Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Disasters usually occur with little or no warning. Though the focus of this site is on “bugging in,” it’s still wise to have a vehicle survival kit or a bug out bag in case you’re stranded on the way home or forced to evacuate the area.
I recommend purchasing a sturdy backpack
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It on Pinterest!
Fire, Heat and Light
1. Emergency Candles
2. Fire Sticks
3. Hand Crank Flashlight
4. Light Sticks – These are really cheap in the months after Halloween.
5. Spark-Lite Fire Starter
Shelter/Clothing
6. Blankets – Heatsheets
7. Change of clothes in case you get wet or dirty.
8. Coats – When it’s only a little cold outside, you can use these instead of the heater and save fuel.
9. Gloves for working on car, building shelter, cold weather, etc.
10. Ponchos
11. Sleeping Bags
12. Socks – Much more important than you might think.
13. Spare Shoes in case yours get wet or damaged.
14. Tube Tent – Only eight bucks.
Want to prep but not sure where to begin?
Click Here to Get Your FREE One Year Urban Survival Plan!
15. Umbrellas in case it’s raining.
Miscellaneous
16. Batteries – For flashlights or cell phones or any other devices you might have.
17. Compass – Military Style Lensatic Marching Compass With Pouch
18. Emergency Food Bars
19. Emergency Whistle – The 5 in 1 Survival Whistle
20. First Aid Kit – There are a lot of first aid kits
21. Folding Shovel
22. Food – Anything with a very long shelf life (canned food, MRE’s, etc.). You’ll still need to rotate it.
23. Maps – Check your local department store. Get an atlas of your country and a map of the local area.
24. Metal Cup – Emergency Zone makes a great Stainless Steel Sierra Cup
25. Mini Rescue Mirror
26. Multi-Tool
27. Tissues/Napkins – For cleaning spills or use as fire tinder.
28. Toilet Paper – Pretty self-explanatory.
29. Water – A gallon a day per person for 3 days.
30. Water Purification Tablets
31. Wire Saw – The Commando Wire Saw
Vehicle Equipment
(How much of this you decide to get might depend on the condition of your vehicle.)
32. Antifreeze/Coolant
33. Brake Fluid
34. Extra Belts
35. Fix-A-Flat
36. Flares
Want to prep but not sure where to begin?
Click Here to Get Your FREE One Year Urban Survival Plan!
37. Fuses
38. Hoses
39. Ice Scraper
40. Jack
41. Jumper Cables
42. Lug Wrench
43. Magic Tank (in case you run out of gas)
44. Oil
45. Ratchet Set
46. Replacement Bulbs
47. Screwdrivers
48. Spare Tire
49. Transmission Fluid
50. Windshield Washer Fluid
One note of warning: Don’t let your gas tank get below half full. If the disaster is major enough or there are mass evacuations, gas stations will probably be closed, so you want to always have enough gas to last you for a while.
Also, make sure to change your oil every 3 months or 3000 miles (although as one commenter pointed out, you should check your owner’s manual to see if your car is different).
Like this post? Don’t forget to Pin It on Pinterest!
Poncho, umbrella, tube tent can all be handled by a single item, poncho. It can also serve as a light jacket. While back-up is good, having multi-use items is the best approach. As previous poster said, baby wipes. They take the place of hand towels, toilet paper and tissue paper.
I would add a Sillcock Key to this list and to any B.O.B., and any other preps.
See: homedepot.com/p/Armour-Line-1-4-in-9-32-in-5-16-in-and-11-32-in-4-Way-Sillcock-Key-RP77231/306656716
(No Commercial or affiliate relationship… just a valuable tip.)
These will get you into grounds keeper’s water boxes on most commercial buildings and could save your life! Even with power out there will still be lots of water in the pipes.
Good advice. A Sillcock key is a must in any bug=out bag.
As per earlier e-mail think Macgyver. In the episode cease fire he stated “the stuff is already here. I just find a different ways to use it.” In whats left or available how can one thing be used for a bunch of other things. Its using you mind first then you swift army knife.
I can justify all the car related stuff . But how much space will the other stuff take up?
Elbert
Toilet Paper? Pooey. Use Baby Wipes instead. They clean you better. Getting wet isn’t an issue (Toilet Paper wet is worthless, evan after it’s dry it’s next to worthless). If they dry out, add a little water and they’re good to go. Buy the diaper bag size packets, they take up very little room. I buy the diaper bag packets for a buck to keep in the car and in the BOB’s. I stockpile the larger size for TBYNCB crate.
