Newbie - Just kinda Diving in Here - Car Gear

Hello - I'm new to the ETS Forums, and wanted to start off by sharing my Car Kit, and things I am considering adding.

Vehicle is a 2010 Ford Escape AWD - And yes, all this stuff fits in the trunk in a storage organizer and in the "wet trunk" under-floor storage.

I could probably organize this list a little better.. but here it goes! Any comments appreciated!

Environment - Primarily Urban, but I do go on road-trips from time to time. Iowa has cold winters and hot summers. I am also a camping enthusiast.

Food:

Emergency Bars (Datrex) (two packs)
Emergency Water (six 1 pint packs)

Hardware:

12v Air Pump
Folding Shovel/Entrenching Tool
Hand Axe / W small Saw in Handle
LED Emergency Strobes (Super Bright - Road Emergency)
Jumper Cables
Tow Rope
Fire Extinguisher
Ice scraper
Full Windshield Sun visor
Four Ratcheting Tie Downs
MultiTool
Gorilla Tape
10 (12 hr) Chemical Light Sticks
Paper Towels
OTG Goggles

Emergency Supplies:

Water Proof Matches
Fire Starters
Emergency Blanket (Soft)
Emergency Blanket (Silver/WaterProof)
Gel Burners
Battery Light Sticks (Led Flashlight/Red Strobe)
Dyno Flashlight - (Emergency Cell phone charger)
Chemical Warmers (20 count) + 2 in Plastic tote under seat
Fix a flat
40 Channel Portable CB Radio / Extra Batteries


AAA Emergency Bag (1st Aid Kit + Home of Jumper Cables and Tow Rope above)
Some items in this kit:
1 Flashlight, Batteries
Emergency Poncho
Bandaids, Alcohol Wipes, etc.
Heat Resistant Gloves
Some other misc stuff

On Person:

Zippo Lighter (Upgrading to Coleman Lighter soon)
Leatherman MultiTool
Folding PocketKnife
Smart Phone with GPS/Weather/Police Scanner/Mini LED Flashlight

Future Additions:

More Water/Dynex bars (wanted to test these first)
Tampons (Help stop bleeding)
Sealed pack of wet wipes/Wet Naps
Heavy duty garbage bags/ties
Dust masks
Full Tine Knife
Radiation Exposure Badges
Hitch Mounted Winch (12v)
Water Purification Tablets
iOSTAT Iodine Tabs

Welcome to ETS RNewcomb!

Nice list. Mine is similar but I also include a tarp/tent, a change of clothes, sleeping bag and a couple of wool blankets, along with a couple of sleeping pads. I keeps lots of water under the seats and a can to start a fire or melt snow/boil water in. Thanks to Dagny's sage advice, I now keep a small battery powered AM/FM radio in my Jeep too. A backpack to carry it all in is nice too if there's a change you'll have to abandon your vehicle.

Some mechanics gloves are nice too, if you have to do any roadside repairs.

Welcome aboard! You've got a great list. Here are my suggestions:



I started by defining a reasonable emergency for which I had to prepare, and my definition was "spending three days stranded in a snow bank." Based on that, I carry more food and more water than you do.

If you haven't tried them, I found that Mainstay bars taste better to me and my family than the Datrex bars, but whichever one works for you is good. You can save money on the mylar pouches of water -- what I do is put a case of bottled water in my trunk and replace it with a full case when it gets down to about half-full.



Consider replacing this with a Heatsheet. The straight mylar ones are very delicate and can easily tear in use.



There are crummy versions of this that don't use a capacitor. Instead they have a coin cell or two. After a year or two, the coin cell dies and the light no longer takes a charge. Many of them will stop working permanently at that point.

If you have a good one that's capacitor-based, awesome.



My personal experience with this is that I've used it four times and never had it actually work to seal the flat enough to let me get back on the road.



Your flashlight should be an LED. Compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs are far less susceptible to shock, have better battery life at any given light output, and the emitter never needs replacing. You should supplement your flashlight with a headlamp.

If you're using primary (non-rechargeable) batteries, use lithium. They provide a lot more energy, especially for high-drain devices, last much longer in storage, and don't leak.



I carry one per person who might be in my car.



Make sure you have a container to disinfect (not purify!) the water in.

I tend to plan in scenarios like chaosmagnet does, and mine also involves being stuck in snow for a couple of days.

In that light, your kit looks pretty good, but you might want to think about adding things in a couple of areas:

1. Fire starting: you have a zippo and matches. Maybe add a couple of dollar store bic type lighters. I would also probably add in a few candles "just because."

2. At least in winter, a bivy bag or (if room) a sleeping bag. Even an old wool blanket.

3. A small stove and cup to boil water in, along with some tea/coffee/cocoa/soup etc. If stuck, a warm meal or cuppa can be a big moral and energy booster. Personally, I have to have that morning coffee. The stove can range from very simple esbit type on up. For winter use, I prefer propane or liquid fuel, but just about anything can work. (lots and lots of threads on stoves on this site!)

