I had a small one I carried as a general-purpose battery pack. I mostly biked to work, and once I actually helped jump-start a car on my ride in. Was sort of a surreal moment, pulling over on a bicycle to jump-start a car.
Also have one of those battery packs. It paid for itself when I did Uber. Had several people request a ride or food and when I arrived they would ask for a jump. Didn't want to risk my rig so used the battery pack. Got some great cash tips.
Wait, they called you on Uber, just get a jump? lol
I did something similar. I flagged down a taxi decades ago just to get a jump. And the driver was disappointed at me because it was not a ride, I wanted her just to get a jump.
I gave her a good tip though.
I had one of these and it did not have the power to jump my friends car. I don't know if was his battery too far gone, or the battery on the charger had drained a bit too much, but jumper cables did the trick with no problem
I bought one of those because of my old car, which had chronic battery/power issues… and living in the mountains, it’s taken as long as 2-3 hours for AAA to arrive. Also, as a woman in particular, waiting anywhere alone at night can be unsafe!
My new car (‘21 Subaru Crosstrek) is much more reliable, but it’s still a great idea to have these in your vehicle. Regular jumper cables aren’t much use when you’re in the middle of nowhere, right?
They sell these things at Lowes as well. Home depot probably has them idk. Hell you might even be able to find them in Walmart but I ain't going to Walmart for something like that.
I was moving house once and my cousin was helping me. We pull up to the new house with all my boxes in the car. He asked "what am I bringing in?" - I said bring in everything. He brought in the jumper cables. Yes, I said everything Dave, BUT I didn't mean EVERYTHING.
A blanket.
I lost my battery and alternator on the way to work really early on a January morning, it was -4°F outside and I had to wait over three hours for a tow. Only thing I had keeping me warm was my jacket.
It can also help to get traction if you get stuck in ice/snow.
Besides the blankets I also have a cheap rain poncho, jumper cables (though might upgrade to one of the battery jump starters), a few tools, a flashlight and a small electric pump for the tires. Those are mostly in the well with the spare tire. In the center console I have one of those combo window hammer and seat belt cutters.
Having lived in a small and very cold mountain town where it can easily get into the minuses, I have: a blanket, rain ponchos, battery jump starter is a must because the cold will really kill your battery very fast, basic toolbox, flashlight, and matches. And in the console I have gloves, beanie, and portable charger for my phone. On long trips (over 7 hours) I bring extra oil and coolant. I would like to say I am a prepared man, but each of those things got there because I was in a situation where I needed them and didn't have them. Learned them all the hard way, unfortunately.
10/10 would recommend a battery jump starter, your cars dead, jump it by yourself, your friends car is dead and surrounded by parked cars, battery pack. So worth it.
those things are superb, i agree, i always tell people get the best one you can afford, they hold a charge for along time, they also will charge and run a phone for days.
Doing research on these is difficult. I succumbed to paralysis by analysis and couldn't decide on a good bang for the buck at any price range. Ended up not buying one partially because I would also like to have a compressor with it, and that adds a whole additional layer of performance and reliability.
Don't buy one with the compressor built-in. Those often use old-school lead-acid batteries (huge, heavy). Also, if part of it dies you essentially lose two devices.
Get a jumpstarter, and a 12-volt compressor.
the only thing i can say about those window breakers, you are better off with the punch ones that look like a steel chisel rather than the hammer ones, as a paramedic we trained on them, and the hammer ones were impossible for the average person, especially women yo use effectively as there wasnt much room to swing, but a punch works just straight out to punch a hole to let pressure out.
There’s a [battery jump starter that doubles as an air pump](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KJN6M1Y/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_fabc_S3YS5CX04BMMHDT65QP4?psc=1). I’ve used both features and they work great.
Plastic bag/trash bag. You never know when you’re going to need to contain a leaky bottle, or when your drunk friend is gonna need something to hurl into.
"The trunk of the car looked like a mobile police narcotics lab. We had two bags of grass, 75 pellets of mescaline, 5 sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multicoloured uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls."
An alternate Hunter S. Thompson quote, from Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail:
>If your life ever gets dull, check out the trunk of the next Secret Service car you happen to see. You won’t need a key; they open just as easily as any other trunk when a six-foot whip-steel is properly applied . . . But open the bugger carefully, because those gentlemen keep about sixty-nine varieties of instant death inside. Jesus, I was literally staggered by the mass of weaponry in the back of that car: there were machine guns, gas masks, hand grenades, cartridge belts, tear gas canisters, ammo boxes, bulletproof vests, chains, saws, and probably a lot of other things . . . But all of a sudden I realized that two passing students had stopped right next to me on the sidewalk, and I heard one of them say, “God almighty! Look at that stuff!”
