Basic Kit to Keep in the Vehicle

[hunter63]

Cars and trucks shrink stuff too....?
DW shrinks mine all the time, especially around the waist.....I feel your pain....wait a second, (unbuttom pants)...yeah, better......

[Highhawk1948]

I carry a leatherman.

[welderguy]

I carry a leatherman.

i do too as part of my full kit

[BoltActionJLA]

I like the layer approach:

1 st layer- Pockets, stuff you ALWAYS carry.
2nd- Jackets, coveralls, jump suits etc. (mine are generally designed to do some type of work, hunting, fishing, etc
3rd- Fanny pack/vest, (do take this hunting, fishing, 4 wheeling, boating)
4th- Carry packs, in home/garage/retreat and vehicle.
5th- Vehicle it self.
6th- Home its self. (Most of your preps).

Our BOV is just a plain black "Everyman" 1999 Ford F-150 Crew cab, 4 X 4. No markings OR since I wrote this F-250 out-fitted the same way, pretty much.

Looks like average Joe’s on-pavement daily driver. BUT
Heavy duty springs and shocks, bigger mud/snow tires.

It's possible that this is over kill, but it fits pretty well.

Carries full compliment of "get out of "stuck" gear"....ax, hatchet, shovels, jacks (3), one “48“ farmer jack, tow straps, 30ft chain, come-a long, chainsaw, 2-1/2 gal stabilized gas or 19 volt electric chain saw....

Air compressor, fix a flat kits (plugs), road side kit w/light sticks, and road flares.

12 battery cables/booster battery, inverter, battery charger/booster/ extension cords/splitters

Fix-a-flat (cans) WD-40, starter fluid, "Heat", spare belt, fuses. (and Manual)

Pretty full set of hand tools.

Cold weather/hunting clothing/boots, w/ fully loaded pockets.

Sleeping bags/pad, dome tent, tarps, duck tape, several lengths/sizes rope/cordage

Spare glasses, thumb drive with documents, spare cash, spare meds.

Maps (remember those?)

First aid kit

10 day emergency food,( modeled after;

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago104.html

2 pounds of coffee

2-1/2 gal water (in season), water purification, basic cooking, first aid, lighting (flashlights, Colman lantern, 12 volt trouble light, candles/candle lantern, fire extinguisher, propane heater.

Weather radio, CB's-(on board/portable), Motorola Walkie talkies, battery powered scanner, GPS's (on board/portable) 12v to 115 v inverter…..spare batteries.

12 ga shotgun (various ammo) .22/22mag revolver (various ammo) This varies by season and CCW of the day.
Packaged fishing rod/reel/stuff.

Mostly everything is packed in various belt bags/back packs/shoulder bags, to grab and go.
AND 3 lb coffee can, w/TP and oil dry in it.

Hope this helps, your on the right track, and remember: Old Mountain saying:
The more you know, the less you have to carry……or get a bigger truck, after a bad case of , one more thing- ites.

this sounds like everything im gonna be doing to the next one lol

[BoltActionJLA]

Something to keep in mind, if you leave a bag of cloths packed up for a long time, they somehow SHRINK while stored. I found that the pants I had in the jeep, did not fit anymore, I am blaming this strange Occurrence on the 2012 pole shift/planet alignment. So any long term clothing storage needs to be checked for this strange Occurrence.

.....was the occurance in 2012 thanks giving and xmas :P

[welderguy]

.....was the occurance in 2012 thanks giving and xmas :P

Yep exactly, thats why i know it had something to do with the mayan calender ending.

[Seniorman]

"I've gotta' remember to pick up some new wool blankets. The two [wool blankets] I carry in the Mustang ... are part of a small lot of gray wool military blankets I picked up years ago. They're warm as can be but scratchier than you can imagine. ..."

Ken a suggestion. Instead of buying new ones, a simple, less expensive remedy for the scratchy wool blankets, is buy a flannel sheet the size of, or larger, than the blankets and use that as a "liner." Works for me.

S.M.

[KhonHd]

... 2 MREs, and some other stuff I can't think of at the moment. 2 rolls of toilet paper.

Rick, How do you deal with the high heat, in the vehicle during the summer, on the MREs? I keep planning to put some in my truck but figure the summer heat would not be good for them...

[Cast-Iron]

KH, you're in Canada, how hot can it get there in the summer? Obviously, I'm not Rick, but I can suggest three things I would do to better keep any MRE stored in an auto in edible condition: 1) Use reflective windshield screens and leave your windows slightly vented to reduce the greenhouse heating during the day. 2) Store your MREs out of direct sunlight to further reduce temperature swings. 3) Rotate them out every few months with new ones and then eat the older ones on your next outing or expedition. No sense letting them go to waste.

[hunter63]

Rick, How do you deal with the high heat, in the vehicle during the summer, on the MREs? I keep planning to put some in my truck but figure the summer heat would not be good for them...

Wonder how our troops deal with this?.......I think they just eat what is there....even after stiitng in storage for a few years or so...or on a tarmack some where nasty.

I really don't like MRE all that much, but I think everyone should eat one on Thankgiving....as a true was of saying 'Thanks"

[BoltActionJLA]

Id, try and get stuff thats dehydrated, it cant really go bad if its vacuum sealed and has no water in it

[Rick]

The vehicles have tinted windows and the MRE's are not in direct sunlight. In my truck, they are in my get home bag and in the van they are in the rear storage tray. I try to rotate them every 6 months. I don't think freezing and thawing would be any better than high heat for them. You aren't going to ruin them by high heat or freezing. They will still be edible. They may not look as appetizing or taste quite as good but they will still be safe to eat.

As to dehydrated that requires water and a fire source. While I have both in my vehicles if I can eat without the use of water and fire then it saves my water for drinking and my fuel for staying warm or boiling water.

[greatgoogamooga]

What I'd add:

BIC lighters
Bleach dropper bottle
Headlamp/flashlight
emergency blanket/tarp
Work gloves

I don't look at my car kit as a long term kit or a BOB. It's an overnighter or 48hr bag. I'm not as well stocked as Ken, but there have been times when I've needed gloves or a blanket and I had them when others didn't.

Goog

[randyt]

Rick, you can keep your water from freezing by adding vodka to it.

[Rick]

1 part water 4 parts vodka? Is that right?

[finallyME]

I switched out all my MREs in my vehicles with mainstay bars. They take up less space, and I don't have to worry about the freeze/thaw cycle, or overheating.