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With the approaching winter season and headlines like “Monster Storm on the Way” it’s time to consider your auto preparedness with a winter survival kit. I am not talking about your bug out vehicle, but I guess that is relevant. If you are stranded in your car, will you have basic supplies to stay alive? By taking simple steps now you can ensure that no matter where you live, you are better prepared this winter season if you are forced to survive overnight or possibly two days in your car.

A winter car survival kit is simple to pull together and a lot of these items you probably already have either in your home or your car or garage. This article we are going to pull all these items together into one container you can store in your car and make sure that you won’t be stranded with nothing more than the clothes you left work in. For a simple reference, you can print this list out.

What items do you need in your winter car kit?

shovelingout

For snow removal/general purpose

  • Shovel – If you need to dig out of snow, it sure helps to have a shovel unless you want to try and use your windshield scraper. SOG makes an Entrenching tool that is the perfect price for your car survival kit.
  • Windshield Scraper – If you get stuck in a snowstorm and are forced to wait, you will likely need to scrape off your windows.
  • Tow Rope – Many times a call to the tow truck isn’t necessary if someone with a four wheel drive can pull you out. If you simply slide into a shallow ditch but can’t move due to traction (this happened to me), wrap a tow rope around your axle and get back on the road.
  • Gas Can– If you don’t follow the advice of every single other prepping blog out there and keep a minimum of a half tank of gas, you might need to get some and bring it back

  • Jumper Cables – Self explanatory
  • Can of Fix a Flat– Of course a full size spare tire is best but you might be in conditions that don’t permit a jack easily. These temporary solutions save time and money on the road, but be sure to get the tire repaired quickly.
  • Cat litter – No, this isn’t if you have to go to the bathroom, it is for traction. Just last year I decided to see if I could make it out of my neighborhood in my front wheel drive car. Guess what? I couldn’t so the cat litter was deployed under the front tires to help me get traction.
  • Emergency Flares – Great for signaling others if there is an accident or for help. Flares can be seen for a long distance so if you need to get someone’s attention these could do the trick.

winter-wonderland-dressing-for-the-cold-a-woman-with-high-heels-walking-through-the-snow

High Heels look great, but they don’t make sense in the snow.

To stay warm

  • Sturdy Shoes – Most of the time this applies to women more so than men. Ladies, do you want to break down in a blizzard and be forced to try and walk to safety wearing those cute high heel shoes you have on? Keep a backup pair of sturdy shoes or boots if you are forced to walk.
  • Warm Gloves – Gloves will keep your paws warm which will make you feel warmer as well.
  • Hand warmers – If the gloves aren’t enough some hand warmers are amazing. They will safely store in your trunk for years. Great for sporting events too!

  • Wool Blanket or Sleeping Bag – A good wool blanket will keep you incredibly warm. A good sleeping bag like Elite Survival Systems Recon 3 packs small and can be used for camping as well.
  • Fleece Toboggan – You lose a lot of heat through your head, so wrap that bad boy up in something warm.

To stay comfortable

  • Flashlight/Headlamp– Let’s face it. Being in the dark alone on the side of the road sucks out loud. Just having some light makes a world of difference. I prefer headlamps for their hands free simplicity. Make sure you have spare batteries too.
  • Battery powered radio– Or hand crank if you prefer. This serves two purposes. It can entertain and inform you. Good to have one of these around the house as well if the regular communication methods are down and this won’t wear down your cell phone battery.
  • Water – two days’ worth – Throw 2 gallons of water in your car and you are golden.
  • Snack Food – two days’ worth – Something that won’t easily go bad and doesn’t need preparation. Snack bars, jerky, power bars, trail mix.

Just in case

 

  • Matches or Lighter – I prefer the cheap Bic lighters. I doubt that you would need to start a fire in your car, but you never know…
  • First aid kit – Something that has more than band aids. Chances are if you are stranded and hurt it will be more than a Hello Kitty band aid can fix. Make sure you can stop blood lose and medicate for pain until help arrives.
  • Knife– I see some people packing a big survival knife in their car. I guess if the grid goes down, you are forced off the road and into the woods for survival this could be necessary, but we are talking about getting stuck and spending a day or two in the car. Not becoming Rambo. A nice folder will do the trick for just about anything you could need it for.
  • Any medications you need for daily use – Pack two days worth of your regular medicine in a travel container and always have it with you.
  • Whistle – It is easier than yelling “Is there anyone there? Help Me!!!”
  • Cell Phone Charger– This is the last on the list because if you are stranded and your can still runs, you should be able to charge your phone unless you don’t have a charging cable in your car, or you ran out of gas.

