water stuck in a corner of my tirewell in the event of overheating
- rags or cloths for cleaning up after a tire change
- I always keep a can of Fix-a-Flat in my car. I’ve never used the stuff myself, but more than once I have handed it to someone else when I didn’t really trust the way a stranded motorist situation looked.
- Keep a general interest book you love and don’t mind re-reading. Great way to entertain yourself when stranded anywhere.
I would put at the top of the list a few simple tools: Flat and Phllips head screwdrivers, knife, channel-lock pliers, a crescent wrench, some long cable (zip) ties, and a roll of reinforced duct tape. I also carry a tire-plugging kit ($5), which is simple to use and has saved my neck a few times.
My employer, a totally manly web site by the way. Sells mostly emergency medical and rescue supplies to professionals like EMT’s, fire fighters, law enforcement, and safety or preparedness people. We carry many of these items and tons more emergency and preparedness related products, rescue gear and tons of first aid and disaster kits. So I thought I offer a manly size discount code for those who want to get some emergency gear fro the car, office or home. Hope thats okay to do. Use code 10SNOW to get 10% off orders over $100 and free ground shipping on most items at buyemp.com
I have two things to add to this list:
- Leatherman multitool (This should be on you at all times anyway.)
- Space blankets (Takes up less space than normal blankets; plus, it can be used for signaling.)
Thanks for the great list!
I found out today how handy TIRE CHAINS can be – no more slipping around in the deep snow for me. The difference is quite remarkable. If you don’t have four wheel drive or snow tires, chains are the way to go.
(You probably want to attempt a practice installation before you actually need them – I lost about 20 min on the first tire trying to get things just right. The second tire only took 5 min.)
I have a all-in-one Jump-starter+Tire Inflator+12v power pack from Pep Boys. I like it better than jumper cables because it allows you to self-rescue. Asking a stranger for a jump in an empty parking lot sucks. If the car is really dead, it powers the car charger for my Cell phone too.
Two more essentials: a $20 in the first aid kit, and a hide-a-key with a working key.
Once on Car talk I heard about a product that was safe to keep in your trunk that would get you going if your car ran out of gas. IIRC, it wasn’t petroleum based, but based on Ethanol. Has anyone else heard of or seen this?
We make the proverbial trip to Grandma’s house around Christmastime most years. It’s a 400 mile ride on two-lane roads through a deep wilderness where bear, moose and deer are the only other creatures you might see for miles. Cellphone coverage is spotty, and it is a region subject to serious amounts of snowfall. To be ready for this, we have an 18 gallon Rubbermaid tote that we pack with these supplies:
Rope
Hatchet
Couple hunks of 2×4 and an old newspaper for kindling
Small blowtorch, gas cylinder and spark ignitor
The above is designed to build a fire and temporary shelter if we’re in a wreck and the integrity of the passenger compartment is compromised, or it is unsafe to remain in the vehicle for some reason. We also include the following items:
Steel coffee can with a roll of toilet paper inside
Granola bars
A 2-liter pop bottle filled with water (but with enough room left for expansion if it freezes)
A towel
A socket wrench set, hammer and pliers
If there’s room left over in the tote, I’ll stuff in whatever strikes my fancy.
It bears mention that the best emergency survival situation is one that you avoid. I make a serious effort to look the vehicle over carefully before we leave on this trip. Tire pressures are maintained, any minor maintenance that has been postponed is performed, fluids are topped off, and the vehicle is 100% ship-shape. I don’t go through the most desolate part of the trip without first stopping and refilling the fuel tank. And if the weather starts to suck partway through the trip, we give serious consideration to stopping for the night at a hotel to wait it out (and have, several times).
If I can bore the AOM reader with why I go to these extremes: one of the first times we made the trip, it was with little other than ourselves and our luggage in the car. I remember driving down the 2-lane highway through the snowflakes, and noticing a flashing red light off about a mile in the distance.
We followed that flashing red light for 20 miles before we arrived at the accident scene.
It was a head-on collision, with a large fuel spill, and everyone in both vehicles was dead by the time help could arrive.
We sat there as 5 or 6 inches of snow accumulated while the emergency crews tried at first to save one of the victims, and then moved to a clean-up operation. We were parked for an hour and a half at least.
Lesson learned: if something bad happens in that region, help will take a long time to arrive, if at all.
Go prepared, men.
