Vehicle Kit

 
 

No one intends to get stranded with their vehicle, but it happens.

That's why you need a vehicle kit. This kit can help you with almost anything you might need to deal with, from a simple flat tire to being stuck in blizzard for several days.

  • Flat tire- Probably one of the most common occurrences in terms of road hazards, and one that can cause a more serious accident or leave stranded if you're not prepared. A partially deflated tire causes the sidewall to flex more and can cause a sidewall blowout. At very least, it can hurt your gas mileage and cost you money.

    • Serviceable spare tire- Make sure you have the correct one for your vehicle.

    • Jack

    • Tire pressure gauge

    • Tire plug kit- Use this to fix minor tire punctures

    • Tire sealant- This can fix a puncture up to 1/4". It's also TPMS safe.

    • Portable air pump- This pump has a 9 ft power cord. If this is too short for your vehicle, pick this 12V extension cord

    • Combination sealant + air pump- This comes as a kit with tire plugs (and the tools to install them) and pencil tire pressure gauge, plus it can plug into your cigarette lighter or attach directly to you battery with alligator clips.

  • Accident- Another common occurrence we'd all like to avoid.

    • Insurance information- Always keep a copy of your insurance card in your car, ideally an extra copy or two.

    • Pen + paper- Pen and paper don't run out of battery. They're great for taking notes about an accident or taking down contact information for anyone else involved in an accident. I use Rite in the Rain notebooks for all my military duties, including when I was deployed to Afghanistan. It's never failed me. The only drawback I've faced is that it's difficult to erase pencil, so I usually cross it out and rewrite.

    • Disposable camera- Sure, everyone carries a camera around with them all the time, but if your battery is dead or your phone gets smashed in the accident? Disposable cameras are a good backup for this situation and can help with insurance claims later. Make sure you check the expiration date on the cameras, because they do expire. Also, keep in mind that disposable camera are not the most reliable (some people say you'll get about half of the pictures to come out), so make sure to take plenty of pictures!

    • First aid kit- Check out my other post for more information about first aid kits

    • Emergency blanket- Emergency blankets are important items for first aid (to help prevent shock), and for warmth or shelter when stranded.

    • Flares- flares are important to alert other vehicles to your presence when stopped, especially at night. They can also alert rescuers to your location. The listed here is more expensive than some others I found, but it's by a recognized name (Duracell), not a random knock-off brand. I like this style because it can stick right to your car, and it's not going to get knocked over in high winds because of it's low profile. 3 of these is a good number.

    • Vehicle escape tool- This has a glass breaker and seat belt cutter. This is important item in an accident when your seat belt might jam or yours doors might be stuck or pinned. It's especially important if your vehicle goes under water. The one listed here comes in a two pack, so you can keep one on the driver's side and one on the passenger's side. The window breaker is spring loaded, making it easier to use than a hammer, however the can wear out over time.

  • Dead battery

    • Jumper cables (16' or 25')- Jumper cables are crazy important. I have fond myself stuck with a dead battery on more than one occasion, and having jumper cables meant I could get help from anyone, even those without their own cables. The 16' version is a good choice if you're on a budget, but the 25' version is better because it will let you jump a car from behind. Imagine being pulled into a space and not being able to get the other vehicle in front of yours.

    • Battery jump starter- With a charged jump starter, you don't to worry about finding someone else to jump start your vehicle. This jump starter has a lot of benefits: it's anti-sparking and reverse polarity protection to keep you safe while attaching it, it has a built-in LED flashlight, and it can charge other electronics through a USB port or 12V cigarette lighter port. The jump starter itself can be charged through separate USB or 12V cigarette ports, so there's no danger of draining the jump starter if you leave it plugged in. There's several different sizes, for different sized vehicles. 

                 Model      Amps       Gas engine (up to)       Diesel engine (up to)

                 GB20       400                   4L                                N/A

                 GB40       1000                 6L                                3L

                 GB70       2000                 8L                                6L

                 GB150     4000                10+L                            10+L

  • Oil leak

    • Quart of oil

  • Radiator leak

    • Gallon of coolant/antifreeze

  • Snow

    • Snowbrush/ ice scraper

    • Lock deicer

    • Snow chains

    • Small snow shovel

    • Kitty litter

    • Block of wood

    • Hand warmers

  • General

    • Flashlight

    • Maps

    • GPS

    • Tape (duct, electrical)

    • Car fuses

    • Gas can

    • Vehicle’s owner’s manual

    • Fire extinguisher (ABC)

    • Tow rope/chain

    • Tool kit

    • Gloves

    • Small foldable shovel (for digging)

    • Paper towels, rags

    • Garbage bags

    • Phone charger

    • Washer fluid

    • Spray bottle with washer fluid

  • 3 day survival

    • Cold weather clothes

    • Wet weather clothes

    • Emergency rations

    • Water

    • Emergency radio

    • Change of clothes

    • Extra pair of boots

    • Sleeping bag

    • Backpack