Just bought my first car. What should I have with me for emergencies?

[Nuprapture]

I just bought myself a 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. It's my first car, so I'm not aware of the knids of things I should be carrying around with me incase of emergencies.

So far I have:

Snow Brush
Multi-tool (like those pliers with stuff in the handle)
Windshield washer fluid
Spare tire and the jack


Is there anything else I should be carrying with me?

[Spidey]

I have a small rubebrmaid container with the following. One for each vehicle. These are more or l3ess for being stranded in the winter

- first aid kit
- couple bottles of water
- granola bars
- candles
- small flashlight
- matches
- small knife
- booster cables
- thermal blanket (those shiny kinds)
- rain poncho
- work gloves
- 1 litre of oil


Add anything else you can think of just add or subtract

[Buffdaddy]

I'd carry a can of fix-a-flat or similar flat-tire filler.

This is a LOT safer and easier to use than to try to actually physically put on a spare on the side of a road, especially a highway.

I carry jumper cables myself, though some people prefer not to..
I prefer a GOOD set to those tiny 1-time-use ones in the Canadian Tire/Wal Mart emergency 'kits'. I tried to use those emergency ones on my 76 Impala once and the current melted them through on the first attempt...then I had to hunt down a good set anyhow. Better to get it right the first try.

You could also throw in a litre of oil and litre of Tranny fluid into your emergency kit if you so choose. Not really something thats CRUCIAL, but handy in a pinch.

My truck, I can replace my fan/serpentine belt with a single socket. Thus, I carry an extra fan belt in my kit too.
HAving blown a fan belt off of my 76 impala being stupid (IE racing), and having to pay $200 for a tow instead of $15 for a fan belt, I feel much more comfortable just having one.

Of course, I have a couple standard sockets and a wrench in there as well.

Aside from that, your CAA card can be your best friend, in my experience.
Some people carry a little box of fuses, which can also be useful.

Some people have a small gas can in their trunk too. Just remember once you use this once to clean it out as soon as you can so that the fumes/vapours from the leftover gas dont damage or harm anything.

Ultimately its your call. You can never prepare for everything, but any time something 'bad' happens, you'll likely add something to your list of 'must have' emergency items.

Oh, and yes, it sound sliek I have a lot of emergency stuff. I do, I suppose, but I got one of the rubbermaid tote boxes (small) and can fit everything into that, which i then store in my trunk.


Have fun!

[divx]

Just carry a cellphone and you are set.

[Spidey]

Just carry a cellphone and you are set.


Not so. Not everywhere you go has cell phone reception. False sense of security if u ask me

[McLaren]

Add a disposable camera in your glovebox so that you can take pictures if you are in an accident.

[Focus]

driver license
insurance policy
cel phone

Unless you visit remote area very regularly I don't see what's the big deal.

[FastFokker]

I'd carry a can of fix-a-flat or similar flat-tire filler.But it ruines your tire, no?

I recommend it to people who are just incapable of changing their own tire, but umm why carry a spare tire if you're never going to use it?

But the fact that it ruines your tire and you have to buy a new tire is kind of a turn off. (unless it doesn't)

[Spidey]

driver license
insurance policy
cel phone

Unless you visit remote area very regularly I don't see what's the big deal.

As they say, **** happens

[cliff]

I have a small rubebrmaid container with the following. One for each vehicle. These are more or l3ess for being stranded in the winter

- first aid kit
- couple bottles of water
- granola bars
- candles
- small flashlight
- matches
- small knife
- booster cables
- thermal blanket (those shiny kinds)
- rain poncho
- work gloves
- 1 litre of oil


Add anything else you can think of just add or subtract

This is a good list. I would add a couple of cans of wet dog/cat food if you travel out of the city on the back roads. Rational: you'll eat the granola/chocolate bars when you are feeling hungry, but you'll only eat the dog food *if* your are *really* hungry.

