Car Emergency items

[ErichFromm]

I'm still ruminating on the idea of buying a new car (a Forester now rather than X Trail due to forum feedback!) and while day dreaming have started thinking about what sort of emergency items I'll store in the back, most likely in a single bag/container. This is not the usual jumper cables, jack etc but rather a pack of items you'd always keep in the back "just in case". I'd want to have enough to cater for most situations, but not so much that there is no room in the back for anything else….

My first thoughts were:
* 100% wool blanket (so getting wet is not a problem)
* First aid kit (of course)
* Transpiration bag
* Lollies/something high in calories
* Lighter
* Large Orange garbage bag
* Rope
* Torch

Also what would you store it in: an overnight bag, special purpose canvas sack or something of dual use?

[Strider]

Knife

[doogs]

A big saw or chainsaw. You never know when a tree is going to fall on a road in a remote area trapping you, and it may be days before the next car comes along the road!!

[GPSGuided]

Where are you going?

[phan_TOM]

I support your choice of a forester, when mine dies I'm going to get another one

I have most of those things you listed in the back of my car & I'd also add:

- a decent length and type of rope. You mention rope but they aren't all created equal. I purchased a 30m length of rope from the specials bin at bunnings a couple of years ago and the sheath abraded / separated from the core the first time I used it to tie a load in the back of the ute. Hopleless even dangerous stuff... I now carry a decommissioned 15m length of 10mm static climbing rope. The sheath is a little hairy but otherwise it's fine & I know it's rock solid if it comes down to it.
- a bottle of water to the list, at least 2L. Potable.
- covered footwear (i frequently drive barefoot but always have my work or bushwalking boots with me)
- a pair or two of cheapo gardening gloves. Seeing as it's a car kit your most likely to use your stuff after coming across an accident. With all the broken glass, twisted metal, or barbed wire fence they went through the gloves are a necessary item.
- a small axe/saw. I keep a very sharp small forest axe in the back of my car. A saw is probably a better in some ways than the axe and vice versa.
- duct tape / assortment of cable ties
- leatherman or other multitool
- maybe a raincoat / poncho

[ErichFromm]

Some good ideas there.

In answer: not planning for the pack to be for any particular travel destination. Aiming more for something that you put in the back of the car and forget - which is why overall size needs to be reasonable. I'd also want dedicated things only to avoid the "oh - that's right I took the torch for that last hike and it's back at the house still in the backpack" type scenario....

I guess the most common type of emergency would be a car breakdown. Could be something as small as using the blanket to keep my son warm while waiting for roadside assist....

Can't believe I forgot to include a knife in my original list: I hang my head in shame.....

[Strider]

Puncture repair kit can also come in (very) handy. But you'll need a compressor to make good use of it.
Pen and paper.
Hi-vis vest or jacket.

[Mark F]

A small blue tarp for those times you have to change a tyre or find a stick that is caught up in the suspension. It always happens on a wet and muddy road.

I leave my SPOT in the car. If I come across an accident it can summon help if no phone signal.

In stead of a straight wool blanket I have a picnic blanket with a waterproof backing.

Small 12v work light that plugs into the power outlet.

[GPSGuided]

The list can go on and on I guess. But with a AWD and general unpaved road driving, I'd think a shovel, rope, torch, knife, car tools (spanners/driver), jumper cable, gaffer tape, work gloves, rag and a supply of water are the bare minimum.

[Onestepmore]

I always have a raincoat, 2L water, torch, separate batteries, first aid kit, spare money, lighter, pen and paper, insect repellant, sunblock, tissues, space blanket, old towel, pair of gardening gloves, fluoro plastic top to go over clothes, rope, gaffer tape, cable ties, jumper cables, folding shovel/pick, ratchet tie downs, general maps of Sydney and NSW, latex gloves, a Drizabone, hand sanitiser, wet ones. I have a car fridge and ark pack secondary battery in the back of our car (a 'soccer mum' Kluger) that sit on a drawer so it's all packed away tidily.

[Moondog55]

The minimum I keep in the Bosses car is the CFA "Bushfire Kit minus the radio plus 20+ litres of water.
In the ute I keep lots more but always plenty of water. Axe,shovel, trench shovel, snatch straps and some extra rope. Lots of tie-downs. Sometimes some star pickets and drag chain
Trouble is with a ute the tendency to take lots of stuff that may never be used but getting stuck in a mud bog is no fun
I often take a SS washing machine drum with a steel wheel in it as a portable fire-pit.
Swag can get chucked in the back any time as it is usually ready to go; if I use the swag I chuck in a tarp or three
List can get huge

[Tortoise]

Just when I thought i'd reduce the amount of stuff have in my car, i realise i need a bit more.
Welcome back, OSM, btw.

[Strider]

I never leave home without a fire extinguisher!

[GPSGuided]

I never leave home without a fire extinguisher!

Do you always expect an engine fire?

[Strider]

I never leave home without a fire extinguisher!

Do you always expect an engine fire?

No. I just always have one in the boot of the car. Who knows what you'll come across.

I once saw a ute driving along with a fire blazing away in the tray. The bloke driving had no idea!

[Onestepmore]

Oh yeah, I forgot there is a small fire extinguisher in there too. Thanks for the reminder
*waves* to Tortoise.
I've been away a lot working lol. Trying to organise a big backyard renovation (I officially hate councils) Lurking.