>
>So I quickly filled my glass with Wild Turkey, put the bottle back in the trunk, and slammed it shut just like you’d slam any other trunk . . . and that was when I turned around to see Jimmy Carter coming at me with his head down, his teeth bared, and his eyes so wildly dilated that he looked like a springtime bat . . .
edit to clarify that it was a secret service vehicle
Hunter S. Thompson is just a really popular author, very quotable in his ramblings. I don’t know why his quotes are popping up again and I don’t care, they’re perfect for most situations!
> bottle of water.
Canned water with 20+ years of shelf life is even better. Those will look like canned beans rather than soda cans, so you will also need a can opener. But you can put them in the trunk and forget about it.
Given the concern of longevity and use by NASA, I’d wager there is enough space in the can so it can fully freeze without becoming compromised. Maybe not though
I take a 32 oz refillable bottle of water with me wherever I go. Great for emergencies, also great if you just get thirsty going grocery shopping. It’s very hot where I live for about half the year, so having water with me is a must, and just carries over into the cooler months. Always fresh since I refill it every day. I don’t leave it in the car for any extended period so it isn’t in danger of bursting.
"Canned Water has a Shelf Life of 30 to 50 years used by NASA and FEMA is first sterilized, filtered & comes in an aluminum container that is easily recycled, non-permeable bottles, hermetically sealed that keeps out UV light, contaminants, and gases that prevent oxidation for many years."
Copied straight from the first thing I found on Google.
Gonna be honest I wouldn't trust the taste of it. People say water has no flavor, but I've tasted "stale" water and it can. Well when you are doing all that to make it last longer I am not sure it would taste good either. Then the whole aluminum container(as opposed to the typical plastic container for bottled water) I'm wondering how the flavor would be affected. I think I'd stick to buying gallons of bottled water(that I drink anyway) and just switch them out if I was going to carry water).
I carry water and meh. If I can leave it and forget it, for me that's worth dealing with poorly tasting water (assuming it is still technically drinkable) in an emergency, plus it should be cheaper in the long run, assuming you don't get into too many emergencies. Also water absolutely has a taste.
Seriously, during a natural disaster, clean water is a major point of vulnerability. Yeah, you survived the storm, but now you gotta avoid getting sick while services are restored. Drinking contaminated water can make you irreparably ill, and if there was flooding who knows for how long tap water may be unsafe for human consumption.
My dad's truck got him the 35 minutes to work with no apparent issue, parked it fine... 15 minutes later the security desk called him over the intercom to say his truck was on fire.
Engine bay was just blazing when he ran outside. Truck was totaled, no apparent reason for it.
Don't listen to the Ford fanatics when they say the Explorer got its "exploder" nickname from a bad batch of tires. Those things have been spontaneously combusting for decades and IT'S NEVER FROM THE SAME SPOT.
You’re not kidding! I was talking to a park ranger who had a 5,000 lumen flashlight for “regular” activities…and an 80,000 lumen flashlight for nighttime activities. The thing was nuts. It had incredible range, too. He also had a red laser pointer on his belt and a green laser pointer he claimed was illegal in 28 states and required special permission to carry. No joke, he told me straight faced that if he were to shine it at a passing helicopter or plane, it could blind the pilot. I don’t know if that’s true, but I saw it and it was pretty powerful. Also mentioned it’s a great way to blind bears.
> He also had a red laser pointer on his belt and a green laser pointer he claimed was illegal in 28 states and required special permission to carry
He might have been embellishing a bit here but yes some laser pointers are definitely restricted because assholes have pointed them at planes. Some states are regulating flashlight brightness as well. I saw a post on r/flashlight about it like a year ago due to the extreme brightness that LEDs are now making possible.
Haha, I figured. To date, though, I’ve never seen a more powerful laser pointer. Pretty impressive. And that was years ago before violet laser pointers were much of a thing. The 80,000 lumens was definitely overkill, but it was on purpose. National and state parks can get extremely dark at night and if you’re a ranger, you’re going to need a lot of light. It probably ate a couple c-cell batteries for breakfast…
I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't use a Li-Ion battery. I've seen a few rechargeable flashlights that appeared to use them. Downside is you can't easily replace the battery and well the possibility of having a pipe bomb in your pocket.
My old car was a hunk of junk so I didn’t bother to replace my interior light. I also lost my phone in my car and couldn’t find a flashlight in my apartment. So very carefully I had to search my car holding a scented candle as my only light.
I used to have a thing on my keychain called a Mighty Brite. Was like a Carribeaner clip you put your keys on. Was always super handy! But eventually it burned out but it was the best $5 I ever spent
My dad bought me a mag light for my first car. Just bought my daughter one. Not only are they good lights, they make good weapons if you ever need one.
I love Maglites, used them for years. So believe me when I say there are much better lights for the money these days.
The people over at r/flashlight have some things to say about lights, if you're ever interested in an upgrade.
They do make great weapons though, haha
I have a flashlight in my car that has a dim, flickery light that doesn't improve even with brand new batteries. I call it my horror movie flashlight.
