I am looking to build a general purpose low-budget commuter survival kit for my Subaru Forester.

My commute will soon changing from around 20 miles a day to more than 100. I will be traveling from the Philadelphia suburbs to New Jersey and back every day.

I don't want to depend just on the contents of my shoulder bag for this. Or should I?

I have a new 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium and a hefty monthly car payment to go with it. I just paid off a credit card. Also, our annual per capita and occupational school taxes will be sent out in July. Hence, my available cash is on the low side.

Any hints, tips, or suggestions in putting together this kit would be appreciated.

-- Craig

Well, since you're on a low-budget and already have a shoulder bag for your PSK, BOB and FAK items (correct me if I'm wrong) I would focus on the repair-stuff for your vehicle, because your survival-items you already carry. If you only focus on that, you can make a much less expensive kit.

Since you'll be starting a long commute, the first couple of things that come to mind are all car related, such as a couple of Gerry Cans of extra fuel, extra radiator fluid, a roadside emergency kit, and so on.

Then perhaps I'd work outward from there on things you might personally need in an emergency, wouldn't want to lug around every day, but that you could store in a large shoulder bag or backpack in the truck. Items like a poncho or rain gear, wool blanket, first aid kit, and the like fit in this category.

From there I'd go for EDC items.

Overall I'd try to think about what you might need in an emergency and start a list, cutting or adding items by probability.

I understand working within a tight budget. Over the last year I put together a BOB a little at a time, waiting for sales and specials to come around, and comparing different brands with one another for the best bargains. I found in a couple of instances that even though prices on the internet were better than those offered at a physical store, the shipping charges made up the difference unless I was buying multiple items.

Ask stores both online, and in your area if they offer price match guarantees.

Other ways to save money are to shop on ebay, at flea markets and garage sales and so forth.

Nothing wrong with the basics: Fire extinguisher, fix-a-flat in a can, aaa membership, keep the tank topped off, etc

What do you have so far?

I'd recommend a car charger/air compressor. I paid $20 plus $20 S/H for mine, so look around. It's already paid for itself. AAA is good. Doing it yourself in 5-10 minutes is even better. Being able to lend a quick hand to others in need is a nice benefit, too.

I also keep a midsize crowbar within reach. Good b.g. deterrent and extrication device for yourself and others.

Hey Craig,

What is your commute like? How's the weather, the traffic, and are there any long stretches of road with no services? And what exactly are you preparing for? Normal day to day events, or a full emergency?

I was in your exact situation, 100 mile round trip commute each day in a Forester. I didn't have to carry anything too extensive becaust the weather in SoCal is generally mild, and forturnately my commute was through the most populated area of the country (not so fortunate because of traffic). There would be thousands of people passing 24 hours a day, every day, so no need for survival shelters or hunting traps and stuff like that. At worst, you'd walk less than a mile to the nearest pay phone or store and hang out for a while. I also didn't want to carry a whole lot, because the vehicle isn't that large, and I didn't want to take up valuable space. I would carry some of this stuff at a minimum.

1) AAA card. I actually didn't get a membership until recently, but I've been in a few cars where AAA has come to the rescue.
2) Cellphone. I personally don't own one, but I would recommend an emergency phone or something

It may not seem very "survival" oriented, no cool knives and firestarters and stuff like that, but I'm betting those two things will cover you in 99% of the situations you will ever face on a daily city commute. If you drive through a metropolitan area like i did, chances of not being able to get services are very, very small. In addition to that, I would carry things just to use for everyday emergencies

3) Portable Jumpstarter - because you don't always want to wait for AAA to come along, could take up to an hour.
4) Extra clothes
5) Couple bottles of water
6) Snacks
7) Headlamp (for changing a spare tire)
8) Change your spare to a full-size spare, get rid of the doughnut
9) Extra money for emergency gas or stuff
10) First Aid kit
11) Road flare or reflectors (very important if you commute at night)
12) A couple of tools (Screwdrivers, wrench, pliers, etc)
13) Fire Extinguisher
14) Wet Wipes
15) Maybe a sleeping bag if you need it

You might have to add more stuff depending on you situation, and most of the stuff you probably already carry in your bag. I've had friends who had longer commutes on the east coast, even when they were stranded by a snowtorm and couldn't make it home, the only tool they ever used was a credit card. Rent a cheap motel room, have a nice dinner, and watch TV until it passes.

