The other thread made me think this would be a good topic for Auto.
oh and of course
So what do you’ll carry?
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Honestly I’m a big fan of one of these
https://www.amazon.com/STANLEY-FATMAX-J7CS-Jump-Starter/dp/B00RZXVQSU
I’ve used it so far to jump others cars, test 12v electrical systems, power my vehicle so the windows would roll up, fill up my tires, charge my phone and laptop.
I also carry a first aid kit (primarily for offroad use).
Also oil and ATF
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Of course there is always AAA card. Less hardware, lower learning curve.
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How often do you have to charge the battery on that to keep it topped off?
I have found areas of the Southwest, where AAA response times are 3-4 hours. With a few basic items in the trunck, I can usually get myself back on the road in less then an hour. Besides, we are makers…
I charge it after every use. However even after multiple jumps I’ve never found it drained enough. Since you’re supplementing the cranking power of your existing 12v battery also, it doesn’t seem to suck the power out.
Haven’t noticed the residual drain. However I plan to hook it up to my vehicle so it’ll charge when the vehicle is on
Oh, and I have one of these in the car for those really severe emergencies…
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Walter, upgrade to the 21st century.
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Mine has infinite range during the next carpocolypse, 
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Presently…
- Some old jumper cables I inherited with my original 95 Ranger - decently thick copper, good springs in the handles, decent jaws for contact, proven service history
- A compact toolkit with metric/freedom sockets, screwdriver bits, ratchet, crescent wrench
- 2L drinking water
- 2x 2400cal rations
- Compact first aid kit
- T-Rex tape, 105 yards
- Paracord
- Cell phone charger
- Flashlight
- Light jacket
- Flares
I should find room for a tarp and the synthetic blanket I used to have in the 3; presently most of this fits into a backpack that’s secured to the back of the trunk. Some of these are really only applicable to road trip or unusual survival situations, amounting to a half-ass bugout bag.
Tossed a ~180W inverter (purchased 10 years ago, mostly forgotten) in today - it does me no good sitting on a shelf and slots under the passenger seat nicely.
There’s some effective duplication since I almost always carry my work/DMS backpack with me on routine trips, which has flashlights, work gloves, raingear (I have a gore-tex jacket that folds up nicely and fits flat in the backpack’s intermediate pocket), powerbank, a fairly exhaustive USB charging kit, work/personal laptops and accessories. On my person I have a pocketknife, phone, watch, and that most-helpful of preparedness items cash.
The Ranger has many of these things, but lacking a trunk to keep things out of eyesight, it’s not all of them and also fragmented up a bit.
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Mine depends on what one doing & where I’m going.
If I’m going off-roading, basically bring anything to make repairs.
This included my welder, grinders, steel, heim joints and sometimes plasma cutter & air compressor.
In my Excursion I have basic hand tools, plug kit, spare fluids, straps, jumper cables, air pressure gauge, small compressor.
My Jeep has ARB on board air.
This sucker ARB - CKMTA12BK1 - Twin 12V Onboard Compressor Kit
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You are some paranoid boy scouts.
Mine has shrunk in the last 15 years, since I never used anything in it previously.
Now,it’s largely just this in the DD:
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You know, I have used nearly everything in the kit I carry in the last ten years. I also frequently ‘forget’ to carry a cell phone since I am now retired…
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Oh, and jumper cables. I do still carry those, even though they’re much less useful today than previously.
This. Mine changes if I’m headed to, say, West Texas. Or somewhere that’s not on an Interstate. Or if it’s Winter. But most of the miles I drive anymore are a (relatively) comfortable walk to a town…
Aspirin. Chewing one during a heart attack or stroke can reduce the severity.
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My wife carries the pharmacy in her purse and sometimes the electronic store.
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Simple enough to just leave mine in the vehicle. That trunk space is going extremely underutilized >95% of the time.
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A few other things to add to the list that I usually have on hand and that I’ve used.
- Cable ties
- Funnel
- Rechargeable flashlight
- Recovery strap and shackles
- Folding shovel
- Plastic gas container
- Bottle of motor oil
- Bottles of water
- Cheap OBD2 reader
- Long jumper cables
I’ve found the longer cables are well worth it if there’s room for them in the vehicle. The dead car doesn’t have to move and the running car can stay out of harms way. I bought these a couple years ago and they’ve been great.
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For day to day driving (not long distance trips):
I’m surprised no one wants to carry a first aid kit & possibly a small fire extinguisher
Making sure the vehicle’s five tires were in good condition and properly inflated, with functional factory spare tire changing tools, would eliminate to need for a very noisy air compressor.
But then again routine maintenance eliminates most break downs (not all of course)
Opinions will vary of course
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Very true about the fire extinguisher, make sure it has metal handles. I had a friend watch his Jeep burn on the side of the road after the fire extinguisher broke. The plastic broke when he tried to use it.