What's in your winter emergency kit?

I'm in a Winter Weather Preparedness mode right now, and I'm committed to not getting caught with my pants down in case of a vehicular incident. Granted, 95% of my driving is in the city, so worst case scenario, I can usually just walk to someplace that's open and wait for a tow, etc. It's that 5% of the time that might bite me in the ass.

And dammit, over-prepared is the best kind of prepared, right?

So, I've got a big ol' truck bed I can fill with supplies. What would you throw back there?

In terms of vehicle preparedness (2wd '88 GMC 1/2 ton), I have snow tires going on later this week, my 200# utility cap is back on the bed, and I'm going to throw some tube sand over the axle. I have a tow strap in there - not that I have any illusions of extracting anything heavier than a tree branch, but hopefully somebody can pull me out of trouble. The sand can be used to aid in extraction. Are snow chains overkill? Perhaps a small shovel would be wise? What else on this end of things am I overlooking?

I'm throwing together a small-ish tool/spares kit for basic repairs, and I carry fluids with me already.

Basic first aid is a given. A thermal and/or emergency reflective blanket seems like a good idea. And a stash of protein bars and water seems wise. Maybe a handful of those little self-heating packs? What else for personal preparation and/or safety?

Flask of good brandy and a supply of condoms.

Extra socks/gloves/hat, a couple of candles (votive...vanilla...maybe cinnamon this time of year) with a good BBQ lighter, wind up flashlight, good ice scraper,jumper cables,whisky.

Coat, gloves, hat, oil, coolant, windshield fluid, fuel, flashlight, basic tools, folding shovel, jack, spare tire, blanket, food/water, flare, kitty litter, 12volt coffee pot, mug, coffee.....and so on.

That is after I have installed winter tires.

But I drive about 40K a year in winter

Salt and/or cat litter for traction. Empty jug for necessary business, sucks trying to pee when you're in full view of everybody else who's stuck also. Flash light. Also always try to keep you truck full of gas in the winter too.

Oh, and porn, lots and lots of porn.

folding snowovel, and I suppose in areas of crappy cell service, would one of those really pricey satellite phones work? i've heard horror stories of people buried for days.

Those chemical heat packs--smack'em and they get hot--in the GLOVE compartment--at the very least. A collapsible Wally World shovel--if you need more than that, you need a plow--HF small vice grips, small roll of duct tape, dedicated ice scraper--not the double purpose snow/ice scrapers--a couple of screwdrivers... couple of flares. Wool blanket from Goodwill properly cleaned. Big flashlight with new batteries IN THE WINTER COAT: injectable lock deicer, charged cell phone. For here in eastern Ct. that has worked well,even with blizzards.

Add some trail mix, nuts, dried food, another blanket if you live where it SNOWS--and you know who you are--and the possibility of getting stuck for HOURS is a possibility. Add extra pair of gloves for both locations. Lose heat 25% faster from your body through water.

I drive a Miata, I have limited funds. My kit is snow tires, a cell phone and a weather forecast. I just don't go out if I think its gonna be overly dangerous.

I also make sure I'm wearing boots and a good winter jacket, and never leave without gloves and a hat.

Cell phone, knife, candle, zero bag, gloves, hat, .40 S&W, toilet paper, tow strap, jumper cables, box of granola bars and a regular 1st aid kit.

I ate the granola bars sitting in traffic last week though so I'll need to hunt for food until I get to the store again.

You have a truck with a topper, so plenty of room for full size scoop shovel. garden hoe , 1 or 2 big blue tarps, warm overalls, flares,planks, long chain and a tow strap or 2. The hoe is ideal for scraping snow from underneath the vehicle. Tarps are nice to keep you drier than sitting/laying on the ground. A long chain weighs alot and makes your strap reach farther. These items are used by me every winter as the county road comission stops plowing a mile from the family property near Mio MI.

DO NOT attach a chain to a recovery strap. strap stretches and is made for shock loads, chain breaks and is not made for shock loading, chain breaks with stretched strap and you've got yourself a lethal slingshot.

pilotbraden wrote: You have a truck with a topper, so plenty of room for full size scoop shovel.