Since you have a new car, I wouldn't worry too much about major breakdowns, so no need to carry a bunch of spare parts and a full toolset. As the vehicle gets older, I do carry a little more, but not much more, unless I'm planning on going somewhere more remote. And I wouldn't recommend carrying gas cans inside the car for obvious reasons.

I'm not doing the nasty commute just yet. My current contract expired, so technically I should be working from headquarters in NJ right now. Not sure what's going on, but my manager says to stay put (in King of Prussia) for now. Who am I to argue?

I already have both the AAA card and cell phone. So does My Better Half, at my insistence. (She has improved a whole lot herself, and now carries her SureFire E2e everywhere. Bought that for her, too. My wife is Equipped! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

The possible nasty commute is exactly why I got the vehicle I did. We are debating getting a bigger house and sure didn't need this expense, but what can you do. I knew my old 1993 Ford Taurus at 153,000 couldn't handle it.

Hey, I think I already have all the items on your list. How about that? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My work expects you in your chair, and we get ice and snow in our area. I wanted All-Wheel Drive. The Forester was an easy choice.

I think I'll go for the "everyday emergencies," as well. Except for the sleeping bag. I always carried one in my old Taurus during the winter. I'll probably throw one into my Forester this winter, too.

-- Craig

I've gone blank. Can't recall. Sigh. It's Friday night and I've been working 10-hour days. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I'll take a gander at the cargo area the next time I'm in the car.

-- Craig

Like many have suggested - sticking to the basics is where to start. Jumper cables, duct tape, water, a snack, flare / road hazard triangle, flashlight, blanket, oil, antifreeze. I really like the idea of the self jumping / air compressor gadget - I'd put one in my vehicle, but it gets broken into far to often for me to shell out the cash for someone else's benefit.

I have a reply in this post called 2 of the 3 car kits on another board. It may give you some idea what you might need.
Car Kits.

OK now how to work a complete kit into your budget. First prioritize the items you want to include. Get the most needed items first. Nothing says you have to get the entire thing all at once. You can build it up a piece at a time until it is complete. The first items can be relitively inexpensive one use items. You can always upgrade to higher quality later. Notice I said inexpensive not cheap. Cheap junk that fails is no bargin. It could really cost you in the end.

I know the three places you can go where you might find what you need at a bargin price. The various Dollar stores. Sure much there is junk. But some items with a little imagination might fill in a hole. Pawn Shops. Who knows what might be available? You need to check back often because of turn over. Thrift/Salvation Army/ Goodwill Stores or whatever they are called in your area. Some really amazing things are donated to these stores and sold at truely low prices.

Something I really like for the car and has a multitude of uses is the Spetsnatz shovel from Cold Steel. Relatively cheap and can be used as a shovel, pry bar, axe, and defense. For car carry, I like it a lot better than a U.S. trifold. With snow difts a possibility, a small shovel should be mandatory anyway, but this is really decently made and has a stout (non cold transferring) wood handle. I had to take a good file and sharpen the chopping edge, factory edge was pitiful. It'll easily remove limbs from a fallen tree or chop a hole through safety glass to extricate yourself or someone else. Definitely worth the money.

If you wear glasses, or need reading glasses, a extra set, left in the car, is a good idea.
Good Sun Glasses left in the car
Sun and bug screen
A weeks personal meds that can be packaged and left in the car. Handy if a unexpected overnight occurs
Cell phone and car charger, with a phone number list
Extra clothes, clean socks and walking shoes or boots. Clothes for colder than expected temps.
A rain jacket, rain suit, or poncho
JED flashlight with extra batteries
bottled water
Toilet paper/big baby wipes, 2 gal zip lock bags come in real handy for commutes
Good detailed, up to date road maps for at least the area several hundred miles around your driving route. A small compass can help when you aren't sure which way is the right way when lost.
A good, matching full size spare, not a small emergency 'donut" spare.
Extra car keys somewhere on you, in a wallet or taped inside your belt,. You never know when your keys may be lost or broken
Small Tool kit
A 6x9' trap will help keep you clean when doing emergency car repairs on the road.
A good book or 2 for those times you are sitting on the highway for a few hours due to construction, or a wreck stopping traffic
A small FAK with Imodium AD and pain meds in it.
A travel tooth brush, paste, and dental floss come sin handy, esp if you get something stuck in your teeth while driving.
Cash, in small bills, hidden somewhere in the car, just in case you lose your wallet/credit cards. I call it my "get home" money. I have a old photo drivers license hidden in my car.

