winter car bag suggestions?

[cofi]

putting together some winter car bags (thinking getting stuck for a night or 2 in the car in the snow away from help) just wanted to pick your guys brains a bit before i start buying stuff
what do you pack in your cars bob ?

[ray1970]

In a nutshell....

Food, water, warmth, entertainment.

[dwalker460]

What he said^^^

Along the lines of-

food- ramen noodles etc. that can be prepared by boiling, crackers, clif bar type stuff that can be eaten with no preparation at all, and vitamin supplements.
Bottled water
Gatorade or similar powdered mix to replenish electrolytes
cans of sterno or simlar
sterno "stove"
space blankets
since its a car, fleece blankets
spare cold weather gloves and toboggan style hat, your hands and head are important to keep warm, especially if you need to dig out
folding shovel
road flares
flashlights and batteries
simple first aid kit


I also tend to keep a spare jacket or two in the cars and trucks, because I have a bad habit of just wearing a light jacket or fleece pullover to go to and from the car, and it only took one time of having to dig out in a wet sweater to make sure I had something more climate appropriatte in the vehicles at all times.

A few years ago we had a friend of ours drive up to Wyoming in mid-winter and got caught in a storm and more or less drove off the road. No provisions of any kind really, and not particularly prepared other than I think she had some snacks and a drink. She got very lucky to be found pretty quickly by a towtruck driver towing out to get another stranded car. Had she not been found, it likely would have been very bad for her.

[Great-Kazoo]

Don't forget the most important item. A FULL TANK OF GAS.
I have the light sticks vs flares, they last longer. having flares are good more so If you needed to light a fire and all you have is wet wood.
Anyone else have a red or green laser pointer besides me? They really get the attention of aircraft in your area, real fast.

Change of clothes
socks, pant & shirt. dry is much nicer than wet.
waterproof shoes or as me late grandmother called them galoshes .
TOILET Paper.

[StagLefty]

In a nutshell....

Food, water, warmth, entertainment.

Books or a portable radio are good if your stuck sitting in a vehicle for a long period of time. I keep a small radio in my truck bag and I always throw the Nook in the truck in case I'm any place longer than planned (Dr's office) Plus the other stuff mentioned. [Beer]

[zteknik]

Personaly I would also keep a scanner with weatherband in the car to keep track of whats going on.And a C.B.radio just incase somebody was actualy listening and paying attention.May not work at long range but if somebody was close by they can hear the distress call.It use to be the P.D. monitored the bands just for that reason in inclamite weather.

[cofi]

lots of good suggestions here! ive found that my water was frozen solid in the trunk of my car all last winter is there something else that i can pack with a lower freezing point?

[jerrymrc]

I knew we had done this. [Flower] http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=34642&highlight=truck

[hammer03]

lots of good suggestions here! ive found that my water was frozen solid in the trunk of my car all last winter is there something else that i can pack with a lower freezing point?
Gatorade should have a lower freezing point.

[gnihcraes]

Too difficult to list it all, but photos:

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g463/gnihcraes/carkit1.jpg

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g463/gnihcraes/carkit2.jpg

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g463/gnihcraes/carkit3.jpg

[Wulf202]

lots of good suggestions here! ive found that my water was frozen solid in the trunk of my car all last winter is there something else that i can pack with a lower freezing point?

Alcohol.

[ChunkyMonkey]

lots of good suggestions here! ive found that my water was frozen solid in the trunk of my car all last winter is there something else that i can pack with a lower freezing point?

I put salt in my emergency water bottle and drink it w/ filter. It does lower the freezing point, but you will still taste some saltiness.

[Irving]

I've got a bag full of bungee cords in one of my cars, and can't think of a time I've ever used any of them. Well, to be fair, I can't think of a time I've ever been stranded or broken down either.

ETA: One time I used the bungees to bungee down my CB antenna so the truck could fit in a parking garage. I've since remedied that and just installed a hook.

