What to Keep In Your Car for Road Trips | Royal Moore Mazda
At Royal Moore Mazda, we know how much our valued customers love to get out on the open road. If you have a road trip planned soon, you’ll want to know what to bring with you besides your luggage. Here’s a quick list of items you should always keep in your vehicle regardless of where you’re headed.
First Aid Kit
By far, this is the most important item to keep in your car for any type of road trip. A well-stocked first-aid kit should have everything needed to patch up wounds, cover burns, and even make a tourniquet or sling if needed. Bandages, alcohol wipes, sterile gauze pads, tweezers, and aspirin tablets are just a few items to expect in a basic first aid kit.
If you don’t bring anything else with you on your next road trip, at least have one of these in your vehicle. After all, you never know when you’ll need it.
Fire Extinguisher
Here’s another item that’s a must-have for any vehicle. A fire extinguisher can help put out small car fires before they quickly grow out of control and turn your road trip into a complete loss. You won’t need a huge fire extinguisher, but you’ll want one that’s rated for tackling Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (electrical wiring) fires.
Portable Jump Starter
Even if you have jumper cables on hand, a portable jump starter works for those times when you’re stuck in a remote area with no one around to give you a jump start. Most portable jump starters use powerful lithium-ion batteries to jump-start cars, trucks, boats, and more.
What’s even niftier is that portable jump starters can also serve as power banks for smartphones and other portable devices. Some portable jump starters also have built-in batteries with various lighting options.
Car Escape Tool
This handy tool lets you quickly cut through jammed seat belts and bust out of tempered side windows in the event of a severe accident or rollover. You can keep one on your keychain or hang it from your sun visor or rearview mirror.
Tire Sealant
If your car lacks space for a spare tire or you’re stuck in a place where a roadside tire change can’t be done, a can of tire sealant can be helpful. Tire sealants work great for small punctures and it usually works long enough to get you to the nearest garage or tire shop.
Portable Phone Charger
While most cars come with USB charging ports and wireless charging pads, it still pays to bring along a portable 12-volt cell phone charger. Most come with a host of nifty features, from multiple adapters for different USB standards to long cords for front and rear passengers. When you’re using your smartphone’s GPS features to get to where you’re going, you can’t afford to be out of juice.
Multipurpose Tool
Having one of these in your glovebox saves you the trouble of sifting through toolboxes for the right tool. You can also keep one in your pocket for everyday use. Your typical multipurpose tool will include the following:
- Needle-nose pliers
- Screwdriver
- Scissors
- Bottle opener
- Wirecutter
- Files
- Package opener
Flashlight and Batteries
Keeping a waterproof flashlight and an extra change of batteries doesn’t hurt, either. You’ll find them in all shapes, sizes, and output strengths, but a reasonably-sized handheld flashlight should do the trick in an emergency. Most flashlights have long-lasting LEDs, which also helps with battery life. And speaking of batteries, most flashlights take AAA or AA batteries, with larger versions using C and D cell batteries for extra juice.
Granola Bars and Other Non-Perishable Snacks
If you ever find yourself hours away from the nearest gas station, having a small cache of non-perishable snacks can definitely come in handy. Common non-perishable snacks include meat sticks, beef jerky, granola bars, crackers, and dried fruit.
Bottled Water
Staying hydrated is important, especially in emergencies. Keep a case of bottled water in your vehicle for those times when you can’t get to a convenient water source. You can also keep a water filter bottle in your vehicle as a handy backup.
Extra Blankets
A sudden blizzard or ice storm can leave you stranded when you least expect it. And there are times when you don’t want to run your vehicle constantly just to stay warm. A few blankets can keep you and your traveling companions warm until road conditions clear up.
Warning Devices
If a breakdown or accident stops your car in its tracks, you’ll need a way for other drivers to see and steer clear of your vehicle. That’s where early warning devices like safety triangles and road flares come into play. You’ll want to keep these in your trunk just in case you need them.