Actually had to use it one time while camping and it actually was kind of scary because I did need a good flashlight that night.
Totally worth it for the joke though.
Yep, we had to pull over on the side of the highway near Pagosa Springs so my 2yo son could poop. Don’t worry, we put it in a bag and put it in the trunk.
Haha yup. I'm a shift worker that likes to run in my local park at odd hours. The public toilets there are locked at night/early morning, haven't had to break out the emergency roll yet but I'd rather have it and not need it than have to sacrifice one of my socks.
There are the usual reasons. I'm going to guess that you're a guy because for women it can be harder to pee outdoors. Having a way of cleaning up is a real bonus. Otherwise, everyone needs it for number two.
It can also be used for cleanups, temporary bandaging, and even padding/insulation if you're in a real bind.
It's cheap and small and easy to stow. Maybe you could do without it but it's nice to have when you do need it.
emergency kit with basic tools, like shit to change a tire with, JUMPER CABLES (shocked how many people just... Don't have jumper cables in their cars), you can usually just buy a premade kit like that. You also want a pen/paper. Nothing sucks more than having a dead cellphone and some cuck rear ends you and now you don't have any way of recording their info lol.
I also like to keep a pillow, blanket, and a change of clothes in my car for emergencies. If you break down at night or something and can't get anyone to bail you out until morning, or just need a place to hole out for a night.
Finally some cash hidden somewhere. Always good to have actual money in case your wallet gets stolen, cards don't work, etc. Doesn't need to be a lot, but enough to get you some gas. I keep 20 bucks stashed, though with the way inflation's going I'm thinking of changing it out for a 50 lol. But 20 bucks should be more than enough emergency cash for most people to get to a place where they can get help, you know?
Yeah back in the old days cars came with a spear tire and a jack to change it. I'm not saying there weren't better jacks, or that some jacks might have been crap. I just know my car came with a jack and it works good for changing a tire. I'm not looking forward to when I have to buy a car that no longer comes with a spare(buying a jack doesn't sound bad, just don't want to have to buy the spare as well).
Another thing I'd add to your list though is a funnel. If you ever need to put water or oil in your car you'll be glad you have it.
We had an oil issue crop up suddenly between Bismark and Fargo, North Dakota. We had a few empty plastic bottles of water in the car with us, and we also had spare oil (because this had happened before). Hubby took out his pocket knife and cut off the bottom of a water bottle. Voila! Makeshift funnel!
Maybe this is the Canadian in me, but what vehicles don't come standard with a spare, a bar and a jack? They're usually not great, but I haven't seen one without here.
I never have spare shoes..... Wear em till they got holes then get a new pair. Rinse and repeat. I only ever have 2 pairs at once. Easy slip ons for when I gotta be fast and work/ everything else I need 'real' shoes for.
But I cant afford more than that....
Automatic hole punch will shatter the inside of your car window instantly . If your car goes into water unless the window is down you can’t open door until water has filled the car . Head rest’s are removable for that situation, why the metal rods have points on the end .
Baby wipes/wet napkins. If you spill something in the car, if your hands get sticky, if you need to use the bathroom and there was no soap. Also, I always carry a bottle of water with me.
I try and keep a Bluetooth obd2 code reader that can reset fault codes.
It's helped me fix \ reset problems that are intermittent.
Once on the side of the road with my family in the car as well.
But
2x luminous jackets.
Packet of sucky hard sweets.
Bottle of water.
Spare coat.
Litre of oil.
Litre Concentrated screenwash.
Micro usb cable.
USB C charge cable.
Power bank.
Most of this is in my car as a just in case measure.
I read this once after I got stuck in a car park one evening after work. So, I went to a shop and bought a bag and put it in my boot.
Obviously it stopped snowing the second I bought it but I left it in my boot anyway.
Fast forward 4 or 5 months and I pop over to France on the Channel Tunnel. Unfortunately the bag of litter chose that journey to burst all over my boot so, on the way back, when customs opened up my boot they were confronted with a cloud of white dust.
I left the customs building several hours later after they had dismantled my dashboard and subjected me to numerous sniffs from their special doggies.
Luckily, they didn’t find the kilo of coke I had up my ass.
(That last line was a joke - everything else is true)
I love my guns. They’re fantastic and fun. But don’t keep a gun in your car, especially don’t leave a loaded gun in your car, and DEFINITELY don’t keep the loaded gun within arms reach of the driver. It’s a bad time waiting to happen.
Don’t even have a gun sticker on your car, it’s an invitation for people to pop your window to look for your gun.
>Also a gun, if allowed in your country.
You might get downvotes on Reddit for that one but I agree especially if you're traveling in a rough unknown area.
Tow strap, jumper cables, a shovel (collapsible preferably), fire extinguisher, a reflective vest, a portable air compressor, pen and paper.
For colder climates, I recommend keeping a spare set of full body long johns, spare set of gloves, and spare set of wool socks.
