Emergency Kit

[jh.]

Boring Sunday Question

I know this has been discussed at length for overlanding, but I want to ask this for just driving down lonely highways. As I've referenced a few times in other posts, right now my fiance and I are a 2 vehicle family (down from 3). I drive a Subaru for work, she had a MDX, and I have a Disco for weekend fun. We've since dropped down to just the Disco and Subie and she's using the Disco as a daily driver (and absolutely hates it, which is why most of my other posts are about the potential purchase of a MKiii or LR3 which will happen within the next 6 months).

Long story short, within the next 3 years (once wedding/new home buying expenses are behind us), we will more than likely be a MKiii (her), Subie (me), LR3 (weekend me) family.

I have more recovery/survival gear than anybody will ever (hopefully) need in the Disco. I have a small 6"-ish waterproof pouch of goodies in the Subie that I also throw into my hunting and ski packs.

I want some consistency and think I'm going to buy two Seahorse Cases (Why Seahorse? Well they are cheaper than Pelican for the same essential tasks), and create identical moderate $hit-hits-the-fan kits (we do live in Wyo after all).

So with all of that background...what type of things would you stuff into one of these cases (assume we go with the 13.49" x 9.89" x 6.0" interior dimension case)?

Here's my starting point:
1) Decent first-aid kit (Disco has an obscenely well equipped backpackers kit and the Subie has Advil, bandages, needle and thread)
2) Mylar emergency blanket/bivy
3) Wool cap & Kinko leather gloves (why anyone buys other ski gloves baffles me - $14 at any hardware store and easily last 1 full season of everyday skiing or work abuse - at 10 years you hit the breakeven with expensive gloves)
4) Appropriate Tools (Disco has a full set of metric wrenches, metric AND standard hex keys, axe, shovel, hi-lift, compressor, BFH and more - Subie has a stock spare tire kit :elkgrin
5) Leatherman (both have this)
6) Knife (both)
7) Rx bottle with lint/vaseline and fire starters (again, both have this now) as well as waterproof matches and a lighter
8) Flashlight and/or headlamps (both)
9) Duct tape (duh)
10) Maybe some protein bars?

What am I missing? I want both kits to be essentially the same, however tools etc can be vehicle specific. If she's driving the Disco, clearly she doesn't need the hi-lift and winch, but duct tape can fix most everything. Once we get to a 3rd vehicle, I'd do the same for that, so we're not always taking the kits out (like I do today from Subie to ski pack - and I'll keep the mini pack for just skiing/hunting). The idea is that these kits will never be opened...but also I will never feel unprepared if an engine explodes an hour and a half drive from cell service.

Thanks!

 

[pugslyyy]

I'm actually not a huge fan of setting up a tool kit and then never using it. I always like to start working on the truck with the on board tools, so that I notice whenever I need to go to my big shop box and can decide whether or not I can live with not having that particular tool / wrench / socket / extension / whatever with me when I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Two part epoxy (the silly-putty consistency stuff) can quick-fix and amazing number of issues and takes up very little space. Radiators, differential housings, etc.

 

[David Harris]

I'm actually not a huge fan of setting up a tool kit and then never using it. I always like to start working on the truck with the on board tools, so that I notice whenever I need to go to my big shop box and can decide whether or not I can live with not having that particular tool / wrench / socket / extension / whatever with me when I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Two part epoxy (the silly-putty consistency stuff) can quick-fix and amazing number of issues and takes up very little space. Radiators, differential housings, etc.

Agree this is the way to go. Always use the tool kit in your vehicle to work on it and keep adding to it as new repairs/needs arise. Then you will always have what you need in the field when the time comes. I keep a spare set of sensors for the engine, belts, a fuel pump, a coolant hose repair kit, electrical repair kit, and some spare oil and coolant. A fuel pressure gauge and multimeter are good to have as well. Also a portable air compressor. Instead of the factory lug wrench I carry a good 1/2 inch breaker bar with an impact socket to fit the lugs. The factory bottle jack, wheel chocks and a small jackstand are useful. My general rule is to carry enough spares for the crucial items needed to limp out of the field if necessary.

 

[jh.]

I'm actually not a huge fan of setting up a tool kit and then never using it. I always like to start working on the truck with the on board tools, so that I notice whenever I need to go to my big shop box and can decide whether or not I can live with not having that particular tool / wrench / socket / extension / whatever with me when I'm in the middle of nowhere.

Two part epoxy (the silly-putty consistency stuff) can quick-fix and amazing number of issues and takes up very little space. Radiators, differential housings, etc.

This is actually how I created the tool kit that I have in the Disco...any time I used a tool - even once - I added it to the kit. That's why I have a 9/16 standard ratchet in there to go along with the metric. Now the Subie is a work vehicle so I never wrench on it, which makes it a bit harder to create a toolkit for.

 

[jh.]

Agree this is the way to go. Always use the tool kit in your vehicle to work on it and keep adding to it as new repairs/needs arise. Then you will always have what you need in the field when the time comes. I keep a spare set of sensors for the engine, belts, a fuel pump, a coolant hose repair kit, electrical repair kit, and some spare oil and coolant. A fuel pressure gauge and multimeter are good to have as well. Also a portable air compressor. Instead of the factory lug wrench I carry a good 1/2 inch breaker bar with an impact socket to fit the lugs. The factory bottle jack, wheel chocks and a small jackstand are useful. My general rule is to carry enough spares for the crucial items needed to limp out of the field if necessary.

I agree and this is why I have more tools/kit than I will ever need in the Disco. I'm not looking for field here however...just road trips. If she's alone in the thing and it dies, I want a simple "keep me alive until highway patrol drives by" kit that can withstand -20* etc. For myself, I want the bare minimum of tools/supplies to attempt to limp off of the highway when that limping may be over 100 miles.

When I go offroad, I will always include all of the spares, tools such as the hi lift, etc that can get me off of the trail and back onto roads leading back to civilization.

 

[David Harris]

One of these would be good to consider:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/28329-Bug-Out-Bagz-Bill-Burke-edition-a-close-up-look

 

[sedat]

I use two ammo boxes. within:
2 gallons coolant.
1 gallon atf
1 gallon engine oil
2 bottles gear oil
1 gallon drinking water
12 ton bottle jack and handles
2-3 ratchet straps
typical recovery gear, snatch block, straps, anchor points, etc.
assorted hose clamps.
Shop cloths and paper towels
1/2, 3/4, and 1.5" hoses, both copper section and small rubber lengths.
tire gauge
crank sensor, MAF, fuel pump, cam sensor.
duct and electrical tape.
short section of 12GA wire.
super glue, JB weld, and plastic epoxy
antiseptic and germX.

things like protein bars arent stored, and carried separate.

when wandering into the desert, I carry a minimum of 5 gallons drinking water, and 3 days of food, as well as enough hand tools to patch the truck back to civilization.

 

[jh.]

Good stuff...thanks guys.

 

[summerprophet]

"keep me alive until highway patrol drives by" kit that can withstand -20* etc.

In this case, I would include the following: survival blanket (you already mentioned that), protein bars, and a few candles and matches.

A survival blanket and a single candle inside a car will keep you alive regardless of the outside temperature. I would add water to the list, but, as I recently found out, keep it separate from your other stuff, because if it leaks, everything gets moldy in the sealed survival kit.

I have added a few items of convenience to my kit as well, as they take up little space, and nice to have when needed: ibuprofen, Chapstick, sunscreen, pepto pills, micropore tape, toothpaste and brush, contact cleaner, and $40 in cash.