My bag is pretty much what RogueJSK has, although ratchets and other truck only supplies are under my rear seat. The bag itself is a fairly stuffed backpack that is a cross between a get home and overnight bag. Mine has more food due to my blood sugar problem. I also leave my reciprocating saw and batteries in my truck from fall to spring, to deal with downed branches or smaller trees.

quote:

Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
although ratchets and other truck only supplies are under my rear seat

I thank you for the tools. Back in 1988 aa friend and I were "pack-ratting" at a junkyard. the way it worked, we'd go thru each newly delivered wreck looking for good stuff. Then we'd go visit the lot owner and he'd pick out anything he wanted, leaving the rest to us. Under the back seats were all kinds of good stuff. He wasn't much of a gun guy so he left that to us .

On the same hiding place idea, we had 5 or 6 junkers dumped at the club gravel pit. A couple of the guys were going to crush them, or try. My buddy saw what I'd just found and begged me for it. A flare nut kit. Must have cost the original owner a bundle, even back then.

Ha, after my last car crash I included a folded up GI duffel to pack all my stuff up. Works better than a tarp bundle.

Lots of good information here, guys, thank you. These are the sorts of things I was thinking about.

Things I've got in my truck already but didn't really think about putting on the "bag list" include zip ties, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Some of the things you guys have suggested here that have caught my attention are a full change of clothes, the entrenching tool, duct tape, a hygiene kit (a mighty good thought), Waterbury Bob's stainless steel wire and electrician's pliers, and Bruce's safety pins. Gallon ziplocks and large trash bags are a good plan, too. And the dog bowl! I think wildheartedson is onto something with the Neutrogena hand cream. A fella can be his gal's hero when she's got the dry-hands and finds that in the glove box. Lesson learned recently: don't slam the glovebox door. There's a reason it won't shut easily. In my case, it was because the Neutrogena tube was jammed in it. I had a bit of a mess when I opened it next, having broken the tube. Oops.

The car is new enough that a) I don't have to worry quite so much about on-the-road failures, and b) I probably couldn't fix much on it anyway. The truck, however, is somewhat user-friendly in terms of DIY fixing, and has a higher likelihood of needing a quick fix due only to its age and mileage. Tools are something that might be kept in a separate truck bag, I think.

Voshterkoff makes a good point about being able to grab one's essentials kit and remove them easily in the case of a crash. I got a call from a friend a couple of years ago, immediately following a crash. I was able to get to him fairly quickly, which allowed me to "babysit" his vehicle while the rest of the crash was cleaned up and he took care of paperwork with the Troopers. He was carrying a lot of gear that day, and it would have sucked for him to have it towed off the exit (it was) and left alone for scavengers (it wasn't).

LS1 GTO has a mighty good point about Chap-stick melting. I've seen that before. It's tough to clean up well. I'll look for the Carmex tins.

It would take up a little more space, but I'm scheming now on a mid-sized backpack for personal gear (clothes, cleanup supplies, etc) and a separate duffel for "car gear" (jump starter, cables, tie-downs, and so forth). Again, for the personal pack I was thinking simply of convenience, more so than survival. That's not to say I wouldn't make a plan for a couple more lights, an e-tool, and probably even a hammer....

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
Some of the things you guys have suggested here that have caught my attention are a full change of clothes

Very handy for times when you get covered in muck or smelly substances, or dunked in water. You can usually find a place to shower or dry off relatively easily, but sourcing a total change of clothes is tougher. You don't want to have to shuffle back to your car and drive home naked with a towel wrapped around your waist, or barefoot wearing a set of paper scrubs, or the like.

Very true. I know a guy who got horribly sick on the trip back from a customer visit -- a five-hour drive. He'll laugh while telling about it now, but in that moment it was horrible. In both directions, you know what I'm saying. He ended up just as you describe -- wrapped in a towel for the remainder of the trip.

With his boss in the car.

All my cars have a small tool bag in them. Enough tools to change the battery water pump, starter or alternator. Telescoping ratchet, extensions, sockets, wrench set, several screw drivers, small vise grips, needle nose pliers, regular pliers.

Among those are jumper cables, a flashlight, mirror and telescoping magnet.

Tow strap to get you out of a ditch.

Cheap code reader.

Don't forget a pair of shoes for the wife or girlfriend. And perhaps a stylish jacket or sweatshirt for her as well. My wife is always in the worse shoes if an emergency were to pop up.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Don't forget a pair of shoes for the wife or girlfriend. And perhaps a stylish jacket or sweatshirt for her as well. My wife is always in the worse shoes if an emergency were to pop up.

A very good point, and one that will bring about Stage Two of this adventure... her truck bag(s).

As a 21 y.o. : cash for gas.

Now: three pr. glasses, glasses cleaner.
Kleenex, water bottle, thermal grocery bags,
Non thermal grocery bags.
P.p. mask, dental floss.
Sanitize gel, wipes,
Cell phone, charging cord .
Camera

For a flashlight Id like to get one of the shake / induction ones to prevent battery issues. Anyone know one that is robust enough and puts out decent light?

Just use Eneloop AA or AAA batteries. They are low discharge, do not leak (dry chemistry), and can be recharged annually.

I'm usually doing well to just have a change of underwear and a couple of coats. I do have some water in the car.

flashguy

Strange, no one has mentioned spare mags and ammo for whatever you normally carry. And here, of all places!

quote:

Originally posted by Watergoat:
Strange, no one has mentioned spare mags and ammo for whatever you normally carry. And here, of all places!

The OP specifically stated that he wanted to know about items other than defensive/fighting stuff. This is about convenience items.

Tire plug kit . 12v air compressor .

Back in the day, I always carried a pair of swim trunks in my car. Never knew when you'd encounter a hot tub.

Extra clothes, socks, shoes, and a towel are always in my vehicle with a tiny toiletry kit.

Between the military and being a bachelor who lives in the sticks/mountains, it's all key.

An extra set of socks and shoes have been helpful a dozen times in life.

A Sharpie. Good for quickly writing down the license number of a hit and run you just witnessed on almost any surface.

When I lived in Colorado, I had a "winter" kit that included a spare coat (old ski jacket), boots, old ski pants, and a sleeping bag. Came out of the trunk during the summer.

Love Matt's YouTube channel. I should probably get one of his Yankums for the truck and Jeep.

quote:

Originally posted by wildheartedson0105:
Fire extinguisher

What do you recommend for a vehicle-based fire extinguisher?