Do you keep anythong in your car for emergencies/breakdowns?

[Joe443]

I was just wondering if any of you keep things in your car like jump leads, foot pump etc and maybe some water. I know there's no much point carrying tools in a modern car because not much can be fixed road side.

[Rikki55]

Yepp in my spare wheel well I currently have:
Spare wheel
Jump leads
3ft breaker bar with 19mm deep socket six sided
Can of tire weld
Fold up shovel

[poing]

Mobile phone.

[SystemParanoia]

Yes,

In both our cars I have "grab bags" that contain a collection of useful and not-so useful stuff

Backpack
2litre Bottle of water
First Aid Kit
High Viz
Jump Leads
Tow Rope
Towel
Foil Blankets
Fire Starting stuff
Chocolate / FlapJacks
Wet Wipes and travel hygiene stuff
Baofeng UV-5R Ham radio
Notepad with useful Numbers and Radio frequencies


Im always thinking of things to change / modify or upgrade in the pack, but this is how they stand at the moment.
Never needed it, but nice to know its there. not just for breakdowns, but being trapped in bad weather, or multi hour motorway closures etc.

[E92Dan]

A copy of playboy

[750turbo]

Chocolate

[kiethton]

not until I found one between the back seats

Edited by kiethton on Thursday 27th August 18:34

[PositronicRay]

Day to day not a lot apart from the spare and tool kit the car came with.

When I go on holiday as an insurance I pack a basic tool kit, bulbs, circuit tester, multimeter, electrical contact cleaner, WD 40, electrical tape, a screwdriver with a selection of bits, blink code reader, spanners, 3/8 socket set, gaffer tape, some wire, connectors, gaffer tape, fuses, inspection light, rag, gloves.

It actually all packs into a soft bag (16" x 10" x 3") and slots into a space in the boot.

Not had to use it yet, but that's how insurance works.

[legless]

After being on the receiving end of a complete psycho a few years back, I now keep a 4D Maglite in the passenger seat back pocket for personal defence.

For roadside emergencies, I carry some cheap lightweight waterproofs, hi-vis and a pair of gloves. Changing a tyre on the hard shoulder of the M6 on the way to work on a wet day in January tends to make you carry those in future.

[Morningside]

SystemParanoia said:

Baofeng UV-5R Ham radio

May feel a bit like a toy but they are quite good. Have you been using chirp for progamming?

For some odd reason I have a tent with sleeping bag, water, sweets, bog roll (you never know!), torch, jump leads, insulating tape, waterproof poncho thing, change of clothes and some odd change.

[RobinBanks]

I've always kept a warm jacket in the boot just in case I have to change a wheel and it's cold. Mostly for comfort.

I always have a bottle of water on there just because I get terrible headaches when I'm only slightly dehydrated. Again, it's mostly for comfort.

And I have a phone charger in there. But that's mostly just for convenience although I suppose it would be helpful in an emergency.

[Monkeylegend]

I have a pair of pants and a toilet roll just in case but think a thong is one step to far.

[plasticpig]

Hose kit
Belt kit
Alternator
Fuel filter
2 x switches
2 x 12v relays
Bulb kit
2 x Bulb holders
Flasher unit
4 x wheel nuts
Starter motor solenoid
Set of cheap spanners
Set of cheap screwdrivers
Socket set
Gaffa tape
Eletrical tape
1ltr ATF
1ltr Engine Oil
1ltr PSF
Electrical wire.
30A 12v electrical wire
Pliers

[Monkeylegend]

plasticpig said:

Hose kit
Belt kit
Alternator
Fuel filter
2 x switches
2 x 12v relays
Bulb kit
2 x Bulb holders
Flasher unit
4 x wheel nuts
Starter motor solenoid
Set of cheap spanners
Set of cheap screwdrivers
Socket set
Gaffa tape
Eletrical tape
1ltr ATF
1ltr Engine Oil
1ltr PSF
Electrical wire.
30A 12v electrical wire
Pliers

Be cheaper to buy a reliable car.

[Gruber]

I always keep a packet of mince pies in the car over winter. They've come in very useful on occasion in the past.

[Glade]

Leatherman
2x LED Torch/batteries
High-Vis - usual vests, insulated high-vis gillet, and a massive bomber jacket thing (collected these at work over the years)
Waterproof shell jacket & trousers
Water... for emergency screenwash really.



Easily straying into st you keep in the car - Mobile phone powerpack charger thing, tissues, wetwipes, lighter, pens, Big roll of kitchen towel... I tend to end up stopping with mates on an ad-hoc basis so I always have a Change of clothes, sleeping bag, deodorant and hopefully a toothbrush/toothpaste. I currently have a torx bit set and a four-way cabinet key in the boot too.

I should stick a tow-rope and jump leads in there, and get more accessories for my leatherman!

[vikingaero]

If you carry a rainjacket then also get a pair of waterproof trousers. I've changed many a tyre in my North Face/Berghaus waterproof jacket and had soaking wet jeans. Sometimes you have to kneel/lie down under the car in a puddle.

[Glade]

Ahhh gaffa tape, and cable ties... need to get some.

you know, just in case

[Thermobaric]

Quite eye opening reading one of these threads on a US car forum. Most are packing a small arsenal lol. Never know when you're going to need an AR15 with 600rds heh.

[texaxile]

Cable ties
Rudimentary tool kit off Ebay for £20
2 Heavy coats (from work)
Wheelbrace
1 Gallon of Water
Oil
Folded up Cardboard under the boot mat for lying on (to be cushioned with a £1 yoga mat from a Car booty).
Gloves
Cree torch plus batteries
Good length of wire
Gaffa tape
Spanset freight strop.



I will watch this thread in case I see anything I've missed. foil blankets being one idea, and they're in poundland so it won't break the bank. Although since I started taking an emergency kit I've only needed it once when the exhaust snapped, tied it up with wire and it was good to (noisily) go , it was very satisfying to know that a few quid outlay and a bit of preparation managed to save me God knows how much on recovery charges.