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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Bolt cutters, because you never know when you might have to cut a wire, a chain or a fence.
I’d add a firearm to that list.
Also, if cold might be an issue, a couple of Bic lighters, and a dozen or so tea candles. These can provide a bit of warmth inside the car, as well as providing light, and can help keep your windshield or rear window partially free of fog or snow.
If you’ve got a cell phone, make sure you have a charger in the car.
Duct tape is another essential.
A good knife can come in handy.
A can of fluorescent orange spray paint can be used to write an “SOS” on the snow, or mark your trail should you (foolishly) decide to abandon your vehicle on foot.
A good, current road atlas can be useful, too. Learn to read a map, even if you have GPS.
A tire repair kit is something I always have – the kind with the t-handled tools that let you install a ‘plug’ into a nail hole. I’ve even repaired a couple of punctures before the tire was completely flat without having to remove the tire from the car.
Flares, a lighter & a good knife are the other things I’d add to your list.
Rather than a compressor I carry a can of fix-a-flat. It takes up less space plus it will plug small leaks.
Very smart list. I have most of these floating around somewhere in the backside seat of my truck. When I had a car I used to keep tools and items in the trunk but people would break in and steal stuff so I learned to hide a lot of it under seats and in the glove compartment. I also keep a crowbar, and some extra oil or coolant in case I run low.
Fire extinguisher
Also, a package of diaper wipes. They are of immeasurably great use. You never know when you will need to “clean” something up!!
Also, a great resource is a good ol package of diaper wipes. They are an immearsurably great resource. You never know when you will need to thoroughly “clean” something up!!
I’d take a decent quality bike pump, whether conventional or foot pump. Those little pumps are mostly junk. They are painfully slow also. Tire plug kit is much better fix-a-flat, take both if you have the space. EMPTY container for gas. You can stow other items inside can if you are that pressed for space. Small bit of polyethylene tubing (stiff, milky-white) for a sipon (with permission). Beef jerky, rotate it for freshness. Medium sized board for jacking car in mud or uneven surface. Tiny bottle of lubricant for bolts or drying electrical components.
Here’s what I keep in my trunk:
Survival Knife
Army Med Kit
Case of bottled water
Ruger .22LR
Mirror
Ice Scraper
Canned food
Tinder Box and a couple dry logs
Bag O’ Jerky
Katana
Rain Gear
Wilderness Cooking and survival guides for any area you are even thinking of traveling in. (KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS)
and lastly a Tool box crammed as full as I can get it. About 60Lbs.
This has never done me wrong and I have survived in some pretty nasty places. Even when others didn’t. An
Oh and a spool of twine.
A Leatherman Tool or favorite equivalent and some wire to wire up anything from exhaust to the hood. And a windup flashlight because the batteries are always dead when you need it.
Well, I must be very Manly! I have basically everything listed. I would add Duct tape (indispensable) and a small wrench set plus screw drivers. For comfort, a poncho of some sort in case you have to fix things in a storm. And a flat piece of wood for muddy/loose ground like someone said.
I agree about a bic lighter, beef jerky and bike pump (I have used my little 6 inch long pump to air up a tire on my truck when my little electric compressor wouldn’t do it)
beware of the fix-a-flat though, It makes a mess of the inside of the tire, which makes the mechanics job that much worse. if you do use it, remember to tip appropriatly.
I drive a two-door truck with no extended cab, so space is very limited- what would you guys recommend for storage?
Go to a bar or restaurant and ask for an cardboard wine box. The seperation inserts can be rearranged to make space for large bottles (windshield fluid, oil, etc) and it keeps them upright in your trunk.
That little jumper battery / air compressor is so much more useful than jumper cables. I put an outlet (cigarette lighter) in my trunk that is only on when the ignition is on. That keeps it charged up without running down my car battery.
If you don’t know how to do it, any honest auto electric shop should do it for you for less than a c-note.
If you have room to spare, a small hydraulic jack. It will make changing your flat tire much easier, especially on uneven terrain. Mine has come in handy several times over the last couple of years.
comprehensive list- we dig it.
Making your own kit might indeed be fun. My son’s Scion does not have a lot of room for “kit”. His big sister bought him an emergency car kit that is nicely compact and easy to get out of the way if necessary. Unlike the trays full of kit I have in the Land Rover. Nothing replaces the look on a stranded driver’s face when you pull out an entrenching tool, one each, and dig them out.