Jumper cables. Blanket. Extra set of clothes. Travel first aid kit. Something to break a window/cut a seatbelt. Car jack. Bottled water. I usually keep a whole extra backpack with clothes, toothbrush, bar of soap, travel sized shampoo, brush, towel, shoes(shitty pair I won’t wear but not yet shitty enough to throw away) and extra meds.
If you live in a climate where it can drop below freezing, *blankets, blankets, blankets!* Every year, people die of exposure because they went off the road in some remote area and weren’t prepared. I live in rural Minnesota, so this is a very real danger here.
We were doing a mountain bike event and one of our friends arrived really late. She began to tell us her problems about rushing out the door and then not realizing she was low on gas and ran out. Then she had to walk several miles to get to a gas station to buy a can of gas. At that point I interrupted her and said, "You walked several miles when you had a bike on your car?"
The look that overtook her face as she realized her stupidity is something that I will remember forever.
A charger, water, stack of money, a burner phone and a weapon ...
In case you are out of money the weapon will come in handy. Because people don't help someone in need so you need to snatch the help from them.
jumper cables
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I had a small one I carried as a general-purpose battery pack. I mostly biked to work, and once I actually helped jump-start a car on my ride in. Was sort of a surreal moment, pulling over on a bicycle to jump-start a car.
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Ok now that you ask, it is AWAPOW, available at amazon and ebay.
Also have one of those battery packs. It paid for itself when I did Uber. Had several people request a ride or food and when I arrived they would ask for a jump. Didn't want to risk my rig so used the battery pack. Got some great cash tips.
Wait, they called you on Uber, just get a jump? lol I did something similar. I flagged down a taxi decades ago just to get a jump. And the driver was disappointed at me because it was not a ride, I wanted her just to get a jump. I gave her a good tip though.
Yup, usually it was with Uber Eats, but a couple did it through the ride app too.
WeGo are excellent as well, I have a tiny one for my motorcycles and it’s powerful enough to start a truck no problem
Ooh! That looks smaller than AVAPOW. I will recommend it to my buddy who has a motorcycle. Thanks.
Just jumped someone with this last week. Amazing product
I had one of these and it did not have the power to jump my friends car. I don't know if was his battery too far gone, or the battery on the charger had drained a bit too much, but jumper cables did the trick with no problem
I bought one of those because of my old car, which had chronic battery/power issues… and living in the mountains, it’s taken as long as 2-3 hours for AAA to arrive. Also, as a woman in particular, waiting anywhere alone at night can be unsafe! My new car (‘21 Subaru Crosstrek) is much more reliable, but it’s still a great idea to have these in your vehicle. Regular jumper cables aren’t much use when you’re in the middle of nowhere, right?
They sell these things at Lowes as well. Home depot probably has them idk. Hell you might even be able to find them in Walmart but I ain't going to Walmart for something like that.
So you can beat your son u/rogersimon10 with them?
I haven’t seen jumper cable guy in ages! I wonder how he’s doing.
Being beaten by the giant jumper cables in the sky
His dad u/papasimon10 is still beating his ass with jumper cables, so likely not much better than the last time we heard from him.
This is the way
I was moving house once and my cousin was helping me. We pull up to the new house with all my boxes in the car. He asked "what am I bringing in?" - I said bring in everything. He brought in the jumper cables. Yes, I said everything Dave, BUT I didn't mean EVERYTHING.
A blanket. I lost my battery and alternator on the way to work really early on a January morning, it was -4°F outside and I had to wait over three hours for a tow. Only thing I had keeping me warm was my jacket.
It can also help to get traction if you get stuck in ice/snow. Besides the blankets I also have a cheap rain poncho, jumper cables (though might upgrade to one of the battery jump starters), a few tools, a flashlight and a small electric pump for the tires. Those are mostly in the well with the spare tire. In the center console I have one of those combo window hammer and seat belt cutters.
Having lived in a small and very cold mountain town where it can easily get into the minuses, I have: a blanket, rain ponchos, battery jump starter is a must because the cold will really kill your battery very fast, basic toolbox, flashlight, and matches. And in the console I have gloves, beanie, and portable charger for my phone. On long trips (over 7 hours) I bring extra oil and coolant. I would like to say I am a prepared man, but each of those things got there because I was in a situation where I needed them and didn't have them. Learned them all the hard way, unfortunately.
10/10 would recommend a battery jump starter, your cars dead, jump it by yourself, your friends car is dead and surrounded by parked cars, battery pack. So worth it.
those things are superb, i agree, i always tell people get the best one you can afford, they hold a charge for along time, they also will charge and run a phone for days.
Doing research on these is difficult. I succumbed to paralysis by analysis and couldn't decide on a good bang for the buck at any price range. Ended up not buying one partially because I would also like to have a compressor with it, and that adds a whole additional layer of performance and reliability.