[ssainani]

This is a good list. I would add a couple of cans of wet dog/cat food if you travel out of the city on the back roads. Rational: you'll eat the granola/chocolate bars when you are feeling hungry, but you'll only eat the dog food *if* your are *really* hungry.


isn't that super super gross?

wtf

just get a few cans of people food instead
like chef boyardee stuff with the easy open lid

[belgiangenius]

I just bought myself a 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. It's my first car, so I'm not aware of the knids of things I should be carrying around with me incase of emergencies.

So far I have:

Snow Brush
Multi-tool (like those pliers with stuff in the handle)
Windshield washer fluid
Spare tire and the jack


Is there anything else I should be carrying with me?

A baseball bat for when you run into hoodlems.

[FastFokker]

isn't that super super gross?

wtf

just get a few cans of people food instead
like chef boyardee stuff with the easy open lidIt's actually brilliant and makes perfect sense.

It's food, your dog and cats eat it.. so humans can eat it to.

The point is it's naturally unappealing, so you wont consume it prior to needing it. *BUT* in the event you do need it and are starving, trust me you WILL eat it.

[johnnyepy]

A baseball bat for when you run into hoodlems.


in that case he should bring a gun

[belgiangenius]

in that case he should bring a gun

...but that would be illegal. :)

[Blunt]

I would keep a can of fix-a-flat too...
I would normally put on the spare wheel first,
but if you are stuck on a highway. Just use the fix-a-flat
and get out of there asap. You do not want to be fixing a flat on a major highway. Better yet, just call CAA.

[frankeng2003]

Bring a pen and paper, a small socket set, an exacto knife, and jumper cable as well

[ramoose]

I just bought myself a 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. It's my first car, so I'm not aware of the knids of things I should be carrying around with me incase of emergencies.

So far I have:

Snow Brush
Multi-tool (like those pliers with stuff in the handle)
Windshield washer fluid
Spare tire and the jack


Is there anything else I should be carrying with me?

join CAA

[climacus]

Of all the things I've carried in the trunk, the 12V air compressor (less than $20 from Cdn Tire) was pressed into service the most. One time I saw some lady struggling with a flat tire change in -25c temperature (the valve stem was probably frozen open or she drove with too low a tire pressure). I used the air compressor and quickly pumped the tire back up to 40psi, and she was on her way to the closest Cdn Tire to get things checked out.

You must also carry a digital tire pressure guage (around $12 from Radio Shack) and check your tire pressure every couple of weeks. A lot of flat tires are caused by driving around on low pressure, not hitting nails.

[Nuprapture]

Wow, thanks a lot! that's quite a comprehensive list of things to carry around. Now, i just have to go look for some deals on this stuff :P

[rfdrfd]

It all depends on WHERE and WHEN you travel.

If its within the city , on highways, you basically need nothing fancy much. If you break down on a highway, 5 tow-trucks would be all over ya in seconds.

[Focus]

It all depends on WHERE and WHEN you travel.

If its within the city , on highways, you basically need nothing fancy much. If you break down on a highway, 5 tow-trucks would be all over ya in seconds.

Check out reply #9.

[bensa138]

Check out reply #9.

:confused:

Bring a flashlight, jumpers, insurance, ownership, cell phone and you should be good to go.

a membership to a Road Side Assistance Program wouldn't hurt either.

[mannyb]

If you drive mainly in the GTA - cell phone & CAA

[mudmojo]

Safety?

http://www.trojancondoms.com/product_info/trojanselector/images/packages/EnzSperm.125x104.gif

:D ;)

[Kenneth]

GTA (or any major city):

Cellphone & Charger
CAA
Maglight flashlight 4D
Jumper cables
12v Compressor & a can of Fix-a-flat
Pen, Paper, and, disposable camera
Basic first aid kit (gauzes, bandages, etc.)

[Evil Techie]

It's actually brilliant and makes perfect sense.

It's food, your dog and cats eat it.. so humans can eat it to.

The point is it's naturally unappealing, so you wont consume it prior to needing it. *BUT* in the event you do need it and are starving, trust me you WILL eat it.

why torture yourself
just use self dicipline to control yourself if u are ever in that position

btw would fix-a-flat totally ruin the tire after using it?
i know that if the hole isnt big and is on the steel belted part, they can patch it and it should be fine
but can u still patch it after using fix-a-flat?

