What's in you winter car kit?

GolfBravo

Ultrasonic

^^^^
What is the top picture of?

scotsbob

Ultrasonic wrote: »

^^^^
What is the top picture of?

It prevents the doors and windows sticking.

In freezing conditions moisture freezes and causes doors and windows to stick.

Strider590

scotsbob wrote: »

It prevents the doors and windows sticking.

In freezing conditions moisture freezes and causes doors and windows to stick.

I know of people who used winter sticking door seals as an excuse for buying a new car.

DigForVictory

Whenever a works pool car got written off, we kept the 'mats' (heavy rubber). These, under the 'carpet' mats are not noticed, but always there in case of need.

Norman_Castle

After trying to get frozen grit out of a grit bin with a CD case and plastic bags as gloves:( I carry a trowel. Nearly as good as a shovel but smaller, cheaper and lighter.

vikingaero

I would advise people to get a headtorch. Even a cheap one will do. You will get 24 hours of light minimum from one. If you need to change a tyre it's easier, if you are stuck it's easier and if you have to walk you can light your way and keep your hands in your pockets.

forgotmyname

A wax based furniture polish is probably cheaper. I spray all my rubber seals at the start of the winter and never get problem with them sticking.

Nilrem

Our normal emergency car kit contains:

Headlamp - as in torch you wear on your head:p (in glove compartment with batteries in a plastic holder next to it*)
Car powered magnetic lamp (in glove compartment)
Combination torch, emergency hammer & pressure tester (in the arm rest by the hand brake).
A few microfibre clothes and a bottle of Windex.
A Maglight solitair on my car keys, and often a maglite AA LED torch.

In the boot.
Pair of high vis jackets.
Extension bar for the nut thingy
Reflective triangle.
Mini compressor with lights (flashing and white solid).
Several pairs of gardening/builders gloves.
Various other handy bits, including things like latex gloves and food bags.
First aid kit.

In the winter we add:
Folding car shovel.
Blanket(s).
Thinsulate gloves and hats.
This year probably an old set of rubber car mats (got them sitting in the garage ready).
A couple of ice scrapers - one a long one with a scraper at one end and brush at the other, the other is a smaller heated one.
Spray can of de-icer and a squirty bottle of de-icer (same sort of bottle you get kitchen/window cleaners in), as the squirty bottle can work when the spray can is too cold (and you can tell how much is in the bottle).

We also have in the shed several bags of grit with scoops & jugs to help put it down, and a snow shovel.

I think it surprised my neighbours when we had the really bad snow a few years back when we were able to produce not just a couple of normal builders shovels and stiff brushes, but also an unused snow shovel (it had been sat in the shed for ages).

The headlamp was bought from one of the 99p stores, I ended up picking up about half a dozen of them as they're incredibly handy around the house and in tool boxes - With the car I can see them being extremely helpful if I have to change the tyre in the dark (I know they're a godsend in the plumbing and electrical toolboxes -as I've lost track of the number of times I've ended trying to aim a torch held in my teeth whilst in some cramped dark space).


*No point leaving batteries in a torch that might not be used until it's an emergency, as you risk the batteries leaking all over the place (the pressure test/hammer/torch and the torch on my keyring will suffice to provide light if needed to put the batteries in).

Nilrem

vikingaero wrote: »

I would advise people to get a headtorch. Even a cheap one will do. You will get 24 hours of light minimum from one. If you need to change a tyre it's easier, if you are stuck it's easier and if you have to walk you can light your way and keep your hands in your pockets.

99p stores for anyone who wants one cheap

Our local one had some fairly bulky ones that took 3x AA's and some smaller ones that took AAA's and were basically the same model often sold in garages etc for a fiver or more.

Whatever torch you keep in the car it's always worth keeping spare batteries for it (and if not an LED torch, then a spare bulb as well), or some long expiration date ones (IE duracell's bought around Christmas time in a two for one offer) in a box (preferably plastic*), separate from the torch, as if you leave them in you risk them leaking if left for months at a time.

There is no point having torches without working batteries/bulb - a bug bear of mine whenever I'm doing something for someone and need a torch, only to find that yes they've got one, but it's been raided batteries (one of the reasons I keep a small one on my keys now - it's not much light, but enough to find the tripped breaker on a fuse box).

I suspect some of my relatives think I'm a little odd, I've got torches with batteries in various places over the house (kitchen cupboard, airing cupboard, fuse cupboard, and the shelf by my bed) and in every toolbox etc.
On the flip side whilst various neighbours were struggling to find the matches and candles during the last power cut we had, I was able to lay hands on a torch within about 15-30 seconds, then get out the LED flood lights (used for taking pictures, and when I'm doing DIY in dark places), and set it up so we had reasonable lighting in the living room, and basic lighting in the kitchen and bathroom.

*You can get battery holders for AA/AAA batteries cheap.