[Wulf202]

In all seriousness. Carry hand warmers and Mre heaters. They thaw bottles just fine

[Aloha_Shooter]

Your water will thaw when you bring it into the cab of your car or truck. While you want at least a gallon of water, I like to keep it in quart- or liter-size bottles (usually from washing out and reusing bottles from G2 or similar drinks). I prefer candles or homemade paraffin heaters to sterno -- no poisons or leakage to worry about (although you don't want to leave them in the car when things get warm). Make sure you have waterproof matches or a lighter. Add a fleece blanket to your inventory -- doesn't take much room if you put it in a compressible stuff sack.

If you have to light anything in the car, be sure to crack the windows just a tiny bit to let exhaust gases out and fresh air in.

[ChadAmberg]

Just in case things get really deep where you may get stuck, consider some sort of orange flag/streamer and a way to hoist it up over the car. If you have a CB antenna, it could be tied to that, for example.

Oh, and get a set of tire chains to keep in the car. Hopefully having those would make the difference between getting stuck and getting home.

[hatidua]

A WARM sleeping bag, and a good pillow. If you're going to be spending some serious time in your vehicle, you might as well be comfortable.

[ChunkyMonkey]

In all seriousness. Carry hand warmers and Mre heaters. They thaw bottles just fine

I tried and tried... holy cow it takes forever for a frozen bottle of water to melt w/ a bunch of hand warmers. MRE heater needs water - chicken and egg. [Coffee]

It's almost easier to lit up your MSR and cook some snow.

[hollohas]

As previously mentioned a folding shovel should be included and even throw in a bag of sand if you have the room but don't have chains. These two things can really help you dig your car out if necessary.

Also...it has been mentioned once, but I am going to say it again...SOCKS. Your feet will get wet and you will need dry socks.

And get a tow strap. I truck capable of pulling you out may drive by, but they might not have a strap. I have seen this happen more than once.

[hatidua]

http://www.wildthingsgear.com/high-loft-booties-usmc-1-0-1861.html

[Aloha_Shooter]

With all the gear being suggested, you may as well concede defeat and upgrade to a Suburban so you can carry everything. ;-)

[jerrymrc]

With all the gear being suggested, you may as well concede defeat and upgrade to a Suburban so you can carry everything. ;-)

I don't think so. The items (in the other thread) I listed for the cars fit in one small 12"X18 container and even the truck items fit behind 1/2 of the seat in my std cab PU.




Basic supplies in every vehicle.

First aid kit
small basic tool kit with wire, duct tape, tie wraps, jumper cables.
1 MRE with heater (changed every year)
1 blanket
1 space blanket
chemical hand warmers 3 pair. (change these every year)
3 road flares
LED flashlight
Spare batteries
Pair of gloves
cheap plastic poncho
some paper towels
1/2 roll of toilet paper in a bag
2-3 bottles of water
couple of plastic trash bags
1 can fix a flat

Due to the nature of where we go in the truck in addition to the above.

another blanket and space blanket
sleeping bag
2 more MRE's
coffee can
candles
fire starter, lint/Vaseline
tire plug kit
air pump
tow strap
fold up shovel
more hand warmers and water
compass and topo map of colorado

[zteknik]

I just realized another thing that is a must have,well for me anyways is a good battery jump box.Never know with the cold could leave you dead in the water.
Plus some of them have a cigarette lighter plug on them to run other stuff as well.

[StagLefty]

I just realized another thing that is a must have,well for me anyways is a good battery jump box.Never know with the cold could leave you dead in the water.
Plus some of them have a cigarette lighter plug on them to run other stuff as well.

^ Amen [Beer]

[JohnnyEgo]

Some things I already have in my truck, in particular because I have a wife who is never happy with the temperature, and a toddler. Consequently, I already have bottled water, juice, granola bars, Goldfish, fleece blankets, etc..