4. Meds: whatever OTC meds you might need (e.g. pain, allergy) and any prescription meds you can't do without for a few days.

These are just refinement suggestions. You are already 99% better equipped then most of the folks out there.

And welcome aboard!

Good kit.

In addition to the suggestions already made, I would throw in a medium crescent wrench, regular pliers, and a 10-12" channelocks, a cheap socket set and a couple of screwdrivers. Add a spare low beam bulb and a tail light bulb. I also carry a collapsible lawn chair per traveller.

I have used all of these things out in the boonies at one time or another.

Welcome to ETS.

I have yet to find a good replacement for a full size spair tire. (+ a Jack, tire iron, gloves, etc.) If you have different rims (alloys versus steel), beware of different nuts that might be needed.

I have had fix a flat work just fine on a couple of occasions. A helpful tip I've learned is that I seem to get much better and faster results when I get the weight off the wheel/tire being filled. I personally buy the biggest can they make and would not recommend the can the comes without the hose.

I haven't seen a detailed explanation and can only speculate as to why but Fix a Flat does not recommend their product for Z rated tires or motorcycles. I suspect it would still work but you might be ruining the tire in the process.

Having said all that, I still would not go without a spare.

I'll also second or third the recommendation on work gloves of some sort. I use mine frequently.

throw in an assortment of fuses and fuse puller... my Ford has two electrical distribution centers... relays under the hood, and fuse panel.. drivers end of the dash

I store a lot of water....16 1L bottles and typically a 1/2 case or better of .5L bottles + Gatorade... I typically consume 3 bottles water and one Gatorade per shooting match, so they get rotated pretty quickly

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys!

I actually replaced my Headlamps with two SilverStar Ultra Bulbs a while back, and actually kept the two others and have them in my truck. I forgot to list those.

I will check out the MainStay bars. Datrex's aren't (too) bad..

I also have extra fuses in the truck as well. (Also not listed..)

Yeah, fix a flat has a lot of limitations, and I've heard you can pretty much count on replacing the tire if you actually use it. Generally, I'd either change the tire or call a Tow Truck.

Having something I could melt snow in is a great idea, and something I hadn't really considered. I'll come up with something I can use and have it on hand.

Medication is something I read in another post, and will be adding that to my list as well. I have a backpack that I actually (just) purchased that I always have within reach. I'll probably store that stuff in there. God forbid I go more than 48 hours without my Prilosec.

Heatsheet - Gotta check that out.

And thanks for the info on the Dyno Charger. Honestly, I don't think it's a good one and will check into that further. I am also looking at getting one of those Solar/Battery combo chargers as well. Might even just carry that in my backpack as well.

Thanks for all the great advice! I'm really going to enjoy this forum.

I have a can of fix-a-flat and a small cig lighter powered compressor among other things.

However, it has been a long time since I have actually had a flat. Tires seem to be much better these days.

Tires are definitely better. Roads seem to be worse. I went ten years without ever needing to change a tire and then I had four go in one year (two in the same incident).

I guess just because I've carried them with less reliable autos... a hand air pump (I know the compressors are faster) 4 sided lug nut wrench, and tire plug kit (I have a AAA card)... take off serpentine belt, bottle of brake fluid and power steering fluid...spare fuse kit and puller...good heavy duty jumper cables... assortment of hand tools ...roll of TP in baggie

Welcome RNewcomb!

One thing that caught my eye because I'm in the process of choosing another phone is a car charger for your smartphone or some other means of recharging your phone.

In terms of general everyday preparedness, I feel like we--as a group--are going backwards in terms of communications because of how quickly many/most smartphones run down their batteries. I feel sorry for folks who need to recharge their smartphones twice a day. Before smartphones, and especially before big, bright color screens became popular, most cell phones seemed to last many, many days on a charge--and that was before energy dense lithium ion batteries became common.

Some thoughts and observations



Six pints isn't a lot of water, especially if you have passengers. I'd suggest a minimum of 1 gallon plus containers and a purification filter to produce more.



I've found that using a hand axe to clear obstructions or cut firewood takes a lot of time and effort. Instead, I carry a 21" folding Sven Saw that can easily cut through green or dry wood 12" diameter or more.

Make sure your entrenching tool is a good quality design. I've seen cheap ones fold or break when trying to dig out soil. In the winter time I'd add a collapsible aluminum avalanche shove to more quickly remove snow.

Check the quality of your jumper cables. The kind that come in most vehicle emergency kits use thin gauge wire and cheap clamps that don't transfer enough current to reliably start a vehicle. Buy a heavy-duty set of jumpers to make sure you can get the job done. Also consider a portable, rechargeable self-jump-start battery pack.