Plenty of room for a snowmobile, actually. Brilliant. An escape pod!

Cell phone, road flares, lighter, bandaids, blanket, extra hat/gloves, spare boots, tow strap, wireless aircard, netbook, AAA card, jumper cables, local pizza delivery number, orange something to mark your truck..... and whatever else everyone else said.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

pilotbraden wrote: You have a truck with a topper, so plenty of room for full size scoop shovel.

Plenty of room for a snowmobile, actually. Brilliant. An escape pod!

Actually, an Arctic Cat Kitty Cat would work for that quite easily.

http://www.kittycatsnowmobiles.com/photos.htm

mtn wrote: I drive a Miata, I have limited funds. My kit is snow tires, a cell phone and a weather forecast. I just don't go out if I think its gonna be overly dangerous. I also make sure I'm wearing boots and a good winter jacket, and never leave without gloves and a hat.

Just in front of the passangers knees there is a box which is very handy for storing an extra pair of gloves. This pratice is common enough than many have resorted to just calling this the "glove" box.
A knit hat should fit as well.

Fit some nice tow hooks to vehicle for easy hook ups "" like race car tow access hooks

My kit is now complete.

1. Move south of the Mason Dixon
2. Never get stuck in snow again.
3. .....
4. Profit?

The more crap you keep in your truck, the more weight you have to try and stop on icy roads.

Also, lock deicer is great, just don't keep it in your car. When have you ever found your locks iced up while trying to lock your doors?

My kit? Plant covers. Chances of their being effective tonight when it reaches the low 20s? Nil. Solution? Stay inside and drink, plants be damned.

Margie

jrw1621 wrote:

mtn wrote: I drive a Miata, I have limited funds. My kit is snow tires, a cell phone and a weather forecast. I just don't go out if I think its gonna be overly dangerous. I also make sure I'm wearing boots and a good winter jacket, and never leave without gloves and a hat.

Just in front of the passangers knees there is a box which is very handy for storing an extra pair of gloves. This pratice is common enough than many have resorted to just calling this the "glove" box. A knit hat should fit as well.

Oddly enough, I do have a hat and gloves in the "glove" box.

What I've heard from this thread so far: whisky, brandy, condoms, porn, .40 S&W, knives and a snowmobile.

Best. Shopping list. Ever.

You forgot the Twinkies and Bacon. And something to cook the bacon with.

mtn wrote: You forgot the Twinkies and Bacon. And something to cook the bacon with.

Nah...we're cooking on the 2-stroke exhaust pipe of the sled. plenty hot

alex wrote: What I've heard from this thread so far: whisky, brandy, condoms, porn, .40 S&W, knives and a snowmobile. Best. Shopping list. Ever.

Depending on the area I would drop the Smith and add a rifle or take both. Around here where I live I basically always have a rifle in the truck if I leave town. A great many spots to get stuck where you are more than likely to be found by wild life before another human being.

Normally the rifle I carry is my Mosin M44. Normally I will have either 20 or 40 rounds of ammo for it as well.

My basic kit (most of which is in the truck year round):

• Cell
• CB radio
• Sleeping bag (rated to 0)
• Tent
• Axe and Shovel
• Tow chains and straps
• Gas can
• Water can
• A couple blankets
• Warm coat, gloves and hat
• Tool kit
• 2 flashlights
• A fire starting kit (3 different ways to start a fire)
• Ka Bar
• First aid kit
• Food and water
• Emergency kit with flares, jumper cables etc
• sand bags
• 1911
• Mosin M44 (normally only when heading out of town)
• plus a few other things

In all seriousness (not that I won't include the whisky and condoms; the snow machine's out of the budget at the moment, but don't think I'm not shopping), this thread has me thinking I'll just buy a big Rubbermaid chest and fill it with what's looking like a winter/emergency/zombieapocalypse bugout kit.

Not that that's a bad thing.

Any suggestions for a serviceable jack that's better than the factory unit but stops short of being a full-on shop floor jack?