Winter Roadside Emergency Kit
 

Now that we are retired my wife and I will be doing some more road trips, including some winter travel. I'm coming up with a list of items to include in an emergency kit and have the following, so far:

Hazard triangles
Foam tire sealant
Extra fuses
Jumper cable
Gloves
Hand cleaner
Rags
Tarpaulin
Adjustable wrench
Screwdrivers - Phillips & slotted
Vice grips
Tire gauge
Coolant hose repair kit
Folding shovel
Chemical hand warmers
Candles, lighter and tin can
Extra wiper blades
Flashlight
Help sign
Electrical tape
Duct tape
Blanket / sleeping bag
Oil (2 quarts)
Antifreeze
Windshield washer fluid

In addition we'll always have the following in the car, but not necessarily part of the kit:

Non-perishable food
Extra water
Extra clothing
First aid kit
Windshield cleaner and paper towels
Cell phone and charging cable

What's missing or can be removed from the list? Thanks!

Great list. I don't keep most of that in my car! However, I don't see a small air compressor to put air in your tires on the list. I love mine. It just plugs into the 12v outlet in the car.

Nelson -- I see you've been around a long time so have access to the Lounge. You'll get some response here, but it is a VERY slow board. If you re-post in the Lounge you'll probably get 100 times more and a lot of input. Plus there are members from Alaska/Canada/far northern US who post regularly in the Lounge.

I had to change my user name so don't have access to the lounge so perhaps someone can pass along my advice to Nelson if he hasn't heard this already: Be sure to have winter tires!
They are erroneously referred to as snow tires, but in fact they are designed for colder temperatures as well as snow. Their tread and composition will give you a better grip and provide for much safer driving.

Very comprehensive emergency kit. I suggest you add a bag of kitty litter. Great for providing traction if you get stuck in the snow. A windup radio could also be useful if you are stranded and need to preserve your car battery. Not mentioned, but hopefully included, is Common Sense. If the authorities warn you to stay off the roads, heed their advice. It is not uncommon here in Ontario for even major highways to be closed due to a pileup of cars which got caught in a sudden snow squall or ventured out when they should have stayed at home. Sitting in the car on a closed highway in winter is no fun, even if you are prepared. An ounce of prevention…..

>>I had to change my user name so don't have access to the lounge so perhaps someone can pass along my advice to Nelson if he hasn't heard this already:<<

No need to pass it along -- nelson posted right here so he'll see your post :)

My suggestions was simply to also post in the Lounge to get a wide range of responses.

Thanks for the replies.

schmerl, I considered an air compressor but decided against it to minimize the amount of stuff. But I'll take a look them when I'm out shopping.

eliztravels, I just did some research on winter vs. all weather tires, and see that winter tires are generally recommended. I was going to rely on our all-weather tires, but will think about this one.

Windup radio: learn something everyday, never heard of them. Found a review site for "crank radios". The top rated one will even charge up your other devices. Seems like a good idea.

Common sense: I'd like to think I have a modicum of such, but can provide examples where that was apparently lacking. Appreciate the advice.

janisj, I thought of posting in the lounge, but in my lurks I've noticed a tendency for folks to come out swinging on even innocent-seeming subjects. Can be a rough place. Maybe I should add a bottle of whiskey to the list ... which in any case is an idea with merit!

Oh -- it isn't rough when real advice is being sought. Some of the most helpful/generous people anywhere.

Just don't post about politics, guns, or religion and you'll be fine ;)

janis, Your last sentence is funny because I initially had written, "<i>... even innocent-seeming subjects. You know, like politics and religion"</i>. But I deleted that sentence in case the intended humor didn't come through.

OK then, maybe I'll post there shortly.

Now watch . . . some twerp (and there are a few for sure) will jump all over you

But be brave ;)

:)

Ok, it's in the Lounge. What can go wrong?!
Thanks.

Where do you plan to do this travelling? That can have a lot of impact on what it makes sense to have onboard. A coolant hose repair kit for example might make sense if you are really out in the boonies but on your average highway where a cellphone call for roadside assistance gets a tow truck to you in an hour, it's hardly necessary to be able to change a cooling hose yourself.

On the other hand, there are some additional items it might be prudent to carry if you really are in the boonies. So your comment of, "Now that we are retired my wife and I will be doing some more road trips, including some winter travel.", really isn't sufficiently clear to ask people, "what's missing or can be removed from the list?"

