What You Need To Have In Your Car or Truck to Be Prepared!

Provides guidance on being prepared for emergencies while driving, emphasizing the importance of having a well-stocked roadside emergency kit and essential supplies in your vehicle. Additionally, it suggests carrying water, extra gas, and tools for various situations while also recommending apps for navigation and emergency communication. The author stresses the significance of being equipped for unexpected events during daily commutes and longer travels.

1. The Average American Spends 101 Minutes a Day In Our Car. What Should We Do To Be Properly Prepared?

2. Over the course of our lifetime, we will average 3 to 4 accidents; most will not be fatal. Besides accidents, we will all experience breakdowns, flat tires, detours, getting lost, running out of gas, having to help another motorist, etc. Why?

3. Combine how much time we spend in our car, with the odds of something going wrong, and it makes sense that we be prepared for potential problems. Why?

4. Are You Prepared for This?

5. It’s too late to prepare once an emergency occurs. I have direct links to all gear mentioned on the gear page on my website: https://www.bobmayer.com

6. Buy a pre-packaged Roadside Emergency Kit. The Simplest Way?

7. 10' Jumper Cables Tow Rope with 10,000 lbs capacity Reflective Safety vest 100% cotton gloves multi use 4" wrench reinforced wire connectors replacement fuses electrical tape First Aid Kit with plasters, gauze, antiseptic cleaning wipes, adhesive tape, non adhesive sterile pad, cotton swabs plastic cable ties safety whistle compass 8pc Hex Wrench LED squeeze rechargeable flashlight, no batteries needed electric current detector needle nose pliers aluminum foil blanket rain poncho polyester carry bag with reflective warning triangle That Kit Contains

8. Even with that kit (or making sure you have all items on that list), there are some other things you should always have. Drivers license. Registration. Proof of Insurance. Insurance company contact number. Water. Cell phone charger cable. Extra bulbs for turn, brake and backup lights. Work gloves. Sleeping bag or blankets. Walking shoes/sneakers/boots.

9. The following slides provide an extensive list of items where you can build your own kit and also items you could have beyond those in the previous kit. How much or how little you want to carry depends on space and your personal preferences. You can go light or you can Gladiator mode or you can go Mad Max mode. Additional Items

10. Gladiator Mode

11. Remember, unlike in Walking Dead , gas goes bad. There are no hard and fast rules on time (use 6 months for gas, a year with Stabil added). I add Stabil whenever I fill up my spare gas cans and I rotate them every three months. I always top off when I reach half a tank. Gas with a lower level of Ethanol lasts longer. Extra Gas

12. Put it in any spare gas cans. Also helps winterize things such as lawn mowers if you don’t completely drain the gas. STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer

13. Also add Star Tron occasionally. Especially if you live in a humid area were water can settle in your gas tank. Star Tron is an enzyme-based fuel treatment that cleans the fuel system, neutralizes ethanol, removes water, and prevents fuel breakdown. Sta-Bil is a traditional fuel stabilizer that prevents fuel degradation, gum, and varnish buildup for long-term storage.   When your small engine won’t start, it’s often because there is a build up of water in the gas tank. Star Tron Fuel Treatment

14. I have several Rotopax gas, water and equipment containers. They are stackable. Below is a four gallon gas container. RotoPax

15. RotoPax Rotopax 1.75 Gallon Water Rotopax 1.75 Gallon Gas Rotopax 2 Gallon Equipment holder

16. RotoPax The JCR full-bed rack on my Gladiator allows me to mount all my Rotopax on the sides: Two 4.5 gallon gas Two 3.5 gallon gas 1.5 gallon gas 2 two gallon water cans I can mount all those on Rotopax mounts on the outside of the full bed rack. I have five mounts, but I can double each mount using the deluxe mount, thus carrying 10 Rotopax if I want.

17. RotoPax Remember that gas expands and contract with the temperature. Do not place Rotopax or any gas containers flat. You need to release pressure as the temperature changes and you can’t do that if it’s flat. Never leave gas containers open— the gas will quickly go bad.

18. At the very least, carry some water inside your car. I recommend a case of bottled water in the trunk. Remember, what you have in your car is also at your work and your home and your school, wherever you drive and park, so it’s part of your overall emergency supply. A rule of thumb in an emergency: a case of water can supply a person for three days. Be very careful though— do not have loose water bottles rolling around on the floor. One could stuck under the brake or gas pedal. In fact, I recommend your Grab-n-Go bag go in your car. Water

19. I carry water in an MSR Dromeday Water Reservoir inside the Jeep— often that ends up being for the dogs in their water bowl after a hike or run. I also carry a couple of bottles of Gatorade in the rear cup holder. I have Datrex Emergency Survival Water Pouches stashed in various places. They last a long time and you don’t have to keep worrying about replenishing them. Water

20. There are water bottles with the filter built into the bottle which combines both filter and water carrier— Survivemate bottle filter. I carry this all the time in my Jeep

21. I have the filter on the left inside my Jeep. The one on the right is gravity fed. Water

22. I recommend keeping a basic Grab-n-Go Bag in your trunk or storage area. It contains a number of basics that you will find useful if you break down. Since you are almost always where you car is, your bag is always with you. Below is the one I bought my son to keep in his car. Grab-n-Go Bag

23. Fire Extinguisher

24. This unique tool does two life-saving things: It can cut your seat belt. Often in a crash, it is difficult to unbuckle. It will also allow you to break your side window to get out. The link gets a package of two. UPDATE: On some never cars, the windows are designed to automatically go down if water reaches a certain level in the vehicle. Make sure you check your owner’s manual. They do not work on tempered glass (front and back) or laminated. LifeHammer

25. There is a bad post that goes around about using the headrests to break your windows as the way to get out. You ever try to take your headrest out? Try doing it upside down, underwater. It’s wrong. Also, it says cars are designed to float upright. They are not. They often flip over. They also are not designed to float. Learn now howto use the life hammer. and escape a sinking car with the video linked on the next page.

