MSN Article: 16 Things You Should Have in Your Car (A durable MT is one)

[Smaug]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/research/16-things-you-should-have-in-the-trunk-of-your-car/ar-AAezCB5?li=AAa0dzB#page=1

[comis]

Why no water, map, dry food and ahem...cough...cough...personal protection?

[ducttapetech]

LOL!

That's us mobile.
Nate

[lister]

Why no water, map, dry food and ahem...cough...cough...personal protection?

Indeed! There are to many people already! If you don't believe me try commuting with me to my job. And most of them are teenagers going to middle school.. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I actually have most of those things in my Jeep already.  I also have a tire patch kit, just in case for some reason I get a second flat before I can get the first one repaired.

The drawback is that I don't actually carry a jack in the Jeep.  The factory jack (scissor type) was too small to reach my frame and lift the Jeep, then when I put wood blocks under it, it wouldn't take the weight and the handle bent.  I replaced it with a bottle jack that doubles as a jack stand but that is far too large/bulky to keep in the Jeep.  It usually lives in an emergency box on my trailer.  I also have a Hi Lift jack (lever or farm jack) that I prefer to all of the others, but this Jeep still has plastic bumpers and that kind of jack will just rip through the plastic, so it is a waste of time until I replace the bumpers with metal ones.

Otherwise, a decent list I thought, although there are some omissions for sure.

Def

[Smaug]

To the folks here, there is always something missing from a tool kit. 

For my part, I was just happy to see some positive press on MTs in The World of Muggles.

[Demel]

To the folks here, there is always something missing from a tool kit. 

For my part, I was just happy to see some positive press on MTs in The World of Muggles.

[Zephon]

I guess this list was designed to be "universal" -- whatever part of the globe you may be.

In my case, the default stuff like spare tire, jack, tools, flat tire stuff are standard (which I assume go with every new car purchase).  Yes to multitool and flashlights.  Since we don't have winter here, the danger isn't from the cold but from your car overheating so there's an extra water container there, in case of an overheat far from a gas station.

I have to ask about the fire extinguisher -- I have to be honest that I'm apprehensive of keeping pressurized containers in the car due to the heat.

[ironraven]

Everything but the jumper pack

I have to ask about the fire extinguisher -- I have to be honest that I'm apprehensive of keeping pressurized containers in the car due to the heat.

By the time it's that hot, your car may well already be on fire.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Like most pressure cylinders, if it does get too hot there is a pressure valve in them so they won't explode or launch.

Def

[shark_za]

Kitty litter and a battery pack are the only things now under consideration; the rest can be found in my car.


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[Gerhard Gerber]

Jumper leads
Puncture kit
Pump
pressure gauge
Big fencing pliers
Folding knife
Mora 511 with ferro rod and mag bar
bandanna
Rope and figure-9 carbiner
Pepper spray
Spare air filter

All other standard and legal requirements (triangle) are there, but no hi viz jacket.

Missing:
Blanket
Kitty litter
battery pack.

I drive an old 3-door RAV, so even with the rear seats removed (permanently) I'm a bit limited with storage space.

Will have to get a blanket, agreed.

Kitty litter....? Author trying too hard   

Battery pack......completely impractical but I have to admit it could be useful, especially since I drive an automatic. Jumper leads are useless if nobody else is around...

[shark_za]

I have some rain ponchos in the car too, changing a tyre in the rain once means I never leave home without one.


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[RT1969]

To the folks here, there is always something missing from a tool kit. 

For my part, I was just happy to see some positive press on MTs in The World of Muggles Non-emancipated adults.

I hate the M-word... Other than that, a very good find Smaug! 


And did nobody else notice that the picture did only contain high quality MTs? In the era of stock photographies, that was very refreshing, as well as the authors focus on quality!

How of you wrote that? 

[Lynn LeFey]

Everything in the pic is either Leatherman or Victorinox. For me, I'd say those are the safe 'Quality' tools.

I think I'd feel safe adding the MP400/600 line from Gerber, and a number of their other offerings. The Bear Grylls 'Strata' I have for instance, the Diesel, etc. Maybe a lot more that aren't coming to mind.

You have to wonder if the person who wrote the article didn't just put all their MTs together for the shot. I mean, that juice has seen some action, by the look of the scales.

[Smaug]

Kitty litter....? Author trying too hard

Agreed. I don't leave food in the car. If I do, I realize it hours later, not days or weeks. Here in Chicago, I think rock salt is probably a better option for the snow, but even that adds significant weight on the rear wheels, which lifts the front wheels of our front wheel drive cars up.

Battery pack......completely impractical but I have to admit it could be useful, especially since I drive an automatic. Jumper leads are useless if nobody else is around...

Well, not completely. It's just that if one adds everything one needs for every possible emergency, the trunk will be largely full, with no room for cargo. Fuel economy will also decrease, with 100 extra pounds of paranoid prepper stuff.

Again, this is the basics. Folks can supplement as they see fit.

[Mextreme]

They forgot a very important item. Depending of course on climate but to venture out in the winter without a good compact snow shovel is crazy.
If you drive off the road in deep snow, a shovel may give you a way back, a little catty litter won´t.

[Zephon]

A shovel does make good sense in places with snow.

I just remembered another thing we always keep in the car- the umbrella. Actually there are 4 umbrellas in the car. It's mostly for the kids' sake.

Loose change also comes in handy.

[Smaug]

Loose change also comes in handy.

Loose change is one thing we don't have to plan for; it just happens!

