How to Create an Emergency Road Kit for Your Car

Having an emergency road kit may mean the difference between sitting on the side of the highway waiting for a tow truck or being able to make your way to your destination.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Work Gloves
• Work Gloves
• Automotive Repair Manual
• Duct Tape
• Funnels
• Swiss Army Knives
• Emergency Flares
• Phillips Screwdrivers
• Adjustable Wrenches
• Auto Emergency Kits
• Booster Cables
• Car Jacks
• Collapsible Shovel
• Fix-a-flat Cans
• Flashlights
• Fuses
• Lugnut Wrenches
• Pliers
• Reflectors
• Tool Sets
• Duct Tape
• Pliers
• Flashlights

1. Use a cardboard or plastic box to keep everything in so it doesn't roll around in the trunk and you can easily find what you need.

2. Buy or cull together a first aid kit (see related eHow).

3. Include a AAA or roadside emergency card.

4. Throw in all the necessary equipment to change a tire: working jack, spare tire (with air in it!), lug nut wrench or tire iron, pipe for leverage. Most of this should already be stored in its designated place in the car's trunk or hatchback.

5. Have a flashlight with fresh batteries in there.

6. Include triangle reflectors and flares.

7. Include rags and a funnel.

8. Purchase all the necessary fluids: 2 qts. of oil (10W-40), a gallon of water and antifreeze, brake fluid, power-steering fluid (if applicable), and automatic transmission fluid (if applicable).

9. Add flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers, pliers and an adjustable wrench (only to be used in an emergency - adjustable wrenches can easily round the head of bolts).

10. Buy jumper cables (at least eight feet long).

11. Toss in work gloves or latex gloves, duct tape (of course), a blanket, spare fuses and a can of Fix-a-Flat.

Tips & Warnings

• Some optional items to consider: a Swiss Army knife, a good book, a credit card, a pillow, a bathing suit, tasty snacks, a beach chair and, to make your mom happy, a pair of clean underwear.
• If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, keep a collapsible shovel in the car in case you need to dig your car out of ice or snow.

[pressa]

on 2/20/2009 Keep a box of extra fuses, this has saved me a few times, when driving at night and my dashboard lights went out. Pulled into a rest stop , replaced the blown fuse and was on my way again.

[pressa]

on 2/2/2009 02/02/2009 I usually carry a small flat peice of wood so if I'm on a soft sholder the jack won't sink into the ground, I also carry a tire patch kit, this works for nail size holes, and a foot pump which doesn't need power or cords that always seems to come up short.

[RhiannonAidan]

on 9/20/2008 To add to afro2358's comment that you need to include a cell phone: Any cell phone, regardless of whether it has "normal" service, will still call 911 as long as it is charged.

[unclebob1991]

on 7/28/2008 I keep a bottle of Fast Orange hand cleaner, some glow sticks, and a 15" long piece of galvanized 2" pipe. The pipe is used as leverage to extend the tire iron to loosen the lug nuts tightened by an air gun at the tire shop. Beats waiting for AAA if you're in a hurry.

[destryer]

on 7/3/2008 I would respectfully recommend instead- a product called Slime and a good small 12 volt air compressor. The compressor has helped me countless times to air up low tires that can be driven to a station for repair. As far as jumpers- don't skimp on quality! Quality cables can handle heat and current that cheaper ones won't and the longer the better. I have a pair that start 2 cars end-to end. You are never parked in a convenient place when you need a jump.
You might include a faraday (shaker) type LED flashlight that will never run down in the back of the trunk.
In winter a couple candles for heat and kitty litter for traction (sand gets everywhere).