a few years ago Minneapolis got hit with a long nasty winter.



now i don't want to use the word "panic" but the thought of having my old canoe hauling car break down drove me to some over the top survival ideas....like...



turning the car into something like a mountain hut.



this winter i dialed things back a bit.with a good cell phone as a in city PLB and a bag of my old but very good winter parka,boots,gloves,wool pants and a ski mask i should be able to stay warm until a tow truck arrives.
most places i drive this in the winter i could walk home from! our SUV is new and i don't worry about it snapping a belt or having a major part fail like this 92 might do.
we are not out West or in farm country where help could be a problem. the Minneapolis area has plenty of traffic or places to walk into to wait if i did not want to stay with the car.

I live across the border from you in Sioux Falls, SD. This time of year in this part of the country everyone with half a brain is doing what you're doing. Sadly, nowadays it seems like few people do have at least half a brain! Your kit looks good. Right now all I have in my truck is an extra coat, cap and gloves along with some traction mats that have worked pretty well in the past. Next time I take a trip out of town I'll add a bit more winter supplies.

Even in warmer places, a good kit makes sense. I have always had a sleeping bag, as well as a canteen or two, and a few Clif bars...Screwdrivers and pliers come in very handy.

I remember that winter, I pulled out about 30 people over the winter, and about 17 in one storm. Lets hope for a nice mild winter.

after reading that Tyber saved 17 cars in just one storm i added a few things to my kit



it might take hours for that tow so a hot cup of coco and a MRE brownie will take the chill off.the ash tray is to hold that large candle which by the way is made from a wax you can eat!!

Wax you can eat?

Regards,
Bill

We've had some great winter car survival threads. Worth dusting off one or two of those.

My driving is mostly east coast and not on remote roads but even in the middle of the city on a clear day I've waited 2 hours for a AAA tow truck to show up. So my major criteria for winter car survival is the ability to simply stay warm in the car. To that end, my winter car gear includes:

20-degree sleeping bag
down booties
gloves/hat/neck gaiter/balaclava/long underwear
chemical hand warmers
Gore-Tex boots, Smartwool socks, waterproof pants

Year around, I have the usual assortment of survival stuff in there, such as fire-making gear and water. Throw in some energy bars and I and passengers would be in decent shape for situations short of armageddon.

My dog (a Samoyed) is often with me so for her I keep a few days of food and water in the car (an SUV). It's a dehydrated raw dog food which is great for travel. She'd be the first to get cranky if we were stranded on some road during her dinner hour.

Remember that a top priority for winter car survival is keeping ample gas in the fuel tank so you can run the heater. When I get to half a tank -- especially in inclement weather -- I start looking for a gas station.

.

Bill..when i first found ETS some years ago i sort of went "survival crazy",in a nice way.no basement full of stuff but i did look around the web for gear that might come in handy if a canoe trip went bad.before ETS it was just a few things in a PFD and what in the world was a PLB and they cost what!!
so anyway i found a supplier who sold edible candles.
"shave some on toast" was the lead on the sales blurb.
so i got a few.made from the oils found in olives and other foods rather than petro oils you should be able to eat one in a pinch.what got me into the "eat your candles" idea was reading some old,pre WW1,accounts of British hikers and climbers doing that when they were lost or snowbound.maybe back then tallow candles were still available.

Never letting your gas tank get below half full is also a good idea in earthquake country. EQs will really shake up and disrupt the gasoline distribution system.

Historically I've been pretty bad about keeping my gas tank topped off. But I've been making a concerted effort to keep my truck up above half full. In the winter it's essential; one might have to run the engine for awhile or one might get stuck. Gotta have some margin for error.

Now that we have a Costco in Sioux Falls (yay!) I stop every Monday and top off.

It is not only good for emergency's, but also prevents/reduces condesation in the fuel tank.

just to fill you folks who might not know, Phaedrus lives in a part of the US where they have RR style gates that drop down to block access to some highways when the storms move across the prairies.
your not even allow to just take a crack at it and try to get thru the snow bound roads!

coming thru on the way to the Black Hills from Minneapolis i was sort of surprised to see road control like that.

Yeah, when things get bad here they close the interstate. You can get off but not back on. If you somehow get past the gate you're probably gonna get in trouble. I guess it should go without saying that this could result in an unexpected night out! If you stop somewhere and the weather takes a turn for the worse you might be stuck where you are.

I knew there was a good reason this California boy only came to South Dakota (and Minnesota too, for that matter!/ in the summer. Can't afford to freeze off any appendages....

This time of year, any time I plan to go near the higher elevations, there's a large duffel bag with cold weather gear that goes in the truck just for an unexpected overnight. Keeping the fuel above 1/2 tank goes without saying.

Thank you all for reminding me why I left Minnesota for Texas. :-)
-Blast

Don't forget something to pee (or more) into.

some years ago before cell phones were everywhere the local news in Minnesota always had a bit about putting a winter kit together.
"a coffee can makes a good container"----------------

"why I left Minnesota for Texas."
Would that be hurricanes? :^)

On the other hand, my brother, born and raised in Texas, retired and left Texas for Minnesota (northern) in order to finally cool off. He has been successful.

Family members from Minnesota just drove down for Thanksgiving. It was 78F here this morning. When the family arrived at 5pm this evening it was 41F. This happens EVERY YEAR! Can you damn Minnesotans please not bring the damn cold weather with you wherever you go!!
-Blast

41F is shirtsleeve weather in Bemidji....

Yeah, 41 F is shorts-and-T-shirt weather in SD!

on behalf of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.... my air conditioner came on yesterday at 78F

41F with a 45 mile an hour breeze is a typical Springtime or Autumn scenario in Amarillo, Tx. My home town.

"Cold" is a relative term. Use the handy list below to overcome the confusion. Degrees (Fahrenheit)

65 - Hawaiians declare a two-blanket night
60 - Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one)
50 - Miami residents turn on the heat
45 - Vermont residents go to outdoor concerts
40 - You can see your breath
- Californians shiver uncontrollably
- Minnesotans go swimming
35 - Italian cars don't start
32 - Water freezes
30 - You plan your vacation to Australia
25 - Ohio water freezes
- Californians weep pitiably
- Minnesotans eat ice cream
- Canadians go swimming
20 - Politicians begin to talk about the homeless
- New York City water freezes
- Miami residents plan vacation further South
15 - French cars don't start
- Cat insists on sleeping in your bed with you
10 - You need jumper cables to get the car going
5 - American cars don't start
0 - Alaskans put on T-shirts
-10 - German cars don't start
- Eyes freeze shut when you blink
-15 - You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo
- Arkansans stick tongue on metal objects
- Miami residents cease to exist
-20 - Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you
- Politicians actually do something about the homeless
- Minnesotans shovel snow off roof
- Japanese cars don't start
-25 - Too cold to think
- You need jumper cables to get the driver going
-30 - You plan a two week hot bath
- Swedish cars don't start
-40 - Californians disappear
- Minnesotans button top button
- Canadians put on sweaters
- Your car helps you plan your trip South
-50 - Congressional hot air freezes
- Alaskans close the bathroom window
-80 - Hell freezes over
- Polar bears move South
- Viking Fans order hot cocoa at the game

Gosh, now I'm really not looking forward to going back to work in two months. I have not missed the daily commute and I'm really not looking forward to doing it again in the winter.