26. ESCAPING A SINKING CAR VIDEO ON YOUTUBE.

27. Jumper cables require another vehicle. This compact Jump Starter can get you going if you’re all alone. It’s also easier than using jumper cables. It holds a charge for a long time. It can recharge your cell phone and other devices. It also has a built in flashlight. I’ve found it to be a very worthwhile investment and have used it. Battery Jump Starter

28. Worth it for an emergency. Fix-A-Flat

29. I carry a pair of broken in hiking boots with thick socks stuffed in them inside my Jeep. I hadn’t thought of this until Atlanta had a huge ice storm and many people had to abandon their cars and walk home— in their work shoes. Recently we had large traffic jams on I-95 in a snowstorm and people were stuck for many hours. So carry a pair of broken in boots or walking/running shoes just in case. Boots/Walking Shoes/Socks

30. Blanket/Sleeping bag— I keep my sleeping bag in the Jeep all winter. Snow Shovel Ice Scraper Poncho Weather Related

31. Do you have a spare tire? Is it a regular or temporary? Where is your jack and lug wrench? Do you know how to change a tire? Where is your battery? Do you know how to hook up jumper cables correctly? How many miles do you have left when your gas warning light goes on? (But you never got there, right, because you always top off at halfway) Things To Know

32. Do you know how to put your car into neutral so it can be pushed? This is an eye-opening experience as I was used to manual transmission. On an automatic it isn’t as easy as just shoving the shifter into neutral if your engine is dead. That doesn’t work. Each car is different. Look it up in your manual. For example, in a Jeep, there is a little loop under a small popup near the transmission that needs to be pulled. For an Audi there is a tool in the trunk you need to get and then go under the driver’s mat and insert and turn. Check your car’s manual. Things To Know

33. We rely on GPS, but always have a physical road map. I have an entire slideshow on maps. MAP

34. Location Apps There are several topo map Apps you can get. I’ve used a number over the years but the best one I’ve found is Gaia. The basic app is free and then there is a premium membership. Gaia allows you to layer various types of maps, such as National Forest Service Roads with Topographic with Public Lands, and adjust it to your preferences.

35. Location Apps One useful thing to using any map app is to download the map tiles you want to use beforehand (for when you’re out in the wilds with no signal) and learning how to use the app before you need it. Gaia also sends interesting and useful email updates on various outdoor activities that are very informative from outdoor experts.

36. To the left is an example of some of the many maps you can download and use. You can have multiple maps on screen at the same time, adjusting them as you need. In this case, I have the US Forestry Service Map at max along with USFS roads and trails along with public lands. I can bring up hidden layers as needed. Also note the Historic Topo for 1930 which is fun to play with. You also have National Park Service Visitor, topo maps, streets maps, weather and more. They even recently introduced latest satellite imagery, which is by far, the most up to date layer. There are dozens of different types of maps available to premium members.

37. I have two version of Gaia live, one on the console and the other on my iPad. I use different layers and scales to give a complete picture.

38. If you take medication, add a pill fob to your keychain or put one in your glove compartment with important medication. It also is a good backup if you forget to renew on time. Keychain Pill Fob

39. I had my Wrangler loaded for cross-country, out in the wilderness, survival stuff. I once had some maintenance trouble 60 miles from the closest paved road in southeast Utah and was quite glad I was prepared. The following are neat things that can come in handy.

40. Traction Tracks. They can be very useful on occasion, particularly when dealing with a tire spinning in mud. I’ve upgraded on my Gladiator to Traction Boards but still carry the Traction Tracks. Cool Gus Jeep Stuff

41. Winch and associated gear. I carry a pair of tire blocks since Jeeps don’t weigh much and instead of winching that dead tree, I could be pulling the Jeep to the tree. Universal Snatch Block Extra straps Cool Gus Jeep Stuff

42. Siphon hose. Funnel (for gas) Tie downs Bivy Sack/blankets/sleeping bag Rain pants and Jacket Wool cap Assorted zip ties Extra batteries Star sockets (jeep owners will understand) Toolkit Socket Set Cool Gus Jeep Stuff

43. I also have a Presentation on Outfitting For Gladiator mode

44. More Free Information I’ve put all the links to free apps, all gear mentioned and web pages on my web site at www.bobmayer.com Go to the GEAR page There are also free books on my web site, updated daily.

45. New York Times bestselling author, a graduate of West Point and former Green Beret. He commanded a Green Beret A-Team and also served in a variety of other positions. He was a certified instructor at the JFK Special Warfare Center & School which trains Green Berets and also runs the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school. www.bobmayer.com