What do you keep in your vehicle now both in the way of normal gear and winter gear? What items would you suggest should be kept in our vehicles during winter? Thanks <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Wool blankets.

I would add some candles (and matches) The survival candles in cans with three wicks look interesting. If you're stuck in a snowstorm it would be useful for avoiding hypothermia I think.

Oh, and another threat is carbon monoxide poisoning. Maybe you could add a carbon monoxide detector, I don't know much about them and if it's possible to install one in a car... Anyway ventilation is important.

Frankie:

Most new cars have constant pass-thru ventilation whenever the ignition is on, even if you have the A/C & heater fan shut off and all the windows closed.

Bountyhunter

We made our own candles for the vehicles.

We cleaned out a 8 oz salsa jar. We put a bunch of old candle stubs in a tin can. We put the tin can on the camp stove and melted them. We poured the wax into the salsa jar. We then stood a candle stub up in the jar. The stub came to just about the top of the jar. As the wax cooled, it held the stub in place. The wax shrunk a bit as it cooled leaving enough head room to leave a book of matches. The metal lid screws on ensuring that even in the summer sun, wax will not leak out of the jar.

An old scout standby is to use a cat food or tuna can. Cut a stripe of corogated cardboard the same width as the height of the can. Roll the cardboard and place into the can so that you can see the holes. Melt wax and fill can with wax. The cardboard acts as a wick. Cat food cans sometimes come with plastic tops. This actually becomes more of a burner than a candle since you have so much wick.

You could make a multi wick candle in the same manner as first described by putting multiple candles stubs in a cat food can. Fill the space between the stubs with melted wax from other stubs. Keep the plastic top on inbetween used to protect the wicks, keep a book of matches with the candle, and limit wax spillage during hot months in the car.

Of course wicks and wax are available for purchase from craft and hobby shops it you prefer to make your own wicks and are particular about the color of the wax in your emergency candles.

Portable, battery-powered CO detectors are available at retailers like Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Sears. Price is usually around $30.

I try to keep the tank as full as possible, especially when the weather is at its worst. I keep an old spare parka and blanket in addition to most of the other things already mentioned. Also a folding shovel, sand and tow strap in case I get stuck. I used to rotate this stuff out in the summer time, but have gotten lazy and it just stays in there all year long now.

I keep a TON of gear in my car year round. I'm like a mobile FEMA outpost. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Since I already have blankets, tents, candles, flares, glow sticks, fire extinguishers and a whole lot more, the only think I added for winter (which is pretty mild down here...73 degrees right now) is a heavy goose-down gortex coat w/ hood. Nice to have as I'm walking down the side of the road with my broken down car left miles back. Not really necessary since I have a vareiety of blankets and shelter items that would keep me just as warm but I'd rather have the coat when given a choice.

The Dec-Jan 2005 issue of Field and Stream has a brief article on this subject. A sidebar describes the TP Heater. You will need one toilet paper roll, a small coffee can with plastic lid ( or any can just big enough to hold TP) and 2+, 16 oz bottles of rubbing alcohol. Remove the carboard core, compress TP and slip into can. Add alcohol and allow to soak in. Light edge of TP. When it starts to turn brown on edge you need to extinquish and refuel. The plastic lid is to keep fuel from evaporating between use.