Recently and over the years I’ve had a few instances where having survival gear in my car has really helped. Although I’m not always consistent on what gear I actually have due to multiple vehicles in our family, there are a few things that have made a significant difference.

Here are some of my favorite items for every day carry in the car:

In a survival situation their value would dramatically increase.I’ve also included some other odds and ends that seem pretty logical and common sense…. But I’ve noticed not too many folks actually carry or have them in mind for survival/preparedness use.

Jump Starter 12V

I’m sure most of you are sick of hearing about this as I constantly write about it. However, it is one of the best purchases I have made this year! This thing has saved my bacon, and helped a few stranded motorists along the way. I ended up with a dead battery during our first blizzard this winter, and even almost totally discharged, my jump starter STILL started my vehicle. It also has an outlet for other 12v devices, and a built in flashlight. Some come with compressors. You can get a really decent one for $50.

Multi-Tool

There are so many multi-tools out there I won’t try to name them all. Leatherman and Gerber are well known. Personally I have a Victorinox that I really like. I use it all the time, especially the Phillips head screwdriver, and the serrated knife blade. I have found that although most own one, very few people actually carry it WITH them during the day. I lend mine out a bunch.

If you have one strap it to your belt, or throw in it in your glove box or purse. In an emergency it could be your only toolbox for a long time.

Large Flat-Bladed Screwdriver

Beyond opening paint cans, these super tools can pry, dig, wedge, chisel, and lever things loose. Get a good quality one that has the handle made of indestructible materials so you can hit it with a hammer and generally abuse it.

Also make sure it has a thick shaft so you can pry. In a pinch it is also a weapon! Throw one in the trunk, backpack or BOB they are light weight and easy to carry. Sure most multi-tools have a flat driver, but this one you can really beat up without ruining the whole pocket tool kit.

Battery Powered Alarm Clock

Not only great for travel! Power outages suck and you lose your computer time. After the cell phone battery dies you have either your watch or nothing to tell time. My watch has crap for an alarm, so I use a battery powered alarm clock. There are also wind-up alarm clocks for travel but the battery powered ones seem to last longer and tell time more accurately. They are also so light weight and great for many other tasks. If you have a watch you probably don’t need this but some of us don’t wear one. During a power outage you still have to get up in the morning, right? My battery powered clock runs about 8-12 months on one AA battery.

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Surefire Flashlight or other Tactical Flashlight

No a Maglight will not suffice. I specifically said Surefire. Period. There are other good flashlights out there, but few even compare to a Surefire from my experience. I have owned Pelicans, Maglights, Innova, Streamlights….just about every fancy super flashlight that has come down the pike. Dig deep in the wallet and get one. You will not be disappointed. It works when you drop it, get it wet, etc these lights are rugged and I really like the brightness and long-lasting CR123A lithium batteries. The light bulb is LED and doesn’t crap out when you need it the most. I have a L2, a G2 and a E2 and am really pleased with them even though each can be sort of cumbersome in my pocket. I bought my L2 used on eBay for a good price.

Hammer

It doesn’t matter what brand as long as you can hit things with it. Harbor Freight has hammers on sale all the time for less than $7-$8 so don’t go dropping big money on one. It just needs to hit things like nails, metal, wood, and such. There are some neat survival hammers out there that have some cool features, but really any hammer will be better than none. Hitting tent stakes with a rock works, but hitting a padlock with one sucks beans. Couple the hammer with your large flat bladed screw driver and you can just about get into anything, break anything, or fix anything. Side note: a variety of hammers might be even better.

Laptop/Tablet with 3G or 4G wireless card

This is the ultimate information gathering tool, record keeper, communicator, and entertainment tool all in one package. Refurbished laptops or import tablets can be had for $70- $200 and the WiFi cards are only $40 a month with Cricket. Unless you have a large screen Android or iPhone, there is no other way out there to stay in touch with what is going on. You can email, you can look up useful YouTube videos on any subject, you can go to the FEMA website, check bank accounts, etc etc. Couple this with your Jump Starter and you can get online anywhere and re-charge the laptop battery for extended periods of time in remote places.

