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Roadside Emergency Kit I Built for My Trunk Before a Long Solo Drive

22 items

Hallie Dove

That stretch of highway at 11pm with no cell signal and a weird noise coming from under the hood? Yeah, I never want to be that person standing on the shoulder with nothing but a phone flashlight and good intentions. I put this kit together before a ...

Sections

Flat Tire and Breakdown Basics

Visibility and Safety Gear

Cold Weather and Overnight Stranded Supplies

Snacks, Water, and Comfort While You Wait

Flat Tire and Breakdown Basics

Got a flat at 6am on a Sunday in rural Virginia once. Had to wait two hours for a tow because I didn't even have a working jack. Never again.

Keep this plugged into your 12V outlet and you can reinflate a slow leak in about 8 minutes. Saved my neighbor from calling AAA on a Sunday morning when her tire was just low, not blown. If you drive an older car with no tire pressure monitoring, gra...

CARTMAN 12V Portable Tire Inflator Air Compressor

Toss this in the trunk and forget about it until you need it. I used the pliers to reattach a dangling splash guard in a parking lot once. Compact enough that it fits under the spare tire compartment in most sedans.

CARTMAN Orange 39-Piece Tool Set

Swap out that flimsy factory jack for something you can actually trust. A buddy of mine bent his stock jack trying to change a tire on gravel. This one is heavier but way more stable, especially for anyone driving an SUV or truck.

Smittybilt 54 Trail Jack - 2722

Bring a spare set because cross-threaded or rusted lug nuts will ruin your day faster than the flat itself. Learned this when a mechanic told me two of mine were basically welded on from rust. Replace yours before they become a problem.

Gorilla Automotive 71633N "The System" Acorn Wheel

Use this for small punctures when you don't want to deal with the spare at all. Got a nail in my tire at a trailhead parking lot and this bought me enough time to drive 30 miles to a shop. Not a permanent fix, but it buys you time when you need it mo...

Slime Flat Tire Repair Kit - Analog - 50122

Visibility and Safety Gear

A coworker got rear-ended while changing a tire at dusk because nobody could see her car pulled over. She was fine, but it scared me into taking visibility seriously.

Set these out behind your car if you're pulled over on a dark road. They're LED so no fire risk, and they flash bright enough to see from way down the highway. For anyone who commutes on two-lane roads after sunset, these are a no-brainer.

STP Emergency Roadside LED Flare, 8 Modes

Throw one on before you step out of your car on the shoulder. Feels dorky until you realize how invisible you are to a driver going 70mph. Took me five seconds to put on and I stopped worrying about getting clipped.

G & F Reflective Vest High Visibility ANSI Class 2, XL Yellow

Pair these with the flares for double coverage. They stand up on their own and reflect headlights from a distance. Way better than the cheap plastic ones that blow over every time a truck passes.

Blazer International Collapsible Warning Triangle Kit, 3 pc.

Skip the dollar store flashlight that dies after ten minutes. This one is rechargeable via USB-C and throws a beam far enough to actually see what you're doing under the hood. Charge it once every few months and it's always ready.

Fenix PD36R Flashlights Rechargeable Tactical

Stash this under your seat, not in the trunk. If something catches fire up front you don't want to be running to the back of the car. Small enough to fit but rated for electrical and fuel fires. Hopefully you never touch it, but you'll be glad it's w...

First Alert Auto Fire Extinguisher - Pack of 8

Cold Weather and Overnight Stranded Supplies

I broke down on I-90 in January once and sat in my car for 90 minutes waiting for a tow. My fingers went numb in about 20 minutes. That night I ordered all of this.

Toss this in a gallon ziplock bag so it stays dry and compact. Wool keeps you warm even when damp, which matters if your heater dies in freezing temps. Worth it for anyone who drives through mountain passes or northern states between October and Apri...

"Arcturus Military Wool Blanket

Crack a couple of these open and shove them in your gloves or pockets while you wait for help. They last about 10 hours each. I keep a fresh pack in the glove box every fall and swap them out in spring.

HotHands Hand Warmers, 10 Pair, Up to 10 Hours of Heat

Grabbed this specifically because it includes a thermal blanket along with the usual bandages and antiseptic. Compact enough to fit in your door pocket. For anyone with kids in the car, this covers scrapes and emergencies in one small bag.

LifeLine AAA Road Trip Kit - AAA Kit / Auto Kit For Vehicles

Get the 16-foot ones so you don't have to park nose-to-nose perfectly. Tried using a cheap 8-foot set once and couldn't reach. These are thick gauge so they actually handle the current without getting hot.

Booster Cable

Point this at your engine bay so both hands stay free. Way better than holding a flashlight in your mouth like I did for years. Rechargeable so you're not hunting for batteries at midnight.

Energizer Hard Case Professional LED Spotlight

Snacks, Water, and Comfort While You Wait

Nobody talks about how boring and uncomfortable it is sitting in your car for two hours waiting for a tow truck. These made the difference between miserable and manageable.

Water bottles freeze and burst in winter or get gross in summer heat. These pouches are rated for five years and handle temperature extremes. Stash the whole case in your trunk and forget about it until you actually need a drink on the shoulder of so...

Datrex Emergency Water Pouch, 4.2 Fl Oz, 1 Count

Tastes like a slightly stale shortbread cookie, which honestly is fine when you're hungry and stuck. One bar is enough calories for a full day. Perfect for the person who always forgets to eat before a long drive and then breaks down two hours from a...

SOS Food Lab Emergency Food Bar

Keep this filled and within reach so you're not digging through the trunk. Wide mouth means you can pour those emergency water pouches into it easily. I clip mine to my bag so it comes with me on hikes too.

Nalgene, Water Bottle, 16 oz, Wide Mouth Cherry Blossom

Your phone is your lifeline when you're stranded. This charges most phones three or four times and fits in your center console. Check it once a month to make sure it's topped off. Learned the hard way that a dead battery bank is just a paperweight.

Anker Portable Charger 20000mAh Power Bank 2-Port

Try changing a tire in a downpour without one. I did it once and sat in my car soaking wet for an hour afterward. These weigh nothing, cost almost nothing, and they fold down to the size of a wallet. Grab the multi-pack so passengers are covered too.

5/10/20 Pack Rain Ponchos,Disposable Emergency