WHAT’S IN YOUR TRUNK?
April 26, 2016
Some of us keep mostly nothing in the trunk of our vehicle. Then, there are some of us who have everything including the kitchen sink in the trunk. We have talked about things like preventative maintenance and things any driver can do to make sure their vehicle stays in shape, and gone over some of the different component systems and the maintenance required for them… But what are some of the things that are good to have in your trunk “just in case?”
Here’s a list of things that we recommend that you have in your trunk (or at least in your car/truck somewhere).
Car Repair and Maintenance
- Spare tire – A spare tire, coupled with a tire jack and tire iron (without the jack and iron, a spare tire is useless), is one of the most vital things to have in your vehicle. Bonus points for having a full-sized spare so you don’t have to worry about driving on the little donut spare.
- Tire inflator and sealer – Something like a fix-a-flat is a wonderful bandaid for your tire, capable of allowing you to get to the nearest auto shop.
- Jumper cables – Dead batteries happen to the best of us. Being able to get a jump from a Good Samaritan can keep you moving forward and get you where you need to be going. Alternatively, you could pack an emergency battery booster (solar) to not rely on someone coming along.
- Your vehicle’s manual – This should be in your glove compartment already. But it bears repeating.
- Tire pressure gauge – Checking your tire’s pressure on a regular basis promotes tire life, can improve handling, and increase fuel economy!
- Duct tape and WD-40
- Car repair information – A business card for your auto repair shop (Rob’s, of course) and insurance claim forms should be in your glove compartment.
Safety and emergency
One may already have an emergency go-bag or bug out kit ready to go at a moments notice. Keeping a second, or maybe lighter version in your trunk is a solid idea.
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight
- Multitool – A good multi-tool should be kept in your vehicle at all times anyhow. A small tool-kit is also a suitable substitute.
- Matches and/or other fire starter – Very useful in winter, paired with a candle and a can.
- Food and drink – Energy bars, MREs, and some water bottles.
- Weather radio
- Seat belt cutter/window breaker – Keep this in your glove compartment. You never know when you may need to make an emergency departure from your vehicle if in a collision.
- Flares – Be visible on the road at night. Bonus points for reflective triangles.
- Maps
- Ice Scraper
- Space blanket
- Something to get tire traction – Some cardboard pieces, discarded chunks of carpet, or kitty litter sand. These things can be placed under tires to help gain traction in icy and snowy conditions.
This is far from an exhaustive list. We’re sure that there are some things that you might want to add to the list, or several items you might find irrelevant. Take this as just a broad strokes list of things that we put our heads together and came up with.
Any of our technicians at our Rob’s service centers would be happy to inspect some of the more maintenance-centric items to make sure they are appropriate for your vehicle.
Don’t leave yourself stranded without any way to keep safe. Stop in to any of our Rob’s service centers today for any of your automotive needs!