THE DRIVER'S SHOP
©2024 Mountain West Courier
THE D.I.Y. AUTOMOTIVE SURVIVAL KIT
We Recommend Getting Roadside Assistance, But When You Can't...
We know how important it is to get somewhere ON TIME, so when bad things happen and you're stuck on the side of the road, it can really help to be prepared with an "automotive survival kit" in your car or truck. You can buy a kit on Amazon (#ad) or you can just build your own. We like building our own for a number of reasons.
BUY OR BUILD
YOUR OWN KIT?
The Pros & Cons of Building Your Own Automotive Survival Kit
In some ways, it's better to build a survival kit by yourself, instead of buying something pre-packaged. It takes longer and costs a bit more, but when you go to replace items in your kit, you know where to quickly get them (you can simply come back to this page to see the list). Conversely, if you buy a pre-packaged kit on Amazon (#ad) you get (most of) what you need, but you don't know where to get replacement items. So, let's go over our list and then HOW-TO build the kit. Keep in mind, these are basic kits (they just cover common scenarios) so you may need to add a few things based on your situation.
Shopping List:
Containers:
First Aid Kit (Basic):
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Medical Gloves #ad
Cold Weather Items:
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Ice Scraper #ad
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Emergency Poncho (Rain) #ad
Roadside Safety:
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No Flares (Fire Hazard)
Vehicle Repair (Basic):
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Tire Repair Kit (How-To Video) #ad
How To Build the Kit:
STEP 1
The tote (plastic box) should be able to fit on the floor behind one of the two front seats. It's important that it be waterproof, so you can use it outside of the car.
(Earns Commission)
STEP 2
Buy an Inner Organizer (Fabric)
Buy some kind of an organizer to place inside the tote to keep your survival kit items from moving around too much (while driving). There's lots of options out there, but we just buy fabric tool bags (that fit inside the plastic tote).
(Earns Commission)
STEP 3
Buy or build a first aid kit (based on your specific needs) and then make sure it's enclosed in a waterproof bag or case. We like to build our own, as it's easier to re-stock.
(Earns Commission)
STEP 4
Buy the "Cold Weather Items"
This varies based on your region too (like the first aid kit) but the important thing is to make sure you're prepared for any weather conditions you'll encounter.
(Earns Commission)
STEP 5
Buy the "Roadside Safety" Items
We recommend getting roadside assistance coverage (from AAA or the like) so you don't have to get out of your vehicle on the highway, but for those times when do you need to, these items make it a little safer.
(Earns Commission)
STEP 6
Buy the "Vehicle Repair" Items
Again, we recommend getting roadside assistance so you don't need to get out of the car on the freeway, but if you're in a parking lot you can do basic repairs.
(Earns Commission)
STEP 7
Put It Together (or Buy a Kit)
We start by putting the winter blanket down inside the plastic box (for padding) then add the fabric tool bag, and then the rest of the items (however you want to).
(Earns Commission)