With the improvement of people’s living standards, more and more people drive outdoors to play. But unlike daily commute driving, driving outdoors requires much more preparation. The following is summarized by an American outdoor equipment expert. The author translated the original text and then compiled it based on the domestic situation. I hope it can help everyone.
1. Car maintenance
Since you are preparing to drive, the most basic and important thing is to ensure that the car is in good condition. Then, daily car maintenance is the top priority. In addition to regularly changing car operating fluids (including coolant, antifreeze and other oils), you should also bring a spare before traveling.
The following list is a list of items that must be checked, which is even more important in the cold winter. For example, whether the antifreeze oil level and mixture type are appropriate; whether antifreeze glass fluid is used; whether the wipers run smoothly on the windshield and whether the fuel tank is full... and so on.
As a side note, you need to make sure you clean your cooling system regularly (every few years), otherwise you'll end up in trouble.
Antifreeze & radiator status
Wiper working status (to ensure smooth flow and no freezing)
Heater & defrost device
Brake amp; brake fluid level
Emergency light
Tire pressure amp; tire tread
Fuel level
Oil level
The battery has sufficient power; whether the terminal is clean
2. Prepare high-quality jumper cables
In the original article, the author first despised our Chinese jumper cables, which may have something to do with the fact that domestic products are exported in a price war.
However, "cheap goods are not good" does make sense. The jumper cable recommended in the article should be made of No. 4 copper wire, multi-stage and double-stranded, and the spring clip should also be made of copper and should be welded to the cable. Of course, some jumper wire spring clamps are copper-clad rather than welded (relatively cheap), so it’s not a bad idea to use such spring clamps. However, if you are not short of money, it is still recommended that you buy welding.
As for the length of the jumper cables, you may think that 12 feet (about 3.66 meters) is enough, but I would say longer is better. 16 feet (about 4.88 meters) can meet most situations, especially in some special situations, such as when the two cars cannot be "face to face", your jumper wire must be long enough to span the entire body. If you drive a truck, get a 20-foot one.
3. Necessary flashlight
The flashlight you bring must be at least EDC level, but you can’t go wrong with having a spare in the car.
There are all kinds of flashlights on the market, but in terms of bright light, there are only two types. One is similar to Shenhuo G2, which uses high-brightness halogen bulbs (derivatives of incandescent lamps), and the other It uses LED bulbs like the PrincetonTec Remix Pro.
LED lights last longer than halogen lights, and they can last for a while even if the power is exhausted. LEDs also have the upper hand in terms of service life, as if they will always break.
In terms of brightness, halogen bulbs are of course much brighter than LEDs (it also depends on the specifications you buy), but when the battery is the same, the battery life of halogen lamps is worse. . In addition, when using a halogen bulb flashlight, you must be careful not to damage the bulb.
No matter which one you choose, as long as it can meet your work-such as providing light when changing tires at night or inspecting vehicles, it will be enough. Also, don’t forget to bring spare batteries.
Four. Learn to change tires
The jack and lug wrench are two essential tools for tire change. Fortunately, they are basically included when buying a car. But if you don’t have one, you’ll have to get one quickly and put it in your car. Everyone knows the uses of these two tools, so I won’t go into details here.
Make sure your jack accessories are complete and your work clothes are in good condition.
The lifting rod of most jacks is independent, so don't forget to take it.
5. Bring a full-size spare tire
A flat tire is one of the common car failures. If this happens, whether you have a spare tire or not will largely determine whether you can reach your destination (of course, If you have a spare tire, you must be able to change it, as I just said above). Don't rely too much on Fix-A-Flat (an emergency tire repair tool), because it is really unreliable.
Check your spare tire regularly to see if there is any abnormal expansion or rubber cracking. In addition, if your spare tire has never been used, it should be replaced in about five years, because the lifespan of most tires is five years.
I always carry a full-size spare tire, and to get the most out of it, I rotate all five tires every time I change the oil.
Not all cars can carry a full-size spare tire, but again: if conditions permit, try to bring one.
6. Basic repair tools are essential
It’s great to have a small tool box in your car emergency kit. Even if you don't bring a toolbox, at least you need some small tools to do some work, such as replacing the battery.
A set of small wrenches, a set of socket wrenches, and a few pliers will do the trick for most jobs, but if you add a few screwdrivers, a few rolls of electrical and pipe tape, a tire pressure gauge, and a few A spare fuse would be perfect.
