Didn't G.B. Shaw say something to the effect that "England and America are two countries separated by a common language"? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Back to the original question, though: What's in my vehicle?

I drive a Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, with extended cab (a full bench back seat) & short bed (6.5 feet long). In the USA, that's a Full-size pickup truck. It comes equipped with a full-size spare tire (needed it only once) and a bottle-type jack & handles, secured in appropriate places.

Distributed about the interior (in door pockets, bags under the back seat or front seat, in the center console or dash/glove compartment, and generally, anywhere I can secure/stash things), and in no particular order or groupings, I currently have:

Sears/Craftsman 40 pc tool kit, augmented by additional pieces, with fuses & such stored in the storage area of the case
Wool blanket (OD green, Army surplus) in surplus helmet bag (which has blanket pins attached, plus pockets & a handle, if needed)
empty day pack
empty collapsible cooler
fire extinguisher
ice scraper (2)
jumper cables
tow strap & hitch
repair manual
first aid kit in mid-size Pelican dry box (bright orange)
leather work gloves
roll of mid size garbage bags
a bunch of individually wrapped plastic eating utensils (from fast food places)
napkins & drinking straws
bug repellent
GPS & accessories
Brunton solar AA battery charger, w/both NiCads & NiMh batteries
Brunton compass
SAK (Victorinox Tinker) w/neck lanyard
tire gauge
pens/pencils/paper/pads
BIC-type disposable lighter
box of wooden matches
carabiner
roll of double-sided Velcro
5-C cell MagLite
AA MinimagLite
Princeton Tec Matrix headlamp
Pelican Saberlight (3C)
home state & surrounding state road maps, in zippered bag
detailed city map book
vehicle registration & insurance information
mini-binoculars
ball cap w/ear flaps
assorted bungee cords & other lines & tie-downs
poncho (usually 2, but one's out right now)
small pry bar
several MSR Ground-Hog tent stakes
wooden cane
collapsible Leki trekking pole
fanny pack
pair of Motorola FRMS radios (my wife has a 3rd in her vehicle, so we can always communicate; I keep 2 in mine in case I need to loan one to someone)
spare heavy-duty folding lock-blade knife (Boker/Brend tactical)
spare neck knife (Livesay Woo)
small camera & film
driving gloves
E-Z-Lap model M diamond sharpener
Lansky triangle sharpener
a few odds & ends medications (Tylenol Sinus, for example, more easily accessible than in FAK)
lip balm (Dermatone SPF23)
fleece jacket (year-round)
Assorted music CDs
a PDW (personal defense weapon) & extra ammo
spare batteries
power cord for cell phone
large & small umbrellas
roll of toilet paper in zip-loc bag
child booster seat
couple of toy cars
anti-bacterial wipes/waterless hand sanitizer
small change for parking meters
sunglasses

and oh, yeah, a wintergreen Altoids tin—with Altoids in it!

This is just the stuff currently in the passenger compartment of the truck. In the bed, under a tonneau cover, I usually carry:

5-gal bucket & lid, containing oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze, rags, funnel, 12volt air compressor, & more bungee cords/tiedowns

A large Rubbermaid box containing:
sleeping pad
Hammer
Hatchet/small axe
Change of clothes (full)
Spare sneakers
Day pack w/food & water & serious “stuck on the highway & gotta stay a while” kit (to round out other items already in truck, or to walk on if need be)

I’m sure there’s more—heck, I know there is—especially trip or weather specific items that don’t stay in there all the time.

Sorry this is so long, but you asked…

Thanks, too, for prompting me to take stock of exactly what I do have in there.

David