It’s a big world out there, and you never know what might go wrong while you’re on the road. You might get into an accident, have a breakdown, or experience a flat tire. You’ll need to be ready for anything with the right equipment. Keep this stuff in your car so you’re not caught in a bad situation without the equipment you need.
Tire Pressure Gauge
You need to maintain proper tire pressure to maintain your car’s fuel efficiency, keep it safe to operate, and help your tires last as long as possible. You should check your tire pressure once a month, and if you keep a tire pressure gauge in your car, you can check your tires while you’re pumping gas.
Flashlight
You never know when you might have a nighttime road emergency, and your smartphone flashlight might not cut it. Choose a car flashlight with a magnet on one side so you can attach it to your car if you need your hands free during a nighttime emergency. Change the batteries regularly and keep an extra battery and flashlight bulb in your roadside emergency kit.
Jumper Cables
A surprising number of people don’t think to carry jumper cables, so when you need a jump — or when you encounter someone else who needs a jump — you’re going to be glad you have these. Choose heavy-gauge cables with a clamp on each end. It’s worth splurging to buy a more expensive, robust set.
Pocket Knife
A pocket knife can really come in handy when you’re on the road. Maybe you need to cut away some piece of debris that has become tangled in your undercarriage. Maybe you have an accident and your broken fender is rubbing against some other part of your car, so you need to trim it off. Keep a sharp pocket knife in your car at all times.
Escape Device
A window/seatbelt escape device has a small hammer point that you can use to break a window if you can’t open the door to escape your car — for example, if you’re sinking into a body of water. It also has a blade that you can use to cut yourself free of your seatbelt if necessary. It could save your life in a dangerous situation.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is probably one of the most versatile and effective hand tools you can buy. Use it to temporarily fix body damage after an accident, or fix a leaky hose. Sure, it’s a temporary fix, but it can keep your car running long enough to get to an auto parts store or a mechanic. Don’t cheap out — pricier duct tape is stickier and holds up to a wider range of temperatures.
Tow Strap
Even if you don’t own a pickup, you should have a tow strap in your car. If your car is ever disabled, having your own tow strap will make it possible for any random passerby in a pickup to help you. A tow strap can also double as a rescue rope or tie-down.
Tire Inflator/Sealer
Lots of new cars these days don’t come with a spare tire, but even if you have one, it can be easy to forget to keep it properly inflated. If you have a flat tire and discover that your spare is flat, too, a can of tire inflator and sealer can get you back on the road again, at least long enough to get to a tire shop.
Road Flares
When you have an accident or breakdown, especially at night, you must warn other drivers that there’s a disabled vehicle on the road. Road flares can do that, and they’re an important piece of safety equipment, especially for low visibility or heavy traffic conditions.
Funnel
Once in a while, you’re going to need to add more oil to your car or top up your windshield washer fluid. A funnel can help you top up your fluids without making a mess under the hood.
Socket Set
Sometimes connections on a car will come loose, from vibrations or age. Having a socket set handy in the car can allow you to tighten those connections on the road, whether it’s a slipped clamp or a loose battery terminal.
Are you carrying the proper safety equipment in your car? Every man should be ready for anything to happen on the road. It’s a matter of safety — and not just your own, but that of the other drivers you share the road with.
