Ten Things To Keep In Your Vehicle

I'd like to make a discussion of ten things you should never be without in your vehicle. Okay, so there are actually more than ten things, but I've lumped them into ten basic groups for the sake of convenience. Too many people today travel unprepared, whether it be a trip across the country or even just across town. I'll give you a list of these items and why they should be important to you. Some of the things would seem pretty obvious, but I guess not, considering the fact that I've dealt with more than a few individuals who were totally clueless.

1. Spare Tire with jack and lug wrench, tire plug kit, small pliers, 12-Volt compressor: Make sure that you have one on a wheel that fits your vehicle, and make sure it's properly inflated and in good condition! This is one of those "should be common sense" things, but it's amazing how many people don't have this. Case in point - a young man comes limping to my house on a flat tire asking if I had a jack and lug wrench he could use to put on his spare tire with. Sure, I grab a jack and lug wrench out of the garage and help him out. He drags his spare out from under the bed of his pickup, and I about choke when I see it. First, his spare is flat too. A quality dial gauge confirmed, less than 5 psi in the tire. Second, the spare had such bad dry rot that he wouldn't have gotten more than 5 miles on it before blowing out the sidewall. Luckily he hadn't ruined his flat tire limping to my house on it. It was dirt roads all the way and the lack of weight from the empty pickup bed saved the rim from being destroyed, as well as keeping it from cutting through the sidewall. I found the hole in the tread and was able to plug it for him and get him on his way.

Lessons he learned (some from the experience, some I clued him in on):
A. Having a spare tire does no good if you don't have a jack and lug wrench.
B. Having a spare tire does no good if it is rotten and/or flat.
C. Driving on a flat can potentially destroy both the wheel and the tire.
D. Always check the air in your tires monthly and inspect for obvious damage.
E. If you carry Fix-A-Flat in your vehicle, keep it out of the passenger compartment. If it explodes it will destroy your interior.
F. Get a tire plug kit, small pliers, and 12-Volt air compressor to keep in your vehicle, learn how to use them so that you don't need to call for expensive road service. That way if you have more than one flat, you can possibly repair the tire yourself and be on your way in a matter of minutes.
G. Don't drive on a flat, immediately pull over and change it or risk permanently destroying not only the tire which might otherwise have been repairable, but also can destroy the wheel.

2. First Aid Kit: Never go anywhere without one of these. The darndest things can happen when you least expect it. Keep OTC pain-pills/anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofin in the kit, as well as an assortment of bandages and first-aid ointment. It's also a good idea to keep a bottle of Ocean in there to clean minor wounds or flush out eyes with. Ocean is a saline solution comprised of distilled water and salt content that equals that of human body fluids such as blood or tears. It will not burn, but can effectively rinse dirt or other particles out of minor wounds or the eyes when other sources aren't immediately available. Also in the first aid kit you will want to carry: tweezers, scissors, alcohol pads, sanitary napkins, burn cream, bee-sting kit, sterile gauze pads, ace bandage, instant-ice pack (gets very cold through chemical reaction when you knead the sealed package), sterile latex gloves, and a first aid book. Also throw in any other items you might think would be handy.

3. Camera: Yes, a small inexpensive camera. It would be best to get a small inexpensive digital camera as opposed to a film camera. Film will go bad very quickly in the heat of a parked car. Be sure to check the batteries at least once a month. You never know when you might need to take pictures. For instance, if you are involved in a traffic accident, you can document the damage to both your vehicle and the other person's vehicle for insurance purposes, as well as have possible evidence to contest any false claims. Also, you never know when you might drive by something interesting that you want to take a snapshot of. There are great photographic opportunities or newsworthy events that go missed every day because no one had a camera handy.

4. Blankets, towels, and extra clothing: Blankets come in handy during the cold months if you break down and need to stay warm. But what may go unrealized is that in the warm months, the blanket can come in handy to keep your nice clothes clean if you have to crawl around in the dirt to change a flat tire. Towels come in handy if you have a spill and need to dry the puddle in your seat, or if you get wet and need to dry off (duh!). But towels can also come in handy in a medical emergency. Remember the scissor in your first aid kit? cut a long strip from the towel and use the lug wrench you need to change that flat tire, and you have an improvised tourniquet. Reverse the order and you have a small makeshift splint. The use for an extra change of clothing is fairly self-explanatory.

5. Rain Gear: Whether a small disposable poncho or a full out rainsuit, you never know when you might have an unexpected rainshower or have to change a flat tire in the rain.

6. Flashlight: Comes in handy when you need to see in the dark. Check your batteries at least once a month.

7. Toilet Paper: Sometimes you just gotta head for the trees when there's no sign of civilization around. Also handy if you can't find an attendant at a pit-stop to replace the empty roll in that nasty public restroom. Also great in a pinch for cleaning smudges off the ol' eye-glasses, or that annoying handprint junior put right smack in the middle of the windshield.

8. Leather Work Gloves: Can save a few knuckles from getting bloody when the lug wrench slips off the lugnut that grease-monkey at the tire shop put on too tight because he was overzealous with the impact wrench. Can keep your hands warm in the winter too when changing that tire, or help keep those nice manicured nails from getting all greasy and gunked up.

9. Pen & Paper: Comes in handy when you want to write something down.

10. Spare Change: Use for unexpected toll booths, pay phones, or parking meters.