Winter preparedness for car travel

What to carry in your car

What to carry – Trunk or inside cab? What works best for you?

• First aid kit – should be year round

• Tire chains
  • Even if you have snow tires, even if you have 4wd
  • Make sure they fit and are ready to use w/ new rubber tensioners.
  • When was the last time you put THOSE chains on your CURRENT tires?

• Warmth: Blanket, pillow, sleeping bag
  • Wool works wet, puts out fire and shouldn’t catch fire
  • Synthetic – warms better
  • Sleeping bag – more than one, if more than one people
  • Pillow can be a that jacket we’re about to talk about

• Clothing
  • Waterproof jacket (with hood)
    • Old ski jacket w/ hat, gloves
  • Hats
    • Ball cap
    • Ski cap
    • Older ski balaclava
  • Gloves (work and warm)
  • Boots w/ socks (winter, summer)
  • Scarf
  • Layers: jacket, sweat shirt, long sleeve shirt, socks
  • Full change of clothes (think downpour)
  • High visibility safety vest

• Food & Drink – think freezing temperatures
  • Snacks that last – beef jerky
  • Bottled water – Gatorade, vitamin water

• Tools
  • Basic tool kit – should be year round
  • Jumper cables or battery booster – boosters are stupid good
  • Shovel – think correct size for you
  • Pocket knife – multitool
  • Flashlight – consider a head lamp
  • Ice scraper – for your passenger to use
  • Tools for changing a tire – should already be in your car, check them

• Miscellaneous Stuff
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Road flares – better: flashers, triangles
  • Spare fuses – okay, it’s a Jeep thing
  • Wiper fluid – check the temp rating or add rubbing alcohol
  • Tow strap, learn how to use it, where to attach it
  • Duct tape – now in many colors and patterns
  • Paracord
  • Glasses: sun, readers, prescription
  • Kleenex, paper towels
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste
  • Lip balm
  • Sunscreen
  • Spare wiper blades – save the old ones
  • Medications, medical needs
    • A full set of prescription meds for four days
    • Aspirin
    • Anti- inflammatory
    • Pain meds
  • Deck of cards, books, games, crosswords, etc.
  • Note pad, pen, paper
  • Moist wipes
  • Toilet paper
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Road map – old school paper map, think cell tower down
  • Spare cash
  • Lighter
  • Hand warmers, hot packs
  • Battery powered radio
  • Laser pointer for helicopter – another Jeep thing
  • Traction device or non-clay kitty litter
  • Backpack to carry a bunch of this stuff

• Phone specific stuff
  • Download a GPS app to your phone
    • Do you always know exactly where you are?
  • Spare quick charge battery pack – jumper battery thing
    • Think dead car battery, dying phone
  • Charging cords
    • Bring one for your friend’s phone
  • List of phone numbers of doctors and friends
    • Who knows their significant other’s phone number?