What Tools Should You Keep in Your Car?
4 Answers
Essential items for driving should include: a nylon rope no shorter than five meters, used for towing or securing items; repair tools for changing tires or performing vehicle maintenance; an emergency light and reflective triangle stand to alert vehicles behind when making an emergency stop; and a fire extinguisher for putting out sudden vehicle fires. The purpose of essential items: Most essential items are not used regularly, so they should be neatly organized in the vehicle's trunk to ensure they can be effectively utilized when needed. Regular adjustments: In addition, during daily driving, essential items should also be adjusted according to seasonal changes. For example, in summer, it is necessary to equip the car with an umbrella and rain boots to facilitate driving and picking up others in rainy weather.
After driving for so many years, the tools I always keep in my car have been lifesavers. A jack and a tire-changing tool kit are must-haves—don’t count on roadside assistance to arrive immediately if you have a flat. Get a foldable warning triangle that’s easy to deploy and doesn’t take up much space. A first-aid kit must include a tourniquet and burn ointment—last time I witnessed a rear-end collision, these came in handy while waiting for the ambulance. Don’t skimp on a tire pressure gauge; tire pressure fluctuates a lot in winter, so check it at least twice a month. I also recommend keeping a bottle of antifreeze and a small toolkit handy—once, when my radiator hose cracked, I temporarily wrapped it with tape to make it to the repair shop. Remember to check your tools every quarter; if the pressure gauge on your fire extinguisher hits the red zone, it’s time for a replacement.
Novice drivers often overlook emergency tools, and I've learned this the hard way. Get a digital tire pressure gauge—mechanical ones are prone to misjudgment. Keep a multi-functional safety hammer in the door storage compartment, preferably one with a seatbelt cutter for quick release. Choose a tow rope with a 5-ton capacity, sufficient even for small cars. Always carry two bottles of distilled water—they can be used as windshield washer fluid or as an emergency coolant for the radiator. Store a set of fuses and bulbs in the glove box; driving with broken lights at night is hazardous. A magnetic phone mount offers better stability, preventing distractions during navigation. Opt for a power bank with an emergency jump-start function—it once saved me when my battery died.
Long-Distance Driving Essentials Checklist I've categorized them into three types: Safety items like fire extinguishers and reflective vests go under the passenger seat; Emergency supplies such as jumper cables, air pumps, and tire repair kits should be stored in a fixed box in the trunk; Comfort items include neck pillows and thermos bottles. Don't forget to bring a roll of wide duct tape – it proved useful last time when temporarily sealing a leaking fuel line. Carry a spare set of wiper blades as sudden poor visibility during heavy rain can be deadly. Wrap a set of combination wrenches with old towels to prevent rattling and double as cleaning cloths. Remember to keep the vehicle manual in the glove compartment – the fuse location diagram could be lifesaving in critical moments.