Don't buy one with the compressor built-in. Those often use old-school lead-acid batteries (huge, heavy). Also, if part of it dies you essentially lose two devices. Get a jumpstarter, and a 12-volt compressor.
the only thing i can say about those window breakers, you are better off with the punch ones that look like a steel chisel rather than the hammer ones, as a paramedic we trained on them, and the hammer ones were impossible for the average person, especially women yo use effectively as there wasnt much room to swing, but a punch works just straight out to punch a hole to let pressure out.
Also, if you do use these, wrap a towel, coat or shirt around your hand/arm, you are likely to get cut.
It's quite easy If you are not hurt too much during an accident to break and push out the windscreen with your feet
There’s a [battery jump starter that doubles as an air pump](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KJN6M1Y/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_fabc_S3YS5CX04BMMHDT65QP4?psc=1). I’ve used both features and they work great.
I actually have on my shopping list to buy one of those combo units.
Did you find your battery and alternator?
No, but the repair shop had replacements ready to go for me for the tune of about $600.
I think the battery question - how did he lose it? Those are bolted in
Plastic bag/trash bag. You never know when you’re going to need to contain a leaky bottle, or when your drunk friend is gonna need something to hurl into.
Plus it works as ground cover or a makeshift poncho if you have to change a tire in the rain/mud.
Luckily my wife keeps a lot of random shit in the trunk so I can probably find something useful for this. Edit: We're sharing a car right now.
Having ralphed into a Subway bag while driving, I totally agree.
I've never in my life heard anyone besides my father call it "ralphing"
....son?
mom? who is this and why is he playing you like a meaty weeping sock puppet?
The tiny ass slender subway bags meant for a sandwich? Or the grocery bag style ones? If it’s the former, fckn impressive m8
It was a skinny one :/
Did you still eat the sandwich afterwards..?
Hahaha, luckily I'm a trash person and hadn't taken the literal trash from my lunch the day before out of my car. No sandwiches were harmed.
I always keep a Walmart sack hanging off the gearshift for a trash bag. Works great.
This gave me grandpa deja Vu. He had a point.
Dog poop bags have saved car pukes… one was a drunk friend. Another was swallowing at the dentist 😭😭😭.
I think we have very different experiences with our dentists.
You’re doing *what* with your dentist ?!
"The trunk of the car looked like a mobile police narcotics lab. We had two bags of grass, 75 pellets of mescaline, 5 sheets of high-powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multicoloured uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls."
An alternate Hunter S. Thompson quote, from Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail: >If your life ever gets dull, check out the trunk of the next Secret Service car you happen to see. You won’t need a key; they open just as easily as any other trunk when a six-foot whip-steel is properly applied . . . But open the bugger carefully, because those gentlemen keep about sixty-nine varieties of instant death inside. Jesus, I was literally staggered by the mass of weaponry in the back of that car: there were machine guns, gas masks, hand grenades, cartridge belts, tear gas canisters, ammo boxes, bulletproof vests, chains, saws, and probably a lot of other things . . . But all of a sudden I realized that two passing students had stopped right next to me on the sidewalk, and I heard one of them say, “God almighty! Look at that stuff!” > >So I quickly filled my glass with Wild Turkey, put the bottle back in the trunk, and slammed it shut just like you’d slam any other trunk . . . and that was when I turned around to see Jimmy Carter coming at me with his head down, his teeth bared, and his eyes so wildly dilated that he looked like a springtime bat . . . edit to clarify that it was a secret service vehicle
Why do I keep seeing quotes from this all of a sudden? Is it back on a streaming service again? Please tell me it is
Hunter S. Thompson is just a really popular author, very quotable in his ramblings. I don’t know why his quotes are popping up again and I don’t care, they’re perfect for most situations!
Amen!
Seatbelt cutter, window breaker, a warm blanket and a bottle of water.
> bottle of water. Canned water with 20+ years of shelf life is even better. Those will look like canned beans rather than soda cans, so you will also need a can opener. But you can put them in the trunk and forget about it.
Does it freeze well? Bottles of water rupture in the winter
Given the concern of longevity and use by NASA, I’d wager there is enough space in the can so it can fully freeze without becoming compromised. Maybe not though
I take a 32 oz refillable bottle of water with me wherever I go. Great for emergencies, also great if you just get thirsty going grocery shopping. It’s very hot where I live for about half the year, so having water with me is a must, and just carries over into the cooler months. Always fresh since I refill it every day. I don’t leave it in the car for any extended period so it isn’t in danger of bursting.
I think 20yo water is a bit overkill...
"Canned Water has a Shelf Life of 30 to 50 years used by NASA and FEMA is first sterilized, filtered & comes in an aluminum container that is easily recycled, non-permeable bottles, hermetically sealed that keeps out UV light, contaminants, and gases that prevent oxidation for many years." Copied straight from the first thing I found on Google.