Spare House and Car Keys

Seems pretty simple right? I don’t know any starving locksmiths, however. This is a no brainer but easily overlooked. Spare keys to all your locks might take a while to track down in an emergency, so make a ring of spares and throw it in your safe. You might even hide a spare key for your car or home in a locking realtor box or with a very trusted member of nearby family or friends.

Household Battery Tester

Saves time and hassle by showing you which batteries have what charge left. Simple! Newer models can test watch batteries and the Lithium CR123A types as well. Another thought this brings up is using rechargeable batteries instead of throw aways.

Spare Jacket and Knit Cap/Gloves

Spare meaning beyond what you normally wear. You never know when you are going to get wet, sweaty, or the temperature suddenly dramatically drops. Recently here in Colorado we had a cold snap that followed a significant snow storm. Temperatures here were lower than in Alaska! My winter jacket didn’t cut it and I had to buy another. I also had to wear extra socks, thermal underwear, and two knit caps. I work outside both night and day at times, and it was very cold. I found that my normal gloves didn’t cut it either and had to dig up a second pair to wear over my current pair. Wow very cold! We had a few nights wear it was -7 degrees PLUS wind chill, so we are talking cold. Ever touch metal when it’s that cold? It hurts pretty badly. We also used a plug in heater to keep the basement warm as freezing pipes can really ruin your day.

Waterproofing Agents

Wax, Snow seal, aerosol sprays, etc. I had to re-waterproof my “waterproof” boots during the thawing out period after our recent storms. Luckily I had the products to do it and had dry feet the rest of the week. In a survival situation either on the road or hiking out, where are you going to acquire snow seal wax or shoelaces? Plan ahead, it just makes it better.

Power Inverter

This is like going from the stone age to the modern age with the flick of a switch. Power inverters convert 12 Vdc to 120 AC with the use of your car battery. You can use this in addition to having a jump starter. What is it good for? Charging or powering any household device up to a point…. Depends on your car battery and the size inverter you buy. You can get one from $40 up to $600 depending on what you want. These are used on RV’s and in boats. Great for hunting trips, camping and any emergency where household electricity would be useful.

Folding Shovel

Cold Steel and Glock both make entrenching tools or survival shovels that are well made. Even REI sells a little camping trowel that can really be used for many purposes. Digging a snow cave, digging out of mud or snow, making shelter, or even as a weapon! The Cold Steel shovel can be sharpened to a knife edge or thrown much like a tomahawk. The Glock shovel is super lightweight, has a hand wood saw, and is a decent well made tool for snow or digging in the ground. Many soldiers including special forces have used these items to save their own life in many ways. A tomahawk is very similar; just not as versatile as the shovel in that it isn’t a very good digging tool….heck, why not have one of each?

Cell Phone Charger

There are a few types: the type that plugs into the accessory/cigarette lighter, the type that plugs into AC plugs and the type that is a battery with USB port built in. All are nice to have and without them many of your electronics would be useless like: GPS, Tablet, Laptop, Camera, Cell phone, etc. Yet another variety of items where “why not have one of each” might be a good mantra.

Compass and GPS

One of each, ‘nuff said.

Toilet Paper and Paper Towels

The primary use of TP is well known at least around these parts…. But there are other uses; wick for a survival stove, kindling, dressing minor wounds, cleaning firearms, used to pad fragile items etc. Paper towels are even more versatile. This is so overlooked but is handy for maintaining hygiene and personal morale.

Other Odds and Ends

My goal is NOT to make you look like you live in your car! But many items can be packed in a very small container or space if you are creative. Anyway, maybe you already have these items, but maybe not. Either way many are worth honorable mention!

• WD40
• Duct Tape or Electrical Tape
• Bottled Water
• Beef Jerky or snack food
• First Aid Kit
• Saline Solution, Contact lenses or spare glasses
• Emergency roadside kit with flares
• Survival Knife
• Spare work and leisure clothes or shoes
• Deck of Cards
• Blowgun, crossbow, bow, sling, slingshot or firearm for gathering food or protection
• Pepper Spray
• Spare Gas Can and Tire Fix a Flat
• Car Jack and Spare Tire
• Spare belts, fuses and basic tools
• Snow Chains or carpet remnant pieces
• Cash both coins and bills
• Wallet, ID & credit cards (many people go places without them in their pocket!)
• Padlock and chain to secure items overnight

Please be sure to check out our selfdefenseandsurvivalforum on Yahoo! Groups for more articles and interactive discussions.

