Remember the guy that was trapped in his car for four days? He survived on ketchup packets and an assortment of little sachets of condiments that you get free from a fast food restaurant. Well, that's one thought on things to keep in your car.

I always keep a good variety of things in my vehicle. I never know when to expect the unexpected. A nice length of rope is handy to have around just in case you see something laying on the roadside or happen to buy a piece of furniture that won't fit in the back of your car. Alternatively, a wide selection of different sized bungee-cords will provide better securing options.

A flash light with a beacon is always handy. Once I had a flat tire at night it came in very useful indeed. More on the subject of flat tires, a can of fix-a-flat is another useful investment. Just attach the little tube to your valve stem and let it do it's stuff, sealing the hole and inflating the tire at the same time.

In the winter months, I always carry a 21 pound bag of kitty litter around with me. It's great for getting traction when your wheels keep spinning on the ice or in the snow. Also, kitty litter will absorb oil or gasoline spills, if you are performing a little bit of amateur-mechanical work in your drive way.

Not to be too ridiculous, but if you have room in your trunk, a small axe is a very versatile tool to keep around. Besides it's functional purpose of chopping fire wood when you get stranded and need to keep warm beside roadside; An axe can be implemented as a hammer, a weapon and a wheel wedge, or chock, when you are changing a flat tire.

Of course, always make sure you have a good screw driver (Phillips and flat-head), an adjustable wrench, a pair of pliers and a small ratchet set. These basic tools will enable one to perform small mechanical tasks if need be. They might get you to the garage without incurring the cost of a tow truck and/or the time waiting for one.

Don't forget to keep your spare tire maintained with the correct air pressure and your do-nut free from rust, if it happens to be secured under your vehicle. Keep your jacking equipment in an accessible area and make sure that you carry something substantial enough to remove the wheel nuts, as garages sometimes have a tendency of over-tightening them.

Maps are good things to have around, especially if you haven't invested in a GPS device. Make sure the map is up to date and folded neatly. Next to the map and registration card, keep a can of

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