You never know what tools you may be able to use. The tools required for the vehicle are probably just a few models, provided that you have some professional knowledge. If you're not familiar with it, bring the full set. Also, I highly recommend bringing a shovel, either a full-size one or a foldable one. You might think it's useless, but you won't think so if you're stuck.
Seven. Don’t forget to bring a car fire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is not found in most car emergency equipment. However, in the event of a fire, the difference between having a fire extinguisher and not is the difference between burning some parts and burning the entire vehicle.
Of course, proper car maintenance can prevent spontaneous combustion, but who knows if there are other situations. Never worry about money again when buying a fire extinguisher.
Vehicle-mounted fire extinguishers are usually divided into two types (ABC level and BC level) to deal with different levels of fires. Below is a brief introduction to the levels corresponding to different fire conditions. Everyone must remember that if you use the wrong fire extinguisher, the situation may become worse!
Class A: Ordinary combustibles - wood, paper, cloth, garbage, plastics and solid non-metals.
Class B: Still with flammable liquids - gasoline, engine oil, lubricating grease, acetone and various flammable liquids.
Class C: Live electrical equipment and battery-powered equipment
Class D: Combustible metals - potassium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum (these require special fire-extinguishing equipment)
Remember, dry powder fire extinguishers must be turned upside down several times regularly to loosen the chemical powder at the bottom. If the powder clumps, it is likely to "stop" at a critical moment.
8. Emergency warning devices are very important
Emergency warning devices have two functions. First, when you are parked on the roadside for some reason, it can alert passing vehicles; secondly, it can also be used as an emergency call for help when necessary. Signal.
Road Flares (literally translated as "road flares"...) are great because in addition to the two uses mentioned above, they can also be used to start fires. While it's nice to have an extra fire starter, make sure they're electronically monitored to ensure they don't start a fire when you don't want it to.
I usually carry six 30-minute grade Road Flares and deploy them with an integrated leadframe when needed. Although the lead frame is a bit thin, it is effective.
Other warning signs include brightly colored flags (such as MPIL) and reflective folding warning triangles. Warning flags can be tied to any open place, and reflective warning triangles can act like "road flares" when marking.
In addition, Chemlights (a kind of glow stick) are also effective, but they can only be detected by the vehicle driving close enough.
Nine. Have extra food and water ready
Staying well hydrated is extremely important in cold climates.
When it is a fact that both you and your car are stranded, food is very important, and water even more important.
MREs (Meals Ready to Eat, ready-to-eat meals) are easy to carry, but they are very affected by temperature and need to be replaced regularly, especially in summer. These are all things to pay attention to.
If you have determined that you are trapped, the best way is to stay in the car and save food and water as much as possible until someone finds you with rations.
10. Bring blankets and extra clothing
Blankets are a true "multi-purpose item" that not only helps keep you warm in the winter, but can also be used to assist people in shock. No matter how tight your space is, you still need to bring at least two blankets.
If you have enough space, adding a sleeping bag would be a good idea.
As for clothes, it definitely doesn’t hurt to bring some full-size clothes. Whether it's thermal underwear, jackets, or even gloves, bring full-size ones. This way you won't feel too cold even if you need to change a tire in icy and snowy conditions.
Eleven. First aid gadgets at your fingertips
The main purpose of first aid gadgets is to help you escape from a car, especially when the car falls into water. At that point, it's almost impossible to open a car door or roll down a window to escape. Therefore, gadgets must include safety cutters and window breakers and be within easy reach of the driver and passengers.
Twelve. A good knife is essential
A good knife should become a part of your EDC like a flashlight. It is a good idea to keep a spare knife in the car. In addition to knives, a multi-purpose tool is also useful and can replace some of the tools we mentioned earlier.
Thirteen. Never ignore the first aid kit
This list may not be complete, but with the most basic tools and common medications, it will still be useful. "Everything is never complete", which is why in addition to ETA and EDC first aid kits, we also prepare Boo-Boo Kits...
An overly complete first aid kit may not be suitable for everyone, but it is guaranteed At least being able to bandage wounds and stop bleeding is the most basic requirement. I don’t want to make this sound like a medical sales pitch, but honestly, we offer the best first aid equipment.
No matter what you decide to bring, you must have supplies to stop bleeding from trauma and deal with scrapes and bruises. In addition, medicines and equipment to prevent infection should also be on the list.
Supplement:
In today’s fast-paced era, few people still carry cash with them. But I still recommend putting some change, coins, etc. in the car. One last thing, although windshield scrapers are cheap, they are definitely useful in critical moments.
You should always be prepared for a crisis because you never know what will happen. These important equipment and good vehicle condition will further support you in reaching the finish line.