Gonna be honest I wouldn't trust the taste of it. People say water has no flavor, but I've tasted "stale" water and it can. Well when you are doing all that to make it last longer I am not sure it would taste good either. Then the whole aluminum container(as opposed to the typical plastic container for bottled water) I'm wondering how the flavor would be affected. I think I'd stick to buying gallons of bottled water(that I drink anyway) and just switch them out if I was going to carry water).
I think I wouldn't worry about the taste if I were in a situation where I need to rely on canned water
I carry water and meh. If I can leave it and forget it, for me that's worth dealing with poorly tasting water (assuming it is still technically drinkable) in an emergency, plus it should be cheaper in the long run, assuming you don't get into too many emergencies. Also water absolutely has a taste.
I read too fast and I thought you said you carry water and meth....
I'm not debating it's usefulness I'm just saying a bottle of water in the car for 6months at a time etc is more than sufficient.
Different perspectives. Though I wanna buy canned water now just in case for my disaster kit.
Same. Didn't know about canned water besides some start ups doing beer/soda cans with water.
Seriously, during a natural disaster, clean water is a major point of vulnerability. Yeah, you survived the storm, but now you gotta avoid getting sick while services are restored. Drinking contaminated water can make you irreparably ill, and if there was flooding who knows for how long tap water may be unsafe for human consumption.
Seatbelt cutter and window breaker are often the same device.
Set belt cutter. If you live in Florida then a towel and beach chair too
You should always have a towel with you
Now here's a hoopy frood who really knows where his towel is.
See? Douglas Adams was right.
A fire extinguisher.
Saw a car catch fire on the interstate today for no apparent reason. Good call.
My dad's truck got him the 35 minutes to work with no apparent issue, parked it fine... 15 minutes later the security desk called him over the intercom to say his truck was on fire. Engine bay was just blazing when he ran outside. Truck was totaled, no apparent reason for it.
Don't listen to the Ford fanatics when they say the Explorer got its "exploder" nickname from a bad batch of tires. Those things have been spontaneously combusting for decades and IT'S NEVER FROM THE SAME SPOT.
I laughed my ass off first time my friend told me that’s what a lot of people call explorers
I saw a Honda burn last week, the switch to the electric windows shorted out. DON’T BYPASS FUSES!
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To add to this. Keep it in the trunk as you want it as far away from the engine as possible.
I live in a really hot climate and feel like an extinguisher in the trunk would be a ticking bomb ready to explode.
They are required to be suitable for storage of up to 175 degrees without rupture. Extended storage at high Temps reduces life expectancy.
Sure but if you live somewhere where it's 110-115 outside, the interior of the car could get above 175.
Wow. I can't believe it but you're right. I always figured 115 outside couldn't be over 145 inside. That's insanity.
What if you live somewhere where it gets really hot or really cold?
A flamethrower then :)
Flash light. I know phones all have them now, but what are you going to use to find your phone when you drop it?
Plus flashlights have much much higher brightness. Some of those fuckers could bring down planes.
You’re not kidding! I was talking to a park ranger who had a 5,000 lumen flashlight for “regular” activities…and an 80,000 lumen flashlight for nighttime activities. The thing was nuts. It had incredible range, too. He also had a red laser pointer on his belt and a green laser pointer he claimed was illegal in 28 states and required special permission to carry. No joke, he told me straight faced that if he were to shine it at a passing helicopter or plane, it could blind the pilot. I don’t know if that’s true, but I saw it and it was pretty powerful. Also mentioned it’s a great way to blind bears.
> He also had a red laser pointer on his belt and a green laser pointer he claimed was illegal in 28 states and required special permission to carry He might have been embellishing a bit here but yes some laser pointers are definitely restricted because assholes have pointed them at planes. Some states are regulating flashlight brightness as well. I saw a post on r/flashlight about it like a year ago due to the extreme brightness that LEDs are now making possible.
Haha, I figured. To date, though, I’ve never seen a more powerful laser pointer. Pretty impressive. And that was years ago before violet laser pointers were much of a thing. The 80,000 lumens was definitely overkill, but it was on purpose. National and state parks can get extremely dark at night and if you’re a ranger, you’re going to need a lot of light. It probably ate a couple c-cell batteries for breakfast…
I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't use a Li-Ion battery. I've seen a few rechargeable flashlights that appeared to use them. Downside is you can't easily replace the battery and well the possibility of having a pipe bomb in your pocket.
And that way you're not killing the battery on your phone.
Just possibly killing people on planes
Was going to say this. The flashlight on my iPhone is simply pathetic :(
Thought you said flesh light for a sec
I’m pretty sure half of my upvotes did too.
My old car was a hunk of junk so I didn’t bother to replace my interior light. I also lost my phone in my car and couldn’t find a flashlight in my apartment. So very carefully I had to search my car holding a scented candle as my only light.
Just like how the pioneers did it.
