Winter is on its way - car boot box?

[BiddyPop]

I should know what to put into this. I have a sheet of paper somewhere with a list. I am somewhat organized normally. But I am currently brain dead and zombiefied - so I need some help please.

We have 2 cars.

The estate car has snow socks, reasonable toolkit etc, swiss army knife, bag of change for parking machines, reusable shopping bags, bag of outdoor clothing (flash jacket, heavy boots, heavy gloves) and normally also has the "food bag" for travelling (cans of fizzy drinks, bottled water, crisps, cereal bars, chocolate, dried fruit - we refill regularly enough for long weekend trips and outings).

We also have a small car which is the daily runabout. We only got that earlier this year and I just haven't had the mindset to do the "emergency kit" for it. It has a bag of change for parking machines, a nail file (wooden not metal) and packet of tissues. And reusable shopping bags.

I bought a small Stanley toolbox recently to hold emergency stuff - and a pair of work gloves. I need to add a torch to that. Then I am drawing a blank.

What should be in a car as emergency kit?
What things should I be thinking of to winterize it?

I normally keep some food and drink in the car as I collect a very ratty DD from school at 6pm and she needs sugar and liquid quite often. A square of chocolate and water do the trick.

And in winter, especially in poor weather, I keep an emergency rain coat, some winter gloves and hats, and spare dry socks in the boot normally. Although that is fine for the estate and was in a Golf (previous small car) but there is limited boot space in the Mini for similar so it will not be a full set per person.

But for the mini in particular, but also ensuring the estate is ready for winter - what am I missing?


And on a slightly related but separate note - how do we all feel about the coming winter? Are there signs it will be a particularly hard one or the milder version of the past few years?

[Swishtails]

Watching with interest.

[cozietoesie]

You might find this old Preppers thread interesting, OP.

[Hikez]

What part of the country do you live in BiddyPop?

[BiddyPop]

Thanks Cozie, that is very useful.

Hikez, I am on the coast on the outskirts of Dublin- so not dreadful but we have had very bad snow and buses stop because of very steep hills, flooding from seriously heavy rain, that sort of weather in winters in recent years.

I am out at work all day in business attire, have to collect DD from school en route home, manic life so need things to keep running like clockwork whatever happens.

So I don't need 4x4 or 3 days of supplies, but be able to deal with regular problems and winter ones. And just having a brain dead time so my systems are just not right yet again . I'm

[Everydayaschoolday]

First Aid Kit. Torch. Hand warmers (reusable ones with the clicky button in). Blanket. Wellies. Full set of warm clothing for kids (they're young, accidents happen). Wet wipes. USB phone charger for car. Off to look at Cozietoesie's link.

[MidnightMargaritas]

I wish my dad would take having a car box in the boot seriously.

[cozietoesie]

People often don't take problems seriously until they've been through similar and had difficulties - or near difficulties. It's the way of things, I fear. You can also find, in my own experience, that older people sometimes don't really recognise that they're not hale and hearty 20 year olds anymore or that things around them might have changed more than they realise.

Has he ever had a problem while driving?

[MidnightMargaritas]

Hes nroken down a few times but seems to think nothing serious would ever happen. He's 66!

[cozietoesie]

Any way you could give him a 'starter box' as - say - a Xmas present? He might feel he needs to use it in that case.

[PileOfPasta]

I've known people be stuck in their cars over night when motorway was snowed in some years ago. So that's the scenario I have stuff for in the car. 3 young DC's, so blankets, change f clothes hats gloves per person, drinks and food, nappies and wipes, torch and wind up radio. It fits in the foot wells below their seats.

[cozietoesie]

Don't forget the ear plugs for yourself!

[user1471451684]

In both our cars we have at all times:

Spare fuses, bulbs, tape, WD40 cable ties and basic tools for roadside repair.

Water, blanket, gloves, heater packs.

Winch/ tow rope

Knife or axe

First aid kit

[Fanofjapan]

We don't particularly get bad weather where we live, but "just in case of anything" I've put a box in the back of our car that contains water, black plastic bags, toilet roll, matches, tea towel, couple of emergency foil capes, kitchen knife, (did have chocolate bars but ate them and need to replace) hand wipes, antibacterial liquid. First aid kit already came with the car. If we intend going on a long journey in bad weather, I will put a few extras in, such a change of clothes, blankets, flask of hot drink/soup.