I would say that there are at least two things missing from your list that you could add. Item 1, someone knowing you are missing. Item 2, a way to generate heat. In winter travel emergencies, it is cold that kills you. I'd also add proper winter boots and serious winter clothing. Something like a snow mobile suit for example.

Read about this tragedy that came about as a result of simply missing an exit on a major Interstate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim

The question also becomes just how prepared can anyone be without being paranoid or going overboard with the whole idea.

Thanks Sojourn,

The first winter trip we are taking is from Colorado to Texas around the holiday season. If we go off the interstates then we could be somewhat in the boonies, if West Texas qualifies. That decision will be weather dependent.

The candles in a tin can were the heat source. Somewhere online I saw them recommended as a reliable and safe heat source if you were stuck in your vehicle.

We are not overly paranoid, but being reasonably prepared makes sense. I think the lawyers like the word "reasonable"!

FWIW, I have removed hose repair and fluids except windshield washer. Probably won't include the compressor.

Nelson -- I just checked your other thread . . . see what I meant :)

Yes, thanks. Is it time to mention gay marriage yet? :)

Directing people AWAY from an advice board when they are asking for advice, and to the Lounge, meant for off topic nonsense, is a real disservice to the advice seeker and to this board, not to mention a desperate effort to justify all the time wasted there.

Why should I bother replying here, please? Everyone go to the Lounge!

I would have thought that if a post needed moved or a poster needed advice on where to post, that would be a job for the moderators but then in every forum there are people who think they are the moderators of all things correct.

I see no other sub-forum where this thread more properly belongs. It is indeed a general Travel Tips & Trip Ideas topic I would say.

Candles in a tin can will provide some heat Nelson but are over-rated perhaps as to how much they will provide. A candle puts out somewhere between 50-300 BTUs. If you were lucky, one or two might raise the temperature inside your vehicle by 1 degree. However, as a light source they are comforting. Put the light out when you go to sleep. Leaving a lit candle unattended is never a good idea.

Consider a one burner backpackers type stove (3-10,000 BTU). You do have to be aware of CO2 and make sure you have ventilation when you use it but it will heat up a car a lot quicker and it will heat up a 'Cup of Soup' at the same time. Nothing like hot soup to raise the spirits. One like this: http://www.coleman.com/product/micro...tCategory=2010
nested inside a small pot like this:
http://www.backpacker.com/gear/essen...r-mug-and-pan/

When sleeping, NO heat is required. What you need then is a good mummy style sleeping bag rated to -20C. Something like this: http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/...tionName=HONOR BLUE / ASPHALT GREY

So a candle for some comforting light. A stove to warm things up and cook with. A well-rated sleeping bag to sleep in comfort.

Remember the rule, stay with the vehicle. With food, water, warm clothing and the above, you would be good for many days. Of course it all goes to crap if no one knows to start looking for you. So back to Rule #1, let someone know where you are going so they will know you are missing!

If you make it a habit to call a relative every 3 days and say where you are and where you will be going next, the longest time before they know you are missing will be 3 days. That's more than long enough if you're stuck somewhere like the people in the link I gave above.

Well, it's posted in the Lounge now and there was a lot of activity. So far the gloves are still off!

Sojourn, thanks for the detailed reply. I do some backpacking and own a JetBoil. I decided against that for the ventilation reasons, and I thought that a candle in a can would be safe even if we fell asleep with it lit. A stubby candle, never reaching above top of can lid, would just go out inside the well stabilized can.

But your points are well made and a hot cup of tea or soup provides huge physical and psychological benefits. And that sucker does put out some heat! Will reconsider bringing the JetBoil.

(BTW, my friend and I used a JetBoil in the Wind River Range in August and made it through an 8-night / 9-day trip using just one 230g canister. Neither of us expected that, thought we'd have to tap into the small canister we also had, but never needed it.)

We will have a good Mountain Hardware sleeping bag.

Also, as you suggest, people will know where we are planning to spend the night that day. I read your story about the Kim family. I remembered the event when it happened. Sad.

I did NOT say the thread should be moved or that this is an inappropriate place for it. NewBe and sj just love to take issue w/ anything I post. I DID say Nelson would get response here, but he should <i>also</i> consider posting in the Lounge. . .

I did NOT drive anyone away from this board. (And my advice seems to have been spot on)

<NewBe and sj just love to take issue w/ anything I post. >
When I think your advice is bad, I disagree with it, as I do with everyone and everyone does with me. Why you insist on acting like a Lounge denizen and turning everything into a personal fight is beyond me.

Nelson,
My air compressor is quite small and light. It fits in the well that holds my spare tire.