Copyright 2008 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

Thank goodness for my vehicle preparedness kit. Recently I was heading to a rural mountain security installation when my vehicle broke down. As I drove up a winding remote dirt road of steep grade, my car simply died. Heat gauge… temp slightly higher than normal. Oil… a little low, but not less than a quart. Spark…. Yes there is battery power, cables good, etc. No easily discernible culprit was immediately identifiable. Either way the end result was the same; Stranded!

Image courtesy of Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This was a somewhat isolated area, and it appeared to be mostly mid priced mountain homes scattered about every ½ mile. However, there were “mountain shacks” (meaning a run down, uncared for or untended property) clearly visible which means that not everyone who lives up there has money or an upright citizen “I’m here to help” attitude. In fact some people up there appear to be openly hostile to people who don’t belong. Luckily the day was young, being only around 1:30pm, and there was plenty of time to figure out what to do.

Step 1. Call Wife and let her know where I am, where I was headed, and the fact that I was broken down and might need extraction. Problem with this plan of action is that she works on the opposite side of the state literally being about 2 and a half hours away from me at stranded location during regular daylight traffic. Notice fortunately that I was able to call my wife using my fully charged cellular phone. Amazingly, I got a signal in the mountains at all, and even more amazing that my battery was charged! I did however forget my 12v cell phone charging cable which was a bit of a concern. Cellular coverage in the mountains here forces your cell phone to constantly roam for signal which kills the battery considerably faster than normal use.

Step 2. Get off of the steep grade and find level ground on the shoulder where I could more safely ascertain my vehicle problem. This was NOT easy. My vehicle was nose facing up the mountain, packed with tools, with no power. To top that, the blind curve of the windy dirt road, trees, and drop off presented a major safety issue to backing up! I was alone with no orange cones, flares, reflectors, or orange tape to make my presence known to those ready to round that corner at who knows what speed. I turned on my hazard lights and opened the hood which is the universal language of “my car is broken down.” I prayed and on the inside of the curve backed down slowly, being careful not to end up in the inside ditch area and being cautious of the trees. Eventually after a LONG time I made it to level ground on the shoulder in a lighted area.

NOTE: You may be wondering why steps 1 and 2 are not reversed. Basically if I was to move the car, then contact my Wife. This assumes that I don’t back off the cliff side of the road, which would force me to call from the bottom where there is no signal and quite possibly I could have suffered severe injuries if I did slip off the edge. Therefore, I called first then moved the vehicle! Of course a lumber truck could have barreled up the hill as I chatted with the Wife on the phone… luckily this was not a busy road and my vehicle was far enough up the hill and past the curve that visibility ensured time for drivers to slow down, or creep around me. I didn’t encounter any vehicles until much later BTW.

Step 3. Get mobile again. Not as easy as it sounds here. The problem remained a mystery up until after about 40 minutes it just started when I tried it. I put a little oil in and checked other fluids, battery, etc again and also unloaded the security install tools to get at my auto tool kit. Beyond that, I didn’t do any real mechanical work to find the problem. I did all the basic stuff as mentioned. When it did finally start immediately I took the opportunity to turn around and head back to the shop. The problem has not reoccurred so I am still baffled. A buddy of mine expressed a similar problem with his past similar model vehicle which may be a known fuel pump issue. Vapor lock is most likely not the issue as the vehicle is fuel injected. Obviously I am not a mechanic so gear heads out there go easy on the “did you do this, that, the other thing….”.

There were a few things that came up during this whole fiasco that made me want to write on vehicle preparedness kits. The main thing that really comes to the forefront is the ability to defend one’s self when stranded in the woods. I mentioned earlier that there are “mountain shacks” in the area I was stranded in. The shoulder that I eventually coasted downhill into was under such a place. There were big dogs howling at me from up there the whole time, and a gentleman stood at his door and never took his eyes off me as I fiddled with my vehicle. Obvious or not,a service vehicle is still out of place and who knows what kind of things this guy was protecting. Possibly a drug factory, or simply protecting his property by observing an out of place situation. His body language, dogs, and barbed wire fence made the fact clear that it was not a good idea to go to him for assistance. Faded Private Property signs sealed the deal for me, so I stayed well away.

