What's in your vehicle emergency kit? I am sure this will vary depending on what part of the country you live in, whether mountain, oceanside, high plains, south near the border, etc. I would like to hear your ideas plus also indicate your part of the country since location obviously plays a huge role in what to carry.

Personally, I keep a tow chain, long jumper cables, a can of flat fixer, a few hand tools and shovel, spare oil and fluids, wiper blades, kitty litter, etc for my pickup. I am considering a set of warning triangles and fire extinguisher but not sure about those 2.

For my personal use I keep a good warm hat and gloves, insulated coveralls, thinking about getting some good boots to be dedicated to only leave in my pickup. Also a couple of large bottled waters, snack foods and munchies, towel, first aid kit including medicines, cash money in case I need a motel away from home or whatever, blanket extra coat. In addition the usual scraper and de-icer for windshield and glass, gas drier, lock de-icer, flashlight. I have a ham radio but am considering adding a cell phone.

All this fits into a couple of bags, I have an extended cab pickup and it's great for the extra storage. By the way, I will never again own a regular cab pickup. I started to use one large duffle bag but thought it'd be better to use several smaller bags to more efficiently organize and find items when in time of need. Also, if I were traveling I would change or add as necessary for that new area.

One can't take the proverbial kitchen sink but I think for me, living in Oklahoma City area, that this is a good basic set for my needs. We don't get a lot of snow here but we good hellacious ice storms that really screw things up.

What about you ? Please indicate where you live.

Thanks and Be Well

Gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), October 28, 2001

Answers

I keep mostly all of those,, with an extiguisher, ,a machette is a must,, matches. If I am going to travel,, extra blanket, draped over the seat,, looks nice too,, and a couple MRE's and water

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 29, 2001.

A machete is an illegal knife in some states and could get you in LOTS of trouble having one in your car, especially if you are a teacher and your car gets searched in one of the routine sweeps they do through the school parking lot. Our "drug" dog is trained for metal such as guns and knives. Finds them all the time.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.

I keep a number of items for my Full size blazer as well as a backback full of stuff for me. I just did an inventory a few weeks ago as the days started to get cooler. I drive 100 miles/day so I am weary of bad weather driving. I have dual batteries on the truck, keep the tank full as possible.

For the truck, tow rope,jumper cables,small tool box with tools, shovel, oil, antifreeze, kitty litter, road flares, reflective warning stips. An Emergency CB,first aid kit, 2 flashlights (one in back, one accessable from the drivers seat). A couple of cans of fix/flat. shovel and 3 fire extinshers. 1 under the drivers seat and 1 over each wheel well. 1 set of working gloves and 1 winter pair, A rain pancho, and blanket I have a box with spare bulbs and fuses for everything. I also have a mini 12v trouble light mounted under the hood. I also have maps of areas I will be traveling.

My backpack has a flashlight, some MRE's, clamshell cook set with plate, pan and utiensels, MRE heater, canteen, some hard candy, survival bars, candle, matches, quick strick ligher,knife, mylar survival blanket, first aid kit, first aid manual, pocket radio, extra batteries for radio and flash light. I also have some sesonal items, long johns, sweat pants and and sweat shirt, heavy socks, gloves, sub block.

In additional the the emergency CB kept in the back, I also have full complement of radio gear, HF ham radio 160-2 meters, dual band mobile, 2/440, CB/SSB, GMRS, MURS, 2 FRS radio, Scanner and cell phone.

A couple of notes, If you have a truck with large tires, One can may not be enough so 2 cans of fixaflat or there are now large truck tire sizes of fix/flat available. Fire extinghers are a must. It also must be accessable from the drivers seat to be effective, road flares and/or triangles are important. I prefer flares since they can be seen in blowing snow futher away. They are also cheap and can be put far behind a vehicle for advanced warning. Some tools should also be onboard. Cell phones are great, Even if you dont subscribe, a cell compancy must allow 911 calls with a phone.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 29, 2001.

We keep most of the same things in both our van and truck. The van is a conversion van and instead of pillows we have sleeping bags rolled up and placed in oversized pillow cases. We also have three of the reflective blankets. In really cold weather we can use the reflective blanket inside the sleeping bag. Any time a wool sock gets thin in the heel or gets a hole in it, I darn it and stick it in a bag in one of the vehicles. In more than one case I've given wool socks to people who we found on the road in bad weather. Many times they were given to wear as mittens. We have two fire extinguishers in our van, one just inside the driver's door and the other just inside the rear doors. In each vehicle we also carry cans of sterno in a metal cookie tin.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.

