Winter car packs

[mdog892001]

I was browsing the interwebs and was wonder if any knew of a winter emergency bag that they keep In the vehicle. Nothing major as we live in a very populated area but do travel on occasions. I guess what I’m trying to say is a bag that has enough to last a few hours until help arrives. Jumper cables, first aid, stuff like that.


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[Buickspec6231]

Are you looking for a pre-packaged and purchased kit or what people build and keep in their vehicle? During the winter I always keep a bag with a Carhartt jacket, overalls, gloves, hats, and a blanket. I live near the Syracuse, NY area work evenings (Till 2am). A lot of times the roads aren't plowed on my drive home and I make sure to have a way to keep warm if I get stuck somewhere. I do also have jumper cables in both vehicles and a shovel of some sort.

 

[rsparks64]

In Minnesota we also kept a space blanket (a real one if you have room), matches, candles, flashlight, candy bars, flares, a small snow shovel, a bag or two of sand if you have room, a bottle or jug of water, and items described above.

 

[Bert_]

Are you looking for a pre-packaged and purchased kit or what people build and keep in their vehicle? During the winter I always keep a bag with a Carhartt jacket, overalls, gloves, hats, and a blanket. I live near the Syracuse, NY area work evenings (Till 2am). A lot of times the roads aren't plowed on my drive home and I make sure to have a way to keep warm if I get stuck somewhere. I do also have jumper cables in both vehicles and a shovel of some sort.

This is pretty good. I usually bring a coat and am dressed warm but blankets and a good pair of gloves and boots are kept in the trunk.

 

[rlitman]

I keep gloves in the glove box.

A blanket is a MUST. Just a cheap wool army blanket is my choice, but a moving blanket will do too. It's good to toss over mud if you're changing a tire, or covering your seat from something damaging, as well as the conventional uses. My first air kit has a space blanket in it.

 

[Moosefire]

Tire changing tools, warm clothes. I'm partial to the cold weather as I work in it so if I have to walk it's not that big of a deal. I only have a 14 mile commute so I'm still local if something happens. If I had more room (chevy trax) like I used to have, I used to carry a full set of tools (300 pcs craftsman kit) a case of Gatorade, gallon of water, army blankets, and extra winter accessories years ago when I was a single man, and had spare room for such things

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[KariFS]

When I drive, I wear clothes that are appropriate to the weather, even though I am inside the car. Not the kind of clothes you could spend a day in, but ok for a couple of miles walk. In the wintertime, say 40F or cooler, I like to wear gloves anyway, and always have a hat of some kind with me.

In the car I keep a hi-vis vest that fits on top of even winter clothes, a small flashlight that is charged in the cigar lighter, first aid kit, a 12V compressor and a can of that fix-a-flat stuff. Some work gloves, and a seat cover. Tools and jack to change a wheel, but no spare wheel as the car did not come with one.

I admit I rarely drive anywhere where it would take hours to get help, so I only prepare lightly. Having water or soda with me in winter would not help, nor would candy bars as they would be frozen solid from November to March

I used to have a small foldable shovel, but it broke the first time I used it, fortunately not an emergency, so I ditched it. My Saab can handle about 8 to 10 inches of light snow, one just has to know what he is doing, FWD is great, just tread carefully and when you feel you may be getting stuck, don’t slam on the gas, but stop, back up a few feet and try again SLOWLY. Of course I have winter tyres, they are mandatory here in the wintertime.

Edit: Almost forgot the most important ”tool”, a well-charged cell phone, kept warm in an inside pocket. Apple products tend to shut themself off when it gets cold

 

[crewchief888]

I always keep a pair of jumper cables in each vehicle.
cell phone charger.

i'm a field mechanic at a const eq dealer, theres a few things ive learned over the years to keep in the cab of the truck during cold weather.

water it's easy to get dehydrated even in cold weather
2-4 pairs of gloves swap out cold, wet gloves for warm, dry gloves
extra hat & baclava
dry socks nothing worse than cold wet feet
rain jacket

 

[mdog892001]

Anything bought or that I can piece together would be fine. I drive 60miles round trip. the wife and kid only go to the store and appointments. But still a good idea for both vehicles. I have a single cab truck with a big toolbox so storage is no problem


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[dfiler2]

It's common around here for school organizations to sell them in the fall as a fundraiser, or put one together yourself.

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/educational-materials/Documents/Winter-Survival-Brochure.pdf

 

[kaymccampbell]

The day after Turkey day, I'll load a fake fleece blanket, foot n hand warmers, a folding shovel, n some snacks into the car. When the weather gets cold, the fuel tank never gets below 3/4, and the cell phone gets charged every night, without fail. I always carry water, because I dehydrate easily.

 

[finn]

Best advice I can give, looking back, is to keep informed about upcoming weather conditions and stay off the road if there is any doubt. I have driven thousands of miles in conditions where I really had no business being on the road due to zero visibility or iced over roads ( the type where you have difficulty standing or walking, not normal snow covered winter roads).

Next, dress for the conditions. Driving without a warm jacket, boots instead of dress shoes or sneakers, and not carrying warm gloves is grounds for a Darwin Award.