–Geoff
I am VERY surprised that only one person mentioned having a firearm in the trunk. When your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, you are at the mercy of others, including predator animals – two and four legged.
In almost all parts of the country, it is perfectly legal to have an unloaded firearm in your trunk as long as it is cased.
I would opt in and say a Battery Booster/ Air Compressor/ small appliance charger with a built in flash light. I find it to be a life saver since it combines so many necessary features that I think are a must have for your vehicle.
In addition with so many cars today electrically wired up to whazzoo and back a jumper cable is often ill advised when attempting to jump start a car; but a battery booster works just fine.
@R.Louis:
Forgot to mention that I have my 12 gauge shotgun with me for that trip as well. You are 100% correct.
Driving an older truck means small, slow leaks and gradual burning of oil. So I always carry at least one extra quart of oil, gallon of 50/50 coolant/DI water, and a bottle of brake fluid (which, in older Toyotas, also serves as clutch fluid). Rags, small toolbox, and an old shop manual go along as well.
I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this but, I would say that the LifeHammer (or mini LifeHammer) should really be kept inside the car (within easy reach) rather than in the trunk.
It would do you no good for it to be in the trunk in most emergency cases, whether it be going into a lake or river, or any other type of accident.
I second the suggestion for a basic tool kit. One thing I would definitely highlight is a roll of duct tape which can fix a punctured radiator hose enough to limp to a more convenient area. Another good idea is a small roll of bailing wire which can be used for something such as temporarily holding up an exhaust system where the hangers have broke.
This reminds me that I really need to re-organize/re-stock my tool bag this weekend. A couple of thoughts though:
1) Seeing how much you can stuff into an Altoids tin is fun and all, but there’s no reason to skimp that much on your car first aid kit.
2) Those fix-a-flat cans can be worse than useless. The gas in them expands and contracts a lot more than air, and the sealant will fill up your valve stem. I wouldn’t use that stuff unless you have two flats.
3) Blankets are good, but blankets and a big plastic tarp are better. I wouldn’t want to do any roadside repairs in the winter without a tarp on the ground. It will keep you dry and keep your tools and lug nuts from disappearing in the snow.
A flashlight is definitely a must-have for everyone (no matter what the climate or season, it always gets dark eventually) but I highly recommend supplementing or just replacing a handheld Maglite with a lightweight LED headlamp that straps around your forehead or attaches to a hat or your clothes. You can find them at any store that sells hiking gear, and even major department stores offer decent ones for less than $30. Trust me – you may never need it, but the first time you do you’ll be glad to have your hands free and still have the light where you want it. After I had to change a flat in the snow at night while trying to hold a light in my teeth or prop it on the ground I swore I’d never work like that again. It’s definitely at the top of my trunk list.
(And I also concur with the suggestion of getting a full-size spare. I made my own by getting a near-perfect wheel hub that matched my Corolla from a nearby junkyard and had my mechanic put one of my older tires on it when I replaced the ones on my car. Cost less than $100 all told and easily worth it next time I’m on a long trip.)
I carry a can of Guard Alaska bear spray left over from my Yellowstone trip with my grandson this Fall. Its good protection against man or beast or crazies that might want to physically harm you for inadvertertly cutting them off in traffic.
Most of what you and others have said are quite good. I used to do some little mountain climbing in my youth. Wearing a LARGE plastic garbage bags are great for breaking the wind force down if you have any around you. Smaller bags are good for various wastes you generate one way or the other. (A roll of toilet paper is also quite handy at times like this.) A plastic bag is also good for collecting water at night just from evaporation from the ground or as it rains. The Bible is also a great book in any situation; but especially good for warmth, cheering up, confidence and encouragement. Also, heaven forbid… it’s thin pages are great fire starters.
In the winter it becomes especially important to have a survival kit. I drive about 400miles back and forth from school to home regularly. I have made the trip dozens of times in what is now a 12 year old car with nearly 200k miles on it. And, to either scare or inspire most of my southern neighbours, I live in Canada, our winters can be pretty nasty, it was about -25F yesterday. It’s not looking like it’s going to warm up much before i leave on Monday.
in addition to the survival gear mentioned i’d include, at the very least;
- a winter sleeping bag
- snow gear (boots, snow pants, proper jacket, winter gloves, several cheap toques, ski goggles are handy)
- 3 or 4 pairs of simple cotton gloves
- A full-sized shovel, forget the folding shovel this will cause more aggravation than good, do yourself a favour and bring a full sized shovel on all long winter trips. i leave mine in the car all winter.
