Winter Readiness

[i-wagon]

It's about that time of year again, especially since we had our first significant snow already, to be thinking about winter playtimes. after cleaning my car I took inventory and had to run to wallet world, since there's a few things I believe no mainer should be without in their vehicle from november to march.

Tow strap ($25 at tractor supply)

collapsable shovel ($9.99 walmart)

ice scraper (duh)

jumper cables

small first aid kit

spare jacket

insulated gloves

can of fixaflat

my kit is more in depth than listed, bu I feel that covers the basics of winter emergencies. thoughts/ additional items you think are important?

 

[Jamey]

I love my heated mirrors and wipers lol was goin to get a car starter but cheapest I found is 500 bucks .. I'll deal without it .. Crazy .. Don't forget sand or kitty litter

 

[i-wagon]

^not a bad idea, I ran out of room in my trunk

 

[2point5RS_Dan]

Good list so far Matt. I still need to get a milsurp shovel.

Snow tires.

Chemical hand warmers. Spare fluids. Road flares.

Make sure your washer fluid is topped off, I get the deicer kind in the winter. Make sure you have good wipers.

As for the tow strap. Be careful if you're using one with metal hooks. They turn into projectiles. I carry two straps, one with just loops and shackles, and another with hooks as a last resort if the shackles wont fit. I need a bigger recovery/emergency gear bag.

Some may say I'm over prepared, but the fun snow playing is the best where the people aren't

 

[i-wagon]

I have a couple clevis type rigs to use with my strap, and a larke truck recovery hook that attaches into my trailer hitch. I bought a stanley tool bag at wallet world to keep everything in. my extras include a a 12v compresser, tire plug kit heatshrink butt connectors and various tools

 

[SoMeWRX]

I use a pair of heavy duty truck mats in my car in the winter - protects against all the water AND doubles as traction pads in slippery situations. Just throw them on the snow/ice, roll onto em and drive away until you are set then go back and get em. Has never failed.

 

[i-wagon]

Almost forgot flashlights

 

[wzrd]

my biggest thought on being prepared is proper winter attire..EXTRA[dry] socks,boots,old army [winter] parka.The idea is to be able to fall a sleep in a snow bank and actually wake up and not freeze to death..If your warm and dry you can walk away from most situations..My kit would also contain h2o,couple granola bars,flint/steel and a hand gun.

I dont live in the city and some places I work are a bit "off grid"...wzrd/out

 

[i-wagon]

Handgun is always on my person except working hours, so I kinda left that out. Good point on the spare dry clothes

 

[Chris]

As for the tow strap. Be careful if you're using one with metal hooks. They turn into projectiles. I carry two straps, one with just loops and shackles, and another with hooks as a last resort if the shackles wont fit. I need a bigger recovery/emergency gear bag.

Some may say I'm over prepared, but the fun snow playing is the best where the people aren't

When I saw tow strap in the OP I was going to mention this, but you beat me to it.

come-along is in my list of stuff, saved my behind more than once.

I keep one of those foil space blanket things. Never had to use it, but I figure I might save myself or someone else with it one day.

I also have a 12v cell phone charger in my car. I don't use it very often for changing my phone unless I'm on a trip, but if you get stuck and it's really cold, the tiny batteries in cell phones don't do so well in the cold and may die on you.

I carry everything else people have mentioned too... But that's about all the not-listed stuff I think I carry. Although... I haven't loaded my car up for winter because I'm somewhere it doesn't snow

 

[Pedro]

I have a basic kit.

I put a case of washer fluid in each car,

Snow brush

jumper cables

compressor

plug kit

jacket

towel

gloves

tarp

in my car specifically: Machette, umbrella, multi tool, spare belts.

for the tow strap setup I use a towbar without a ball, toss a 3/4" shackle through the hole and attach my short strap. On the other end of that strap is a mini J hook, and a clevis hook. That is just used for other people. If I get mired, I just call my wife to come out with this:

 

[Ray]

that is the most BA lexus..ever.......ever

 

[i-wagon]

^what he said

 

[jaKe]

Good lists. I have most mentioned items in my car at all times including matches, t.p., hatchet, vicegrips, shake powered flashlight, slim jim, plastic poncho.

 

[Carter]

meh, AAA card is all I need.

 

[gakosaurusrex]

It's about that time of year again, especially since we had our first significant snow already, to be thinking about winter playtimes. after cleaning my car I took inventory and had to run to wallet world, since there's a few things I believe no mainer should be without in their vehicle from november to march.

Tow strap ($25 at tractor supply)

collapsable shovel ($9.99 walmart)

ice scraper (duh)

jumper cables

small first aid kit

spare jacket

insulated gloves

can of fixaflat

my kit is more in depth than listed, bu I feel that covers the basics of winter emergencies. thoughts/ additional items you think are important?

I like your list but I dislike the fix a flat/ if u use that stuff it ruins the tire and be ready to spend weeks picking foam out of ur rim/valve/tire! I run a fullsize spare, also a comealong, gallon plus, syphon tube, zipties, random tools,spare oil=), !ductape! never leave home without it.

 

[gakosaurusrex]

Good list so far Matt. I still need to get a milsurp shovel.

Snow tires.

Chemical hand warmers. Spare fluids. Road flares.

Make sure your washer fluid is topped off, I get the deicer kind in the winter. Make sure you have good wipers.

As for the tow strap. Be careful if you're using one with metal hooks. They turn into projectiles. I carry two straps, one with just loops and shackles, and another with hooks as a last resort if the shackles wont fit. I need a bigger recovery/emergency gear bag.

Some may say I'm over prepared, but the fun snow playing is the best where the people aren't

yes hooks do love to slip and fly! the only way they go is toward the car! I have 3" marine Drings on the end of my tow strap/ I seem to remeber my tow strap helpen ur impreza out of a ditch right dan?

 

[Nigel Prodrive]

good way to lessen chance of tow strap hooks flying off and zinging stuff is easy....when you hook up the tow strap, place a blanket, jacket or soft floppy floor mat over the strap about halfway between the vehicles. if a hook pops off, the blanket will make the strap tend to "hinge" and really lessen chance of projectile hook damage.

another hook option is to get hooks with carabiner-type closure, these are way less likely to fly off and cause expensive mischief

another idea of how to minimize probs w/tow straps (don't involve another vehicle to do the towing!) see pic and note busted-off hook at end I'm pulling on...

great thread, keep the ideas comin!

PS--those lil cheapo plastic snow shovels are basically useless to excavate a car stuffed into a snowbank. weight of vehicle compresses snow into consistency of concrete under the car and all those plastic cheapies do is snap off.

much better to employ a climber's compact collapsible avalanche shovel. these babies can chop thru pretty hard snow and are designed for hard use. don't take up much room in trunk, either.

 

[i-wagon]

I was thinking military style entrenching tool. Maybe the glock one