Since we all like to see pictures of kits, I am sharing what my trunk kit looks like. Just about everything is either vacuum-sealed or kept in Ziploc bags. In addition to this kit, there is a tube tent and a six-pack of bottled water kept in my trunk. Any comments or suggestions welcome!

Picture 1 - This is the trunk kit from the outside, a "MTM Case-Gard Sportsmen's Dry Box."


Picture 2 - This is the trunk kit open, showing the top tray that sits inside.


Picture 3 - Here is the top tray removed and the "STOP" sheet (courtesy of ETS) underneath.


Picture 4 - The contents of the top tray are: hand & foot warmers, flat-packed orange duct tape, a AA Mini Mag Lite, Gerber Ridge knife, cotton ball tinder (in 35mm vial), waterproof matches (in 35mm vial), Doan Magnesium firestarter (inside mini Altoids tin), Storm whistle, spare AA batteries, roll of pink flagging tape, Brunton mini button compass, Space Blanket, small Johnson & Johnson first aid kit, Bic lighter, and two orange lightsticks.


Picture 5: The contents of the bottom part of the box are: USAF-style survival knife w/sharpening stone, four large cable ties, and spare hiking socks. In the Ziploc bag is a small sewing kit, sunblock, plastic tubing, bug spray, hand sanitizer, brass wire.


Picture 6 - The remaining contents of the bottom of the box: AMK first aid kit, emergency poncho, large plastic garbage bags, Sierra cup, pocket saw, four Kleenex pocket packs, 50' of imitation white para-cord, two granola bars, Micropur MP-1 tablets, and instant coffee & tea.

Very nice, thanks for sharing.
Okay, now you have shamed me into working on my kit again.
Right now, my trunk kit is in my closet in a cardboard box.

Thanks! It took me actually purchasing the dry box to get my butt in gear and put together the trunk kit. Glad I have it for all the work traveling I do. (Although I can honestly say I haven't had to crack it open... yet.) So far all I have been doing is drinking the bottled water. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What do you heat the water with?

I never really thought about that. If I really needed too, I could build a fire. Plus, I figured the water purification tabs would handle me for at least a few days.

But now you've got me thinking -- anyone know how the Esbit stove and fuel blocks do under extreme heat and a few freeze/thaw cycles? I think there would be room to squeeze something like that into my kit.

Esbit does fine with freeze/thaw. Should do fine with any heat you'll see in a trunk. If it melts, the plastic box will probably melt too. Each block is probably good to boil up to a quart in idea conditions, or so I hear. A pint is probably more realistic. More MicroPUR tabs would be a lot more space efficient.

I burned an entire block underneath a canteen cup filled a little over halfway with water. It got it hot (like coffee or coca hot) but not boiling <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I didn't try it, but if I burned another one underneath it immediately after the first one died off, it probably would have gotten it boiling pretty good.

I'm not sure about Esbit, but I had Trioxane in my truck all last year, and when I went to use it - it worked fine.

When I asked about heat, I wasn't talking about purification. You've got coffee & tea in there, and I assumed you don't intend to drink them rodeo cool.

Good point -- I might change that out for some hard candy or more granola bars, or heck, a couple of Gatorade pouches.

The coffee and tea made its way in the kit for a morale booster. But...

When I stop and think about it, I'm probably not going to be too worried about having a cup of cowboy coffee, let alone trying to boil the water for it. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Thanks -- I'm starting to lean towards more water purification tabs and skipping the Esbit after thinking about everyone's comments.

Although, as someone else pointed out, the MicroPUR won't make tea or coffee hot. Maybe bring one esbit tab per tea or coffee bag?

I'm open to criticism on this, but is the waterproof container really the way to go? These containers don't breath. In PA, my car can easy go over 100 degrees in the summer. Then I jump in and crank the A/C. These extremes would most likely cause condensation inside the container and spoil its contents.

What purpose does the waterproof container serve and won't that purpose be defeated when moisture is created inside of the container? I had the metal portion of an air horn rust completely, when left inside of this type of container on my boat.

Thoughts?

At the risk of sounding derivative, I'd like to say, "Me, too." <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

Comfort food is good. Don't underestimate the psychological component of survival.

Unfortunately I don't like coffee (or tea) without real milk, which goes off quickly. I've never found a powdered milk that's any good. Or tinned, for that matter - I'd love to hear if someone knows better. What I use instead is "OXO" beef stock cubes, which only need water to make a nice hot drink.

Nicely done. My suggestions:

–drop the lightsticks, include work gloves, put first aid items w/ instructions on top if possible, replace one knife with amutli-tool instead.

My seasonal car kit includes a fleece balnket, watch cap, candles and winter sleeping bag, as well.

tro

I have had poor luck heating water over a heat tab in a canteen cup but was able to bring the same amount of water nearly to a boil in a Serria Cup. I think that the smaller bottom surface and high sides may cause the canteen cup to loose to much heat.

I made a sheild for my esbit stove using triple thick heavy duty aluminium foil. I use it with a MSR Mountain Kettle or a Snow Peaks Ti-Mug, and store it inside my mug or kettle, so that it keeps it shape. Along with keeping the wind from effecting the stove, it decreased burn time by a precevible amount (haven't done a actual test). Even in a canteen cup (not my favorite) it works well.

I put silica packs into anything water tight. I snag them at work (my coworkers thing I eat them), and dry them in the oven at it's lowest possible setting for two hours. Swap them when you open the kit.

ironsraven has a good answer here. IMHO, you have to have some type of moisture repellent in those water tight kits. Cabela's, and other online sources, sell the silica gel "pellets" in a small tin. The tin is heated in the oven at 250 to restore itself. I use these small tins for foot lockers, etc., and the larger cans for closets, safes, etc. They work great. But there is the maintenance factor.

I guess what I'm asking is, are waterproof containers necessary in a trunk kit? BTW, your kit is much more impressive than what I currenlty have. What water are the boxes protecting our items from? I am thinking of redoing my kit and using a heavy duty nylon or denier bag instead. With a should strap, it would be easier to go mobile if needed. I'm actually thinking of using a fishing tackle bag with clear box inserts, and clear pockets. Am I off base?

I should probably add that the "waterproof box" isn't really 100% waterproof -- there are a couple of small holes near the handle that would allow moisture to escape.

But I also like the idea of those silica gel packets. Might have to pick up a couple.

I too thought about putting my trunk kit in a duffel bag, but decided against it for now. The box fits just right in the corner of the trunk and still allows me to carry my work gear. I think a backpack would be even better still -- I may roll up a small one and stash it in the trunk.

Then if it really hit the fan I could walk with my survival goodies.

Sounds like a plan.

That is an impressive kit case. Why don't you use Pelican case? Is it ok to store MRE meals in case too?

I didn't use a Pelican case because of the cost; something in this size would be over $40 at least. The orange MTM waterproof box was about $12.

There's no reason MREs couldn't be stored in something like this, but if you're planning on it sitting in your trunk through multiple freeze/thaw cycles and the summer heat -- well, let's just say I wouldn't eat it.

Try Underwater Kinetics, or the Storm Cases at Galls. I don't know if they have the sheer, raw strength and the boyancy of the Pelicans and Otters, and I know they don't have the Peli's bells and whistles, but still water tight.

Might be worth a shot.

If all you want is water tightness and don't mind the weight, scrounge the surplus sites for 50cal ammo cans.