Winter Car Kit

[frustratedearthmother]

make sure those are in a very good sealed container as it can attract bears,

Thank goodness no bears around here! Our snacks are not generally left in the vehicle. DH has a backpack that he pretty much takes everywhere with him.... it's his "murse."

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

living up north we always have blankets, hats, mittens, a coat and socks (I may have a DD that leaves the house without socks ALL the TIME)

Then we have an old ice cream bucket (thanks to my mom) that has a candle, matches, scissors, string/or tape, some sort of freeze dried food, water or container to melt snow, flares and the traditional first aid stuff

 

[Alaskan]

Wow thank you! My car doors freeze shut every year.

That is what I first started using it for.

Many years ago the subaru I owned insisted on freezing the door gaskets together. Spraying it with the WD-40 with silicone worked like a charm.

I don’t think I ever used it on the gas cap lid... but I bet it would work there too.

I'll have to look for that! Having to huff into the padlock to unfreeze it in freezing weather sucks. Locking the gate is important when tweakers are prowling for Christmas.

Yep. And huffing into the lock... well.... 1. Probably makes you look like a tweaker and 2. Adds more moisture that will make it freeze up even more.

 

[Hinotori]

Knee deep mud is only in spring. It's knee deep water during winter.

 

[flowerbug]

Snacks! With a diabetic DH we always try to have snacks in the car.

I took a road trip, alone, to Oklahoma one winter just in time for a bodacious winter storm. I had a sleeping bag, extra clothes, water and of course snacks with me. I also had a goat in the back of the truck (with a camper cover). The bed of the truck was very well bedded for his comfort. I guess I could've cuddled up to a stinky goat if things got desperate, lol.

make sure those are in a very good sealed container as it can attract bears, mice or ... having experienced a vehicle with a mouse infestation for years and years of very frustrating efforts to get rid of the lil boogers makes me very leery of eating or having any food in the car other than that being transported (and immediately removed).

if i'm carrying food it is on my body (in the coat or pocket).


ok, my first twitch reply done i can say that the most useful things are a jug of water, some old towels or blankets, a snow shovel, window scraper, a chunk or two of old carpeting, some grit, first aid kit, flash light.

with these modern times a cell-phone is helpful if you do get stuck someplace but i rarely go anywhere and don't usually take the phone (because if someone else is here they need the phone). there have been two trips since we got the cell phone where i've taken it with us. we just don't do much like that very often these days...

 

[tortoise]

Wow, bears are something we occasionally get a glimpse of at a distance. Definitely not in "bear country" even though they exist here. Thanks for the warning!

 

[Hinotori]

For just normal driving in city and local country we carry somethings year round. Wool blankets, flashlight, paper towels, TP, paracord, first aid kit, towels, water, jumper cables, tarp (something to kneel on for chaining up or changing tires in rain).

We carry one set of chains at all times during possible snow so roughly November to April. Both sets go in for trips. Food on trips as well in case we get stuck. There is an adjustable crescent wrench and a multi-tip screwdriver in the seat pocket. Small bottle of vinegar to clean windows.

We have a resistor type vehicle jumper as well. If the light still come on, it can get enough juice built up to start the vehicle. It's truely an emergency item.

Hubby has his electric car blanket in winter for if he gets to work too early.

There is a T-shirt for each of us in a plastic bag under the seat with the blankets as well. THAT gets used fairly regularly by hubby if he spills something on himself.

There are actually 2 bigger flashlights in the truck. One is an emergency one with the batteries in a bag with it. Never leave them in if you're not using it regularly. The other sits on the rarely used parking brake. Hubby likes to use it in the mornings or evenings to find deer and elk in our field.

There are glass wipes, glucose tablets, painkillers, and antacids in the glove box. We use those regularly enough. We've had hand sanitizer in there for almost 2 decades because adult humans are disgusting creatures in winter and I can't take the risk. Some emergency feminine products as well.

I carry all that and more in my purse as well. I have tweezers and nail clippers as well as banaids. I have a cell phone battery backup in there that will charge my phone from the teens at least 6 times. It gets used during power outages so it stays good through use and recharging. Hard candy is carried more for low blood sugars. Lighter and my pocket knife. Packet of soap paper for those restrooms without. Tissues, which have been used as emergency TP when out in town.

So we're probably ok with most emergencies when out and about.

 

[Alaskan]

I like a tiny kit of just space blanket, handwarmers, and all of the car stuff like flares etc.

I used to always have a battery pack that could fully Jumpstart a car as well as charge a phone. Now I just have jumper cables.

For winter we put in a foldable shovel, bag of kitty litter, and small hatchet. And try to always have hat mittens, etc.

I am careful to always have a well charged cell phone.

I actually haven't put "stuff" into my brand new shiny car. Except for jumper cables.

Guess I need to do that.... super soon.

 

[Hinotori]

I need to get a shovel. Don't have one of those.

 

[tortoise]

For just normal driving in city and local country we carry somethings year round. Wool blankets, flashlight, paper towels, TP, paracord, first aid kit, towels, water, jumper cables, tarp (something to kneel on for chaining up or changing tires in rain).

We carry one set of chains at all times during possible snow so roughly November to April. Both sets go in for trips. Food on trips as well in case we get stuck. There is an adjustable crescent wrench and a multi-tip screwdriver in the seat pocket. Small bottle of vinegar to clean windows.

We have a resistor type vehicle jumper as well. If the light still come on, it can get enough juice built up to start the vehicle. It's truely an emergency item.

Hubby has his electric car blanket in winter for if he gets to work too early.

There is a T-shirt for each of us in a plastic bag under the seat with the blankets as well. THAT gets used fairly regularly by hubby if he spills something on himself.

There are actually 2 bigger flashlights in the truck. One is an emergency one with the batteries in a bag with it. Never leave them in if you're not using it regularly. The other sits on the rarely used parking brake. Hubby likes to use it in the mornings or evenings to find deer and elk in our field.

There are glass wipes, glucose tablets, painkillers, and antacids in the glove box. We use those regularly enough. We've had hand sanitizer in there for almost 2 decades because adult humans are disgusting creatures in winter and I can't take the risk. Some emergency feminine products as well.

I carry all that and more in my purse as well. I have tweezers and nail clippers as well as banaids. I have a cell phone battery backup in there that will charge my phone from the teens at least 6 times. It gets used during power outages so it stays good through use and recharging. Hard candy is carried more for low blood sugars. Lighter and my pocket knife. Packet of soap paper for those restrooms without. Tissues, which have been used as emergency TP when out in town.

So we're probably ok with most emergencies when out and about.

Love your idea to keep a change of clothes *sealed in a bag* in your car. I need to do that. The little everyday emergencies are the ones that cost money - like buying a new shirt before a meeting or interview because of a food spill. Or more likely, one of my kids wet their pants, and I don't mean spilling food.