[ericssonboi]

I would keep a can of fix-a-flat too...
I would normally put on the spare wheel first,
but if you are stuck on a highway. Just use the fix-a-flat
and get out of there asap. You do not want to be fixing a flat on a major highway. Better yet, just call CAA.

I second NOT keeping a can of fix-a-flat.
What that could be a easy "nail" could turn into a brand new tire.
A simple patch could cost 10 - 15 dollars vs. a brand new tire ($80-$300)

Instead, i keep a full size tire w/rim ontop of the small spare that comes with the car. Having a flat doesn't slow me down in any way... Takes 10 mins to change my tire and i'm on my way.

[ericssonboi]

why torture yourself
just use self dicipline to control yourself if u are ever in that position

btw would fix-a-flat totally ruin the tire after using it?
i know that if the hole isnt big and is on the steel belted part, they can patch it and it should be fine
but can u still patch it after using fix-a-flat?

I beleive the "fix-a-flat" ruins the tire in a way that it creates a foam on the inside in order to patch the tire. Once foamed, the inside can't be saved. Air will not "properly hold" because of the foam. As time goes by (the foam will heat up due to tire rotation and wear) making the tire useless.

[Sajjad]

I just bought myself a 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. It's my first car, so I'm not aware of the knids of things I should be carrying around with me incase of emergencies.

So far I have:

Snow Brush
Multi-tool (like those pliers with stuff in the handle)
Windshield washer fluid
Spare tire and the jack


Is there anything else I should be carrying with me?


Blanket
Food (Preferably non-Perishable) & Bottled Water
Lighter/Matches
Flashlights (LED/etc)
Flares in case you need to signal someone

[ocean9927]

...but that would be illegal. :)

Not if the gun is in a locked box and the box is in the locked rear cargo area. ;)

[west]

i don't think anyone mentioned this..

but get a small fire extingusher...a friend of mine watched his car burned down cause he couldn't do anything about it lol

[toujours]

Service your car regularly and you should reduce the risk of breakdown. Also, when you check tyre pressure, check the spare too !

That just leaves getting stranded (snow, etc), accidents and poor weather accessories.

- Shovel
- Snow brush / scraper
- Gloves
- Blanket
- Flashlight

- Paper and pen
- Insurance papers or a photocopy (depends on local laws ?)

- I also carried jumper cables for a while when I was travelling a lot and leaving my car for several days at a time in airport carparks. I got fellow travellers to jump start me twice ! Saves on breakdown fees... That depends on what you do with your car though...

- Pair of old sunglasses. Nothing worse than going out in the summer and forgetting to bring out of the house.

- Small amount of oil in case you need to top-up.
- Screen washer fluid.

[toujours]

i don't think anyone mentioned this..

but get a small fire extingusher...a friend of mine watched his car burned down cause he couldn't do anything about it lol
My sister too. She saw smoke coming out the engine, stopped, got out and watched her car burn ...

[NLI10D]

i'd put an old winter jacket in the back. as for the dog food idea i suppose but i'd sooner stash a bunch of granola bars/beef jerky

[cliff]

i'd put an old winter jacket in the back. as for the dog food idea i suppose but i'd sooner stash a bunch of granola bars/beef jerky
You guys aren't getting the rational behind the dog food. Of course you should pack some other decent tasting non-perishable foods.

In extreme cases ie. you go off into a ditch, you think you are hungry, so you eat up the decent food (chocolate bars, beef jerky, etc) - you don't eat the dog food because it's so discusting. A couple more days pass and at this point your pretty damn hungry and all you have left is the dog food (good thing it didn't taste good cause you would have eaten it a day or two ago). It will be enough to keep you alive for a little while longer (and it will be the last thing you eat before going canibal/herbivore to survive).

[nopn]

Bring a GPS, a satellite telephone, 5OL of gas, one M50 with 100bullet, army knife, wool, matches, water, dry food, a saw. A laptop with at least 50 gig of movies, and solar power panel

[Wulf]

There has been some good ideas posted on this thread!

When I was traveling a lot on service calls I hid a key in a magnetic box under the truck in case I ever lost the keys or locked 'em inside.