Either way my intuition told me to stay aware, and I felt comforted knowing that I could protect myself. When constructing your kit include a legally owned firearm, or at least Pepper Spray by a known quality manufacturer. Beyond that, I knew my exact location due to my brand new GPS unit. That was actually very comforting. I could have given my Wife exact latitude and longitude if I so wanted. The GPS also helped me navigate the windy mountain dirt roads. As back up, I have a map book of our state that is very precise. It is a 2005, but is pretty up to date as far as main roads are concerned. I really need to get the latest book, however. They offer the book totally laminated which makes every page waterproof, tear resistant, and easy to draw routes on with dry erase markers!

My main work van was in the shop, so much of my gear was not in this temp vehicle….Including my small survival kit with compass, matches, etc. I did have a few things however.

Here is a breakdown of what I actually had when I was stranded that day:

Cold Steel survival shovel
Kabar knife
Battery jump starter w/flashlight
GPS w 12v charger kit
14v flashlight w 2 spare fully charged batteries by Dewalt
Flannel insulated jacket
Mechanic Gloves
Plastic painters’ sheet
50 foot nylon twine

I also had my EDC kit, so basically I had a number of ways to signal, start fire, make shelter, chop wood, and a variety of good light sources. The trunk contained tools and parts mainly including basic socket set, jumper cables, gas can, oil and other fluids, new car battery, & Chilton’s repair manual. I also had a jack, spare tire (flat as it goes), selection of assorted hand tools, tow rope, and a few spare turn signal bulbs. For food I had a granola bar and water bottle with 20 oz water in my briefcase. Food and water preparations were not so good if I was stuck here overnight. I could have run out of gas, gotten a flat, or simply gotten stuck on the road somewhere and easily been there until after dark which thankfully did not happen.

Lightweight belt kit

Obviously, if I had a survival kit that would be a big plus. I added that when I got back. Also more water and “pogey bait”. This means a few 12 oz water bottles and some more granola bars. My Wife very wisely carries a large bag of beef jerky in her car. I’m going to add that as well to the granola bars. As mentioned, the cell phone charger would be a very nice thing to have in 12v; something which I normally have but forgot this time. In addition, a wool blanket or sleeping bag would be really great to add. I also keep a large roll of duct tape, and a coffee can in the trunk that can be made into the traditional hobo stove if need be. My survival kit has the Esbit stove and canteen cup, but redundancy is important in an emergency as we know.

Ultimately everything worked out okay in the end. The job was re-scheduled and completed, and my vehicle is running fine. There are some pretty big holes in my car kit, which are being fixed as time and money allow. Here is a list of the desired end result kit for my vehicle.

VEHICLE PREPAREDNESS KIT

Part 1 Survival

• Small Portable survival kit, ammo bag
• Survival Knife currently Ka-bar, soon to be a Cold Steel Trailmaster
• Cold Steel Survival Shovel
• Spare boots, knit cap, wool socks, gloves, jacket, sunglasses, and nylon jumpsuit
• GPS w/12v charger, Laminated State Road Map book
• Rechargeable flashlight w red lens, rechargeable spot light
• Tarp, nylon rope, nylon hammock
• Wool Blanket
• Bottled Water, Jerky, granola bars, instant soups, any lightweight portable food
(In Colorado we experience extremes in heat and cold as well as dryness and moisture so food must resist anywhere from 10 below zero to 105 above!)
• Cash in coins and paper currency

Part 2 Vehicular

• Complete replacement fluids
• Jumper cables, and battery jump starter
• Tow rope
• Spare bulbs
• Repair Manual
• Socket set, hand tools, jack
• Funnel, gas can, carpet strips, chains
• Flares, orange tape, reflector
• Duct tape, other repair gear
• Spare tire, fix a flat spray

Part 3 Communications

• Radio am/fm
• Portable wind up radio
• Cell phone, spare battery, 12v charger
• CB band radio

