Hi, Andy!<br><br>Good stuff; most folks don't bother to carry anything... I would not go so far as to say you are "missing" anything. Some items you may wish to consider:<br><br>1. Leather gloves (darn cars parts are always hot when they break down...) - 2 pair are best (for those "need 3 hands" operations). Size for biggest hands in the family and the others can make do.<br><br>2. Something to lie on if you have to wriggle under it for some reason - an inexpensive sleeping pad works well or a bit of corrugated cardboard (knocked flat boxes - they have other uses as well)<br><br>3. Jack pads - scrap plywood and/or dimensional lumber scraps. If you toss in some plywood scraps for pads and some dimensional lumber scraps, that would be best - the lumber can also be used to chock the wheels with and (of course) is a source of kindling as well. As for size of pads - well, figure you may have to lift a ton. "Average" soil will safely bear a ton / square foot... of course, we have some good black dirt around here that will only bear about 800lbs / square foot... if it's dry :-( - say a square foot, then (square or ideally circular), because beyond that size, even 2 thicknesses of 3/4" plywood will splinter up if the soil is soft and the load heavy... Also, enough scrap lumber to safely black up the car on at least one side is in the "nice to have" category...<br><br>4. Carry spare bulbs for the flashlights? Good idea to do that...<br><br>5. Some sort of coveralls - not just for protecting your clothes during expedient repairs. I am very fond of Tyvek coveralls (with a hood and wrist/ankle elastic) - but it may be difficult to purchase a quantity less than 25. OTOH, if they are not ripped... a used set can be laundered and re-used just fine (no heat on dryer or just hang on the line). If possible, get a set large enough to easily go over your winter clothing. Actually, it's pretty nice to have a set for at least both adults... they're so useful for so many things that I won't even begin to write a list.<br><br>6. Some 4 - 6 mil visquene - clear - would be "nice to have" for a variety of uses... I lost a window to a rock from a highway truck once in -of all places - Kentucky - in a rural area - in the winter (since you're already packing duct tape...) Other potential uses are obvious. 100 square feet (10'x10') should be plenty.<br><br>7. A plastic gas can of ~ 1 1/2 gallon capacity and some tubing or hose for siphoning (pttui!!!)? There are "fuel cell" type gas cans available (so you could safely keep it full in your trunk), but IMHO they are expensive and there is the PITA of keeping the fuel fresh... I would simply toss in an empty "can". If your car is a late model fuel injected, disregard - I have been told that it takes about 5 gallons to get over the baffle once they run dry, so less than that will do no good.<br><br>8. Auxilliary jack? Hard to say without knowing what kind of car you own - may not be feasible. We are HUGE fans of Hi-Lift jacks, but we mostly drive full-size trucks/vans in my family. If your bumpers can take it, a junkyard bumper jack in good condition is a lighter, slightly smaller, and less expensive alternative - but rig up a way to keep the footplate securely on in use (welding is good, but bolts are OK - use wing nuts and it is easier to keep knocked down). We could tell enough true-life stories to sell a train-load of Hi-lift jacks - sometimes, that's the best way to get out of a bind or a rut (jack up and kick the vehicle over), for example.<br><br>9. Tire chains? They're just the ticket in slick mud (or snow, of course). A light-duty set for an auto is not very expensive; heavy duty ones for trucks are (on the other hand, how much does a tow truck service cost...?)<br><br>10. Cross lug wrench - just in case your wife has to change a flat that the gorilla at the shop used an impact wrench on the last time...<br><br>11. Visit your local Volvo dealer. They are constantly taking out some sort of rear seat component (carpeted plywood) that has a really nifty cargo net with elastic straps attached - and throwing the whole thing away. Beg a couple off the shop boss. Strategically attach inside your trunk to secure all this stuff... (I must have a dozen of these - wish I could figure out a use for all that carpeted plywood...)<br><br>12. Personally, I like to keep fluids on-hand. Washer fluid, 3 qts oil (if you hole your pan or lose your plug, a *good* expedient repair + 3 quarts in about any size engine will safely get you to a town - has to be a good repair - smog motor crankcase builds up pressure - I suppose one could vent the topside of the engine, even leaving the filler cap off and stuffing a rag in the hole, but not sure that would do the trick...) ATF, if you use that. PS pump fluid (most Fords use the same fluid as the ATF - read the fine print in the manual). Small can of (unopened) brake fluid. A gallon of either anti-freeze or 50-50 pre-mixed coolant. If that's too much, toss a quart of oil and a bottle of WW fluid in and forget the rest...<br><br>13. A funnel with a screen... cheap version is a fair-sized funnel (plastic is easy to cut down if it's too big for some expedient task) and a scrap of nylon window screen duct-taped over the mouth (before the first time you use it).<br><br>14. And along those lines... a sturdy plastic 5 gallon bucket with a lid is a handy thing to have (water resistant storage for some of this stuff, a stool, a bucket, a potty - (oh, better toss in 2-6 kitchen size garbage bags for liners - and don't forget the TP in a ziplock bag!). If you can get your hands on a gamma seal, that's a ton handier than the original snap-on lids. I think The Sportsman's Guide has them on "sale" right now - spendy at about $5, but they usually are that or higher.<br><br>15. You probably have already thought of this, but.. <deep breath> there is the matter of protection of the family from 2 legged monsters... too many personal and legal considerations to discuss here, but I thought it should not go un-considered, so I merely mention it.<br><br>Still have room for luggage? Just kidding... Anyway, I think your list is good. I'm just tossing these ideas out for your consideration. I think there can be quite a bit of tweaking to any kit, car or otherwise, depending on circumstances. A big-city urban car kit SHOULD look different than a "100 miles to the nearest stoplight" kit... there are other things to consider - last thoughts - 50' of cordage, extrication (3 ft crowbar?), seatbelt cutter stowed above the seat line in the passenger compartment, window smasher for those submarine experiences... and your photon II or something similar that you can use hands-free (mouths were invented before headlamps...)<br><br>Gads! Now I've got a ton of work cut out for me re-tweaking OUR car kits! LoL!<br><br>Regards,<br><br>Scouter Tom