[walk2wineries]

I can't believe no-one suggested toilet paper! For use mainly in roadside loos which sometimes have none in busy periods, of course, I hate seeing that stuff in the bush. Spare rubbish bags and disposable gloves for removing rubbish from scenic lookout.... Some spare water in old 2L milk containers for the overseas tourists who think there will be water at all freecamping and roadside powernap areas.
I keep a fluro-orange satchel under the front passenger seat, with small torch, batteries for that and for a clever gadget that gives emergency charge to a mobile, pop-up "witches hats" in case of breakdown, hi vis vest and disposable raincoat. Easy to store and find & the satchel itself could be used as a sign.
I've a 4x4 camper so of course I have a lot of the other stuff. The list above is something I give to newly licensed drivers in the extended family, along with firstaid kit.
Small secateurs are amazingly useful - squeeze car into a small space to go walking, neatly trim the bush that is flush against the door. I used mine once to free a deer caught up in fence wire - and before anyone objects, we TRIED to get the ranger, it was either that or kill it and really.....ick.

[Moondog55]

I can't believe no-one suggested toilet paper!

Not an emergency item, it's a staple; and we always keep a roll in the glove box with a small bottle of sanitiser stuffed inside the inner tube

[Strider]

I can't believe no-one suggested toilet paper!

Not an emergency item, it's a staple; and we always keep a roll in the glove box with a small bottle of sanitiser stuffed inside the inner tube

I've always been cautious of storing my sanitiser with my bog roll. What if it leaked

[Moondog55]

Doesn't sting "THAT MUCH"

[Strider]

I was more concerned about not having any dry poo tickets MD!

[Moondog55]

Baby wipes
Never had one leak ; well not in the glove box so far but maybe we should add a pck of baby wipes as well

[photohiker]

We carry a mechanical spares kit as well as a small tool kit. Fan belt, air/oil filters, oil, puncture repair kit, spare wheel studs, etc. Recovery kit with rated shackles.. Air compressor mounted under bonnet,

25cm square of 16mm ply as jackstand for soft ground. First aid kit, glass break hammer.

[Gadgetgeek]

If you carry a dry chem fire extinguisher, make sure its well secured. if something happens and it blasts off, you can expect a massive effort to clean it up. (plus its pretty corrosive to steel so its not like you can just detail it and forget it.)

Make sure your spare is good, and adequate for your needs. a donut is lighter, but not so great if you are 200km from civilization. Also make sure you have the right tools to change a tire. I've had one car that the special socket for the locking wheel-nut could not be found, and another that needed a very large torx to get the mag cap off. not fun to improvise on the side of the road. risks of buying used, but still worth checking on a new car.

Water is great, both for you and the car.

visibility can't be overstated. Sure lots of outback trucks have extra lights, but you want to be well seen. triangles, and a vest are great, especially if you have to take to walking. I got my brother in law a battery powered beacon for his little car (Jimny) so that it could be found if he was in trouble. fairly cheap, and lithium powered. visible from a decent distance at night, I figured it would be better than relying on just the reflectors.

[walkon]

Snatch strap and appropriate d bolts! Ropes are usually given to others to help them so the cheaper the better. Tyre repair kit and little air compressor. Zip ties, skinny and fat both sorts are long 6 of each. Decent pair of side cutters, they can prune cut cable and whatever else. Under front seats dehydrated food, water and a cook set. First Aid kit, shovel, torch. Oh yeah ockky straps on the cargo barrier, they hold your packs in beautifully as well as other stuff. And yes a knife, not telling what sort

[Moondog55]

A lot of what we consider to be very necessary will of course depend on where we live and where we may be headed.
If I know I'll be away for a long while and away from the black I'll add extra fuel and basic maintenance gear. The jacking block already mentioned isn't in my opinion emergency gear, it's something I have carried with the spare wheel and jack since I had my first car [ I did learn something from my dad ] I must admit tho that the day-glo vest usually only goes into the spare wheel locker in winter- maybe I should get another to leave in there full time like I do the wheel chains and stuff. Flashing LED beacon is an excellent suggestion; K-Mart sell flashing rear lights for pushbikes that last about a week on 2 AA batteries that would do that job
Not a bad idea to leave the fully packed picnic kit in the car as we do. there's a days supply of food and drink in that plus something to cut with/ cook in and drink out of /eat off

[Ellobuddha]

4litres water, two cans of baked beans and two bags of snakes......

On top of rainproof gear, fleece, gloves, beanie, loo paper, knife, matches, lighter. This is in my own car. I have rope as well. Its a van so only going to be in less remote places so no saw etc.

Same in work truck which is 4wd with winch etc. worse comes to worse I'd just start trashing the truck to salvage anything handy. Full recovery kit in there so snatch straps etc also readily available,

[ErichFromm]

By the sounds of it I need to take out the baby seat and leave the toddler at home, or buy a trailer. All this stuff is going to take up some space....

[Moondog55]

Or buy a real car Volvo XC 90 is what I lust after
Or a bus

[GPSGuided]

By the sounds of it I need to take out the baby seat and leave the toddler at home, or buy a trailer. All this stuff is going to take up some space....

... and weight -> Increased fuel consumption.