Carry the world’s most efficient toolkit; WD40 and duck tape. If it should move but doesn’t; WD40. If it shouldn’t move but does; duck tape.
welcome to the 21st century: combine the old jumper cables and air compressor with a portable jumper battery box thing, some include a compressor to fill anything from balls to tires. In addition, there are also cigarette lighter battery jumpers so you don’t need to open the hood at all.
I live in a cold climate and there is always ice so i put a set of crampons in my trunk just in case. I like the list and the suggestions from everyone else.
Another vote for a BIC Lighter. I usually keep a magnesium fire starter in mine but that requires a knife and some hand-eye coordination (which I’m seriously lacking- relegating the MFS to “Plan B” status.) That’s probably the most essential if you’re anywhere off the beaten path.
A knife is also essential, but a multi-tool is one better.
They guy who suggested the Ruger 10/22 gave me a chuckle! That’s a great way to make a Baltimore City cop nervous so I’ll have to stick to a slingshot.
as far as having something for traction when stuck in the snow, kitty litter works well and is fairly cheap.
My dad worked near East LA for a while so he kept an ace up his sleeve- a baseball bat (and not just any baseball bat, the bat I used to knock in a pivotal double for a City Championship). Anyways, the trick is to keep the glove and ball with it, so its not called a weapon. How he were to explain the gun is another matter…
I am always “Catching Flak” from my man friends because I carry so much “junk” in my truck. But I usually get the last laugh when they come calling for help. I drive a 4wd F-250, so I have lots of room for everything I think I will need. This “kit” has been developed during my last 20 years in the military and has worked all over the world. I always carry the following items in my truck, most are in a locked and sealed metal toolbox in the bed.
1) Jumper Cables – I can’t tell you how many times I have jump started other people.
2) Tow Strap – I finally bought one and 2 days later helped pull a guy off of a lane divider at a mall, talk about good timing.
3) Triangles and flares – Flares have several uses, to include starting a fire and Signaling. If you’ve every been stranded in the mountains during a snow storm, getting a fire started quickly could mean the difference between life and death. “LED” Flares and triangles are good for warning other drivers, and that is about it. Use the triangles first, save the flares for a real emegency.
4) A Hydraulic Jack – The sub-standard “scissor” jacks that come with most vehicles today are barely adequate if you are on a perfectly level surface, ever try to use one when the vehicle is on soft ground? It is a recipe for disaster. Get the size of jack that fits your vehicle, I use a 10 ton Hydraulic because the F-250 is a heavy truck and I can also use it on my Camper if the need arises.
5) A tool kit – Multi tools, crescent wrenches, screw drivers and all of the other “small” tools people keep in their glove box are barely adequate for most repairs. Man up and spend a few extra dollars for one of the tool kits that Craftsman sells. Depending on which one you buy, the kit has everything you could need for 99% of the repairs you can make your vehicle and they come in a case that keeps all of the tools secure.
6) A blanket – Depending on what your climate is, you might want to look very seriously at this. Don’t get fooled into buying one of those “space Blankets” The thin Mylar film is practically useless as a blanket and gives a false sense of security. Get wool, even when it is wet it still retains heat. If size is a concern, get one of the “Space Bags”. They are perfect for keeping the blanket dry, they make the blanket smaller and they can be stored just about anywhere.
7) Food – MRE’s are cheap, taste good and will survive practically anything.
8) Water – Probably the single most important item you can have, you need it to survive and so does your vehicle. As mentioned earlier, if it freezes the plastic container will burst. Get a metal container and don’t fill it to the top, leave room for the water to expand as it freezes.
9) A folding shovel – In mud, snow or sand, a shovel will save you big $ if you use it instead of calling for a tow truck. This is especially true if you are not in a heavily populated area.
10) A flashlight – Maglite has a “vehicle” mount kit that you can get for their 3 “D” cell flashlight. I mounted mine on the floor between the drivers door and the seat. It is easy to see when I get in and is easily accessible when I need it.
11) A portable jumpstarter with air compressor – This little gem has saved me several times in the past. Man up and spend the $70-$150 and save yourself the hassle the next time you have a dead battery of a flat.
12) A First aid kit – Don’t skimp on this! Get a good kit that comes in a hard plastic case with a seal. There are lots of cheap kits available, but wet first aid supplies are useless.