Where do you put your winter car survival kit?

Once you have all the items assembled, remove them from their packaging and estimate the size container you would need to stow all of the materials. Some of the basic automobile items like jumper cables and road flares might have their own container. Hop over to your local store and buy a simple plastic bin with a lid on it, load up all of your survival gear and place it in the trunk.

Good luck and I hope you never need to use it.

 

 

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With the approaching winter season and headlines like “Monster Storm on the Way” it’s time to consider your auto preparedness with a winter survival kit. I am not talking about

As a seasoned driver, I have to admit that there were times when someone would search the dictionary for the word “stupid,” he would have found my picture right underneath. This one time, I was driving through a blizzard and, all of a sudden, the engine stalled. Instead of using a flashlight to check under the hood as right-in-the-mind prepper would do, I got out my lighter because, hey, why would I need a flashlight in my car in the first place? In our cozy prepping world, if you don’t step up your game, you’ll probably end up dead or worse.

Anyway, after realizing just how stupid can stupid get, I told myself that if I ever got out this alive, I would make it my point to tell other fellow drivers and preppers about how far-reaching is a fully stocked and killer vehicle emergency kit.

I would like to start by pointing out that one should never hit the road without the essentials. Of course, it all depends on your state’s regulation, but mostly it all boils down to:

  • Jumper cables.
  • Toolkit for small patch-up jobs and repairs.
  • Spare tire (make sure the pressure is between 30 and 35 PSI).
  • First-aid kit.
  • Fire extinguisher (for those moments when everything goes up in flames, including your hopes and dreams).
  • Reflective or battery-powered emergency beacon.
  • Reflective Vest.
  • Jack.
  • Lug wrench.

So, these would be your basics. Ready to head into the advanced class? Best to warn you that a complete car emergency kit can and will make a dent in your budget. Here’s what I had in mind in terms of the ultimate vehicle emergency kit.

Mr. Fix-it-Al’ Has the Answer to All Your Issues

The first thing you should consider long before hitting the store for more supplies is where the road might take you. Snowy mountain peaks? Heavy rain? Muddy country roads? War zones? This is, without a doubt, the easiest way to figure out what supplies you’re missing. I, for one, ended up spending 400 bucks at Costco since the flashlight story painfully reminded me that I am in dire need for other stuff. Remember that your car’s emergency kit is intended for more scenarios, some of them going far beyond a flat or burnt bulb.

For instance, if you get caught in a blizzard, your emergency kit should have enough supplies for sheltering-in-place. Remember the news bulleting about the Swedish man who survived two months in extreme cold because he SO kicked him out of the house? How do you think he survived? Not wishful thinking, to be certain. He made it out alive because he had a shit-load of supplies inside the car.

So, to build a survival kit capable of catering your every need, take a quick look at my awesomely-drawn list.

  • Cat litter

No, you’re not going to adopt a cat, just yet. Kitty litter is very useful for a lot of stuff. Some drivers use it for defogging. I personally use it for traction – if your car gets snowbound, put some kitty litter underneath them wheels, and you’ll be out there in no time.

  • CB Radio

Obsolete technology, for sure, but still comes in handy when your phone loses signal. Tried it once on a country road. The phone had no signal, but I could still pick up chatter from police and passing truck drivers.

  • Foldable shovel

Great for a lot of stuff like de-snowing tires or burying the bodies of your slain enemies. The choice is yours.

  • Toilet paper

No comment!

  • Flashlight

Yes, genius, at least you got this one right. Don’t forget extra batteries. You should consider buying a tactical flashlight instead of a regular one – more battery, more fun!

  • Extra food and water
  • Mylar blanket

If you have a family car, you should buy one for each family member.

