Getting stranded on the side of the road is never something you expect to happen to you. Unfortunately it happens to just about all of us at one point in our lives whether caused by a flat tire or engine trouble. One of the best ways to prepare in advance for when your car breaks down is to create an emergency kit. This way you have everything you need so you won’t be totally helpless if your car breaks down. Here is some advice on how to prepare an emergency road kit for your car.
Tire changing supplies:
First you should check your spare tire to make sure that it is in good condition. In your emergency road kit make sure you put in supplies for changing tires such as tire sealant, a lug wrench, and jack. Having a lug wrench and jack are especially important, and make sure you have the correct kind of jack for your car. Some cars are raised fairly high off the ground and are too high for most jacks. To solve this problem you can keep square foot pieces of two-by-fours in your car to put under the jack when changing a tire.
Essentials for your car:
The next items you want to make sure you have on hand in your car are essential items for your car. Something that should always be in every car’s emergency kit are jumper cables and extra fuses. Also always carry at least two quarts of oil, a gallon of water and a funnel. Some other items you may want to consider putting into your car’s emergency kit are a quart of antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, and transmission fluid.
Repair tools:
Make sure to include tools into your emergency kit as being stranded without any tools is going to severely limit your options. Some important tools to include in your car’s emergency kit are screwdrivers, pliers, and an adjustable wrench. You may also want to include some old rags and paper towels to clean up after you repair your car. Also make sure to have an empty five gallon tank of gas in your car should you run out and need to get more.
Safety equipment:
Unfortunately thousands of deaths a year result from collisions with moving traffic and individuals repairing their vehicles on the side of the road. It’s just as important as all the other equipment to store some safety equipment in your car’s emergency kit. Make sure you have 4 roadside flares, and some warning triangles you can set out when your vehicle stalls to warn oncoming traffic.
Personal Equipment:
A cell phone is one of the best things you can have in a roadside emergency. Another item you should always have on hand in your car is a warm blanket in case you get stranded overnight or in very cold weather. Other good things to include in your emergency kit are some non-perishable food items such as nuts, granola bars, and some bottles of water. Also always make sure you have some cash on hand. It’s good to store a $20 bill in your car somewhere in case your car stalls and you have to get gas and have no money. Finally make sure you have at least a basic first aid kit in your car at all times.