[DoYouRememberJustinBobby]

We used to live in the Peak District where getting snowed in wasn't unusual, neither was getting stuck on a hill in bad weather. - - so old habits die hard. Plus we have been caught out with our family in other areas twice and by DP was stuck on a motorway overnight about 5 years ago.
Here's what we have:

We fold two ikea fleece blankets (the really cheap ones) across the back seats at all time so it's easy to clean up mess from the children or dogs. They take up barely any room this way and are always at hand. Plus a tartan picnic blanket.

Tissues
Mini foldable scissors
Baby wipes
Spare nappies
First aid kit
One of those little things for smashing car windows and cutting seat belts (on car keys)
Gloves (Poundland)
Bottled water
Cartons of juice
Flapjack
Colouring books and pencils
A 2 day supply of mine and DS's essential medication.
Hand warmers (39p Home Bargains)
Microfibre towel
Microfibre kids dressing gowns which are always in there for post swimming lessons but I figure will be useful if stuck in the cold.
Folding shovel
Wind up torch/radio combo
Axe
Umbrella (golf size)
Carrier bags
Bungee cord
Printed list of essential numbers including break down service details plus a pot of coins should my phone die.
LED fairy lights (this sounds daft but we had a pack of LED fairy lights in our car when we broke down in a flooded area last year. They out lasted both our torches, provided far better light and really calmed the kids down as they thought they were hilarious to have in a car - calming the kids down was half the battle. They are tiny and take up less room than a small box of matches. They are the kind with the tiny, flat batteries rather than the huge AA packs)


If bad weather is forecast I always add the following
Walking boots
Rain macs
Flask of soup and a packet of crackers
Charged ipad loaded with films and ear phone splitter.
Snow suit for baby
Sling for carrying baby

My handbag is always fairly comprehensively prepped.

[cozietoesie]

I like the idea of the fairy lights if you have kids in the car.

(Although I don't much envy the thought of being stranded with kids and dogs together! )

[Out2pasture]

in preparation of winter we change over to winter windshield wipers, and replace the windshield fluid with the type with antifreeze.
winter tires are required after October 1st.
we carry a snow and ice scraper
blanket
candle with 3 wicks
granola bars

[cozietoesie]

I guess that's non-UK rules there, Out2? ( About the tyre changing.)

[Out2pasture]

Yes, Canada :)

[cozietoesie]

Ah. Much of Canada has serious snow as a regular occurrence.

[jellyshoeswithdiamonds]

Hubby used to have a 3.5 hr commute for work (3 days a week).

His ditch bag....

Folding shovel,
Sleeping bag (we go camping so I had it here)
Brunch bars
Water
Spare fleece
Wellies
Gloves
Spare socks
Wooly hat

Before leaving work he would do himself a coffee in travel mug.

He's now changed jobs (south wales to london travels on fri and sun), I pack the same, he moans the sleeping bag takes too much room as he has a smaller car now, tough.

I do the trip sometimes to visit, got stuck on m4 a few weeks back 2 hours. Thinking about buying a shewee so I can go to the toilet if stuck again, was ok this time but you never know.

Also I have a fleece blanket on my back seat, dog was in boot, was ready for the night to cwtch up to dog to keep us both warm. It was the toileting that freaked me out as bladder not what it was.

Dd does DofE and I bought her a jetboil, might pack that in my own ditch bag so I can have something warming to drink.

[cozietoesie]

There was once an American band called Three Dog Night. I believe it refers to the number of sled dogs you had to bring into the tent to sleep on a really cold night. (Although it's usually quoted as a Four Dog Night or even a Five Dog Night.)

I'm not sure a One Dog Night really qualifies - but it sure sounds comfy!

[Adarajames]

Jellyshoes - shewee is bloody difficult to use without getting wet legs!

I'm a volunteer search and rescue bod, so generally have uniform, waterproofs, extra layers, boots, hats, gloves, hand warners, first aid and rests kits and such in car; also have numerous torches, small camping cooker, kettle, water, tea/coffee/hot chocolate etc, need to replace snacks as keep eating them when get sugar cravings , oh and blankets, a duvet in boot on the dogs bed, and have no problems weeing behind a bush or whatever, so feel pretty prepared hopefully!

[user1471451684]

For Canadians how do you keep liquid water in the car we live in NH water in the car is permanently frozen 3 months of the year!