30 Essential Things You Should Keep in Your Car
Show Us Your Trunk
Winter is coming, so now might be a good time to think about what you carry around in your car's trunk. Whether it's thoughtfully arranged… Read…
Some of us keep absolutely nothing in our car trunks, while others have enough packed to live in their cars for weeks. Somewhere in between is this list of thirty things we think every car owner should always have on hand.P
You can buy packaged emergency safety kits, like this $35 one from AAA, which includes a booster cable, flashlight, first aid kit, and many other items, but the DIY approach is more satisfying and you probably already have many of these items lying around. It's not just about emergencies or safety, either. Below I've separated the checklists by category.P
Car Repair and MaintenanceP
There's nothing like breaking down at the side of the road and realizing the spare tire in your trunk has a flat from the last time it happened. (True story.) To keep you up and running, keep these in your trunk:P
Spare tire (in good condition), along with a tire jack and tire iron, because without them or someone else to help you, the spare tire is useless. Here's how to change a tire, in case you need a refresher. Also, if your wheels require a special security key, make sure that's always in your car too.P
Tire inflater and sealer, like the Fix-a-Flat, which can plug a leak (and help you avoid using the above tools) just enough to get you to the auto shop.P
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How Do I Jump-Start a Car?
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Jumper cables, because dead batteries happen to the best of us. We've got a crash course on how to jump-start a car, but you should familiarize yourself with your engine just in case things are a little different. Alternatively, you can pack an emergency battery booster so you don't have to rely on a Good Samaritan coming along.P
Your car's manual, which should be in the glove compartment already.P
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Tire pressure gauge: As our sister site Jalopnik points out: "checking tire pressure on a regular basis can improve handling, increase fuel economy, promote tire longevity, and even save lives."P
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Who says the dog is man's best friend? When it comes to getting stuff done on your car, a roll of silver magic is all it takes. These are ten of … Read…
Duct tape and WD-40. Seriously, check out these 10 heroic duct tape car repairs.P
Car repair information. A business card for your auto repair shop, the number for AAA (if you're a member), and car insurance claim forms should also be stored in your glove compartment. P
Safety and SurvivalP
You might already have an emergency go bag or kit set up. If you spend a lot of time in your car and it's always nearby when you're home, you could just keep that kit in your trunk—or create a second, perhaps lighter version.P
Make Sure You're Prepared for Disaster with a 72-Hour Kit
If you don't have an adequate emergency kit in your home, here's how to put one together so you're prepared in the event of an… Read…
Make an Emergency "Get Home Bag" to Keep at Work
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In any case, your safety supplies should include:P
First aid kitP
FlashlightP
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Five Best Multitools
If you carry around a multitool in your bag or pocket for quick fixes, repair work, or just in case you need a sharp edge, a screwdriver, or pair of… Read…
Multi-tool (here are your five favorites)P
Matches or other fire starter (Bonus: a candle in a can for winter emergencies)P
Energy bars or MREs (the instant food that heat up with just water)P
Water bottlesP
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Weather radio (You can make a $3 solar-powered one in an altoid tin!)P
A few car-specific items:P
Seat belt cutter and window breaker. This one's $7 on Amazon. Keep this in your glove compartment, not in your trunk, obviously.P
Flares or reflective triangle, so you don't get hit at the side of the road in the dark.P
Maps. Yes, the paper kind.P
Put Together a Winter Car Emergency Kit
Earlier this week we talked about an emergency kit for your home, now it's time to focus on your car and how to be prepared for the… Read…
Ice scraperP
Mylar space blanket to keep you warm during a blizzard.P
Cardboard or carpet remnant you can place under tires for traction in the snow.P
Convenience and ComfortP
In addition to the basics above, you might want to keep these things around also:P
Paper towels or a hand towelP
Tissues or a roll of toilet paperP
Pencil and paperP
UmbrellaP
Spare change/emergency moneyP
Recycled shopping bags for those impromptu shopping trips.P
Blanket, which comes in handy not just for keeping warm in emergencies, but also at the park, baseball stadium, etc.P
Change of clothes: also an emergency item, because if you get drenched in rain or snow, it's no good to sit around like that.P
USB mobile device chargerP
Junk in the trunk
It's always good to have some basic tools in your car and maybe some other odds and ends. It has been discussed what is good to keep in your car … Read…
This isn't an exhaustive list, and your needs might vary. While it might sound like a lot, all this stuff doesn't take up too much space. Jalopnik's Opposite Lock Kinja blog shows us your car might have good hiding places to stash all of your just-in-case items.P
Photos by Scott & Elaine van der Chijs, State Farm, and bradleygee.P
FYI, since Fix-a-Flat was mentioned. Some tire centers and such will refuse to repair your tire if you spray that stuff into it.9/06/13 8:14am
Ah, good to know.9/06/13 8:16am
And you really shouldn't use it if you have tire pressure sensors. Fix-a-Flat can screw those up to the point they have to be replaced.9/06/13 8:19am
Laundry basket didn't make the list, but I'm fond of the idea.
What else would you include?9/06/13 8:05am
Rather than a blanket, I keep a heavier hoody in the car. It lets you bundle up while still remaining mobile, i.e. if you need to fix a flat in cold weather. Plus it's useful in non emergency situation where it start raining and I forgot to bring a jacket.9/06/13 8:21am
Rope or 550 cord.9/06/13 8:31am
Good list, but if I put all this stuff in my car I wouldn't have room for anything else (though storing stuff with the spare tire isn't a bad idea)...9/06/13 8:43am
Ha, my dad made a kit for me and stuffed everything in a milk crate—it even included orange safety cones. In my small Civic, there's still room in the trunk (though I took out the safety cones).9/06/13 8:47am
Honeslty, part of my reluctance comes from the fact that I don't have a trunk, I have a hatchback (Honda CR-Z). When anything's back there, I'm very aware of it sliding around and if it's too tall, it'll obstruct my view. Still though, getting more than what I have is not a bad idea.9/06/13 8:51am
I'm surprised that a cheap $20 tool kit didn't make it on the list.