Keep some change handy and maybe 10 or 20 bucks placed discretely somewhere in case you forget your wallet and need gas.

I wouldn't carry any type of weapon... During a road rage incident which completely stopped the traffic I saw a guy arguing with two guys on First Road in Richmond B.C. he took the club out of his car and was threatening them with it. One of the guys smacked him on the side of the head and kicked it out of his hand. The other guy whacked him with it until it broke.
I figure that if he hadn't had the weapon it wouldn't have got so ugly.

[UrbanPoet]

i keep a few LED keychains in the glove compartment. DONT LAUGH! :mad:

but seriously.. lights are handy @ night.

[Anessa]

Just carry a cellphone and you are set.

LOL if you're in a wooded tree laden area...good luck with that.

[aquariaguy]

LOL if you're in a wooded tree laden area...good luck with that.

Than he can use his cellphone as a flashlight to attract wild bears and than attack the bears for food.

[Evil Techie]

Than he can use his cellphone as a flashlight to attract wild bears and than attack the bears for food.

dont tell me he can attack the bear with his cell phone as well??
try to cut the bear up with a RAZR?

[NLI10D]

You guys aren't getting the rational behind the dog food. Of course you should pack some other decent tasting non-perishable foods.

In extreme cases ie. you go off into a ditch, you think you are hungry, so you eat up the decent food (chocolate bars, beef jerky, etc) - you don't eat the dog food because it's so discusting. A couple more days pass and at this point your pretty damn hungry and all you have left is the dog food (good thing it didn't taste good cause you would have eaten it a day or two ago). It will be enough to keep you alive for a little while longer (and it will be the last thing you eat before going canibal/herbivore to survive).

i get the rationality, but unless you're off roading, how often are you in a situation where you're travelling on a road that only one or two cars pass by on a span of days? personally i've never driven down a road where i'm the first car to have pass in a number of days.

[unleashed]

Than he can use his cellphone as a flashlight to attract wild bears and than attack the bears for food.

hahahahha :lol: :lol: :lol:

[unleashed]

Bring a GPS, a satellite telephone, 5OL of gas, one M50 with 100bullet, army knife, wool, matches, water, dry food, a saw. A laptop with at least 50 gig of movies, and solar power panel

Now that is a nice kit to have in a car haha lol. But curious why would you need a saw? lol

[sunnybono]

I just bought myself a 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. It's my first car, so I'm not aware of the knids of things I should be carrying around with me incase of emergencies.

So far I have:

Snow Brush
Multi-tool (like those pliers with stuff in the handle)
Windshield washer fluid
Spare tire and the jack


Is there anything else I should be carrying with me?

Oh Yah, you will definitely need CAA to tow you when you break down! :lol: :lol: :lol: Oh Yah, and a cell phone to call CAA!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

sk ;)

[Rokkin]

I beleive the "fix-a-flat" ruins the tire in a way that it creates a foam on the inside in order to patch the tire. Once foamed, the inside can't be saved. Air will not "properly hold" because of the foam. As time goes by (the foam will heat up due to tire rotation and wear) making the tire useless.


I believe that if you use the "fix-a-flat" type products, the tire isn't ruined, but it will cost more to repair because in addition to plugging the hole, the tire has to be taken off the rim, the foam stuff needs to be removed, and the tire needs re-mounted and balanced again.
If you read the can of these types of products, it comes with warnings that tell you that the product is only for emergencies and must be removed as soon as possible...i.e...at the time of the flat repair.

[xopt1js]

Among what others have said, I carry a small gas can in case I run out of fuel.

[Nuprapture]

Among what others have said, I carry a small gas can in case I run out of fuel.
Isnt it illegal to carry a gas can in your car?

.. maybe it's illegal to keep it in your garage.


