5 replies to this topic

[Kalimaster]

Winter is Coming!

What to do, what to do. How about a simple bit of preparation for a car.

I am giving some advice on a few winter items for your car.

1. A small bag of cat litter
2. A small shovel, even a small toy metal shovel will do such as a childs gardening shovel.
3. An ice scraper
4 Two road flares
5. A spare tire and jack

Make sure that your anti-freeze levels are up to par with the area you are living, however if you live in say the Bahamas you can ignore all of this. lol.

[SeaLabCaptn]

Powerbar, let it rot in your car for a year at a time before you replace it, you'll be glad for food if stranded. Along the same lines, a single wrapped plastic spoon can be a life saver, and a coffee can (these still around?!) with a scentless candle will keep your car cabin warm if need be.

[Kalimaster]

SeaLabCaptn, on 30 November 2016 - 07:04 AM, said:

Powerbar, let it rot in your car for a year at a time before you replace it, you'll be glad for food if stranded. Along the same lines, a single wrapped plastic spoon can be a life saver, and a coffee can (these still around?!) with a scentless candle will keep your car cabin warm if need be.

I have to agree that these items would be a good addition to the list. Thank you for the added suggestion.

[SeaLabCaptn]

You're most welcome, I love building theoretical BOB (bug out bags), thanks for the thread!

We're both forgetting a most important item: gallon of water.

[Kalimaster]

A gallon of water is nice to have, however if you leave it in the car overnight on a chilly night you have one heck of an ice cube.

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

Living in Canada, there are a few more items you might want to think of.

- Add a blanket to that list, even the cheap throw you see at the drug stores is better than nothing.
- Add an emergency blanket, thin metallic Mylar type, heat reflector type, folds so small it fits in the glove box.
- If you can get them, snap glow sticks, they last for some time and not dependent on flame/fire as your only light source.
- As with all vehicles, try to get a set of safety triangles, so your vehicle does not get run into at night with no lights on.
- If you've got one, that small first aid kit, from the summer trailer your not using right now.
- Somewhat important, a sealable bag with a roll of toilet paper. (you'll wish you had it if you need it.)
- that pair of mitts or gloves that you never wear, and a set of heavy socks. (again in a sealable bag.)
- A 12 volt phone charger adapter for your device, if the vehicle battery still works.
( It's $5 for a smaller empty red gas rated container, if all you need is to pickup some gas, to get going to that close station. May be a moot element now with cell service, AAA service, OnStar, or the likes.)
- I always carry a set of booster cables. And you should know where to attach these cables for your vehicle. Never go battery to battery, to try to start a vehicle. Your fighting through that dead battery to try to start the motor. (Good battery + &- points to dead battery positive and dead vehicle ground point, like shock top bolt or motor lift point. [this bypasses that dead battery and goes directly to the starter.])

Think where you are going during bad weather, and is your vehicle ready for each trip, do your actually (really) need to travel during it.
* If you do plan on carrying some form of tow cable or rope, please look at the vehicle manual to see where the tow points are. Don't rip off your steering linkages or the bumper, and look stupid. When it only takes a few seconds to know where to attach.

Safe winter traveling,
9erRed

Edited by 9erRed, 01 December 2016 - 06:04 PM.