Survival kit for my truck

ColdDayInHell

ColdDayInHell

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I've been searching around on here for some survival kit info on what to get for my truck but I haven't found much at all. Space really isn't a concern because I have the crew cab Frontier and have plenty of room in it. I am looking for a winter kit, but something that will serve all year round too. I am new to the whole survival thought process and I think it's a great lifestyle change for me. Here's what I am thinking of putting in the kit:


-2 survival blankets (definitely wool, but please help find me a good blanket!)

- leather gloves and scarf

- basic first aid kit

-a small fire extinguisher

-jumper cables

- cell phone charger

-small collapsible snow shovel (don't know what kind to get)

-a snow / ice brush

-a can of fix o flat

-a roll of duct tape

-a small tool kit w/ flashlight and matches

-a 2.5 gal can of gas

-small roll of para cord


Please recommend anything else you can think of and I appreciate your input.
 
You might want to get the foil blankets to toss in there. In case the wool gets wet.

Kitty litter during the winter time to get traction .

Road flares... Those little triangle signs..
And a road side light. Red/yellow section to flash and regular flash light mix.

Food rations ? My spelling sucks.

Salt in a sealed bad. Salt is extremely useful...

Did you list a knife?

S&w .500 little snub nose one in the orange case :) or a .45 colt .410 pistol :)
 
non-collapsible shovel (for when the collapsible shovel breaks-[smile]-seriously skip the folder)
axe (or hatchet)
lighter
old metal pot/container (melt snow to water, cook road kill, etc.)
 
Didn't feel like editing my last post.

Matches get wet/wind blows them out.

Steal wool and 9volt battery work better , or the jumper cables and car battery to start a fire...

You'd be better off with gortex gloves? Leather is not the greatest with water. Spelling sucks. Think ski gloves. mittens are better then normal gloves. I stopped using gloves with fingers, you hands stay warmer. Thin mechanic gloves too when u need fingers and its real cold.
 
Yeah I'm looking into the Trucker's Friend or other similar type axe. I also believe that the collapsible shovel may break under a heavy wet snow, and will just buy a quality fixed shovel. Damn, a lighter, I forgot that. Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah I have a couple pair of Ironclad gloves that are actually warmer than leather and are weatherproof. I was thinking outloud.
 
you really don't need to spend a lot of money on this stuff. you can get stuff at yard sales (shovel / axe) or ebay (surplus wool blankets) if you're patient. for a metal container an old coffee can works fine--or again, a yard sale pot might run you $1 [grin] . Old cloths in the back of the closet work well too for added layers when you need them. I keep a rain jacket in my trunk with old (really ugly) work gloves because a tire never goes flat unless it's raining.

i got some jumper cables at a yard sale for $3. I tested them with my ohm meter and they're good as new--probably better than a lot of the crap they sell today.
 
Big +1 to the salt, kitty litter, and real shovel.

Quart of oil?

A couple warm hats or balaclavas? The blankets are a good idea but you lose a lot of heat through your head, too.

Keeping in mind that the #1 killer in the outdoors is hypothermia, how about a poncho or rain jacket/pants?

Some trash compactor bags which can also act as rain gear, water collection, a tarp, a groundcloth, etc?

Also keeping mind that hypothermia sets in when the body's "furnace" can no longer produce enough heat, what about some food to keep the body fueled up? Maybe something like this: http://www.amazon.com/ER-Emergency-Ration-Survival-Preparedness/dp/B008DEYC86



In addition to the lighter, consider tossing in a few candles - they'll help start fires without wasting fuel and can also provide some warmth in an enclosed area like the cab of a truck.

A small wood stove made for backpacking with a small pot could be very handy if you need to melt snow for water (eating a substantial amount of snow will lower your body temperature quickly and isn't really a good idea). A couple pieces of dry, pre-split wood kept in the cab would go a long, long way in the winter when everything is under snow and it's tough to find good wood. This feels pretty overkill though, unless you're going way far away from civilization.
 
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I've been meaning to rework things a but, but here's what I always carry. Depending on where I am going, I often add additional tools beyond just this (such as a come-along):