Part 4 Personal Defense/Hunting

• Glock 9mm Model 17, 2 spare magazines
• Kel-Tec Sub2000 9mm Carbine, 2 spare magazines
• Winchester Defender 12 gauge, assorted rounds
• Pepper Spray

Everyone has a different take on what is essential, and we are each limited by the storage space of our vehicle. My entire kit listed here fits in a sea bag, which is a canvas duffel bag but heavier duty. The Defender breaks down with a regular screwdriver and the Sub2000 folds by design. Of course, the vehicle tools are stored in the trunk area and would stay with the vehicle if I am forced to hike out. My small survival kit fits on my belt, and is the size of a camera bag with a canteen and canteen cup on the other side. My EDC (Every Day Carry) kit fits in my pockets and I always have it on me.

This vehicle preparedness kit is designed the way it is due to the nature of my job. I can end up on extreme sides of my state; either mountains or desert, dry or snow filled, muddy dirt road or iced up highway. Also, I can end up in some pretty off the beaten path places. I have literally been in a town occupied totally by a “gang”, for instance. When dealing with firearms in your kit pay attention to state and city law. For example, in Denver I can’t have the two long guns even broken down and unloaded in my vehicle. The State and other jurisdictions see things in a more reasonable light. Just be sure to follow the letter of the law. Obtaining a concealed carry permit may make this easier to do depending on your state.

UPDATE 2013: I have added and removed a few things that made my kit more compact.

Added:
(2) LED AAA Flashlights, 12v DC and 120VAC cell phone charger, (2) Wool gloves, (2) knit caps, AM/FM Short-Wave radio, pack of spare AAA batteries, updated Cold Steel GI Tanto, 3-ft bolt cutters, small sledgehammer and a spare 1st Aid Kit.

Removed:
Winchester Defender and Kel-tec Sub2000

Removed shotgun and carbine to save weight and space in order to add extra tools.

Copyright 2009 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

This is a sort of re-write of an older post on specialized items and ideas for your Bug Out Bag (BOB) or other survival kits. Sometimes we need to think outside the box, or plan for real life disasters that could happen during an evacuation. Obvious things like a flat tire could slow you down or not so apparent things like spare house keys for someone arriving after an event. Do you really want to leave your doors unlocked or have to break in to get a forgotten item? Other things are for counter-surveillance, repairs, or often overlooked items. Planning for the unknown is as important as planning for known hazards. Weather, chemical hazards, earthquakes and the like are more common scenarios….but what else can happen? Terrorist attacks, riots, psychotic gunmen, looters, even roving groups of refugees; many things happen that people do not plan for.

Please post your unconventional or specialized survival kit items as well. No illegal gear please.

• Spare Keys to Home, Car, & Work- It is really expensive to call a locksmith in the middle of the night, let alone a huge disaster or evacuation. Spare keys to home, cars, and businesses will save hassle, and possibly help someone arriving late or bugging out in a separate vehicle. Keep keys on person, hide them, or lock them in a special outdoor box.
• Fix a Flat- This stuff works pretty well. It isn’t the same as a spare tire, but it usually takes less time and gets you pretty far. It may just get you to a safer place to repair the tire or put on a spare.
• Camouflage Netting- Need to hide a car fast? Netting is much faster than using cut bushes and branches. Also works well to hide a tent, or other make-shift shelter. Why hide? Looters, beggars, bad-guys, the unprepared, etc may be out to take your stuff. This item isn’t for everyone, but those by wooded areas, or remote areas could benefit from this item.
• Digital Voice Recorder– Note ideas or routes during emergency, record message to loved ones (on route, important items, where things are, where you will go, etc), and keep a sort of journal of events. Usually they are somewhat cheap $30-$100 and fit in a pocket. They are about the size of a pack of gum. Stash it in a place only you and family members know about at home, work or cache site.
• Rechargeable Spotlight- Many of these recharge with a 12v lighter adapter, and use bright bulbs. Many are waterproof, and some come with the built in tripod. Have used these hunting, searching for addresses, and for signaling. Most are $20-$80.
• Night Vision- This can be anything from a hand held scope to a pair of military goggles. Night vision is cheap these days; you can find decent scopes online @ Cabela”s, Harbour Freight, and Wal-mart. Most run on regular batteries. Prices around $80-$1000 depending. Most inexpensive digital video recorders have built in night vision or low-light of some kind.

