Car Prep

[WhiskyForChristmas]

I'm procrastinating what I'm actually supposed to do by getting the car prepped.

Thus far, I either got or ordered:

• Road atlas UK
• Shewee, TravelJohn, PuppyPads, Tissues and Bags
• anti-bac gel
• Blankets
• Water, snacks
• Dog food + bowls
• Torch
• Small bottle of cooler liquid (decanted from the big one)
• 5L screenwash
• Pack of cards
• Phone holder + charger (we use the SatNav for long journeys, phone for shorter ones)
• first aid kit, yellow vests, "warning triangle thing"
• first aid kind medication (travel sickness, digestion, pain killers, 2 doses of prescription meds,...)
• tampons - I use re-usables normally but tend to store tampons in different places just in case
• lip balm
• tools + jack for tire replacement
• kitchen roll, cloth, etc. for unexpected cleaning of windows
• list of people and their phone numbers + roadside assistance number we could call in case of breaking down but phone batteries being dead (assuming someone kindly pulls over or we find a phone)

What I'm still contemplating:

• Europe Road Atlas
• Solar charger, as we are useless with power banks
• Solar torch
• Dog jumpers
• The jump starter lives in the house (used regularly at the moment) but wondering if jump leads for an unexpected battery death might be useful

I think I read somewhere - here or elsewhere - of someone taking a
thermos bottle with hot water on long trips in winter, to make cup soups if needed. Think for long trips, that is a great idea so might look into that.

De-icer for windows and locks lives in our pockets/bags/in the house, so wouldn't necessarily count that. Dog cooling mats go on every trip during summer, so wouldn't prep those.

No kids, so one worry less for us.

What is everyone else doing? :)

[WhiskyForChristmas]

Forgot: Also thinking about a small fire extinguisher.

[Legoandloldolls]

What situation are you prepping for? Our cars are only prepped for unexpected snow. So six foil blankets. We have a litre of bottled water, phone chargers and normal brake down bits. If it's a long journey we have change of clothes for the youngest two kids. I cant think of any other situation we would need more for.

Long journeys during covid the AA wouldnt take us home because of the pandemic but we cant go on long journeys right now, and In normal times long journeys means we are normally packed stay over.

[BlackeyedSusan]

bag of cheap salt or cat litter to give traction in snow/ice.

[BlackeyedSusan]

I need to sort mine out.

I usually have the bag of blankets and ski gloves, hats, scarves and waterproofs.

snacks, drinks, toys.

salt and a spade.

really really need to get organised and clean out the junk.

[Diversion]

You can buy magnetic warning beacons which you can fix to the car, they flash in various patterns in an orange light. These would be in addition to hazard warning lights in case of breakdown especially in the dark or very bad weather

[EzzieLove]

Need to sort out mine too and my family members. Might get some of those hand warmers that are activated by exposure to air. I had a breakdown a few years ago a couple of days before Xmas. It was freezing and we only had jumpers on because just popping out quickly. Did not take coats, hats etc... the car problem meant we lost heating and had to wait for RAC. We wrapped ourselves up in a yoga mat and put Santa hats on to keep warm.

[WhiskyForChristmas]

What situation are you prepping for?
Traffic jams and breakdown in different weather conditions mostly. Pre-covid, we used to go on longer trips, including Europe, fairly regularly, which we intend to start again when restrictions are lifted.

Salt sounds like a good idea - living in the city centre now, I always forget that!

[CMOTDibbler]

I have in a black plastic box:
first aid kit, inc trauma dressing and cpr mask, foil blankets
glow sticks
hi vis
head torches
Usual warning triangle/ scraper/deicer etc
Massive power bank jump starter kit (brilliant as it has enough charge to do 3 starts, or keep phone charged for eternity)
tow rope
Chemical hand warmers
Waterproof ponchos
She wee
hat/gloves/thick socks/over trousers for me and hat/gloves/socks for ds
Umbrella
water
metal cup and sporks
3 self heating meals
tin of hard boiled sweets
trainers for me
chargers

thick coats for ds and me (the ones downgraded from normal wear) live in the car
Books
Duvet that is under the waterproof picnic blanket the dogs sit on (so its not clean, but is great in an emergency

If I'm knowingly travelling in dodgy weather forecasts I'll also have:
boots
big coat
sleeping bag
Big thermos of boiling water
Cup a soup packets/ hot chocolate
Snacks
charged kindle


Last year my alternator went and I was stuck on top of a hill in pouring rain in my posh work clothes for a few hours until the RAC came. I was very grateful to be able to pull on a waterproof, trousers, sensible shoes and socks and be comfortable waiting with a charged phone and warm hands. I've also been stuck for hours when it snowed one night, and there were jackknifed lorries blocking the road, and sitting peacefully being warm, fed and entertained without stressing was great.
I added the She Wee after the being stuck last year as I was desperate for a wee, and there was nowhere to hide so realised the need for one!

[MarshmallowManiac]

Great list Whisky you forgot chocolate needed for sustenance

[EzzieLove]

I keep a travel John in the car for emergency wee’s. very useful. Also use them when camping.

[BlackeyedSusan]

gosh, a car, what is that?

we have been isolating so long I have forgotten what a car is... there is a great hunk of metal stuck in my garage. I was going to sort the boot out and restock it but currently am stuck in the flat. I could go out but the children can't and that results in at least one of them being a little fractious. (understatement of the year) so I would rather not go out and come back to find I am minus a door and up a pile of hardboard.

[MarshmallowManiac]

Me too I've been shielding so long so forgotten what it looks like. Know every inch of the four walls, looking forward to going back next week.

[BlackeyedSusan]

Just been out to post covid tests (council want you to test because school is closed) and started the car while I was out as it has been sitting unused in the garage for the best part of two weeks.it was a bit grumbly.

[MarshmallowManiac]

Oh right, dreading what mine is going to sound like