Winter travel can be unforgiving if you happen to break down on the side of the road. That’s why every family traveling this winter (and summer too, for that matter), should have an emergency car kit for roadside emergencies as part of their larger family survival kit. You can purchase assembled car survival kits, but like most things, I prefer to buy the emergency supplies separately and put a kit together myself.
What To Put In Your Auto Emergency Kit
There are a few basic supplies every good emergency car kit should have, regardless of the time of year or the distance of your commute.
Portable air compressor. I recently picked up a Black & Decker ASI300 Air Station Inflator portable air compressor to keep in my trunk. The thing is a life-saver if you notice your tire losing air, or come back to your car and find the tire low. Simply plug into the cigarette lighter and inflate back to the manufacture-recommended PSI. Then find the nearest tire shop and get the tire plugged or replaced.
Roadside Assistance Numbers. I belong to a travel club associated with one of the companies I carry a gas card. They have a separate membership card with my member number and their roadside assistance number. These wouldn’t do me much good filed away at home when I’m stuck on the side of the road.
Hazard triangle, or roadside flare. Many people have been killed or severely injured while working on a car or waiting for authorities after an accident. Good idea to toss a view highly visible triangles with reflective material, and/or a few flares or glow sticks, to make your disabled vehicle more visible to passing traffic.
Car jack.Check out the car jack that came with your vehicle before you actually need to use it. Chances are it is of a crappy quality and barely suitable to life your car safely. Consider an after-market jack to store in your trunk, or at a minimum, toss in a sturdy piece of wood to place under the jack if using it on a soft shoulder. Most jacks come with a tiny surface area, and placing a block of wood underneath will increase the footprint of the jack and improve its stability.
Fire extinguisher. In college my car actually caught on fire in my dorm parking lot! Thank goodness I wasn’t in it, but I sure wish I had kept a fire extinguisher handy as the thing fried under the hood while we waiting on a fire truck.
Cell phone. All you need is a charged phone. It doesn’t even have to be on a “plan” to connect to 911 services.
Spare fuses. Fortunately, most minor electrical problems can be solved by popping out a burned fuse and replacing. Most cars come with a spare or two, but best to buy a little box of assorted auto fuses in various amps to keep in your car emergency kit.
Food and water. Be sure to have some ready-to-eat food, such as MREs and protein bars on hand. Tuna packs (not cans requiring an opener) are also handy forms of protein and fat. Include some water, too, but consider how you store it in extreme heat or extreme cold. Frozen plastic bottles expand and will probably develop cracks that leak out when the bottle thaws, leaving behind a soggy mess in your emergency kit.
Tools. Just a lug wrench and a few basics here: socket set, pliers, screwdriver set, etc. Just enough to be able to perform small maintenance tasks on the road such as changing a battery, a tail light, etc.
Tire gauge. I try to check my tires a couple times a month when I fill up, but it’s also a good idea to check the tires cold after sitting in your driveway for a while. Proper tire pressure improves gas mileage and reduces the risk of a blowout on the road.
Jumper cables. I probably should have listed this one first since it is an essential component of any car emergency kit. Unless your battery is totally drained, or your car’s electrical system is malfunctioning (alternator, charging system, etc.), you should be able to jump a low battery and drive it a while to recharge. Portable battery boosters are also a nice addition to the kit because you don’t need another car to jump you off.
Flashlight. Working at night, or even dusk and looking into a dark engine, can make changing a flat or diagnosing a mechanical problem difficult. Toss in a flashlight or two and spare batteries.
First-aid kit. This might be the only exception to my DIY rule when it comes to packing a kit. Several ready-made first-aid kits provide most of the things you might need for roadside emergencies.
A little cash and a little coin. Keep a few bills and coins in your car emergency kit tucked away in a Ziploc bag. Never know when you may need to scrounge up a little change for vending machines, unexpected tolls, etc, especially if you have to set out on foot following a break down.
Winter Kit Essentials
In addition to the items listed above, it’s a good idea to keep some seasonal items in your survival kit. The following components could come in handy during winter travel.
Small shovel. A folding camp shovel will do the trick. Great for digging out of a hole, or digging away snow if caught in a drift. Cat litter is also great for putting down when stuck in a hole to give some added traction on slippery snow and ice.
Chains/Tow Strap. Figure out how to put chains on your tires before you need to do it in real life, and while you’re at it, toss a tow strap in your kit and be sure you know solid points to hook on to in case you need to be hauled out of a ditch.
Windshield scraper. Please don’t rely on your debit card to scrape ice from your windshield! Get a good scraper and stow it away in your kit for icy mornings, or even after digging out of a snow drift on the side of the road.
Emergency blankets. Include at least one emergency blanket for each family member, even thought snuggling up close in a disabled car to share body heat is a good idea (get your mind out of the gutter – we got kids in the car!).
Photo by karlfrankowski
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