Duct tape! One of the single most important items for a survival kit.
Get yoself am ak47, then ul hava way to procure all the above items
Deepflip6,
Hopefully this is humor. If it’s serious , you have given everyone else permission to treat you with the same attitude . Yes, keeping a firearm will be mandatory for survival, stealing from others because you haven’t planned ahead will most likely make you a candidate for removal from the gene pool. Plan , prepare , learn all you can. Remember when the defication impacts the cooling system, we will most likely return to mob rule , which means thieves will be executed. Just say’n brother.
Two of the multi-tool/plier tools. Strap down kit to use as super rope. tarps=bathroom/tent. Rug needles and dental floss. Rubber bands, index cards, pencils, Sharpies. Stainless steel tie wire. Walking cane = emergency bow
Portable jump starter / battery booster.. Jumper cables are great , but not much good if there’s no one else around to help.. Try to get one of these with an air compressor, light, and USB ports.. Then you’ll be able to air up a tire, charge a cell phone, and jumpstart your car.. I would also add a tire patch kit, hand winch/ come along, some straps and chain to get yourself unstuck if there’s no one around , snow chains( these work great in mud too!!) and some other traction aids. Take a look at a hardcore off-roaders rig, and you’ll see they are prepared for just about anything..
If you drive a smartcar, you can forget it! Nine gallons of water, an emergency food supply, blankets, clothing, a tent…this list is quite a trunkful…first on the list ought to be a large pickup truck with strong cover!
Of course, a LARGE car is needed for this trunkful of stuff. 9 gallons of water…mercy on us. Not for SmartCar drivers, fer sure! (wierd spelling used for effect)
Not a single knife? In my vehicle I always carry at least 3 types of knives: a small pocket knife (center console), a medium K-bar (driver’s side door) and a large machete (under the driver’s seat).Never leave home without a reliable cutting tool!
Dry gas.. used up north.. it mixes with any water in your tank and will keep your gas lines from freezing
Definitely need to have a LifeStraw just in case you’re not able to carry as much water as you should.
A seat belt cuter an class braker
Ah, yes! 111% American patriot! You know how the rest of the world can tell? By your utterly ridiculous, imbecilic grammar and spelling. Untrained chimps in labs have been able to actually spell “glass”, “cutter”, and “breaker”. Seriously, when TSHTF, uneducated, moronic trailer-dwellers like you will be the first to go, mainly because your kind of stupid shouldn’t breed.
Mike-
Mike is a troll
Mike leaves no useful post
Mike makes no valuable contribution
but mike is a spelling/grammar nazi?
Mike should be banned
Knife and gun are also nice to be able to access.
Ladies MUST have a standing urination device, like a http://www.go-girl.com/ or http://whizzy4you.com/ … or even a “travel john” would be helpful for guys, like http://www.amazon.com/TravelJohn-Jr-Disposable-Urinal-Bags-pack/dp/B000NVBYEM
I have two of them, one with camping gear and one with bug out bag. smart idea who ever came up with that
I have one in every vehicle and my BOB.
NEVER carry extra gasoline! It’s an extreme explosion hazard, plus it deteriorates the longer you keep it.
#2 – Don’t automatically change your oil every 3,000 miles. Check your owner’s manual; you might be surprised at what the manufacturer recommends.
Cash. If the power goes out you won’t be able to use your credit/debit card to purchase gas or other necessities.
If the power goes out the gas pumps won’t work.
The computer system may be down but electricity may still be on. In the Northridge, CA earthquake, the computer processing center in Los Angeles was down and a wide swath of area surrounding LA couldn’t do any electronic processing. But the electricity was still on in areas not impacted by the earthquake. If you happened to be traveling in those areas, the gas stations were taking cash only. No credit cards. If you needed cash because the ATMs weren’t working also, you were flat out of luck unless you could find somebody who would front you some money. Those folks dried up quickly.
If you need a room and the desk clerk says he is filled up, a cash offer may find that, indeed, there is one room still open. Same deal with credit card processors. If they aren’t working, the desk clerk may indeed have rooms but for cash only. Don’t think $100 is going buy your much of anything. I would suggest $500 is a bare minimum when traveling. Also make sure it isn’t all hundreds. Include fives and ones in the $500 so you don’t get stuck with “It’s $143.00 but we don’t have any change.”
A partial roll of toilet paper squished flat, removing as much air as possible, in a sealing sandwich bag.