Best of Survival Talk Survival Gear for Vehicles Most survivalists keep a survival stash or kit in their car. The thread below discusses what to add to your normal stash for the winter, to prepare for a long trip or for other special circumstances. If you need to know what to keep in your basic vehicle survival kit, there is a section on vehicles in Captain Dave's Survival Guide. Posted by Ajab on October 24, 1997 at 18:39:35: With the cold weather starting, I decided to start a thread on survival gear for our vehicles. Most of us already keep supplies in our vehicles (blankets, gloves, boots etc.)this thread will be about gear needed to make emergency repairs in case of a breakdown. I keep a kit in all my vehicles for emergencies be it mine or another stranded motorist. In my cars I keep a basic tool & repair kit in two 50 cal. ammo cans. Tools: 5 screwdrivers, 2 slotted, 2 phillips in different sizes plus a combination slotted/phillips angle head. sorta an S shape. combination wrenches box/open end for every bolt size on vehicle(normally 10-15 wrenches) sockets in every size as wrenches 2 socket wrenches 2 extensions 3 in.&6 in. linesman pliers needle nose pliers vise grips crimping pliers pocket knife I also have a hammer and hacksaw and a couple of wire coat hangers in the spare tire compartment. For repairs: Fuses bulbs-taillights, backups etc. a headlight crimp style wire splice duct tape electric tape Hose clamps of different sizes 3 ft lengths of gas resistant rubber hose in every size on car(normally 2 or 3 sizes) If your vehicle has an automatic trans. you should keep a few pieces of tubing in the kit, I recommend straight and curved pieces along with a couple with connectors attached. a couple 2 in. pieces of radiator hose 1 straight 1 curved with a slit lengthwise. A blown radiator hose can be duct taped and the piece of hose placed over it and held in place with clamps. Pieces of wire. Packed well it should all fit in 2 50 cal cans. In addition to that I also keep a gallon of antifreeze mixed w/water. In a bag a qt. of oil, can of fixaflat, bottle of drygas, can of WD-40, can of engine starter (ether) That should get you through a minor emergency, you may want to add more if it is a long trip. For local driving I keep a basic kit in my truck, but for long trips I add to the basics. A more expanded tool kit including propane torch, mini vise. Hydraulic jack Jack stands 2 headlights wiring harnesses for the following: Both headlights Both taillights Both fr. turn signals Both backup lights If possible leave about 3 feet of wire on the sockets Upper & lower radiator hoses Brake line splices 4 cans of fixaflat 2 spare tires Extra shift linkages Spare driveshaft with new U-joints installed. It may seem like a lot but if you get stranded on the highway with no houses in sight or in an emergency bugout situation you have problems you should be up in running shortly Something else I pack is a couple pieces of cardboard, folded and laid on the floor of your trunk or truck bed should take up little space. If the ground is wet or snow covered you have something to lay on. Those are my recommendations, if anyone else has anything to add please do. Maybe a future thread could be about setting up a bugout vehicle properly. Posted by Fred on October 24, 1997 at 21:42:20: Folding shovel. Definitely need that. At least a come-along, if not a powered winch. CB Radio. And a bag of salt/sand for winter use. Scrap carpet is great for getting out of soft sand too. Once got a 40 ft. motor home out of beach sand up to it's axles with the carpeting out of the back of my car. Posted by Ajab on October 25, 1997 at 09:54:51: Good idea, a military tri-fold wouldn't take up much room, a come-along and tow strap would be good too. The carpet could also be used lay or kneel on while making repairs if it was raining or snow on the ground. Posted by BK on October 25, 1997 at 14:31:22: CB's Have one in work truck, I get 2-3 miles off the highway and there is no one to hear you, unless you are luck enough to catch that passer by with his on within that few minute time span. and, I still apply to the mind set of to better have than have NOT! just wanted to toss this out there. P.S. Glock has and excellent folding shovel. Posted by Steve on October 25, 1997 at 04:04:17: If the weather is cold, you should put some candles in your car. They can provide the heat that could save your life. Posted by Ajab on October 25, 1997 at 10:02:19: the round flat 3 wick would be good, I usually keep a couple of wool blankets, mittens, gloves, wool socks handy as well as a couple pocket space blankets. Posted by MOTORHEAD on October 25, 1997 at 22:11:03: Another handy item for the car kit is the dc power source that Shumacher is selling. I picked one up at Wal-marts the other day for about 100 bucks. Its basically a small jell cell battery in a box with short jumper cables. It also has charge indicator LED's and comes with a wall plug recharger. optional accessories include, a cigarette lighter plug recharger and an inverter to supply ac power. I haven't tried these accessories but the power source has already started my v8 powered car a couple of times when I had charging problems. Sure beats standing by your car with jumper cables in hand and a needy look on your face. also allows you to jump start other cars without risking damage to your cars electrical system. Posted by Fred on October 25, 1997 at 11:51:18: Let's not forget a can for gas, if not a can OF gas. Posted by Ajab on October 25, 1997 at 13:52:32: I've thought of getting a mil style can that would strap in the box but I'm not sure how safe it would be to carry a full can of gas. Currently I keep plastic 5 gal cans empty in all my vehicles. Posted by Fred on October 26, 1997 at 13:40:36: Properly secured, it would be about as safe as the vehicle's built in tank, maybe safer. I assume you've got a pickup, there's lots of crumple space back there. I have a couple of 5 gal. mil style cans too, one at home, one at the hidey hole. It bolts onto the spare tire in back, up high where it's not likely to get hit. I don't take it with me much, not for commuting around town. It is surely a source of comfort on trips to the hinterlands, tho.