In my truck, I carry a first aid kit, small tool kit, jumper cables, gas tank, snow shovel, snow broom, regular shovel, flares, work gloves, work boots, a wool hat, a 3 D-Cell Mag Lite, a Surefire G2, and extra socks. Sounds like a lot of crap, but it really doesn't take up that much space. What doesn't fit behind the rear seats goes into a relatively small Rubber Made bin in the back, which also contains tie-downs, a tarp, wheel chocks and assorted towing stuff.

http://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/rnbdivider/IMG_1507.JPG
http://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/rnbdivider/IMG_1505.JPG
http://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/rnbdivider/IMG_1514.JPG

[SouthPaw]

Currently what is in mine:

-Winter steel toe boots
-Extra sweat shirt
-Full face winter hat/mask
-Work gloves and winter gloves
-Tow rope
-2 bottles of water, drink powder, Ramen noodles, 1 can SPAM
-Lighter, cotton balls soaked in vaseline, road flare, and glow stick
-3D Maglite
-Folding shovel

With my truck being an extended cab it has to fit under the rear seat. I will be adding a blanket and a little more food. My big question is how does little batteries hold up to constant weather change? I would hate to have to use my flashlight and find the batteries dead because of cold weather. Anyone have any input on this?

[Wulf202]

The d mag lite that's in my truck has eaten one set of batteries in 9 years

The d angled mil lite just killed it's second set in 14 years. All of these were stand by flashlights

[Wulf202]

With all the gear being suggested, you may as well concede defeat and upgrade to a Suburban so you can carry everything. ;-)

Just went from a suburban to a super cab
This sucks.

To everyone carrying folding shovels unless they're a high end one they're crap.

[The Norseman]

To everyone carrying folding shovels unless they're a high end one they're crap.

This!

Get a good avalanche shovel if you need compactness, or a good plastic grain scoop if you don't.

[cofi]

To everyone carrying folding shovels unless they're a high end one they're crap.

This!

Get a good avalanche shovel if you need compactness, or a good plastic grain scoop if you don't.


what brand do you prefer for folding shovels im 6'1 so one with a longer handle would be the bees knees

[Wulf202]

what brand do you prefer for folding shovels im 6'1 so one with a longer handle would be the bees knees

West german are the best imho. I use a $8 non folder from harbor freight. Im 6'4". I don't carry a snow shovel since they tend to be flimsy

[The Norseman]

cofi, the avvy shovel I have is an older Voile. Used to be made in SLC, not sure anymore. The handle collapses to appx 18 to 20" and extends to @ 36 to 40" (plus or minus).

[Kraven251]

Not that it would be perfect given your height, but many of the ski shovels work pretty well and fit easily into the trunk of a car. The other thing that surprised me I didn't see was 100' of 1500# rated rope (obviously assuming you have the extra space). I have used that more than a couple times to axle wench myself out of a ditch etc when I drove a Saturn, besides that you never know when it will come in handy. I also carry a set of tea-light candles. They don't take up much space and will generate enough heat to keep you alive in a car even if it drops to -40. It is always nice to be warmer, but the minimums will keep you going especially when you are tight on space.

[blacklabel]

http://www.johnnyego.com/photography/titan/rnbdivider/IMG_1514.JPG

I ripped this idea off of you this weekend. Thanks!

[Irving]

I also carry a set of tea-light candles. They don't take up much space and will generate enough heat to keep you alive in a car even if it drops to -40. It is always nice to be warmer, but the minimums will keep you going especially when you are tight on space.

Have you ever tried this? I made a four wick candle once and would light it and sit in my car when it was -10 degrees. It may be true that it would generate enough heat to keep you alive, but I don't think I'd use the term "warmer." At -10 below, I couldn't feel any heat from the candle until I was close enough to burn myself. So it's a good idea for life, but don't be under the impression that it will make the vehicle any were near "warm."

[Kraven251]

Have you ever tried this? I made a four wick candle once and would light it and sit in my car when it was -10 degrees. It may be true that it would generate enough heat to keep you alive, but I don't think I'd use the term "warmer." At -10 below, I couldn't feel any heat from the candle until I was close enough to burn myself. So it's a good idea for life, but don't be under the impression that it will make the vehicle any were near "warm."

Sorry if I gave the impression that was any way to stay warm. Was saying it is a way to stay alive, but it is nice to be warmer (than what the candle can do for you). I usually carry those plus other things, but the candles burn long and with a space blanket will keep your core where it needs to be.

I had a father that would wait until we hit a really cold night, then we would go out and sit in the car and go through what you do to not freeze to death. At the time I really didn't understand why we were sitting in the cold, when the house was right there. Though these days I wouldn't trade the memories of freezing my ass off with my dad for anything.

[Irving]

That must have been miserable as a kid. Heh