13) The ice scraper – No matter where you live, you will end up using it at least once. I had a gentlemen tell me that he lived in Florida and would never need it. He came up to visit me in NC. Surprise, we had a freezing rain that night and you can bet he borrowed mine to clean his windshield.
14) A Fire Extinguisher – This wasn’t on the list above, but it should have been. Make sure that you get one for the type of fire you are most likely to deal with. All vehicles have Fuel, oil, combustables and elctricity. So get one that will extinguish all types of fire. Many came with mounts, you can mount them in the cab of the vehicle or the trunk but never just let it roll around. Having a fire extinguisher discharge while you are driving could ruin your day. Most importantly, learn how to use it properly! Don’t fan it at the flames, aim for the base of the fire.
There are lots of things you could put in your kit, but remember this. What goes into your kit depends upon where you live, what kind of vehicle you have and what skills you have. Having stuff that you cannot use is just as useless as not having what you need to survive.
1. How ’bout some tools: vice grips, screw drivers, wrenchs, etc.
2. DUCT TAPE people!
3. Fishing pole and tackle outfit
4. A mirror in the passenger visor for the ladies
5. Reading material (variety for yourself and others)
6. Change and cash
7. Extra coat
8. Baseball bat, ball, and two gloves (dual purpose!)
9. A sturdy knife
10. Condoms
I have almost all of the above in my car, folding shovel and MREs included, one addition that i include in my trunk is a heavy duty tire gage that i got as surplus from my National Guard unit’s supply office. the thing is a foot and a half long and solid steel, a handy self defense tool in a pinch.
Make sure that you have a fresh supply of condoms. Of course, you would put them on your side of the car and in the armrest. That way you will be prepared when your honey wants to …um…ride on your gear shift. ; – D
I may have missed it but I like to keep some baling wire handy for holding things together that the duct tape can’t deal with. I also invested in an extended lug wrench since the factory issued wrench couldn’t break over the over-torqued nuts. Not necessarily this time of year, but here in central Texas, you HAVE to have sunscreen and insect repellent.
I would suggest practicing changing the spare tire so you know what you are doing in the event that you have to change it on the side of the road.
You´re all very practical:
I would add a pack of condoms and a good book…
I always carry a shop manual for my car. The Haynes series is a valuable source of info, and its the very first thing I purchase when i get a new car. It will tell you all sorts of things that the factory owner’s manual leaves out, and if you need to troubleshoot a problem and actually repair something, it lets you get right down to business without any guesswork.
A basic multimeter is a necessary diagnostic tool, so you can run simple Volt-Ohm-Amperage tests on your electrical system.
Besides spare fuses and extra coolant/oil/windshield-washer fluid, I also carry spare light-bulbs for every type that fits my car. if you ever get pulled over by a cop for a burned out tail-light, you can fix it right there on the spot!
An OBD (On Board Diagnostics) reader is a handy way to figure out why your “Check Engine” light just came on. You can get a simple one for under $40, and it will save you hundreds if you have to take your car to a pro, because you’ll already know what the problem is.
Finally, keep a log-book where you can record maintenance items. No more guesswork as to when was the last time you had your tires rotated or the last time you changed your oil
Really great suggestions, whiskey or favorite bottled beverage that does not require refridgeration (only for stranded in cold weather) knife’s, billy club, brass knuckles, rubbers for sure, GPS, Paper map, if not a real pistol than an Co2 pistol preferably multi shots, change of clothes & undergarments/socks, candy, bottled water, cave light for your head (hands free) insect repellent, hell might as well stay home. seriously I keep this and then some.
tire pressure gauge, small stick. very handy, especially to avoid overinflating radials
What about condoms?
Careful about leaving condoms in there gentlemen- the temperature variations most cars go through can render them ineffective!
To #115 Instead of buying an expensive toolbox I looked around the house for something to just throw in the back since I have a locking shell. Well the ActionPacker by Rubbermaid is great – even has heavy duty handles that you can put a lock on. In addition since we’d taken off the garage door/and tracks I glued down (in case I wanted to take it off w/o having drilled holes) the tracks to the bed of my truck and bolted the hinges (with the little wheels) on the bottom of the ActionPacker. Now it slides real nice all the way up the front of the bed w/a little push & then I shove a rod in one track to keep it from sliding back to the tailgate. Getting in is a pain w/the shell on, so this makes it easy.