I dunno, i heard somewhere that it's illegal to carry gas or keep it in your garage. Please let me know if im wrong. I really considered the gas idea, but then i didnt wanna get charged for it :P

[jbooth1]

Instead of gas, I carry Pennzoil Roadside Rescue Emergency Fuel Additive in my trunk. If you run out of gas, you can add this stuff in the tank (assuming the engine is warm) and go to the nearest gas station. I did this once on the 401 and got going even before the 1st tow truck hit. You can read about it at the bottom of this page (I buy it at CT):

http://www.canadianautoreview.com/Accessories.htm

[ericssonboi]

I believe that if you use the "fix-a-flat" type products, the tire isn't ruined, but it will cost more to repair because in addition to plugging the hole, the tire has to be taken off the rim, the foam stuff needs to be removed, and the tire needs re-mounted and balanced again.
If you read the can of these types of products, it comes with warnings that tell you that the product is only for emergencies and must be removed as soon as possible...i.e...at the time of the flat repair.

They also tell you not to drive on it for long periods of time and to get it fixed ASAP. IMO, its better to have a spare on than to have a temp fix on a tire which could possible still contain a leak.

[Jacka]

I have a small rubebrmaid container with the following. One for each vehicle. These are more or l3ess for being stranded in the winter

- first aid kit
- couple bottles of water
- granola bars
- candles
- small flashlight
- matches
- small knife
- booster cables
- thermal blanket (those shiny kinds)
- rain poncho
- work gloves
- 1 litre of oil


Add anything else you can think of just add or subtract


wow that list is for camping, use the car as the tent and you are set ~ heh
that list is good for living in the wild west, or the interior.

edit: you forgot condom, gotta be safe ~

[Spidey]

wow that list is for camping, use the car as the tent and you are set ~ heh
that list is good for living in the wild west, or the interior.

edit: you forgot condom, gotta be safe ~

Ive drove in lots of places that arent easily acceisble. Grid roads, etc in SK you wont see anyone for hours


All of us on RFD arent city folk :)

[Jacka]

You guys aren't getting the rational behind the dog food. Of course you should pack some other decent tasting non-perishable foods.

In extreme cases ie. you go off into a ditch, you think you are hungry, so you eat up the decent food (chocolate bars, beef jerky, etc) - you don't eat the dog food because it's so discusting. A couple more days pass and at this point your pretty damn hungry and all you have left is the dog food (good thing it didn't taste good cause you would have eaten it a day or two ago). It will be enough to keep you alive for a little while longer (and it will be the last thing you eat before going canibal/herbivore to survive).

I think you would rather walk to the nearset station instead of waiting and eating dog-food. Have you gone camping before?

[Jacka]

There has been some good ideas posted on this thread!

When I was traveling a lot on service calls I hid a key in a magnetic box under the truck in case I ever lost the keys or locked 'em inside.

Keep some change handy and maybe 10 or 20 bucks placed discretely somewhere in case you forget your wallet and need gas.

I wouldn't carry any type of weapon... During a road rage incident which completely stopped the traffic I saw a guy arguing with two guys on First Road in Richmond B.C. he took the club out of his car and was threatening them with it. One of the guys smacked him on the side of the head and kicked it out of his hand. The other guy whacked him with it until it broke.
I figure that if he hadn't had the weapon it wouldn't have got so ugly.


and you wonder why BC have the highest car - theft crime rate.

[Andro]

I just bought myself a 2001 Chrysler Intrepid. It's my first car, so I'm not aware of the knids of things I should be carrying around with me incase of emergencies.

So far I have:

Snow Brush
Multi-tool (like those pliers with stuff in the handle)
Windshield washer fluid
Spare tire and the jack


Is there anything else I should be carrying with me?

condoms.....can always come handy for emergencies :D

[Evil Techie]

Ive drove in lots of places that arent easily acceisble. Grid roads, etc in SK you wont see anyone for hours


All of us on RFD arent city folk :)

i think most of us ARE city folks

only some arent

[Nuprapture]

condoms.....can always come handy for emergencies :D
The car is totally mine (purchase+insurance), however I gave my dad the spare key. If he goes in there, i dont want him stumbling across that :P

[Anessa]

The food and chocolate bars are a good idea. You never know what could happen when driving.

[EscaBoi]

Jumper Cables, that's a must...one time we didn't have these and we had to pay the cabbie $20.

not sure if it was mentioned, but i'm too lazy to search through 4 pages