How to Create an Emergency Road Kit for Your Car

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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.

Step One
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.

Step Two
Buy or put together a first aid kit. See another post about this.

Step Three
Include a AAA or roadside emergency card.

Step Four
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.

Step Five
Have a couple of flashlights with fresh batteries in there.

Step Six
Include triangle reflectors and flares.

Step Seven
Include rags and a funnel.

Step Eight
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).

Step Nine
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).

Step Ten
Buy jumper cables (at least eight feet long).

Step Eleven
Toss in work gloves or latex gloves, duct tape (of course), scissors, a blanket, a work jacket or sweater, spare fuses and a can of Fix-a-Flat and Stop Leak.

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, Ice Melt, extra gloves or mittens, hat, scarf and socks.

How to Create an Emergency Road Kit for Your Car

Instructions

Step Two Buy or put together a first aid kit. See another post about this.

Step Three Include a AAA or roadside emergency card.

Step Four 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.

Step Five Have a couple of flashlights with fresh batteries in there.

Step Six Include triangle reflectors and flares.

Step Seven Include rags and a funnel.

Step Eight 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).

Step Nine 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).

Step Ten Buy jumper cables (at least eight feet long).

Step Eleven Toss in work gloves or latex gloves, duct tape (of course), scissors, a blanket, a work jacket or sweater, spare fuses and a can of Fix-a-Flat and Stop Leak.

Tips & Warnings

Step Two
Buy or put together a first aid kit. See another post about this.

Step Three
Include a AAA or roadside emergency card.

Step Four
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.

Step Five
Have a couple of flashlights with fresh batteries in there.

Step Six
Include triangle reflectors and flares.

Step Seven
Include rags and a funnel.

Step Eight
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).

Step Nine
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).

Step Ten
Buy jumper cables (at least eight feet long).

Step Eleven
Toss in work gloves or latex gloves, duct tape (of course), scissors, a blanket, a work jacket or sweater, spare fuses and a can of Fix-a-Flat and Stop Leak.