On what to carry:
Since I’m a volunteer firefighter/EMT I cannot tell you how important having some disposable gloves is….a box is cheap compared with getting something nasty by trying to help someone. I’ve held C-spine of a motorcyclist while wearing dress clothes and waiting 15 min for rescue workers to show up- boy was I glad I had gloves!
Not just for breakdowns – I keep my down sleeping back w/me all the time- it stuffs into a little bag & doesn’t take up much space. It’s come in handy many many times, especially when I’ve had one or two too many to drink – an hour or two in the back of the truck is nothing compared with a DUI or killing someone while driving.
I agree about having too much stuff though/not the right stuff – to solve this I have a 3 box system (no it’s not complicated). #1 – essentials, stuff I don’t want to ever be without (disposable gloves, lighter, a few small tools, duct tape, etc), #2 Winter items (wool socks, ice scraper, ski gloves, hat, wool blanket, disposable heat packets, etc) #3 Summer stuff (sunscreen, baseball cap, hand-held battery op fan for kids/old folks, etc) – when the season changes, I just switch the summer & winter boxes. It’s really easy and then I’m not hauling around stuff I don’t need. Keep sleeping bag & first aid for quick access in the cab [since I’m an EMT I have more med stuff than most, but an old prescription bottle makes a great water proof container – I keep one in my house tool box w/a couple band-aids, matches, one razor blade, stick of chewing gum or silly putty, a safety pin & paper clip, string, & an couple Advil – it has really come in handy!) & everything else in the ActionPacker in the bed – reasoning on where I put stuff is if ever in a severe accident I’d hopefully be able to reach the blanket & water bottle, but chances are I probably wouldn’t need the duct tape or jumper cables.
Don’t think anyone has mentioned disposable camera, zip lock bags, zip ties, life jacket or wheel chocks. (Condoms are also useful for waterproofing, but your wife/gf might wonder if some go missing so be careful about this one). The disposable camera is veyr useful if you get in a fenderbender & the cops don’t show up to take a report/take a picture of their license plate, etc – very useful.
Also rope was mentioned, but I’ve found nylon webbing to be much more versatile and last longer ( a great place to get some is strapworks.com)
But use some common sense, if you live in the desert a life jacket doesn’t make sense -if you live in the mountains a wheel chock could be pretty useful. I keep my zip ties in a ziplock back w/a couple other ziplocks & plastic grocery bags- I double up the grocery bags (so need min of 4) & use as great shoe covers held in place with the zip ties or a bungee cord – has many more uses too, takes up a lot less room than a pair of boots & once dirty can be reversed so the mud is on the inside & then used as a trash bag.
The life jacket is great though to sit on while fishing, kneel on while changing a tire, kid’s booster seat, etc, not to mention if you wreck into water. I found one at a thrift store for $4 – it’s easy to clean mud off and I find I keep using it for random stuff.
Above all just think – if you’re driving 4 hrs across the Mohave desert a few gallons of water makes sense, but not for an afternoon running errands in town. Think where you’re going and what the conditions might be-driving across the flat dessert (extra water, shorts, sunscreen or windy mountain roads w/ steep embankments (a rescue flare used for boating, if you’re 50 down the hill you might not been seen especially at night – there are some great ones that fit on your key chain) – taking 1 min to think ahead could really be the difference between life & death.
In addition to the 13 listed I think that in every car you should have
1)shakeable flashlight.
2)spare clothing
3)hatchet
4)magnesium fire starter
5)flares
6)bear bangs
7)bells(so people or animals hear you come)
8)$100 hidden
9)telescopic fishing rode with line and hook
10).22 long rifle(to hunt small game)
11)and every mans favorite sctoch or whiskey!
A 2.5 gallon gas can. (Empty)
I do not have time to read all of the comments on this page so it might have already been added and so therefore i apologize prematurely. One thing that is extremely important especially if you are driving in unfamiliar areas is a map/road atlas, a small compass with 360 degrees indicators, and a small mirror. The reason for the mirror being because if you get stranded out int he desert or any other place where there is little interaction with outside world, if a plane passes by u can reflect sunlight into the cockpit and attract help. Being a boy scout i have learned about this.