I'm in northern Indiana. I thought I was doing good with a cell phone, heavy hooded coat with gloves, jumper cables, electric winch and portable battery jump starter.

I HIGHLY recommend one of these. They charge off your AC at home and you take it with you. You can not only plug any cigarette lighter plug into it (like cell phone or CB) and jump start a vehicle with it (with it's own cables and clamps) but also even run off it if your battery is completely gone.

It sounds like I ought to rethink some of my winter supplies for the Tahoe. Thanks for all the ideas.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 29, 2001.

I stock item mostly along the lines of what Gary mentioned. I don't have to worry about snow here unless I go up to the mountains but when I lived in PA and MT, a come-along winch(with extra cable) was worth its weight in gold a few times. Tow cables are worthless if you're stuck on a road that gets traffic once a week. I also carry an extra jack(bottle jack, large 30" crowbar, 12v air compressor. I carry at least 5gal water being that I'm in a semi-desert area. Change of clothes and waterless hand cleaner. Handgun and extra ammo also.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), October 29, 2001.

ok,, a common sense note,, keep axe or machette in the trunk or a tool box, or behind the seat,, somewhere not EASLIY accessable. Ive been stopped, and cops saw it, they ask about it, when they see I cant get to it, without getting out of the truck,, they CANT say anything. If you get harrassed for emergency ,, tell the to get a warrent,, searching your car is ILLEGAL without one, no matter where you park. OR if rocking the boat is too much trouble,, park on the street

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 29, 2001.

For our winter kit we keep long jumper cables, fix a flat, kitty litter, a couple of candles and matches and some extra change in a large coffee can, several blankets (for layering), a rope or clothesline (for traveling away from the vehicle during a blizzard), extra hats/gloves/socks, winter boots (if we aren't wearing them), a box of chocolate bars. I'm probably forgetting some items but these are most of them.

We also have a cell phone. We don't live in a completely rural area with farms every couple of miles but the phone has come in handy a couple of times already and we feel much more secure with it.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), October 29, 2001.

I live in south Texas, where I don't have to worry (at least, not so far) about snow / frigid conditions. I do get the chance to get into some pretty remote country, so bearing this in mind . . .

I have a plastic rubbermaid chest (watertight design) which carries a rucksack with sleeping net, two small plastic tarps, firestarter, several canteens with intergral cup / cooker, an e-tool (folding military shovel), five or six contractor grade trashbags, a large hammock, heavy duty sheath knife, well broken-in boots, work gloves, small LED flashlight, spare glasses, sun goggles, wool sweater, one spare shirt, pants (BDUs), and a Boonie hat. A small alcohol stove with covered pot / skillet combo also lives in the kit, (no fuel; gotta remedy that). A small survival kit also is contained therein.

Other than that, a basic tool kit for the old Suburban, spare hoses, belts, fuses, tow strap, and two rolls of ducttape, a can of Quickstart, Fix-a-flat, and some other small items. For emergency food, a couple cans of dog food (something you won't eat unless you REALLY are hungry; smells horrible, but tastes really good, take it from doggy breath here . . .)and some other lightweight food like rice.

As mentioned before, if I lived in an area where getting stranded in the snow is a real concern, I would take the extra measures for that. Thanks for the queston, gene; this has been really informative.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), October 29, 2001.

Sounds like you guys are ready for anything or any type of weather. I also carry an empty tin can and a candle. You would be surprised how much heat you can get from those two small things. If you were stranded in a car in the snow I suppose it would keep you a little warm. My family always laughs at me for that one !!! we live in upstate Pa...mountains.

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), October 29, 2001.

Granny ... the sleeping bag in a large pillowcase idea is great. Think I'll try that. Iris

-- Iris (Sar_India@msn.com), October 29, 2001.

Hi Gene, You must have read my mind. My wife and I are getting our winter supplies together now. Jumper cables, 12v air compressor, 12v impact wrench (that baby really works makes changing a tire easy), a can of safe can heat, peanuts, hard candy, water, several of the silver blankets, a coat each, extra socks, emergency cb and i think we'll add flares and a new fire extengisher. A small tool kit as well.

Helena: Instead of a candle I might use a can of the safe heat. It's about a buck a can burns for 12 hours and is safe for enclosures like a car or tent.

If we were traveling I'd throw the pop-up tent on top of the Explorer.

Good thread Gene

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.