- Winter gloves
- Leather work gloves (I use these more than any other thing)
- Waterproof matches, lighter (note lighter doesn't work when butane temp gets too low)
- TP (I've had to do a few too many emergency dumpings before)
- Electric tire pump (has been used many times)
- Jump start battery, which I remember to keep charges (also used many times on several cars)
- Cheap sunglasses (when you need them, it sucks to not have them... needed in winter too to prevent snow blindness)
- Small flashlight
- Several black trash bags
- Several map books of areas I'm most likely to be in
- A bunch of bungee cords
- Fold-up shovel (thanks to previous tip in this thread, I am going to replace with a non-foldup -- 2 weeks ago, it broke the first time I tried to use it to dig a hole in the dirt)
- Rope
- Hair brush (yes its an emergency when you look hideous and need to go into a store or something)
- First aid kit, which I make sure includes several things I'm likely to use (antihistamine, iodine wipes, ibuprophen)
- Several pairs of thick socks (has come in handy many times)
- Several pairs of underwear (this unfortunately relates to the emergency dumpings I've referenced earlier. Plus I have this strange habit of slipping and falling into the brook on my land)
- Women's underwear (wife can have issues too)
- A bunch of AA batteries
- 2 winter hats
- 2 sweatshirts
- 2 sweatpants (NOTE: Need to add one appropriate for wife... we had a wardrobe emergency in the woods and she tried to wear my emergency sweatpants.... they could be pulled half way up her chest.... not good)
- Several short sleeved shirts
- 2 fleece sleeping bags (got them for like $10 each... and they make a good blanket too)
- "Survival kit" that includes a hand chain saw, fire starter and a signal mirror)
- 150W inverter
- Auto GPS
- Large dirty drop cloth (useful for laying on ground under truck, or covering stuff up in the truck)
- Another blanket in back seat (useful for covering stuff up or keeping warm)
- Pocket change
- Another flashlight
- Several stainless steel water bottles (usually filled except when it would freeze if left unattended)
- Micro USB cable
- USB car charger (charges every cell phone I have)
- Nail clippers (silly, but I've had many "oh crap my nails are way too long this is embarrassing" moments while traveling away from home)
- Monocular
- Screwdriver with a bunch of screw bits
- Swiss army knife
- Tire pressure gauge

It looks like a lot, but it easily fits in two rectangular car bags designed to organize car stuff.
 
Common failure/easily replaceable parts for your truck?

I had a transmission switch module go on my truck, apparently it is common with Alison trans, it costs 100 bucks and I can swap it out on the side of the road.
 
Sleeping bag and hat, probably the most important in new england. Instead of fix a flat I carry a plug kit and one of those cheap 12 volt compressors. A pair of warm footwear unless you usually have on winter boots.
 
edmorseiii said:
Common failure/easily replaceable parts for your truck?
Click to expand...

Possible, for those who know what they are doing. I would have no idea a transmission switch module needed replacing, let alone prepare in advance for one or know what to do with it.

So, I just have the basics in that department... the jack that came with the truck, which I actually tested this past year to make sure I can really do it. (My previous car came with an unusable jack... NFW was anyone going to be lifting a car with the stupid thing.) Electric tire pump. Jump starter. Some spare fuses. And a flashlight to see what's going on when something happens at night, and a drop cloth to lie on the ground under the truck for when I need to investigate something. Most of the time that is enough for a non-junker well maintained vehicle. (Can anyone think of anything else that doesn't require mechanic skills?)
 
Prepper said:
Possible, for those who know what they are doing. I would have no idea a transmission switch module needed replacing, let alone prepare in advance for one or know what to do with it.
Click to expand...

The only reason I knew what to do was because I googgled the symptoms and the truck forums had the solutions. Now that I know, I am going to throw a spare in the truck JIC. I am currently trying to compile a small list of good to have on hand spares. Just like here with laws and guns, the vehicle forums are packed full of good knowledge.
 
Candles.

Someone mentioned that it's an easy way to get a small flame going. However, candles can also raise the internal temperature of a car by up to 10 degrees. That could mean life or death if you're stuck in a snow storm. I got the below survival candle for my car kit. I think it will burn for up to 36 hours if you burn each wick one at a time.

51W%2B9c6ZDuL._SS400_.jpg
 
Yep I'd be clueless when it comes to the transmission. The truck only has 600 miles on it so I think it'll be good this Winter.[laugh] Thanks for all the replies everyone, I am getting stuff together as we speak. I will compile a big list at work tomorrow and hopefully buy everything before the first snowfall. Ed, when you get the small list of truck/car spare parts, please PM me or post here so I can prepare as well. I know a fair amount about cars and would love to have essential parts just in case.
 
good thing you have a truck cause this list is getting long [smile]. Seriously, you don't need all this stuff. A lot of it is redundant.

but one more thing: I keep a used (but usable) pair of windshield wipers in my trunk. They take up very little space and when you have one fly off or rip in half when frozen that spare wiper is really handy to have and costs nothing.
 
More or less with cars .. Buy a manual trans !!!! No stupid computer to crap out, and you don't need a battery.
Ive been stranded at my work on weeks ends with a dead battery . It's tricky to learn but I can push start a car on my own lol.
Learn what bolts are common.
My rx7 I only needed 4 wrenches. If I need some thing else it's not side of the road work lol.

I drive sport cars in the winter so I do have to worry about being stuck .

Really you just need to figure out what you need to have these. Less will be better. Say you need to get away from your truck or it catches fire less is better.