My trunk always has a fire extinguisher, rail road flares, safety triangle, orange vest, small tool kit, small tarp, wool blanket (s), space emergence blanket (s), Beach towel, a set Coveralls, welding gloves, cotton gloves, latex gloves, First Aid Kit, Jumper Cables, Tow Strap, Flash Light, Camp Ax, Camp Saw, K-Bar knife, a roll of duct tape, a roll of electrical tape, I keep 90 percent of this stuff in a back pack along with some zip type bags and tin foil.
Crime being what it is, I got a concealed carry permit and I keep a small .38 in the map pocket. Never had to use it, but as a man its your responsibilty to protect yourself and your family. If you do this be sure you follow all the laws. If pulled over by police keep both hands visible and let the officer know immediatley that you have a gun and the proper permits to carry it. He’ll tell you what to do next. I’ve been pulled over several times and never had a problem.
“At worst,” I’d add a CB or, even better, get your HAM license and add, at minimum, a dual band amateur radio or, even better, go all the way, get your Amateur Extra ticket, and add an HF radio (I really like the ICOM IC-706mkiig) for long range amateur radio contacts for when you’re out in the middle of southern New Mexico or somesuch. Oh, and having a small 12V recharchable battery available to operate the radio in case your car battery goes dead might be handy. Powerportstore.com has a product called the PP312 that fits the bill perfectly.
A gun.
A shotgun.
A rifle.
A pistol.
and the will to use it.
Good grief. If you don’t have something to defend yourself, all of the planning you do will be for naught if the wrong person shows up to see what is going on.
Not a good idea to have the woman with you in those circumstances.
A radio of some kind and a cell phone would be good to have. But be aware that the gestapo can locate you by GPS if your cell phone has batteries in it.
A ham radio that uses HF frequencies might be your best bet, but you’ll have to haul a lot of equipment with you to make all that work well.
Colt Python
200 rounds .357
Without being told to, I’m only missing #4 and #12. I’m sure I could improvise, however…
List is missing some obvious ones like: Spare tire, oil, tape, cash, chains, knife, bic lighter, TP, starter fluid, socket set, gallon of potable water and a can of Stagg!
I live out of my van and I have gotten myself out of shiat creek more times than I care to remember. Here are the top 3 actual items that saved my can:
#1: Water. How the hell is this not in the list? Radiator have a leak? Dying of thirst? Need to hike out to get help? Hope you didn’t read this list.
#2: Socket set & basic tools. It annoys me that people drive around without so much as a screw driver. I don’t expect everyone to be an ASE certified mechanic, but holy hell I would have been stuck in Carson City for three whole days had my friend’s Pathfinder not had a simple one under the seat.
#3: Chains and a shovel. Got stuck, got out.
This article did one good thing, however. It reminded me to buy an extinguisher (which was also not in the list).
long neck funnel. It is not easy to fill a gas tank with a jerry can with the existing short spouts
I carry a .38 revolver and extra ammunition in my side compartment. If one has a breakdown on some remote road, having protection readily available is reassuring.
FYI I keep many of these things in my car and I am a WOman. If only half the guys my age knew to put these kinds of things in their trunk…
Let’s watch our pronouns people.
A $10 tire plug repair kit from Walmart, have used it many times and saves a trip to the gas station. Also an inner valve stem tool to reseat the valve inside the stem if it comes lose over time. A four way lug wrench, great for leveraging off those lug nuts put on by shop mechanics with pnuematic air tools.
Use all three in conjuction with the portable air compressor.
A pistol or revolver no smaller than .38 or 9mm. Get a used one at a pawn shop or gunshop for $200 or less. A short barrel (no shorter than 16″ or the federalis will get you) 30-30 lever action rifle can go behind, or under the back seat ~ $150 as well.
Is it not true that a car with power brakes will not be able to continue braking while it is being towed? I can get one or two brakes out of my car when not running, then the brakes disappear. Be careful.
#25: Banker bonus $5b one firm ’10 to pay cheauffer/ bus/ plane tickets.
KEYS: extra set of car keys in pocket/ maget case/ taped e.g. under hood.
Travel in convoys. CB radio cheap? Adapter for lap top.
Duct tape doesn’t hold up that well. I found that Gorilla (TM) Tape does a much better job. My Suburban’s rear window shattered and I cover it with a long piece of cardboard held up by gorilla tape.
