Biannual kit review and resupply. New batteries in smoke detectors.

swapped out the summer gear in the car for the winter gear.
just in time as we had freezing rain turning to snow today.
a good older sleeping bag,Gaz stove,Coleman propane lantern for light and heat,small cooking pot with cocoa and power bar snacks.
I don't drive far out of town in this car and with a cell phone it will be "wait for the tow" and not stuck on a back road "up north"
if we do drive north for some winter camping it will be in our bigger SUV filled with a world of gear for ice fishing and hot tenting.

We rarely get any amount of snow here but today, we are getting a good blast of it and there is about 6 inches accumulated so far.

Needless to say, living in a temperate climate, most people don't
bother with winter tires and when the snow starts, they find themselves stuck in it. Where we live, there is a smallish hill which is not very long nor very steep but just enough to cause grief when these vehicles with all season tires to spin out on when coming up.

In less then 2 hours, I have pulled 4 vehicles up the hill and not one had a tow rope in their vehicle. One guy had some worn out 3/8" poly rope that definitely seen better days and thought he was good to go.

Also no one had any salt, sand or any other traction aids. So in other words - they are totally unprepared.

The recovery strap I have is rated at 7,000 lbs and if someone is that stuck and needs something stronger, they will be calling a tow truck.

The 5/8" shackles seen are also rated to 7,000 lbs. In case you are wondering, the blue straps are axle straps and also rated the same. I find these thinner straps are easier to wrap around a smaller vehicle frames, axles etc. While on the other end, the axle strap is wrapped around my trailer hitch frame as is tucked up tight under the bumper which makes it a fight to get the fatter recovery strap in there.

I think that every vehicle, especially in winter should be equipped with a suitable rated tow rope or recovery strap. Anyone here carry either?

I only carry a tow strap (slightly overkill 4 metric ton version. Tubar webbing with a bungee in the middle so you are less likely to drive over it). The tow point on my car are a little non-impressive, so i don't think I want to yank it with a recovery strap.

I do have wintertires, snowchains, shovel and a traxion plate. Seems to work fine for me.

I carry a never used recovery strap rated at 17,000 lbs. It has closed loops at each end. I understand recovery straps (nylon) will stretch and give a bit while tow straps will not (polypropylene).

Tips for Recovery Strap Use http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm

Before ever using the strap, make sure it is in good condition ( no cuts, frays, or broken stitching.)

Make sure the hardware being used is free of defects and rust. This includes your tow hooks or front hitch and the hardware on the other vehicle. If possible, the recovering vehicle should place the recovery strap to its rear end, which would be the safest place if the strap happens to break.

You may be able to wrap the strap around a hitch, but I would not put it IN the hitch. I have seen a few people who have bent the pin, which then had to be cut out. Getting a tow hook or D-Ring adaptor to go into the hitch is a better idea.

Some older cars actually have tow hooks, but if not you must use your own judgment. Never attach a recovery strap to a vehicles bumpers, axles, suspension, steering rods, or a trailer hitch ball. The attach points must be to a secure place on the vehicles frame. Do not place the recovery strap on another vehicle in a way that it may be cut.

Never, ever, attach a recovery strap to another vehicle with a knot. You should pass one end of the strap through the loop at the other end of the strap to secure it on.

In case the strap may break, lay a tarp or some jackets on top of the recovery strap. When the strap breaks (lets hope for the best, but prepare for the worst), the jackets or tarp will slow the recovery strap down before it hits someone.

To help protect the strap from tears, make sure all logs and large rocks are removed from the recovery path. Everyone should stand clear of the recovery strap when it is in use.

When pulling the vehicle out, drive very slowly. Sudden tugs may lead to damage to either of the vehicles or the strap.

Once the vehicle is safely removed, inspect your recovery strap and hardware and hit the road!

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This month I added a UCO candle lantern to the car kit to replace the now melted together (3 became 1) ordinary candles and a Quikclot sponge to my EDC pack. As I was testing the UCO candle lantern with reflector and hood, it seems I can get 12 hours out of a candle rated for 9 hours if there is no cross breeze.

when I was a kid,1950's,i was packing for a Scout trip and using some heavy webbing from his sleeping bag outfit to hold things together.being a officer it was a big setup.i asked Dad if they would be strong enough and he said they used them to pull jeeps out of the mud!

Repacking/ rethinking my EDC to reflect my more urban environment...

No one would be able to find our house so it's safe to say it. We have a workroom that Mom has used to store food and supplies. She has done so for quite some time via buying a little here and a little there, especially when the price is right.

Though this journey started in November, today I got aggressive on organizing the food using my experience working in a food distribution center. I now have a game plan and made a list of things to get the next time I visit Sam's Club.

I did not touch this until this past November because (when there are shelves of individually bought items of different sizes and variety) the situation looks impossible.

Jeanette Isabelle

Getting of rid of gear which is outdated or has been replaced. Upgrading and modernizing.

Recharged All The Things. Discovered that a radio in what might be my most critical kit had a battery that would no longer take a charge.