Instead of a tow rope I suggest a recovery strap. A tow rope is a static line, so the recovery vehicle needs to overcome the weight of your vehicle plus whatever resistance is holding you in place to get you free. Often this is difficult to make work if there is no solid ground to get traction. A recovery strap stretches to take advantage of kinetic energy and "jerk" your vehicle free, without the sudden jarring force that would occur from a static line. The strap should be rated minimum 3X the maximum weight of your vehicle and have no metal hooks or rings attached, as these might become deadly, high-speed missiles if something goes wrong. Instead, use 3/4" D-rings with the pins oriented into the strap or perpendicular to the strap so if they fail the least amount of mass will be launched. Also make sure you know where the recovery hard points are on your vehicle, as attempting to do a recovery with the strap attached to drivetrain or suspension components will usually cause more damage than good.

Test your air compressor to make sure it can completely refill your tire in a reasonable amount of time. Most inexpensive compressors cannot readily refill larger SUV tires.

Consider adding a basic tool set with screwdrivers, pliers, needle-nose pliers, wire cutters/strippers and electrical crimpers and whatever sockets or wrenches are needed to replace a hose, belt, spark plug or thermostat on your engine. Also include electrical tape, spare fuses, a couple of spare spark plugs, spare serpentine belt, Rescue Tape or similar high-pressure silicon tape to repair hoses, crimp-on electrical connectors and but-splices, and some small rolls of 12, 14 and 16 AWG wire. Most disabling failures are cooling-system and electrical problems. Bigger failures require a much larger selection of heavier-duty tools and often access to spare parts that aren't usually worth carrying on road trips.

I wouldn't recommend fix-a-flat, instead I carry a good tire plug kit with at least 24 plugs, 4 spare valve cores and 2 spare valve stems.



My preference would be a Trangia stove & cookset with 20-32oz of denatured alcohol instead of gel burners. I agree with the cheap, disposable lighter idea mentioned. The Dyno flashlights I've tested don't work effectively to recharge cell phones, I'd bring something like the GoalZero Guide 10 battery charger that will recharge any cell-phone that has a USB charging cable off of 4x AA batteries, and just carry a supply of Lithium AA primary batteries.

I'd add an LED headlamp and good quality LED flashlight, again with extra Lithium batteries.

The best option I've found for blankets is to buy 60" wide microfleece material from a store that sells sewing material. Also, alapaca-wool blankets offer the most warmth in the least bulk and weight.



I am a firm believer that nobody's life is ever threatened by a wound that can be covered by a band-aid, at least not in the short-term. So I would suggest more first aid supplies to deal with traumatic injuries, such as:

Quik-Clot or Celox bandages
Israeli field dressings
Several gauze pads in sizes 3x3 through 5x9
Non-Stick gauze pads in 2x3 and 3x4 size
Several rolls of gauze in 3" and 4" widths
Wound closure adhesive strips
Duct tape
SAM splint
Elastic bandage rolls, 3" and 4"
Instant cold packs
Saline eye/wound wash
CPR facemask with filtered check valve
Nitrile exam gloves

I'd also include ibuprofen for fever and pain, loperamide hcl for diarrhea, and diphenhydramine hcl for allergic reactions and motion sickness. All are OTC meds.



A hitch-mounted winch is better than no winch, but the big problem we've experienced is that sometimes the back of the vehicle is in a snow bank or up against an obstacle and you can't get to or mount the winch. Careful consideration also needs to be given to mounting such a heavy object when not in use, lest it become a deadly missile during an accident or roll-over.

Baby wipes are thicker, stronger and less expensive than wet naps.

Radiation badges and iodine tabs? Perhaps a good idea but a bit out of the scope of vehicle preparedness and more suitable to a bug-out bag, or even EDC bag if you feel the risk warrants.

Some other things to consider:

Nitrile shop gloves: these will help keep your hands clean while performing vehicle repairs and also provide an infection barrier when rendering first aid to strangers.

Warm jacket, hat and gloves for yourself and each passenger.

Extra socks.

Disposable rain ponchos and at least one set of rain pants.

Get an external, magnetic-mount antenna for the CB radio for vastly-improved range.

I second (third, fourth, whatever) the suggestion to add an LED headlight. In my experience, vehicle breakdowns very often happen when it's least convenient. Trying to fix something in the dark is much easier hands-free.

So many awesome ideas's here.. thanks for all the advice!

Fix-a-flat doesn't ruin a tire. Just make sure you tell the tire repair person to get it cleaned out otherwise it will likely gunk up the tire pressure indicator. Fix-a-flat doesn't propel in very cold conditions so you will have to warm it with body heat prior to using. I have a foot pump in the car which won't help much on a quick leak but on a slow leak it might get you to the nearest repair shop.

Personally I despise the mini-tires that come with most vehicles. Sure they are lighter and smaller but not very useful if you have to change the tire when you away from urban sprawl and you are out in the boonines.

+1 on the TP. Trust me.

Actually, my plastic camp shovel has a removable cap where I can store enough for at least use. Comes in handy when you are away on an isolated gravel road or meet a roadside bathroom without any.

Nowadays, you're lucky if you get any kind of spare tires on cars. A lot of companies are getting rid of the spare tire to save weight.