A mini skirt in case you have to get someone to stop to help.
Let’s not forget a 16 foot trailer to hold all this crap we must take with us.
Swiss Army knife and a compass
A chainsaw – and the know how on using it safely. Many a time this tool has helped me out of a jam.
Most of my ideas are already posted, such as a handgun. A warm coat in a vacuum sealed bag, and railroad rated fusees, as well a weather-proof ELT may sound like too much — until you need it. The ELT can also be used for hunting, camping, boating, and the like.
I have all of these things, and more, including a 2-meter ham radio, which requires a license.
I must disagree first and foremost with the #1 item being a cell phone. As far as I know, the real manly men of the past had no such devices. The cell phone is a crutch, allowing you to be weak and dependent on the services of others. Be a real man and ditch your cell phone.
I’ve just got a full size tool box in the back of my pickup for work. If I can fix a backhoe with it, a truck isn’t a problem. Saved my ass on several occations. Duct tape is invaluable, so is a leatherman. I prefer a good belt knife rather than a lifehammer. I do however, live in northern Canada where wearing your hunting knife everywhere is less frowned upon and feared. Mine has got a wieghted hilt with a full tang to balance the knife. It’ll cut a seatbelt and smash the window way faster than a lifehammer ever could. Think about it. Your car hits the water at 50MPH, the lifehammer, sitting on the console, bounces onto the floor under the seat. Now you have a problem. They do saves lives, I just like my way more. I am aware that in most areas it would be rediculous to wear your belt knife everywhere, not to mention illegal. P.S. For the grossly misinformed we do not always say things in english an french, just airports ect. And saying french before english was stupid at the Olympics. The majority of us are english speaking. And we do not live in igloos. Just throwing that out there.
Yea guys I carry a machete in the back of my seat just in case its needed…. and ofcourse my portable football grill in the trunk..with charcoal.
Everyman should carry a handgun in his vehicle. I don’t know how many times I’ve read about someone that was broke down on the side of the road, and someone stopped to help them that slit their throat and took everything they had. I dont know about the anti gunners that strayed too far from thier home planet, but I want to live a long life. so the next time i break down Iwant to live to see the mechanic. Not paranoid, just causious. you wear a helmet on you motor bike. you probably wont need it but its there if you do.
I don’t think this has been mentioned before. Throw a couple menstrual pads into your first aid kit. Your lady friend will appreciate it and you’ll appreciate not making a special trip to the drug store. The pads can also be used for dressing wounds. Another thing that doesn’t seem to be in commercially prepared first aid kits but should be – ACE wraps, the self-adhering type that don’t need clips. Besides sprained ankles, can be used for snake bite pressure immobilization (in concert with menstrual pad), dressing wounds, attaching a splint, or just holding things together if you’re out of duct tape.
Handgun… definitely a handgun
I keep a can of fix a flat, small toolkit with socket set, wrenches, and screwdriver with interchangeable heads. I also replaced the crappy OEM jack and lug nut wrench with a compact ball jack and new collapsible lug nut wrench. Have two flashlights. I suggest a smaller LED one though, so you can hold it with your teeth as you change the tire. When I was single I kept at least two changes of clothes, one casual, one slightly more formal. I don’t like a lot of heavy items in the trunk as it lowers MPG performance, but most of the items listed can be done with a minimal impact on weight and space.
a guy definetly needs to have condoms handy
The seat belt cutter needs to be somewhere close where it isn’t going lost when you need it the most. Duct tape it somewhere. If it’s somewhere on the roof or roof console, and you roll the vehicle- you aren’t on your head trying to fish for something out of reach. Also, yes- hose clamps, extra coolant hose, etc. That’s a few bucks well spent. If you can find an emergency drive belt, obviously also a good item. An “E&E” or “No Shit! Zombie Kit” in a backpack kept in the trunk will be worth it’s weight in gold. You can make a list a mile long of the stuff you can put in it, and haul it when you need to. I live in AZ, so a snake/scorpion kit goes in the glove compartment with a light, multi-driver, and a 30-rd mag for the carbine. If a cop can’t tell by the contents of your trunk if you are going on a heist or burying someone, you’re doing it right.
I think the most important thing that ALMOST everyone forgets is the tire iron. My girlfriend and I were lucky that we weren’t stranded somewhere when I realized the car dealer swiped my tire iron and had a massive hole in the rear tire.
