PSA: Necessities for Winter Driving

[Iron Woode]

While everyone knows the obvious about keeping your car in ship-shape for winter driving, people often forget about other hazzards on the road especially when preparing to go on a trip.

Here is a list of things that should be packed into the trunk (or storage compartment):

* at least 2 jugs of winter windshield washer fluid
* a decent shovel
* 1 or 2 bags of sand or kitter litter
* road flares
* flashlight with extra batteries
* portable radio
* tire chains (optional)
* small tool kit (screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, hammer, etc...)
* blankets
* spare coats, gloves and hats.
* a pair of socks
* maps (can be very important)
* some vacuum packed food
* solar panel battery charger or the ones that give your battery a quick boost
* magazines or books to keep you occupied
* jumper cables
* ice scraper

You should take your cell phone and check the spare tire so if it must be used it will be ready to go. If you have to change it yourself make sure you know how to do it.

A membership in an autoclub (AAA, CAA, etc) would be a great idea.

Being seen is also important: take some extra bulbs and/ or headlamps.

If anyone else has something to add, go ahead.

Drive Safe.

 

[Heisenberg]

I personally go with the simpler '4x4 Jeep' option myself.

 

[hg321]

Do not forget this

*4 Wheel Drive

 

[jlee]

Make sure to check tire wear also -- tired all-seasons aren't going to grip too well.

Edit: All who need them probably have them already, but windshield ice scrapers aren't something you want to be without.

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: hg321
Do not forget this

Doing 85 in a blizzard because I have *4 Wheel Drive

Fixed

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: hg321
Do not forget this

Doing 85 in a blizzard because I have *4 Wheel Drive

Fixed

And ending up in a ditch needing to be towed = priceless.

 

[Goosemaster]

You forgot

-Good pair of boots

 

[Sukhoi]

I got stuck in my driveway today.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
You should take your cell phone and check the spare tire so if it must be used it will be ready to go. If you have to change it yourself make sure you know how to do it.

how do i check my spare with my cell phone?

 

[slick230]

Beef jerky, turkey jerky, some kind of jerky.

Jerky is good for all emergencies.

 

[TheGeek]

what about pr0n? or does that qualify as magizines?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
You should take your cell phone and check the spare tire so if it must be used it will be ready to go. If you have to change it yourself make sure you know how to do it.

how do i check my spare with my cell phone?

Throw it. If it doesn't bounce, the tire is flat.

 

[KingNothing]

Wow. I drive in the winter on a yearly basis and all I have is the toolkit. And jumper cables, although those aren't on your list.

 

[Iron Woode]

Yup, I forgot a few things:

Jumper cables (thanks KingNothing)

Ice scraper

I assumed you would be wearing good boots, goosemaster

Elfenix, I put an and in that sentence. Bring a cell phone and also check your spare tire. I should have made that more clear.

Slick230 I mentioned portable food although not jerky in particular.

As for S1len7ninj4, bring whatever floats your boat.

Any more ideas?

 

[Blayze]

That stuff wouldn't even fit in my trunk (1995 Camaro).

My car hates snow/ice. It stays parked at home.

 

[DrPizza]

you assumed good boots, but didn't assume a jacket??

And, wtf is the average person going to do with a small tool kit?
"Hmmm... it's 20 below zero and the engine died. I think I'll rebuild it with this tool kit."

Otherwise, the list is a good one to have. If you could only have a few of those things, I think the blankets would be the best. You're not going to starve to death in a couple of days.. Safest thing to do if your car gets stuck in a blizzard is to stay put, unless help/shelter is visible from your location.

I may be mistaken, but doesn't eating food increase your body's requirements for water? You don't have any water on the list, plus it would be frozen in cold enough weather. Eating snow is a bad idea if you're also trying to keep warm.

 

[Squisher]

Most of these seem so fundamental, but after observing the lack of forethought on this board, it just might save a life.

 

[shimsham]

if you own a truck, some weight in the back is good. when i traveled to ohio a few years ago, i had a little nissan pick-up. quite squirrely in the back on the ice and snow. my uncle had some sandbags in his barn, so we loaded up a couple hundred pounds and that helped immensely. kinda ghetto, but worth it to help reduce the risk of killin myself or some innocent driver.

not really something you can put in a trunk or storage, and im sure you could buy some kind of weights or something, but a tip none the less.

 

[CraigRT]

good list, cept that is way too much clutter in the car for me... i'd just call up roadside...

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
you assumed good boots, but didn't assume a jacket??

And, wtf is the average person going to do with a small tool kit?
"Hmmm... it's 20 below zero and the engine died. I think I'll rebuild it with this tool kit."

Otherwise, the list is a good one to have. If you could only have a few of those things, I think the blankets would be the best. You're not going to starve to death in a couple of days.. Safest thing to do if your car gets stuck in a blizzard is to stay put, unless help/shelter is visible from your location.

I may be mistaken, but doesn't eating food increase your body's requirements for water? You don't have any water on the list, plus it would be frozen in cold enough weather. Eating snow is a bad idea if you're also trying to keep warm.

The small tool kit is just for all year convenience.

If you wanted to change a headlamp you may need some tools. There are a number of do-it-yourselfers on this board.

I did assume a coat but a spare wouldn't hurt either.

You could always bring some chocolate bars for a quick energy rush.

Wasn't sure about bringing water, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

You can get quite wet in the snow and a change of socks and boots and coat might be a good idea.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: shimsham
if you own a truck, some weight in the back is good. when i traveled to ohio a few years ago, i had a little nissan pick-up. quite squirrely in the back on the ice and snow. my uncle had some sandbags in his barn, so we loaded up a couple hundred pounds and that helped immensely. kinda ghetto, but worth it to help reduce the risk of killin myself or some innocent driver.

not really something you can put in a trunk or storage, and im sure you could buy some kind of weights or something, but a tip none the less.

IMHO, sand/salt bags are better than weights, since you can utilize the contents to get yourself un-stuck if needed. Not ghetto at all..again, just IMHO.

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: shimsham
if you own a truck, some weight in the back is good. when i traveled to ohio a few years ago, i had a little nissan pick-up. quite squirrely in the back on the ice and snow. my uncle had some sandbags in his barn, so we loaded up a couple hundred pounds and that helped immensely. kinda ghetto, but worth it to help reduce the risk of killin myself or some innocent driver.

not really something you can put in a trunk or storage, and im sure you could buy some kind of weights or something, but a tip none the less.

IMHO, sand/salt bags are better than weights, since you can utilize the contents to get yourself un-stuck if needed. Not ghetto at all..again, just IMHO.

i didnt think it was either, but i just threw that in to help head off the "cheap bastard" comments.

:beer:

 

[Insane3D]

That's a good list, but is really more for people who do lots of travelling in bad weather, and are in areas where big storms are common. I get plenty of snow here in NH, but I'm right on the highway, only have a ~15 minute drive to work, and I don't live out in the middle of nowhere.

Imo of course...

Hell, I drive a V8 Mustang year round, and my windshield wiper fluid hasn't worked in years. I went without wipers for almost three years....it's all relative.

 

[nageov3t]

just out of curiosity, what are tire chains?

I picked up a nylon sheet to go over my windshield when I was at target the other day. I'm hoping that it will help me out with having to scrap off less ice from the window.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
That's a good list, but is really more for people who do lots of travelling in bad weather, and are in areas where big storms are common. I get plenty of snow here in NH, but I'm right on the highway, only have a ~15 minute drive to work, and I don't live out in the middle of nowhere.

Imo of course...

I sure this list will help someone somewhere.