An Emergency Car Kit!

I sometimes see people wearing shorts and flip-flops in cold weather. I think, "Either they've never had car trouble or stupid."

I remember a tragic news story from some years ago: A young women purchased a new 4WD. She and a friend wearing street clothes drove out on some back roads, got stuck in the snow, and froze to death!

The most important thing is common sense. Now than I'm older and wiser I seldom get myself into touble. But past experiences motivate me to try and be ready anyway.

Many items on this list are good to have anywhere, but make your emergency car kit fit your area, where you go, and what you are most likely to need.

1) The cell phone may be the best way to handle many emergencies. But I don't believe it is smart to have a phone as my only emergency gear. Remember to have a car charger and some areas still have no cell-phone service.

2) My cell phone has a handy flashlight app, but I like an additional flashlight and extra batteries.
My favorite flashlight is tiny, but powerful.
It has the added advantage of clipping on the bill of my cap to free my hands for work.

3) I consider a folding shovel important in my truck. Before I got smart enough to carry the shovel; I used boards, sticks, my hands... to dig in snow and mud.

4) Jumper cables are a common emergency item to have. A dead battery can sometimes be a serious problem. If your often in remote areas you may want to investigate one of the small backup battery packs.
(My truck's a stick-shift so if I'm on an incline I can roll start it.)

5) Traction pads or a couple of short boards can often get you out when stuck in snow, or mud if you don't spin and "bury the vehicle". See "Stuck Truck" below.

6) My compact air compressor runs off the truck's battery and is often used for non-emergencies. It can be difficult to find a station with an air hose, and there are none near my hunting area. These compact, inexpensive, air compressors take a few minutes to pump up a low tire, but they get it done.

7) My tow strap has helped several grateful strangers, and one time my old "go anywhere 4WD" needed help from a ditch.

8) A cheap plastic tarp has many uses: It can keep mud off your good clothes when you change a tire, it can shelter you from the rain, it can keep your deer clean while you field dress it on the ground, then it can keep the deer blood off your SUV's interior...

9) I always have an old fleece jacket, work gloves, a cap, and a poncho in my truck. The poncho's for rain, but it can also help me to stay warmer in a cold wind.

10) Two heavy wool blankets are added in the winter. (They would be more important in colder areas.) I've never used the blankets but I often use the jacket, cap, or gloves even in the warmer months.

11) While I'm not likely to be able to fix many mechanical problems, I want basic tools in my truck: pliers, screwdrivers, hammer... They are a part of my emergency car kit, but are more often handy for non-automotive uses.

12) I usually keep some snacks: small packages of cheese crackers, candy... things which don't spoil easily in the truck. Hunger emergencies are common. Seriously, if I were ever actually stranded any food and drink would be a blessing.

There are many other items I consider important to have in my truck which don't fit on this Emergency Car Kit list.

For more related information: "My Hunting List",
"Stuck Truck", "Fenix Flashlight", "iPhone Tricks"

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