Just worry about these...
Water/warmth/protection/food.
In that order.
You'll die from cold and lack of water befor food.
I forget how many days you can go with out food.

And def read up on salt I was blown away what you could do with it.
 
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Another_David said:
good thing you have a truck cause this list is getting long [smile]. Seriously, you don't need all this stuff. A lot of it is redundant.

but one more thing: I keep a used (but usable) pair of windshield wipers in my trunk. They take up very little space and when you have one fly off or rip in half when frozen that spare wiper is really handy to have and costs nothing.
Click to expand...

Very good advice again. Good thing I repped you before haha. Prepper's list is pretty overwhelming.
 
You need a trailer to tote all your stuff. I have a couple of space blankets, a large bag of dried fruit and nuts, and a couple of bottles of water behind my seat. Expect the water to freeze in winter but it melts fast enough. There's a waterproof match tin in the ash tray, holds 15 match sticks. Cell phone and pistol are always on me. Good to go with that, works for me.
 
Fill your gas tank.
Check your tire pressure.
Flush radiator.
Flush brake lines and check brakes.
Clean the windshield.
Change oil every 3000 miles.
Follow all other maintenance recommendations.

This should help your truck, and therefore you, survive if you ever needed to use your truck.


OK, added for Winter:
blanket
tissues
coffee can with sand
small shovel
ice scrapers
windshield antifreeze
good tires
 
Coyote33 said:
Fill your gas tank.
Check your tire pressure.
Flush radiator.
Flush brake lines and check brakes.
Clean the windshield.
Change oil every 3000 miles.
Follow all other maintenance recommendations.

This should help your truck, and therefore you, survive if you ever needed to use your truck.


OK, added for Winter:
blanket
tissues
coffee can with sand
small shovel
ice scrapers
windshield antifreeze
good tires
Click to expand...

Ha, I always keep up with my vehicles, but thanks for the part 1 advice. [wink] You're not as grouchy and condescending as usual tonight, must be a full moon.

And for the winter tips, tissues are a great idea. I keep DD napkins in the glovebox but those are horrible in the winter.
 
I always like to have the equipment to get myself unstuck in the winter. That means a come-along (hand powered winch), tow straps and chains, shovel, 5gal bucket of sand and tire chains in an ammo box.

Some other points:

For jumper cables, get the largest wire you can find. I would recommend at least 4 AWG.

Unless you are going into uncharted territory, a few granola bars and a gallon of water should be sufficient.

If you are carrying gas, you need to keep it in the bed of the truck. Carrying it in the cab is dangerous and may be illegal.

Fill your gas tank often. I don't drive too much and fill up when my tank is 3/4 full. That means stopping once or twice a week for me.

Keeping some cash in the vehicle for emergencies may be helpful. I keep a spare hundred bucks in various denominations and it has helped out several times (no emergencies yet though)

A disposable cell phone can be had at Walmart for under $50 and can be a lifeline in an emergency.

A tarp and some rope can be very useful.

Flashlights and extra batteries are always useful

If you have some mechanical know how, a small tool kit can be useful.


Finally,

I have found that often, the things I carry are used when camping and other times that I am away from home, instead of for emergencies. I just have to make sure I maintain and replace anything I use, just in case.
 
I actually have never gone camping, but really want to try and go sometime soon. I am enjoying my new truck and love the fact that I can carry more stuff. Flashlights+extra batteries is a good idea, thanks. I only have one with me in the truck now, so I need to get some more. I also need to buy a nice GunVault and attach it to the seat so I can store ammo in it. With a desiccant it should be awesome. The heat from the summer doesn't affect ammunition as some people say, and it will do nothing inside the safe. How do you think the ammo in Iraq feels when it's stuck in a can in 100 degree heat? [wink]
 
ColdDayInHell said:
I've been searching around on here for some survival kit info on what to get for my truck but I haven't found much at all. Space really isn't a concern because I have the crew cab Frontier and have plenty of room in it. I am looking for a winter kit, but something that will serve all year round too. I am new to the whole survival thought process and I think it's a great lifestyle change for me. Here's what I am thinking of putting in the kit:


-2 survival blankets (definitely wool, but please help find me a good blanket!)

- leather gloves and scarf

- basic first aid kit

-a small fire extinguisher

-jumper cables

- cell phone charger

-small collapsible snow shovel (don't know what kind to get)

-a snow / ice brush

-a can of fix o flat

-a roll of duct tape

-a small tool kit w/ flashlight and matches

-a 2.5 gal can of gas

-small roll of para cord


Please recommend anything else you can think of and I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...

Those are pretty much your basic essentials for all vehicles.
 
I load my vehicle with the basic items originally listed depending on the season, I trade out shovels/scarfs, but Ialso keep a case of water and always have a book or magizine as well.
 

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