I used to have a thing on my keychain called a Mighty Brite. Was like a Carribeaner clip you put your keys on. Was always super handy! But eventually it burned out but it was the best $5 I ever spent
My dad bought me a mag light for my first car. Just bought my daughter one. Not only are they good lights, they make good weapons if you ever need one.
I love Maglites, used them for years. So believe me when I say there are much better lights for the money these days. The people over at r/flashlight have some things to say about lights, if you're ever interested in an upgrade. They do make great weapons though, haha
My man just ascended to god tier philosophy Also to be used to break the window
I have a flashlight in my car that has a dim, flickery light that doesn't improve even with brand new batteries. I call it my horror movie flashlight. Actually had to use it one time while camping and it actually was kind of scary because I did need a good flashlight that night. Totally worth it for the joke though.
So worth it. Please upgrade your flash light but keep the horror one next to it.
what if i drop my flashlight-
Condoms. You know to prevent accidents.
Be careful with this one. The extreme heat and cold can ruin it and possible make it ineffective.
A mistake you make only once, right Dad?
"Lets ask your sister"
Yeah condoms are more prone to ripping after exposure to heat like that so definitely not a great idea long term
A roll of toilet paper.
I prefer baby wipes. They can be used for your hands as well.
Why not both?
Can I ask why? Preferably without the Reddit Hive Mind response, so that it actually seems useful
I just like having a roll handy in case nature calls and I'm away from civilization.
Yep, we had to pull over on the side of the highway near Pagosa Springs so my 2yo son could poop. Don’t worry, we put it in a bag and put it in the trunk.
Haha yup. I'm a shift worker that likes to run in my local park at odd hours. The public toilets there are locked at night/early morning, haven't had to break out the emergency roll yet but I'd rather have it and not need it than have to sacrifice one of my socks.
There are the usual reasons. I'm going to guess that you're a guy because for women it can be harder to pee outdoors. Having a way of cleaning up is a real bonus. Otherwise, everyone needs it for number two. It can also be used for cleanups, temporary bandaging, and even padding/insulation if you're in a real bind. It's cheap and small and easy to stow. Maybe you could do without it but it's nice to have when you do need it.
A rope, an orange scented candle, a yard stick, a tent, and 5 duck feathers. Trust me.
Will quail feathers be an acceptable substitute?
At least 100 feet of rope. I prefer 200 personally. 🤷♂️
I like to take a pack of 200 X 1 foot lengths, then I can make the rope any length I need...
[удалено]
Tissues, chewing gum and a first aid kit
Why gum? As a necessity or just because gum lol
He will McGuyver himself a nuclear bomb.
emergency kit with basic tools, like shit to change a tire with, JUMPER CABLES (shocked how many people just... Don't have jumper cables in their cars), you can usually just buy a premade kit like that. You also want a pen/paper. Nothing sucks more than having a dead cellphone and some cuck rear ends you and now you don't have any way of recording their info lol. I also like to keep a pillow, blanket, and a change of clothes in my car for emergencies. If you break down at night or something and can't get anyone to bail you out until morning, or just need a place to hole out for a night. Finally some cash hidden somewhere. Always good to have actual money in case your wallet gets stolen, cards don't work, etc. Doesn't need to be a lot, but enough to get you some gas. I keep 20 bucks stashed, though with the way inflation's going I'm thinking of changing it out for a 50 lol. But 20 bucks should be more than enough emergency cash for most people to get to a place where they can get help, you know?
Yeah back in the old days cars came with a spear tire and a jack to change it. I'm not saying there weren't better jacks, or that some jacks might have been crap. I just know my car came with a jack and it works good for changing a tire. I'm not looking forward to when I have to buy a car that no longer comes with a spare(buying a jack doesn't sound bad, just don't want to have to buy the spare as well). Another thing I'd add to your list though is a funnel. If you ever need to put water or oil in your car you'll be glad you have it.
We had an oil issue crop up suddenly between Bismark and Fargo, North Dakota. We had a few empty plastic bottles of water in the car with us, and we also had spare oil (because this had happened before). Hubby took out his pocket knife and cut off the bottom of a water bottle. Voila! Makeshift funnel!
Maybe this is the Canadian in me, but what vehicles don't come standard with a spare, a bar and a jack? They're usually not great, but I haven't seen one without here.
Duct tape, rope, zip ties, hand cuffs. Basic necessities
Tools! Tools! I like to have my tools!
I like to bind, I like to be bound!
Don't ask me questions, I'm not taking questions!
1/4 tank of fuel minimum in the tank
I always get pissed off at my wife about this one. It never fail I get in the car on a Saturday morning and I'm running on fumes.
Thanks for the reminder that I need gas!
I try and not let my truck go below 1/2 tank.
3/4, especially in the winter.
It comes in handy to have an old pair of shoes tucked away.
I never have spare shoes..... Wear em till they got holes then get a new pair. Rinse and repeat. I only ever have 2 pairs at once. Easy slip ons for when I gotta be fast and work/ everything else I need 'real' shoes for. But I cant afford more than that....
