Have you ever come out to your car in the winter and found you cannot get the car out of the snow? Ever had a tire go flat on you while you shopped in the mall? How many times did you run out of gas because you thought you had enough to get you there?

While we are out-and-about, a number of things can arise causing us to become stranded. The best thing to do is prepare for the unknown.

Just as many people have little tool boxes in their homes for those “just in case” situations, your car should have its own toolbox as well.

Here are some things you should include in car toolbox:

1. Jumper cables. Maybe you left your headlights on and you come back to a dead battery. Jumper cables will quickly resolve that problem. Just make sure you use them correctly.
2. Tire pressure gauge. This should not only be used in emergencies, but be considered a tool of preventative care. Know your how much air should be in your tires and check all four at least once a month. Low tire pressure can cause your tire to burst while you’re driving.
3. Local and national maps. Let’s face it, we all get lost every once in a while. Why use up gas and time trying to find the way home when we can just pull over and look at a map.
4. Blankets. On the off chance you get stuck somewhere and cannot get help, blankets are always good to have in order to stay warm and safe.
5. Bottled Water. Same thing here. People can survive much longer without food, but water is a necessity. It also would come in handy in case your car overheats.
6. Working flashlight. Just in case you breakdown at night, you can see what you’re looking at.
7. Spare fluids (oil, window washing fluid, steering fluid, etc).
8. Spare rags. Whether it’s checking your oil or greasy hands from changing a tire, a rag to wipe your hands with will come in handy.
9. Tissues. Always good to have around for any reason.
10. Spare money. With rising gas costs, AAA reports more people are running out of gas on the side of the road.
11. Gas can. (See above)
12. Flares. Just in case your car malfunctions in the night, you want other people to be able to see your car.
13. Salt and Sand. In the winter you may find your car stuck. Some salt may help melt the snow around your car. The sand helps with traction.
14. A small collection of tools. Wrenches, screwdrivers, plyers. Anything you can think of that might come in handy. Small tool kits are usually available at places like Target, Wal-Mart, etc.
15. First Aid Kit. Also usually found in most stores.
16. Insurance card. You never know when you will run into a bit of an accident and will need to exchange information.
17. Last but not least- AAA card. With a relatively low membership fee, it’s always good to have even if you don’t think you will use it. AAA offers towing and other roadside services such as changing a tire or picking a lock.

Popularity: 14% [?]

This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 12:59 pm and is filed under crafts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.