I already have something like it, or better. An army surplus shovel. East German. Very heavy. Gift from my mother-in-law. I used it one winter when we had an ice storm. Our lightweight Sears Hardware garden shovels bent. Not this baby. This one would take your head off. It chopped thick, hard ice very easily.

"This one would take your head off. It chopped thick, hard ice very easily." Don't tell anyone, but that's one of the things that a mil-spec shovel is designed for. At hand to hand range a mil-spec shovel is damned effective against anything. Two or four legged.

The shovel is HEAVY, which is also quite a drawback in a townhouse development like ours. Lots of kids around all the time. If you're taking a good swing at some ice, I have to make damn sure no one is standing too close to me in case I loose my grip and it gets away from me. The soccer moms would take MY head off.

Where do you park, Fort Apache - The Bronx? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

as others have said - the basics are where to start - some duct tape, antifreeze, basic small tool kit

Other CHEAP things to add - a roll of toilet paper (I'm serious) in a ziplock bag, a few rags/towels, a package of baby wipes(yeah, even for you single guys), at least 2 L of POTABLE water - and in winter - thow a spare wool blanket in the car

Other than the blanket - I think I added about $5-7 to your list

I already possess these items and always keep the tank topped off. Hey, not bad. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

A male urinal? I've never been in that much of a rush to get anywhere where I couldn't stop at the next gas station to use the restroom <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I would carry toilet paper or tissues though, just because there's really no substitue for it when you really need it.

The Forester already has underfloor compartments where you can fit a lot of this stuff. Most of my tools, emergency kit, tow strap, and other stuff fit in one of the comparments, or in the center bowl of the spare tire.

If you get snow in your area, carry chains. Even with AWD, you'll can still get stuck.

I live in a crack-head infested neighborhood in Detroit and they'll steal ANYTHING. I have had good stuff stolen - floor jack, binoculers, GPS - etc. I have had CRAP stolen - plastic (lock n lock) box, cheap knife, books, cheapo flashlight (worth a dollar), cheapie rain poncho - really - they'll break into a car for pop empties. They don't care at all. I rely on my reputation as not quite "right" to fend off the neighborhood regulars, but every now and then things happen. I try to stow what I can out of sight or in places that a crack head in a hurry wouldn't look - under the folding back seat of my Cherokee, etc - but they take what they can. I've had a full BOB taken. Not just from home, either - I had a back pack full of books taken while playing at a bar in a crappy area years ago. These days I try not to keep electronics or anything I'd really be sad to see gone in the car. That stuff I keep with me in my maxped jumbo.

I've had dog tie outs stolen from my porch. If it's not nailed down - it's fair game here. I'm glad to hear you don't have the same problem.

Mostly I'm pretty zen about these things, I know my hood. I live here and that's part of it. I didn't even bother to replace the window last time they broke into the car - figured they'd only break it again, and I can't spare the change everytime someone decides to see if I have anything interesting in the car. My House on the other hand - that irritates me A LOT. Had that happen for the first time last year - and it happened a couple times. God help them if I'm home and they do it, or if I ever catch WHO did it... um - not that that's a threat or anything, this being read by any one who wants to - what I meant to say is that I'd have some VERY harsh words for them. I might even tell their mommies on them. Right. That's exactly what I meant to say... <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I got a Forester too. Nice car: easy on the gas, great off road. One problem, though I hate their seats - cant find a comfortable position. Car kits

Looks like a nice website.

<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Thanks, it was a lot of work!