Third (or maybe first, as I think about it) would be suitable tires for the conditions.

 

[chicken89]

both of my cars get: 2 road flares (for early warning on road, source of heat to melt snow if desperate, light at night), blanket, light jacket (due to space constraints), long sleeve t shirt and sweatpants (something old that i don't care about anymore (wife can use mine, but i cannot use hers)), and a couple bottles of water wrapped up in the clothes to prevent freezing, jumper cables. all that is in a small trunk organizer
in the cabin of vehicle: backup bettery charger for phones, all 3 types of phone charging cords, latex gloves, rubber dipped gloves, butane lighter, gerber multi tool
in my wifes SUV, i have a couple extra bottles of water and a bit more clothes (a jacket for each of us).

forgot to add: some of those chem lights that you can break and they light up for a couple hours. i always buy them when i see them cheap. usually a couple colors. halloween and 4th of july are good times to get them cheap. more dependable than a flashlight, but doesn't provide as much light

 

[KariFS]

How do y’all who keep water in the vehicle keep it drinkable (liquid form I mean)? Or do you just grab a bottle every time you leave the house and then take it to the office or locker room, back to the car and then home again?

It’s different of course if you have a warm garage both at home and at work, but I guess most don’t.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I always keep a pair of jumper cables in each vehicle.
cell phone charger.

i'm a field mechanic at a const eq dealer, theres a few things ive learned over the years to keep in the cab of the truck during cold weather.

water it's easy to get dehydrated even in cold weather
2-4 pairs of gloves swap out cold, wet gloves for warm, dry gloves
extra hat & baclava
dry socks nothing worse than cold wet feet
rain jacket

You're worried about not having Turkish pastry when you get stuck out on the road?

Tommy

 

[JAYoung]

How do y’all who keep water in the vehicle keep it drinkable (liquid form I mean)? Or do you just grab a bottle every time you leave the house and then take it to the office or locker room, back to the car and then home again?

It’s different of course if you have a warm garage both at home and at work, but I guess most don’t.

Here in Montana any water you put in your car remains frozen solid from October to April, so I keep a metal coffee can filled with candles (and other essentials like snacks) so I can melt snow if I have to.

 

[homelessdespot]

In addition to what has already been mentioned, I keep tire gauge, scissors, pliers (removing nails from tires), tape measure (for shopping) and a tire plug kit. Tire plug kits are great and easy to use. Now that I think about it, I should add a quick inflater that uses those little CO2 cartridges.

 

[PhantomEB]

Extra windshield washer fluid good to -45, a blanket, gloves and my good winter boots, blanket and maps of where I am headed. Battery cables and snow brush always very easily accessible. The roads I travel are pretty populated, tools as to what I am expecting to do, depending on job as well. I always have my phone charged as well I have one dedicated in every vehicle we own. Usually at my work destination, my phone is fully charged as well my ipad. Truck, being it’s older, always has my work tool box behind the seat. Car is fairly new and well maintained so it doesn’t carry much for tools other than battery cables.

I should pick up a shovel before the weekend.

 

[toolmiser]

You need to pack "spring water" so it doesn't freeze!

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I moved south to get away from the nasty white stuff in the winter so I'll need a phone and a sweat shirt, just in case.

 

[Augus7us]

I was browsing the interwebs and was wonder if any knew of a winter emergency bag that they keep In the vehicle. Nothing major as we live in a very populated area but do travel on occasions. I guess what I’m trying to say is a bag that has enough to last a few hours until help arrives. Jumper cables, first aid, stuff like that.


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I think the first thing you need to answer for yourself is what do you want to prepare for? There are simply too many scenarios out there, unless you want to drive a fully stocked humvee as a daily driver.

Are you worried about driving off the road in some back country wilderness out of cell phone range or are you more concerned with what would you need if you got a flat on a busy freeway?

Obviously there are some good to have general purpose items, like a first aid kit, that can be handy in any emergency where there is an injury. But most things will be specific to your situation and what you are preparing for.

There are thousands of youtube videos on bugout bags and prepper stuff. So much so that I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one not aware of an imminent meteor strike or alien invasion. I would watch a few on bug out bags for vehicles as a start, some real handy stuff out there.

 

[bob from indiana]

In winter my insulated bibs,carhartt coat, a thinsulate toboggin hat and insulated gloves and boots stay on board. I work inside now but grew up raising cattle and worked outside a lot in my youth.

 

[ozyborn]

My artic army pack. Parka, mittens, boots, pants, scarf. Folding shovel, water and snacks

 

[bwringer]

...Now that I think about it, I should add a quick inflater that uses those little CO2 cartridges.

Don't bother with the CO2 cartridges -- it takes a LOT of these stupid things, over a dozen, to inflate a car tire enough to drive on it.

An electric pump is the best option, and there's one in each of our four-wheeled vehicles. With a coupon, you can get a very nice inflator from Harbor Freight for about $25. It's quiet and fast, and even has a gauge.

I also have a Nealey tire plug kit in each vehicle -- you can often plug a simple puncture quickly without removing the wheel or even losing much air. Yank the screw or nail, plug it, and re-inflate to proper pressure.