by Mobile Mechanixx

Created on: February 21, 2007   Last Updated: March 20, 2007

The Boy Scout motto will serve you well when equipping your car for the many varieties of roadside emergencies one may face. Be prepared says it all! Many things should be carried, although most will take up little space. I shall endeavor to list all that are convenient, as well as suggestions for where to keep them, and what type of priority to place on them.

A.) Must haves.

1 A spare tire, with jack, and tire iron! This is number one for a reason! Optional is to buy a cheap floor jack that is easier to work with than the type provided by the manufacturer, a small piece of wood in case you only have dirt to jack on (to support the jack), and a 4 way lug wrench with a fitting that fits your lug nuts. Usually stored in the trunk.

2 Jumper Cables. Not all people carry them, but when you need a jump, best to have your own, so you only have to find someone friendly enough to give you a jump, not a friendly person who also happens to have jumper cables. Keep these in the trunk.

3 A small first aid kit. Optional would be a comprehensive kit, but at the very least, one small kit may save life or limb. Include an antiseptic, a band aid box, at least one large bandage, eye wash, tourniquet, and snake bite kit (changing tires on the side of the road is hazardous). Once again, the trunk is a good place for this.

4 A small tool set, with sockets, a ratchet, a few wrenches, a pair of pliers, a hammer, electrical tape, duct tape, knife, a pair of women's pantyhose (can be used in a bind to replace a broken belt), and a small amount of electrical wire. Even if you do not know how to use these tools, a friendly stranger, or fellow traveler, may be able to make use of them to help out. Keep in trunk.

5 Road flares. Keep in trunk.

6 Just a couple of non-perishable snacks. Keep in trunk, to avoid eating just because you need a snack on the way home from work.

7 A gallon of clean water. Keep in trunk.

8 A quart of oil, an unopened bottle of brake fluid, and a quart of transmission fluid. Keep in trunk.

9 A small blanket, or larger if you can spare the room. Keep in trunk.

10 A roll of paper towels. Keep in back seat, or in trunk.

11 A flashlight. Buy the kind that charges from shaking, so you do not have to keep batteries. Keep in glove box.

12 An emergency card, with contacts and allergies or medical conditions of all family members. Keep in glove box. Optional, have a water and fireproof case for this.

B.) Things that are a good idea to have around.

1 Many stores sell a gas replacement that

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