Also, a towel…
I grew up in a small, VERY remote town close to the Colorado state line. Winters could be very cold & hazardous, and help could be 2-3 days if a bad blizzard rolled in. Blizzard survival in a vehicle was a MUST!
One of the things we would put in the pickup as winter approached was a metal coffee can with a roll of toilet paper in it. We would pour a bottle of isopropyl alcohol over the toilet paper roll, then put the lid on the can (so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate out).
If you got trapped inside your car for a few days because of the blizzard, you light the toilet paper on fire (yes, leave it in the can friends). The alcohol wicks up through the tp roll, and burns with a small flame. Makes a small toilet paper candle that can heat up the interior of the vehicle in about 10 minutes or so. Also doesn’t give off toxic fumes. If you want a little “ventilation”, roll down the window just a crack. Just make sure it is the LEEWARD window!
Great article, by the way.
I must say that I think the items you keep in your vehicle probably depend on where you live. Probably wouldn’t need the “tp candle” in southern TX, but it could save your butt in Minnesota!
Oh, and yes…we always kept gun & ammo in there as well. Kinda like the horns on our cattle: You won’t need them every day, but the day that you DO need it, you REALLY need it. And usually for the same reason; explaining to the predator that you just want to be left in peace…NOT in pieces!
I really enjoy this site, but I want to make one comment. Telling people to keep MRE’s in their car is utterly stupid. At 120 degrees, an MRE will last one month. One month! Unless you live in an area where the summers never get above 70 or 80 degrees, I would leave the MRE’s at home. So many sites suggest keeping MRE’s in the car. Its funny how people have no clue how heat affects food.
http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/mre-shelf-life.html
a crowbar defenitly. play halfe life 2.
to geeskies: why not do it in your home instead of on the highway where kids in passing cars can see you? it’s indecent trash like you that gives society a bad name. i can’t imagine someone so stupid and remorseless enough to have sex in public!
Gun and ammo. Enough said.
a pick up truck. preferably four wheel drive. as a matter of fact, this article should have been called ’10 things a man should keep in his truck’.
tin can, scentless candle and matches case you get stuck in winter
A pack of clean clothes.
Portable stove, gas, and obviously BACON.
Oh Lord, the most important: In areas of snow and/or mud: SNOW CHAINS!
If your car consumpts oil (older models) always have some motor oil with the vehicle.
Make a list, what tools are needet to change breakable parts (bulbs, tires, fan belts, etc) and decide, what you take with you.
A signal vest, when you have a breakdown on the motorway. Simple but absolutely increasing your own safety.
Also create a list of tools you need in case of an emergency. Most of them are listed above. But think about yourself and the areas you are on the road. USA, Europe, Asia, Australia .. all countries have different challenges when you are on the road.
Warm, waterproof Coat, signal lights, parts you have to have on board according to the law (b. e. spare bulbs in czech republic, alco tests in france), tought shoes (when yourself only wears some sneakers and you got stuck in some afghan mud), and whatever and so on …
Its a matter of your personal needs, the type and age of your car, the circumstances of the area (size, climate, population density, relief, wildlife) and depends on what you need to help yourself or others in case of an emergency.
Be aware of that and think before .. will make things easier.
Regards
Sir Kiebitz
My preferred car kit includes a basic tool kit, Duct tape, small food and water supply, emergency phone charger, a good wet-weather jacket and a spare set of clothes, two torches, first aid kit and my preferred safety device, a nice big sledgehammer. Living in Australia, i don’t have the luxury of (legally) carrying a Knife, Gun or any obvious weapon, so a sledgehammer fits well because it is (Marginally) inconspicuous… plus I like to know that if something is about to go down, I’ll be able to pull a nice big ace-card that can out someone down for long enough if needs be.
Don’t leave a firearm in your vehicle, ever. If your car gets broken into, stolen or even towed, you put a weapon in the hands of someone.
@Brian Fox: there are many good toolboxes for small pickup trucks including wedge-type that are small, strong and weather-proof.
http://www.amazon.com/Montezuma-ME300ALW-30-Inch-15-Inch-Aluminum/dp/B0023NV6NC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_17
As for emergency food, hardtack-type products (like Sailor Boy Pilot Bread) will stay good almost indefinitely in either extreme heat or cold as long as you keep it dry.
