Ten Important Items to Keep in the Trunk of Your Car

My father taught me early on to be prepared when on the road. He taught me basic car maintenance and repair, as well as a few things to keep in my car "in case of emergencies". Over the years, I have added some things and removed some things, but there are a number of items that have a permanent residence in my car. By keeping these items in my car, I have saved time and money when an incident arises. It's the "thinking ahead" of things I might need that has kept an unfortunate mishap from turning into a stressful disaster.

Below is a list of items I keep in the trunk (boot) of my car:

1. A blanket-my father placed an old wool army blanket in the trunk of my very first car. Every car I have owned since then has carried this blanket. It has been used to cover a picnic table, lay on the beach, line the trunk to transport plants and potting soil, kneel upon to change a tire, cushion an item secured outside the vehicle, and endless other uses. I eventually added a small quilt to wrap up in or let the children use to sleep with in the back seat as a cover or pillow. This is a must-have!

2. Several heavy duty garbage bags-these fold up very small but are very versatile. A plastic garbage bag can be a makeshift rain coat, keep your clothing off the wet ground when changing a tire, line the floor board to catch sand or mud, or to collect wet items. You may even need them for trash sometime!

3. Outside toys-I originally put this together as a back up for youth events. Sometimes the children would just need something to do or want something to play. I found this a convenient solution. I found a medium-size cotton bag I had at home. A small duffel or backpack would also work well. Inside the bag are a wiffle bat and balls, a couple of Frisbees, and a football. Other ideas might include a basketball or jump rope. This is one of the large items I keep in the trunk but for now, one I wouldn't be without.

4. Rope and bungee cords-I keep a tightly wound 100-foot length of rope and five or six bungee cords in the trunk. I can use these to secure large items to the car as well as strap the trunk lid down to keep it from bouncing up and down on an over-sized item.

5. Jumper cables-not just for me but also to allow me to assist another motorist. A word of caution: be sure to familiarize yourself with the proper use of this important item to avoid personal injury or damage to one or both vehicles.

6. Four-way lug wrench-few things are more frustrating than to have a flat tire and find the manufacturer's lug wrench inadequate to remove the lugs from the wheel. Most wheels are attached using an air wrench and can be quite difficult to loosen manually. A four-way lug wrench, which resembles a plus-sign, allows one to leverage his body weight by pulling up with your hands and pushing down with a foot to loosen a tight lug.

7. Flashlight or emergency light-this item is much easier to store with the newer alternatives of power. Some can be plugged into a cigarette lighter, others are activated by shaking. If you use a traditional flashlight, store the batteries separately in a leak-proof bag or package to prevent corrosion or explosion. Be sure to change them out regularly so you will have fresh one available.

8. First aid kit-whether you assemble one yourself or purchase a ready-made one, having a first aid kit always with you can be a life saver. Two items to be sure are included are plastic gloves and plastic mouthpiece for CPR. You never know when having a basic first aid kit may come in handy at an accident scene or children's sporting event.

9. Ice scraper with brush-keeping a scraper with the vehicle is a nice convenience when you come out of work or a store to a frosty windshield.

10. Long funnel-a funnel with a long neck can make things a lot easier when adding fluids to a vehicle. Most vehicles gas tanks have a small plate at the point of entry where the nozzle goes. Having a long neck on your funnel makes it much easier to add fuel should you run out, or oil if needed, especially when lighting conditions may not be ideal. Be sure to place the soiled funnel in a plastic bag (you should have some in your trunk!) to keep from making a mess or unpleasant or dangerous fumes. Paper funnels are available but do not have the strength to keep the small plate open in the fuel tank.

Depending on the climate in your area, some items may be obsolete and others may need to be added. When I have owned older vehicles, I kept a gallon of water in the trunk in case of cooling system trouble. If you live in an evacuation area, you may choose to have an emergency evacuation bag in your trunk. If you live in a cold climate, you may wish to include survival items in case of being stranded in snow on the road. Of course, you don't want a trunk so crowded that the spare tire is not easily accessible or you lose room for purchases. By careful planning, packing and organizing your items, you can have the assurance of preparedness in a small back area of your truck. This bit of preparation may sometime make a life or death difference. It certainly lowers your stress to have what you need in a crisis.