Carmentary.com

By Christina VanGinkel

Trunk essentials go beyond the basic emergency kit that you should always carry in your vehicle but it does include it. Trunk essentials are those items that everyone should stash in the trunk of their vehicle, or behind the seat of their truck, for those times when they least expect needing one of these essential that can make travel time, short or long, easier to handle.

Emergency Medical Kit

An emergency medical kit can be purchased pre-packed, with basic emergency medical items like bandages and charts to follow on what to do in the case of various medical issues. You can also assemble one yourself, putting together a list of a typical medical kit contents. If you or someone who travels in your vehicle on a regular basis has an allergy, for example to bees, it can be a good idea to include an extra EpiPen or other prescribed medication. A blanket or two is also a good idea, whether you are traveling or live in a warm or cold climate, as a blanket has many uses other than keeping warm. If you do have a medical issue, keeping documentation not only on your person, but also in such a kit can be invaluable to others who might find themselves in the position of helping you. Do keep a photo of yourself or the individual the information pertains to though, with the documentation, to help them identify the person in need.

Emergency Auto Care Kit

Such a kit should include a jack, a flashlight that is kept up to date with fresh batteries, replacing them as needed, a small sized, heavy duty rug (This can be used to kneel on if you find yourself having to change a tire, or to stick under a tire if you become stuck on slippery terrain), and a small shovel. It should also include a map of any area you plan to travel, even an area that you feel you know well. A duplicate map to the one you are using is especially a good idea if you are going to be traveling off the beaten track and picking up a duplicate map at a gas station is just not likely to be an option. Also, add flares, booster cables, and a fire extinguisher to round out the emergency auto care kit.

Nourishment Essentials

This should be added to your trunk for any trip that is going to take your outside of the routine few miles you might drive on a regular basis, or all of the time if you live in or travel a rural route where becoming stranded might occur. It should include bottled water, and high-energy snacks that will last a few days, such as dried fruits and nuts, granolas, and other packaged foods that you would eat if needed.

You Never Know when you Might Need them Items

None of the previous kits and essentials should realistically take up all that much room, especially if you keep everything together in an easy to get at bundle or box. We have always used a plastic milk crate type container (bought at the local Wal-Mart for a dollar or two) to keep it all corralled. If you are going to be sticking this gear behind the seat of your truck, consider a roll of some sort, or several small ones, to keep down on the bulk. After assembling the above yourself, add in any other extras that you think you might have a use for, including a can of Fix a Flat or similar product, an extra quart of oil, a few rags, and a portable air pump ( for inflating tires) that runs off your car's battery through your power outlet. Also, toss in some extra fuses, a pair of rubber boots (or winter boots depending on where you live), a pair of gloves, rain gear, even a warmer winter jacket than what you might normally toss on when driving. If traveling long distances, you might also want to include a pack that has copies of any important contact information, such as your name, and a contact number of a family member or friend.

Being prepared by keeping these items together in the trunk of your vehicle, or behind the seat of your truck, is not only a good way to avoid small problems from turning into larger ones, it is just a smart thing to do in this hectic world we live in. For all the technology that exists, it is often the basics that will help you through a vehicle breakdown, especially in an out of the way area or at an inopportune time such as the middle of the night.