• Set of basic hand tools- Just get a selection of pliers, hammers, screwdrivers, and other hand tools. Most of us include a multi-tool of some type, but real construction grade tools can make a big difference. Hard to replace a drill, socket set, or crowbar with a multi-tool. Many times just getting a bunch of spare tools from the garage will suffice. Usually due to weight, this type of addition to a kit is for vehicular use, but not always.
• Binoculars, monocular, spotting scopes, etc- Self-explanatory but the ability to see far away is pretty advantageous. You can get cheap binoculars starting around $12 and go up from there. Rugged rubberized or armored sets are better, especially those that come weatherproof.
• Directional Listening Device- These are illegal in some area’s so check laws. Basically this is a sensitive listening device to hear things far away like animals, bad guys, etc. There are also heat sensing devices, blood tracking lights, etc that are more specialized for counter-surveillance preparedness. These types of items vary greatly in price and can be easily found online.
• Car Battery Jumper Kit- This is usually available at Sears and other hardware or automotive stores. Basically it is a 12v battery that comes with built in cables to jump  a dead car battery. Very handy! Also some models come with hazard signal, radio, spotlight, and power inverter. The power inverter is very hand to power communications equipment, recharge batteries, run power tools, and the like. Usually these run $60 and up.
• Insulated Coveralls- Carhartt makes this type of clothing, so do many manufacturers. What I really like about these is that they quickly go on OVER the clothes you are wearing, including boots. Fast to put on, warm, and usually somewhat weather-proof; this is a great addition to your kits. The only downfall is the bulky nature of the clothing when stored. Being able to don your coveralls with out getting undressed will save time. Usually they sell these in camo, brown, and black. Some are reversible as well. Many brands are out there and start at $20 and go up.
• Laptop Computer- These are very important for communication, news, and storing personal info. Spare batteries are nice, but expensive. Strangely, many accounts during Katrina show people ONLY able to contact family by email instead of cellular or land lines. Great for watching movies, and other entertainments especially when children are there. You can get used or refurbished laptops for anywhere from $150-$400.

• Pets & Pet Food- Don’t leave your little buddies behind! It may take a while to get back to rescue them. Bring food, water, etc. Dogs will be handy for carrying gear and some are good for an early warning system. Dog backpacks are available so Rover can carry his own food and treats. There are also rubberized dog boots for paw protection. For smaller pets you may need pet carriers…especially to board any type of transportation other than the family car.
• Misc. Personal Necessities- Can’t live without your special neck-pain pillow? Orthopedic devices for daily function? Can you only use certain soaps, lotions, or other hygienic agents? Seriously, many folks need specific items to be able to function on a daily basis. Personally, I have a few that would make my time a mess if I were bugging out without them. This also includes things like spare contact lenses, spare eyeglasses, prescription medications and the like. I have a buddy that gets migraines and if he doesn’t pack his meds, the stress of an evacuation could render him helpless and/or useless to his family.
• Map books, GPS, State Maps, Recreational Maps- Get these things now before you need them. If you intend to bug out to another city or state, get maps to these areas. Plan out an escape route, then plan a 2^nd and 3^rd. Map these on Google Maps or the like, and give copies to family. You can also keep them in your car, in your safe or safety deposit box at the bank for others to claim later. GPS is very convenient, fast, and cheap but keep paper maps as a back up. I like to coat maps with waterproofing, or have them laminated. Some companies sell pre-laminated map books as well.

Keep this gear with other emergency gear to grab fast. Keep near the door, in a car, or cached for emergency access. Other survival kit basics such as food, water, shelter, signal, fire, and defensive gear should be kept there as well.

The Wild fires in CA are a good example of needing to go in a moments notice. Some things cannot be taken, or are too bulky….Home fire safes are good for family pictures, jewelry, and important documents such as ID, wills, deeds, and other banking information. If you live in a fire danger area get the highest fire rating possible. Most quality safes are rated for a 1 hour burn time. Cheap safes are only rated for ½ hour. All safes should be screwed down, or bolted to the floor to prevent easy removal by a thief. Keep safes hidden or low-profile in the home.

Copyright 2009 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.