  • Tow Strap

Not that kind of strap, but I like the way you think. Was referring to that cord used to pull another car. While you’re at it, you should consider buying a hand winch – great for getting out if you get stuck in the mud.

  • Tire patch and repair kit.
  • Coolant hose repair kit.

Fantastic for getting out of Dodge when the radiator’s coolant hose has snapped. Saved me a lot of money and another trip to the auto shop.

  • Weather-dependent gear

Stock up on warm, winter clothes if you intend to brave the elements during cold weather. During the summer, you should have one extra cap, T-shirt, pants, some insect repellant, and sunscreen.

  • Insurance-claiming tools

This includes a disposable camera, which you can use to take pics of the damages or at least some awesome selfies, pen, paper, and a copy of your car’s insurance card.

  • Battery Rejuvenator

This baby can start up a car in no time even if the battery’s more dead that Burton’s corpse bride. Seen one a while back – it’s as light as a tablet but powerful enough to juice up a car. In addition, these gadgets can also recharge devices such as smartphones, laptops, and GPSs.

  • Extra phone

Get one of those older models with a button. You may want to buy one with extra battery life. I would recommend CAT’s unbreakable series. Make sure that the extra phone is fully charged at all times.

  • Rescue tool

This little thingamajig has so much spunk in it. Normally, it can be used to break the car’s windshield if you take a dive in the river or any other body of water. However, it can also double up as a weapon, in case there are bad guys nearby.

  • Multi-tool.
  • Spare parts and supplies.

Be sure to have at least one extra box of fuses, bulbs, some braking, and windshield wiper fluids.

Bottom Line

Ours not to question why, but to prep and not die – that’s my motto in life. So, fellow prepper, if you want that comfy and fuzzy safety feeling while on the road, considering revamping your car’s emergency supply kit. Got more stuff I can add to the list? Hit the comment section and let me know.

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Remember the news bulleting about the Swedish man who survived two months in extreme cold because he SO kicked him out of the house? How do you think he survived?

There were lots of times when people were stranded in their cars, forced to sleep in the floors of local stores and cities that looked virtually unprepared for any winter event. Its times like this that I wonder how things would have been different if everyone involved had taken the time to prepare a simple winter car survival kit. I think that there are certainly factors that would have made this little amount of snow something to contend with anyway, but the lives of a lot of people could have been much better with a little planning and preparedness. This type of road incident isn’t unheard of and it simply makes good sense to have supplies in your car that you can count on if you are stranded.

The weather may force a lot of people to wait in traffic for hours due to accidents or road clearing operations. Having simple preparations ahead of time (even more so with the threat of inclement weather) would make these delays more tolerable and could ensure that more people can make it home to their families instead of spending the night on the floor at CVS.

What do you need for a winter car survival kit?

Before I get into the actual content list of items to store in a winter car survival kit, I should bring up fuel. It can’t be said enough that you should have no less than a half a tank of gas at all times. Why? Because if for some reason, you aren’t able to fill up, a half a tank will last longer and get you more places that sitting on empty. For those people who must sit in their cars for hours, a half a tank of gas could keep them warm and more importantly moving.

So on to the list. The items below should be in everyone’s car if you go anywhere in the winter. Some of the winter car survival kit items are just as important in the summer and can be considered as core. We’ll list off the items that are specific to Winter, but it will be obvious.

Core- Car Survival Kit items.

Winter Car Survival Kit additions

  • Wool Blankets – 2
  • Survival Bivvy – 2
  • Boots or hiking shoes with good gription (yes that is a word)
  • Small Camping shovel – necessary in some locations more than others
  • Windshield scraper
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Wool or Fleece hat/gloves
  • Spare fleece pullover

What could you sub in there for Summer? Certainly more water and perhaps sunscreen or shading devices. I am sure we will write on this topic for the summer also. Stay safe by making sure you have these basics with you. They do take up a little room, but you can fit all of this in a decent sized plastic bin and forget about them. You will be happy they are in the back when you need them.

Is this list the end all be all of survival necessities? Nope, but it is the basics and you have to start somewhere.

If you want to print this list out, just click on the Print button at the top of the page.

4 Comments

There were lots of times when people were stranded in their cars, forced to sleep in the floors of local stores and cities that looked virtually unprepared for any winter