Roadside Emergency Kit

[KevinKernaghan]

My sister got her first car recently, a Ford Escort Coupe, and for her gift this Christmas I was hoping I could cobble together for her some kind of halfway decent roadside emergency kit.

 

Now, of course, there are the ones you can buy at Target for 20 dollars. However, I distinctly recall that I broke a lot of those components on their first use, and I eventually got my Pathfinder to a high level of emergency equippage (lots of stuff squirreled away in the rear amplifier access panel). Of course, my baby sister doesn't have a high degree of mechanical savvy, but I think she, as a girl, should be able to get stuff done quickly and easily without having to flag strangers over for help. So I think I'm going to get her a kit with quality tools and materials that I wish I had had when I ran into trouble:

 

Here's what I've got so far:

 

1. 24-pc. (or so) metric and english socket set (I assume the Escort is probably some bizarre combination of both)

 

2. Big bag of additional fuses

 

3. Various sizes of zip ties

 

4. 2 Bungee cords

 

5. Pliers/knives multi-tool

 

6. Duct tape, electrical tape, taillight tape

 

7. Stiff wire brush

 

8. The venerable 4-sided tire iron

 

9. Mini Maglite (or something equally sturdy but with LEDs)

 

10. Tire PSI gauge

 

11. 12V Air compressor (though it will have to be quite small)

 

12. Rags

 

13. Jumper Cables (better than the ones that come in $20 kits)

 

 

Let me know what additions you can suggest, based on any strandings you might have had in your life...I know I'm leaving out plenty of stuff but this kit is gaining size very rapidly and it will probably have to be small and flat enough to occupy the under-trunk-floor area alongside her spare tire (except for the air compressor) so I was thinking I would put it in some kind of heavy canvas zip bag...a very romantic Christmas present, I know, but hey, what are big brothers for?

[88blk4x4]

if she's like my little sister, a cell phone so she can call you to come use the stuff for her...lol

[KevinKernaghan]

I know, but with me 300 miles away, I'll just have to walk her through it on the phone.

 

She's got a boyfriend too, but I don't know what he's worth (too soon to tell)

[cdhicks99]

I like a survival pack in the trunk.

[ColinBen]

Most women only need two things in their tool Kit.

1 Roll of Duct Tape.

1 Can of CRC or WD40.

If it moves and it's not supposed to, use Duct Tape.

If it doesn't move and it's supposed to, use CRC or WD40.

Cheers,

[94extreme]

red lipstick. that'll go further in an emergency then any of the other stuff.

[Pavelow Leaks]

Just get her a mechanically inclined midget to keep in the trunk.

[SkinnyPedal]

My sister got her first car recently, a Ford Escort Coupe

Can she fit a parts car in the trunk?

[headpeace]

^^

[Pezzy]

red lipstick. that'll go further in an emergency then any of the other stuff.

now now, maybe not th red lipstick (I cant pull off red) but lip balm is always needed near by.

 

This might be too big, but a blanket, or even one of those emergency blankets are good to have. And maybe some first aid kit elements?

[Pezzy]

Or, you could always get her a AAA membership... I know mine came in handy when I drove my old truck.

[zonianbrat]

Depending on where you live I might add some kind of recovery strap. which could also be used for towing. And X2 on the blanket and first aid kit. And a couple of screwdrivers besides what's on the multi-tool. my .02

[DJ Dank]

You've comprised a pretty good list there so far. She's lucky to have a big bro that looking out like you do. I always have a spare pair of headlight bulbs because I always seem to get pulled over when one goes out.

 

I also always have a gallon jug of water just in case.

[arctic_mark]

If you're somewhere cold, add a couple of candles, certainly the blanket, a ligter/matches and maybe some old warm clothes. And if she's a girl/clean-freak, some work gloves and even those disposable tyvek overalls. The candles will be enough to heat teh inside of the rig as you don't want the engine idling especially when you're stuck in snow as it could well pump the cab full of carbon monoxide, let alone making a situation even worse by running out of gas! I know this is getting bulky, but if she gets stuck in the snow and has to wait a couple of hours or has to walk to the nearest house/farm for help she'd be thankful.

Also I'm glad I packed hi-viz vest for changing the driver's side tire at night on a busy road! And a warning triangle doesn't hurt either

[glenn]

just a thought--If she's mechanically inclined then all that stuff is fine. If she likely could not fix her own car then I would think you should come at the problem from a different angle, i.e. communication equipment[cell phone w/ extra batteries/charger ,CB radio], roadside flares , AAA membership, warm blankets/sleeping bag, food /drink. The idea being that if she is unlikely to be able to fix the car herself she should benefit best by being able to wait out a recue.Just think if James Kim[the guy on the news, who broke down and died in Oregon] had thught of this

[Slick]

just a thought--If she's mechanically inclined then all that stuff is fine. If she likely could not fix her own car then I would think you should come at the problem from a different angle, i.e. communication equipment[cell phone w/ extra batteries/charger ,CB radio], roadside flares , AAA membership, warm blankets/sleeping bag, food /drink. The idea being that if she is unlikely to be able to fix the car herself she should benefit best by being able to wait out a recue.Just think if James Kim[the guy on the news, who broke down and died in Oregon] had thught of this

i agree. :bow: if she's not mechanically inclined, no amount of tools will help her. as with the sad kim family story, if they had a survival kit, flares and flashlights, they may have been rescued sooner and all alive.

 

if she isn't mechanically inclined:

blanket (one of those silvery survival blankets..small..easy to store)

those heating gloves (as above)

emergency triangles

spare clothing/shoes

candles & a good strong flashlight (a BBQ lighter and extra batteries too)

AAA membership and a pre paid cell phone.. even if there's no service, some cell phones, like mine, have a "beacon" thing inside it so it's location can be traced by 911, and i can also call 911 anywhere, even out of my service area.

Flares (someone will wonder WTF the lightshow is!)

water and canned food (with can opener!)

 

mechanically inclined:

a service manual for her car

tool kit to include metric & std sockets and wrenches, pliers, duct tape, pb blaster, spare belts for the car, mechanics gloves or rubber gloves, zip ties, bungees..

a jack and nifty lug wrench

a tarp for laying on

one of those bright lights that run off battery or a large battery operated hangable lamp.

a cheater bar & BFH

 

 

i can't remember anything else right now.......

[govols74n]

No offense to anyone here, but if shes like most (not all) of the women that I know, she will forget its back there, and keep calling until someone with knowledge shows up or call a tow truck, or just drive it till the dangling muffler finally falls off.(those, like my wife, who would never turn a screwdriver to help me work on the pathy) sly