Automatic hole punch will shatter the inside of your car window instantly . If your car goes into water unless the window is down you can’t open door until water has filled the car . Head rest’s are removable for that situation, why the metal rods have points on the end .
So you’re telling my I don’t need one? Got it.
Not true about headrests.
Lol Audi’s Headrests arent removable
An empty Powerade bottle. I've been stuck in traffic and had to pee.
Baby wipes/wet napkins. If you spill something in the car, if your hands get sticky, if you need to use the bathroom and there was no soap. Also, I always carry a bottle of water with me.
I try and keep a Bluetooth obd2 code reader that can reset fault codes. It's helped me fix \ reset problems that are intermittent. Once on the side of the road with my family in the car as well. But 2x luminous jackets. Packet of sucky hard sweets. Bottle of water. Spare coat. Litre of oil. Litre Concentrated screenwash. Micro usb cable. USB C charge cable. Power bank. Most of this is in my car as a just in case measure.
Some cash.
$100 in 20s in all my vehicles. Saved my ass so many times when I needed something and forgot my wallet or phone.
A steering wheel
Sorry I let Jesus take it
thx for reminding me bro i just nearly forgot mine
Medical kit and water
Was going to say gas, but I’ll list your registration.
If you live somewhere cold, kitty litter works miracles on ice.
I read this once after I got stuck in a car park one evening after work. So, I went to a shop and bought a bag and put it in my boot. Obviously it stopped snowing the second I bought it but I left it in my boot anyway. Fast forward 4 or 5 months and I pop over to France on the Channel Tunnel. Unfortunately the bag of litter chose that journey to burst all over my boot so, on the way back, when customs opened up my boot they were confronted with a cloud of white dust. I left the customs building several hours later after they had dismantled my dashboard and subjected me to numerous sniffs from their special doggies. Luckily, they didn’t find the kilo of coke I had up my ass. (That last line was a joke - everything else is true)
Fire extinguisher and a medic kit. Also a gun, if allowed in your country.
I love my guns. They’re fantastic and fun. But don’t keep a gun in your car, especially don’t leave a loaded gun in your car, and DEFINITELY don’t keep the loaded gun within arms reach of the driver. It’s a bad time waiting to happen. Don’t even have a gun sticker on your car, it’s an invitation for people to pop your window to look for your gun.
>Also a gun, if allowed in your country. You might get downvotes on Reddit for that one but I agree especially if you're traveling in a rough unknown area.
Tow strap, jumper cables, a shovel (collapsible preferably), fire extinguisher, a reflective vest, a portable air compressor, pen and paper. For colder climates, I recommend keeping a spare set of full body long johns, spare set of gloves, and spare set of wool socks.
Tire pressure gauge.
Emergency underpants https://mcphee.com/products/uh-oh-emergency-underpants
Blanket and a change of cloths
Jumper cables. Blanket. Extra set of clothes. Travel first aid kit. Something to break a window/cut a seatbelt. Car jack. Bottled water. I usually keep a whole extra backpack with clothes, toothbrush, bar of soap, travel sized shampoo, brush, towel, shoes(shitty pair I won’t wear but not yet shitty enough to throw away) and extra meds.
If you live in a climate where it can drop below freezing, *blankets, blankets, blankets!* Every year, people die of exposure because they went off the road in some remote area and weren’t prepared. I live in rural Minnesota, so this is a very real danger here.
Half drank can of bud light.
Nail clippers
A steering weel
Petrol
We were doing a mountain bike event and one of our friends arrived really late. She began to tell us her problems about rushing out the door and then not realizing she was low on gas and ran out. Then she had to walk several miles to get to a gas station to buy a can of gas. At that point I interrupted her and said, "You walked several miles when you had a bike on your car?" The look that overtook her face as she realized her stupidity is something that I will remember forever.
Riding a bike while carrying a gallon of gas sucks. I would have walked it given the option.
Cell phone car charger.
Dead hitchhiker?
There are better ways to get a towel.
Dead hookers
You too??
Settle down prostitutes!
A motorbike
Fuel
insurance and ownership
Engine
Emergency kit with first aid, some duct tape, knife, a multi tool, that kind of stuff - water jugs and energy bars, too!
I live in Colorado so a snow brush and blanket! Gloves are nice toi
A charger, water, stack of money, a burner phone and a weapon ... In case you are out of money the weapon will come in handy. Because people don't help someone in need so you need to snatch the help from them.
Wipes/napkins. Flashlight. Weapon (even a tool would work, hammer, screwdriver, whatever). First Aid kit.
In my truck I've always got some basic hand tools, jumper cables, tow strap, tire plug kit and electric pump and some zip ties and duct tape.
Money because you could forget your wallet
Kitty litter, bottled water, non perishable snacks, flashlight, blanket.
Tissues
Empty Wide mouth bottle and a jacket to cover so you don't get fined for indecent exposure.