- hot pockets hand-warmers.
- Pint flask of bourbon, brandy, scotch or whiskey (man up! have a drink! If it was good for our fathers, it’s good for us.)
Also, since mine is an older vehicle i carry a full stock of fluids:
- 2 or 3 quarts of oil, never know when this could come in handy.
- an EXTRA gallon of windshield washer fluid in addition to what more you thought you would need
- A quart of Steering fluid.
- Coolant
- Jerry-can of fuel (i don’t because i’m driving a station waggon and the smell would kill me but if you could put it outside or on the roof, it’s not a bad thing to have on those longer trips or if you get stuck in the snow and want to use the car to keep warm)
- Pint flask of bourbon, brandy, scotch or whiskey (double up, you can’t be too careful)
safe journey
Great thread & website!
I have found the following products to be very useful in these types of situations:
real tire repair kit – allows you to plug holes created by nails & such. Multiple plugs can be used to repair a gash in the sidewall and limp you along to the nearest help
kelly kettle – uses found wood, leaves and paper to boil water quickly. A couple of bags of tea, instant coffee, and steel cut outmeal will keep you warm and energized with little fuss.
hand crank flashlight – for the times your batteries run out on the mag light
On longer trips, I always throw in my backpacking tent and sleeping bag. They add little volume to my vehicle, but provide an exceptional amount of comfort if required.
Water resistant coveralls stuck in the tool box will keep you looking your best upon return to civilization and give you an added level of protection from automotive fluids. Don’t forget the leather work gloves and a box of disposable nitrile gloves as well.
I drove a lot of empty stretches of highway over the summer and I ended up outfitting my truck with the following: Mag-lite, high-powered spotlight that runs off the car battery (gift from a friend), jumper cables, two atlases (one of my city, one of my state), compass, rain poncho, small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer/cleaner, thermometer with magnifying glass, duct tape, electrical tape, vice-grip pliers, rags, towel, complete change of clothes, water shoes (or water socks or whatever they’re called these days), matches, Sterno, bungee cords (the kinds with the hooks on the end), twine, water-repellent space blanket (doubles as a tarp if need be), dry-bag for holding all the stuff that needs to stay dry, copy of the New Testament, and an empty two-liter jug of something.
I also keep a light-weight fishing pole and some tackle, just in case I spot somewhere that looks promising. If I’m traveling outside the city I carry clean water, a water-filter (this particular model was designed for hiking), and dry foods like granola bars, jerky, and trail mix.
A friend once joked that while other guys outfitted their vehicles to go ridiculously fast, I outfitted mine for the zombie apocalypse
Items that are always in my truck
Multi bit screwdriver
Crescent Wrench
Channel Locks
Knife
Hand Cable Winch
Extra Gloves/Hat
Tow Strap/Chains
Flashlight
Lighter
First Aid Kit
Hatchet
Saw’d off Baseball Bat
If I’m headed into no where I’ll add food/water and who knows what else to the mix. I think the most important thing is to dress for the weather. It was -14F this morning on my way to work it wouldn’t take long to be cold and miserable in that sort of weather.
Nobody’s said road flares yet, as far as I can tell. These, along with jumper cables, have been by far the most commonly used and important things I’ve had in my trunk.
Other use for those blankets:
When stuck in snow, put those blankets around your wheels for extra grip.
Long-time lurker, first-time poster…
Loved the article, but a few of the knuckleheads on here tell you to pack everything but the kitchen sink in here. A full-sized shovel? Can you imagine that being behind you when you stop short? That big metal blade slamming forward at your neck…or that toolbox flying forwards…
There are practical limits to what you should pack, lest *it* becomes the issue.
Also, one other comment:
All of these car repair items, and the associated comments that say that they use them all of the time on trips….Maybe you should get a newer/better car? I mean, jeez, these are items *in case*, and I travel all over the country often, and I have only needed coolant…once. And it was only because I was racing a Corvette…In a Subaru.
With all of those used items, you guys sound like you’re driving clunkers that need continuous repair. Shoot those horses, and get a new mare.
I’ve always found that keeping a football or frisbee is very useful. Inevitably you’ll end up somewhere and think “I wish I had something to throw around.” Between tailgating, parties, or just general times you’re going to be outside, it’s nice to have either or both.