Story: my sister got in the habit of leaving her '95 Civic with loose change in the center console. She lived in Chicago at the time. One night, a thief broke a side window to steal the change. Maybe $3 worth.

...but at least he was a considerate thief, and broke the little rear side window; the cheapest to replace! 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Rock salt doesn't work well below -7C, which is a typical winter day where I live.  Even so, I usually mix both kitty litter and rock salt together and keep it in the Jeep in the winter, not so much for my sake but to help others.  I replaced my factory tires with mud & snow rated all terrain tires that are two inches wider than factory issue, so slippage is less of a problem for me than most folks.

I'd suggest that if you are going to keep a shovel in the car for emergencies then you either keep a plastic one or be very careful around your tires as a steel bladed shovel can make a mess of your rubber in a hurry.

Def

[shibafu]

I'd definitely take a shovel, a couple of bottles of water and a couple of chocolate bars over kitty litter... if I had a car, which I don't, so it doesn't really matter   Essentials for carrying on the bike are the toolkit, tape and cable ties, a tube for siphoning fuel, and not much else

[THE_LONGBOW]

I was in a situation once where I did not have anything in my truck to pull a log out of the road and could not drive over it. So I took an old (army issue) wool blanket and used it as a rope. It got the job done. BTW I now have a tow strap in all my vehicles. The blanket is still carried in my truck some 20 years later. My second trick was using an old towel laid on the ground to get off of some ice in my van. Some times thinking can be your best tool when in need.

[Smaug]

I'd definitely take a shovel, a couple of bottles of water and a couple of chocolate bars over kitty litter... if I had a car, which I don't, so it doesn't really matter   Essentials for carrying on the bike are the toolkit, tape and cable ties, a tube for siphoning fuel, and not much else

OK bro, I have to call you out here. Are you saying you don't even carry a multi-tool on your bike? (or is that part of "the toolkit?") My SwissTool lived in my Kawasaki Concours, then in my Yamaha FJR, then in my Kawasaki KLR700.

You'd be foolish not to carry a tubeless tire patch kit too. (my humble opinion)

Damn I miss having a motorcycle.

[shibafu]

OK bro, I have to call you out here. Are you saying you don't even carry a multi-tool on your bike? (or is that part of "the toolkit?") My SwissTool lived in my Kawasaki Concours, then in my Yamaha FJR, then in my Kawasaki KLR700.

You'd be foolish not to carry a tubeless tire patch kit too. (my humble opinion)

Damn I miss having a motorcycle.

Somehow I forgot that I also have a Victorinox Pioneer under the seat.  But aside from a knife blade, a multitool wouldn't really have anything you'd need that isn't already in the standard KTM toolkit.  Even the bottle opener!  I don't have room for a puncture kit so it's the breakdown service card instead.  I've never had to call them out for a puncture though.  Whenever I've had a puncture, the foreign object has blocked the hole well enough to get to a shop.

[WhichDawg]

no kitty litter (little snow or ice here) and no tow strap, I do have a tow "hook" though just no line/strap/chain.

I loooove my battery pack/dead battery charger:

Power Station PSX-3 (got it for like 60 bucks at Costco)

it's helped a few dead batteries (mine & strangers)

and I got the super long and thick jumper-cables so I don't have to be right next to a car to jump (I just park behind or the they park behind me)

[WhichDawg]

Okay brought this back (I think it's important )

about "Tow Straps" I've been doing some research (tis the season) and "Tow Straps" are for flat, even towing and not for getting a vehicle out of a ditch or snow or mud or whatever; for that you use rated "Recovery Straps" for your type/weight of vehicle.

Recovery Straps have some stretch to make pulling out a stuck vehicle safer and easier and they should not have metal hooks (of any kind) on the ends but "loops" (woven material at each end) in case of failure/breakage, you don't want a metal hook missile flying at you (and others) or your vehicle.

To connect the loops you use rated D-rings (3/4 and up) on the stuck vehicle (to eye hook or towing point/frame) and or a D-ring receiver hitch/shackle on the towing vehicle. Never Ever use the towing ball, not meant for this application! If no hitch use another D-ring to a safe towing point behind the towing vehicle (frame, towing hole/mark but never axle or suspension or bumper).

So: Towing-Straps (straps with metal hooks) are for moving a vehicle down a flat smooth road from point A to B (you can also use chains) and Recovery-Straps are for pulling stuck vehicles out ditches/snow/mud etc. The link/article should have clarified that!    

[Lynn LeFey]

Tow Straps/ Recovery Straps...

Isn't this what that 100' of paracord we all carry in our car is for?

[zoidberg]

Tow Straps/ Recovery Straps...

Isn't this what that 100' of paracord we all carry in our car is for?

Yes. 

[Zephon]

I want to add something to my list here -- a powerbank for the cellfones.



Last Sunday the car battery decided to give up the ghost while we were about to head home from the mall and doing groceries.  My phone was down to 7% and my wife's was down to 25% as the kids were playing with them while waiting for our lunch to be served.  Good thing we wife's phone was still 20%+ so it was enough to call for battery delivery plus get updates on where the delivery person was.

[strmliner]

A lot of good and some interesting ideas here. Generally, what I carry in my vehicles:

• SAK in the glove box
• Gerber Strata in the bag
• Collapsable shovel
• Duracell phone charger
• Blanket & space blanket
• Umbrella (it rains here)
• Duct tape & paracord
• Flashlight
• Gloves & Hat
• A couple of folded 30 gal trash bags
• Jumper cables

If I'm headed on an outdoor excursion or long trip, I add a few more things, but these don't take up much more space than a small gym bag.