Things to keep in the trunk...

[fireba11]

Earlier today, a friend wrote to ask me "hey, now that I've got a functional storage space in the rear of my vehicle, what stuff should go in there that I should never be caught dead without

Comments

[smjayman]

Before any of the above:

1. Cell phone (anywhere in car)
2. Charger for same

If you don't have roadside assistance incl. with vehicle:

3. AAA Card

Other stuff that is handy:

4. Sensible shoes (most of you kids have to wear dress shoes which are horrible for walking)
5. Poncho (Walmart got 'em for like $20, cheap good rain gear.)
6. Mechanix gloves (better for changing tires and other chores)

[fireba11]

I should've remembered to recommend AAA. I've taken apart and fixed up just about every part of my cars (save for the chassis wiring harness, but that's probably next), but when your diff pin decides to exit the gearbox, a tow truck is your only salvation.

(Sidebar: AAA was good and quick with my International Driver's Permit before our trip to England and France. I didn't need to produce it while over there, but it was nice to have. I've done far worse things with $15.)

Poncho - Smart. I keep two in the trunk, but have never used one. It's in case any of my passengers ever need. Handy for covering electrical stuff that you needn't get doused, too.

Neglected to mention above: The floor of my trunk usually features a nice big skid of cardboard, at least 4' by 4'. Because if you need to get under the car, and the pavement is a bit rough, cardboard is the great big yes.

[smjayman]

Also consider that while you are exceptionally handy with turning wrenches, most people lack your ability to make a car right on the roadside. Hell, if the weather is complete crap, I'm likely to call AAA just to change a tire. (They get paid to do it!)

The cardboard isn't a bad idea either. I usually have a stack of IDPA targets in the trunk that can be pressed into the same service. :)

[fireba11]

Oh, I've come across my share of "WTF... Oh great, this ain't gettin' fixed tonight" along the road. Fuel pump gives it up, gearbox literally explodes (stupid diff pin), that sorta thing. There's all kinds of stuff that I can't fix on the roadside, no matter how much ingenuity I brought along.

I'm usually not too bad at getting a shit part out and a fresh part in; it's the diagnostic/troubleshooting that sometimes drives me batshit. I have some experience there, but my own stuff breaks so seldom, it's usually years between WTF-moments.

[fireba11]

Dude, the duct tape/electrical tape/paracord trio should be part of your Bat Belt in the first place, right along side the 31 Flavors of WD40.

[docstrange]

Awesome discussion.

Space blanket (these fold to something like 4x4x1 inch).

Instead of jumper cables, I've been carrying a jumper battery. Being able to jump start your own car is a big boon. I also have some jumper cables but I have never used them. The battery has been used to jump start my car and other peoples' cars about 6 times over ~8 years.

Serious utility bar. Like a Stanley FuBar (18" size). Doubles as your "baseball bat" and in a kit like this is far less suspicious. Also insanely useful.

For water, I recommend the foil bag Mainstay (or other lifeboat water) packs. They can freeze and thaw any number of times without breaking the seal, double as ice packs for injuries if frozen, and remain potable 5 years under harsh conditions.

I also keep a brick of lifeboat food bars back there. 5 year harsh condition shelf life and taste OK. Stuck in the snow for 36h, calories count.

Also agree with the Mechanix type gloves - Way better than nitrile when pushing a wrench in 20F weather.

[fireba11]

Those jump boxes are great stuff, and arguably a bit safer than conventional jump leads - but also weigh 3-4 times as much as the cables.

I have Mechanix gloves around me so often, I don't even recognize them anymore. I use them as driving gloves, for wrenching, for walking the dog... they're so all-purpose, like air and water to me.

[docstrange]

Yeah, the weight in the trunk is a plus up here in snowland. :)

I forgot a few other items I keep in the trunk kit: The major fluids (oil, premixed windshield, hydraulic). A can of Fix-a-flat and a 100PSI foot pump.

All this stuff fits in a Rubbermaid tote.

[paulschreiber]

I have a mag-light (durable, can also be used to break open a window or bash things) but would agree with the white LED recommendation.

Spare batteries for the flashlight.
Maps.
Bungee cords.
Spare clothes (sweater, socks, t-shirt, old pair of jeans).
Snacks (mountain dew, snickers bar, etc.) Not health but will keep and keep you awake.

The booster/jumper cables I got a few years back have a light in the middle so you can quickly tell when you have a connection.

[fireba11]

If you have locking lugs (I'm pretty sure I saw a McGard set on your wheels), then it just takes a key - which fits right into whatever device you use to remove the lug nuts. Again, the 4-way is mandatory.