It seems to be one of those things that people don’t often consider.
Also, great call on the portable air compressor, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used mine.
What you bring is completely situational: You needn’t carry enough stuff to last the winter in the Yukon if you’re only going for groceries in Miami. Think like a lightweight backpacker!
When I drove an older vehicle in more remote areas I carried enough stuff to do minor to moderate repairs and stay a day or two in inclement weather while I did it.
Now that I’m driving more reliable vehicles in urban areas I keep a charged cell phone, small first aid kit, a space blanket and a little food and water with me (in winter I add a small folding shovel, jumper cables and a tow strap that I’ve used mostly for other people). With emergency and repair services close at hand (not to mention hotels), there’s no need for a truckload of stuff.
My cousin, who wafted around San Diego in a Mercedes convertible carried a swiss army knife and a charge card – her approach was that if you couldn’t fix it with one, use the other.
Think ahead, but the survivalist mentality just means you fill up (and weigh down) your car with needless stuff.
I couldn’t read all the posts on this one so I don’t know if it’s been posted already, but my personal opinion is that you should always have a weapon for self defense. Here in Texas, we can carry a gun with no permit in our vehicles. But if that’s not your bag, a baseball bat is mighty handy in a pinch. I personally like a good ol’ fashioned Louisville Slugger in the truck tool box. Or for something a little less one sided, one of those large MagLite Flashlights is also handy when it comes right down to it.
Don’t kid yourself if you think you don’t need it.
Anybody mention spare fuses yet? I have an older car and the fuses have been kicking my butt recently. Now I carry spares.
McKays -
Kind of a no-brainer, but keep a half tank of gas in your car at all times. Fill up when it hits halfway, not when it hits bottom. That will help you avoid having to use many of the above-mentioned items, most of the time.
In addition to the items listed above -
A $20 dry chemical fire extinguisher
A decent first aid kit – again $20 buys a pretty good one at Wally World or Sam’s Club
A couple of pairs of nitrile gloves – they’ll protect you from all sorts of bloodborne nastiness if you actually need to use the first aid kit on somebody or keep your hands clean if you need to change a tire
Disposable tyvek coveralls for the same reasons as above
A reflective traffic vest
Rain gear – preferably yellow or orange for visibility
A military surplus wool blanket – mine came courtesy of Uncle Sam back in 1974. Wool stays warm even when its wet.
A deck of cards – if things are bad start playing solitaire. Somebody will come along and tell you to play the red six on the black five.
In addition to the cell phone and flashlight, I carry chargers for both that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter outlet for recharging, a roll of TP and $100 in bills and change. All of which have been used at one time or another.
Some good suggestions.. I carry a basic toolkit with common sockets, screwdrivers (2 philps and 2 flat) crescent wrench, small hammer and pliers. Duct tape (fixes everything), can’t remember the name of it but a type of tape that sticks to itself (good for temp repairs to hoses,etc) mechanix gloves, spare fuses (even new cars sometime need fuses), basic first aid kit (including a pair of med gloves), an old towel (I always have my towel, never know when you need a rag/towel), old beat up jeans and a t-shirt. I also have a tire plug kit (cheap) and a battery jumper/compressor/12v/light source combo gadget (also has a USB port for charging if I really need it). I also keep a few bungee cords and cargo straps (I frequently tow a trailer) It all fits in a craftsman bag in the back of my jeep that I can lift out and throw in the garage if I am making short runs around town and want the room.
Additionally in the passenger area I have a small throw type blanket (not for emergencies, my wife gets cold if I don’t run the heat full blast in the winter or run the A/C in the summer). Finally I keep a flashlight, leatherman, tylenol, disposable safety razor, small container of hand sanitizer, altoids tin with toothpics and a few moist towlets I picked up somewhere and a $20 bill, checkbook, and one of the seatbelt cutters/window busters ) in the storage area between the seats.
If I was traveling in the snow or desert (or anyplace else I could expect to go hours without seeing anyone I would probably throw in some water, powerbars and a heater.
Wow…After listing everything it sure seems like a lot, but it all fits in a small bag in the cargo area and a little bit of space in the little storage area between my seats.
However, I agree with an earlier poster, good vehicle maint can make most of this stuff unneeded.
with all these suggestions I can’t believe no one has said a roll of TP in a ziploc bag.
