Travel and Do-it-Yourself Needs
Whether on the road or at home, you need to be equipped with some basic survival items and tools that can make driving and living with your car easier, safer, and more convenient. Here are some suggestions as a starting place, divided into two categories: Emergency Road Kit and Basic Maintenance Tools. You can customize the list according to your needs and ambitions.
Emergency Road Kit
- Jumper Cables
- Ice scraper and snow brush (winter months)
- Flashlight or spotlight with extra set of batteries
- Rain suit or poncho (brightly-colored)
- Safety goggles or glasses
- Pair of disposable work "coveralls"
- Emergency flares, warning triangle or cones
- Fire extinguisher
- First-aid kit
- Hose-patch kit for emergency mending of coolant hoses
- Pressurized can of tire inflator and sealer
- Battery-powered air compressor
- Bottled water and snacks, such as crackers or energy bars
- Blankets
- Roll of duct tape
- Wheel chocks to prevent the car from rolling
- Basic tool set including: an adjustable wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches.
- Mini shovel (winter months)
- Bag or container of sand for traction
- An extra pair of gloves, a scarf, and a hat
- Extra windshield washer fluid
- Funnel for pouring liquids
- Extra fuses
- Mechanical tie-down straps
- Roll of heavy-duty paper towels
- Pair of work glove
Basic maintenance tools
- Oil filter wrench
- Catch pan
- Torx sockets
- Combination wrench set
- Hex-key wrench set
- Flare-nut fitting wrenches
- Fender cover
- Basic screwdriver set
- Test light
- Multimeter
- Slip-joint, groove-joint, needle-nose, and locking pliers
- Torque wrench
- Air pressure gauge
- Radiator hydrometer
- Penetrating oil
- Soldering gun and solder
- Electrical pliers
- Jack stands
- Ramps
- Hydraulic jack
- Battery charger