Important tip regarding jumper cables which I have yet seen discussed in any of the several articles on this site mentioning their use: buy a really good long set of copper jumper cables (make sure it says “copper”).
First of all, the best cables have the heaviest wire. The lower the “gauge” number, the thicker the wire and the higher the copper content. The thicker the wire, the more current gets through to the battery. “O” cables are the heaviest and are used for tractor trailer rigs. The “Car Talk” guys recommend a “4″ gauge, but anything below “10″ is probably fine.
Get long cables (20 feet minimum), because you never know what the situation will be and you might not be able to position your vehicles nose-to-nose. In some highway situations, you’d be risking your life. Batteries can be in funny places on some vehicles. Long cables give you some leeway to work with.
Consider buying a good canvas duck bag for your cables to keep them untangled and in good shape, while you’re at it.
Great bunch of suggestions! Thanks. Now I need to buy a truck to haul around all that junk.
i always carry a small socket set with metric sockets (sorry guys not very many SAE sizes on vehicles these days) a small axe, after today tp (guess why), booster cables, in the tool kit i have wire, cable ties, and tape both duct and electrical. i try to keep spare bulbs and some fuses with me but that doesnt always happen. here we arnt allowed to keep guns in the vehicle esspecially handguns so theyre out. i do like the idea of a fire estingusher and will be picking one up soon. it shouldnt really take much room up at all to add most of this stuff.
A good pair of leather work gloves. They come in handy for working with really hot or cold situations. It’s a little easier handling hot items during a hot summer break down. A good hat for sun protection.
I’ve seen a few comments about cell phones, and have to add my 2 cents here. I have a smart phone, and I have installed DOZENS of apps that would be useful in a variety of lifesaving situations. My phone has apps for summer survival, winter survival, general survival, etc. In all I have about 15. Also, I have installed several compass apps, a first-aid app, and a flashlight app (using my phone’s camera flash). In addition, I have apps for decoding the dangerous goods plackards for things like semi-trucks and rail cars. Besides the basic life saving function of a cell phone, I am able to listen to music, take pictures or record video, and read and re-read my survival apps to keep my brain fresh. My phone also has GPS and several map apps. I carry 2 fully charged batteries for the phone, as well as 2 spare charger cords. Considering my vehicle’s dual battery setup, I could charge my phone hundreds of times even if I ran out of diesel. Therefore, a smart phone is my #1 tool.
When you stock your duct-tape, look for the black stuff marketed as Hose bandage. Useful for everything else duct tape is good for but can seal radiator hoses while still hot and under pressure.
in addition to the list ,fix a flat- despite what the can says ,jack the car before using,so it doesn’t have to lift all that weight. Car tools- wrenches,screwdriver,battery terminal cleaner. I carry a spare battery .a 2nd jack for getting unstuck,blocks for jacking, a coverall to protect clothes when working on the car- also acts as an extra layer when it’s cold. Gloves- more that one pair. I have a wind up flashlight,and an LED headlamp.
and water
A four way lugnut wrench is a necessity. Every car only uses one size, but its good to be able to help someone else. It’s also easier to grip. I also keep all fluids for my car in the trunk. I always know where they are when needed. I have a 10 gallon tote to store everything without it rolling around in the trunk.
I am a 75 year old widow who drives everywhere. Here in MS carrying a concealed weapon in your vehicle is legal. Also no one mentioned On-Star or AAA, money well spent or making sure your garage mechanic has a warranty. Ladies, Sears Auto warranty is good in all states including Canada. It beats breaking a fingernail & thanks everyone for the giggles.
utility knife aka leatherman and a serrated edge seperately.
50 ft parachute cord
I carry some c4 and a couple of grenades in my trunk oh yeah my shotgun too.
Three things:
Forget the ‘LifeHammer’. Just pickup a spring-loaded center punch from Harbor Freight, it’s cheaper and more effective because it requires almost no range of motion to use.
A knife/leatherman. It’s the only tool you’ll need to make a whole range of other tools if you get stuck somewhere.
Also, condoms. Even if you don’t end up using them in your car, they will always be there in reserve if you main supply runs out. Just try to insulate them from the heat because it can damage them.
Default birthday present. Of course your first-aid kit can be a present until it is opened
Gentlemen…… we all need to have a decent axe in our vehicles. The original multi tool.
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