Change your fan belts and put the old ones in a bag in your kit. Better yet keep a new one, especially the flat serpentine belts that might be hard to find on a three day weekend stuck in the desert.
Didn’t read through all of the comments but I keep a knife in the console that a) is heavy enough and has a glass cracking tip and b) has a knife tip to grab and cut the seat belt in the event I can’t get the thing “un-clicked”
Cool post, if it were me and I was stranded I would get out and walk to the nearest store, because as all brits will know were never more than 5 minutes away from a corner shop, either a Londis, or a spa. full of tasty treats and you can talk to the shopkeeper for hours about the weather whilst the AA come and fix your car lol.
I don’t know if this is manly enough, but I keep my AAA membership up to date in case I don’t have what I need from this list. Plus it will save you a few shekels when you are able to make it to a motel.
My BMW came with a toolkit built right into the trunk lid with all the screwdrivers and tools specific to my car. But I still keep a sleeping bag, blanket, snow shovel/brush/scraper combo, water bottles, MREs, and a quart of oil in the trunk. Every year at Christmas, Sears auto centers sell a really well stocked emergency kit for $20. Mine has velcro on the side so you can attach it to the trunk liner so it’s not in the way. Came with jumper cables, some tools, flashlight, triangle, and collapsible gallon jug for carrying water or gas if you get stuck. I added a package of TP, good zip ties, and a small roll of duct tape. I have a small flashlight, Gerber multi-tool, tire gauge, and cell phone charger in the glove box, too. I bought a decent first aid kit for $10 and then added burn cream, a space blanket, and hand warmers.
I’m also a charter bus driver and have an aluminum briefcase/toolbox that has all of my maps, fuses, tools, first aid kit, Swiffer, rags, and extra garbage bags. There is nothing worse than being thousand miles from home with 50 upset people and not being prepared. Being able to improvise a solution helps when you have some of the basics to help you out.
Ok, this is good, but now you need a list on 13 Things a Man Shouldn’t Keep in His Car. Such as a prostitute, a crack vial, or a dead body. Just a suggestion.
I think you guys might have been ripped off…
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/12/20/fifteen-things-to-have-in-your-car-this-winter/
But perhaps I’m just being cynical?
I keep two kinds of things in my Jeep in the winter: things I’ve used in the past and things I hope never to use in the future. In the former camp are several old blankets, a good-but-not-great sleeping bag, a small shovel (not full size, but not an entrenching tool either), a two-foot section of 2×10 (for underneath the jack on unpaved surfaces), a cigarette-lighter-powered air compressor, a 10×12 lightweight tarp, duck tape, WD-40, assorted screwdrivers, a socket set, flares, a flashlight, a tow strap, jumper cables, some bottled water, and lots of rope. And because I’m a computer programmer, I have a bunch of those orange peanut butter cracker packages :-)
These things aren’t always for disaster scale events. When the kids were young, the blankets were used on any late evening trip. The water comes in handy at least once a month. The rope has tied many Christmas trees to the roof, and helped in stringing the tarp for shade.
And on one memorable wintertime gentlemanly occasion, I gave my coat to a pretty young thing in a strapless gown who should have brought a wrap, handed my car claimcheck to the valet, and didn’t realize until arriving at my bachelor pad that my keys were in the young lady’s pocket. The sleeping bag proved very useful that night, followed the next morning by a call to a locksmith. Since then, I keep house keys hidden inside the Jeep too :-)
40 Cal Glock for “those occasions”
Batt powered CB radio for points of cell phone blackout, and an automatic center punch can be used in place of a life hammer for breaking windows, its only about the size of a pen, great for the front seat.
Not a bad list. However, I see no mention of emergency cash–credit cards won’t always work, especially if power is out–maps and phone numbers on paper for when cell service fails, and a good shotgun or carbine in the trunk.
Make sure your ice scraper has a brass blade, not the cheap plastic kind. Brass won’t scratch glass, and it will cut through ice a lot more easily. And last longer.
Heard of a welder down in East Kentucky who had an old Dodge pickup, back when they all had big heavy steel bumpers. He cut pieces of steel to weld onto the back side of the bumper, where it’s hollow, to enclose it, then drilled and tapped holes in the top and bottom to insert threaded plugs. Coolant in one, water in the other. Plus a little extra weight on the back end.
This site is terrific! Sign me up.
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