When I worked out of town in a remote office, one day the front door's hinge messed up and the door wouldn't close. I was the only one there for awhile and I couldn't leave to go get tools because I couldn't lock the door.
Luckily a co-worker came along to grab something from the office and he had a tool kit in his trunk. 5 minutes later it was all fixed and he told me how important it has been to have that with him over years of working in different small towns.
I immediately went to Walmart after that, bought a tool kit, and threw it in my trunk. Has been there for years now and I did the same thing with my girlfriend's car too. It's just a great idea to always have real tools like a hammer and screwdriver on hand, above and beyond my Leatherman multitool.9/06/13 9:23am
I thought maybe the multi-tool would be enough. But maybe not?9/06/13 9:55am
I like my multi-tools. I do. Realistically, though, they're virtually useless when working on a car or motorcycle. Always keep a cheapy tool kit with a fairly comprehensive selection of wrenches and sockets.
Also, no fire-exhinguisher? Happy thoughts won't put out your engine when that fuel line lets go. . . 9/06/13 10:38am
uHow Do I Jump-Start a Car?
It's an essential skill that any driver should have, but if you ask five people how to jump-start a car with a run-down battery, you could get… Read…
Jumper cables, because dead batteries happen to the best of us. We've got a crash course on how to jump-start a car, but you should familiarize yourself with your engine just in case things are a little different. Alternatively, you can pack an emergency battery booster so you don't have to rely on a Good Samaritan coming along.
This a big thing. I was confused as heck one time while trying to help someone with a dead battery. I could not find the battery in the engine compartment. After looking through their manual, it turns out it was in the trunk.
So make sure you know WHERE your battery is so you can have another car pull up to the correct side of the vehicle (and all the more reason to keep your trunk clean if your battery in back there)9/06/13 8:18am
Many/most cars that have the battery in the back/trunk will have some sort of terminal or access under the hood as well, but again, not always super obvious.9/06/13 8:24am
Yeah, this car in particular either didn't have them, or they weren't mentioned in it's manual (wouldn't be the first time I've read a car manual that left something like that out).9/06/13 8:25am
That tends to stay on my person instead of in my car. Too easy to forget about there.9/06/13 8:54am
Yup, a gun shouldn't be absently stored anywhere, especially loaded.
Course beefmalone isn't exactly known for his serious contributions.9/06/13 9:01am
Screw fix-a-flat.
Just learn how to use the spare. Properly.
Case in point: I had an '07 Civic Si. If I had gotten a flat on a front tire, I would have had to remove a REAR tire, put the spare on there, then replaced the flat FRONT tire with the regular wheel from the rear. Failure to do so would chew up the limited slip diff due to differing tire sizes.
There IS a reason to read the owner's manual (that's also good to have in the car) after all. 9/06/13 9:07am
Or... just have all 4 corners with the same size tyre...
... just a thought...
(175/65's on my front, 195/65's on my rear... hmm...)9/09/13 4:00am
Nope - they were all the same size.
Issue was that the diameter of the spare was different... just enough so... that if put on one end of the LSD, it would result in different rotational speeds. That would chew it up.
So, if a rear tire went, no problem, just put the spare on there.
If a front went, though, you had to put the spare on the rear, and put the full-size wheel from the rear onto the front. 9/09/13 5:29am
My E36 sedan has a similar tool selection, although mine doesn't have a triangle :(9/06/13 1:02pm
It's my understanding the American cars didn't get the triangle. My Porsche (928, which is what that tool kit is from), did have one, but it was a grey-market import, so I don't know if US cars got triangles too.
On my E39 I've just been trying to figure out what useful stuff can fit in the gaping void left by the triangle's absence. Sadly, I guess new BMW's no longer have the tool kits.9/06/13 1:40pm
Wouldn't the seat belt cutter and window smasher make more sense stuffed in the center console, if they fit? That way if you don't have a passenger you can still reach them.9/06/13 9:27am
Yeah, that's a good suggestion.9/06/13 9:53am
that's what a knife and handgun are for9/06/13 12:59pm
Don't skimp on the cables. Buy heavy duty extra long ones.. I spent $12 on a good pair in 1974 and they lasted me for more than 30 years. I cannot begin to count the number of times they came in handy. Also, consider putting your flashlight in a gallon zip loc bag with the batteries next to it. That way they're less likely to be dead when you need it.Yes, I know you have a flashlight app on your phone, but you might need your passenger to use the flashlight to warn oncoming traffic while you use your phone light to change the tire. Consider throwing in a fluorescent vest, the kind cops and highway construction workers use.9/06/13 8:30am
A while ago I bought one of those "jumper" sets for which you don't have to open the hood, attach it to your battery, etc. Instead, it just plugs into each car's "cigarette lighter" receptacle. It takes about five minutes for a charge to pass, and then...voila! Works like a charm. No jumper cables and exploding batteries for me, thank you sir!9/06/13 11:07am
Hehe. Most cables you get at local stores are the cheap 10 gauge, or if you pay for the premium, 8 gauge. Real professionals use 6 gauge or 4 gauge jumper cables.
You can buy cheap LED flashlights WITH BATTERIES for about $2.50 each (or cheaper) that are pretty darn bright. You can get REALLY bright ones for $25, or professional strength ones for $100 (like Streamlight, Surefire etc.) that are light mini searchlights. PLEASE GET SOME. I keep two in my car at all times. 9/06/13 11:53am
Source: lifehacker.com