Since the beginning of America’s love affair with the automobile, we have treated our vehicles as an extension of our homes and personalities. And unless you are a complete neat freak, your vehicle has stashed in it the things you use frequently while you are on the road or wherever you are with it. These items form the core of your vehicle EDC.
I split vehicle EDC into two sections, the items that I think should always be in the vehicle and season-specific gear. (Full disclosure, we are an Amazon Affiliate and may get a small commission from goods purchased via links contained below)
Table of Contents
The Constant Companions.
First Aid Kit
A good first aid kit allows you to help yourself and others stay alive. There are many decent ones on the market, especially in the “boo-boo” kit department, but try to aim for something more substantial that can address trauma. Make sure the components are quality-made and not Chinese knockoffs. If I didn’t have a bag of IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) supplies courtesy of the Army, I would buy a BearFak (or one of its variants) from Refuge Medical along with going through some of their training courses so I wouldn’t look like a dummy when the chips are down.
Basic Tool Kit
You don’t need to have enough hardware on board to rebuild the engine, but having a few basic tools as part of your vehicle EDC allows you to address minor issues yourself without having to fork over money to someone else. I have jumper cables, a flashlight, a couple of screwdrivers, a crescent wrench, 10” Channel-Loc pliers, and a Leatherman multi-tool in my truck, but it is an older vehicle. For newer vehicles like my wife’s car, a good multi-tool may be plenty sufficient.
Lock-back Knife
I grew up in an area where car-deer interactions were all too common. It was standard practice among the men in my family to keep a decent folding knife in the glove box should we be called upon to address the aftermath of such an interaction. Any quality-built knife with a 3” or longer blade will do.
Rain Gear
This should be self-explanatory. A waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella is normally sufficient.
Odds and Ends
Sometimes, it’s the little things that save the day. A phone charging cord and adapter, a roll of antacids, maybe a bottle of ibuprofen or Tylenol, or a stack of fast-food napkins. The stuff that is less glamorous than tourniquets and multi-tools, but is needed more often while on the road.
Seasonal Gear
Come wintertime, I add a few extra items behind the seat.
Cold Weather Gear
Being cold sucks, so prepare to keep warm. A pair of ski gloves, a fleece neck warmer, and a spare hat get stuffed behind the seat when the temps drop here. They join a heavy fleece blanket I keep in the truck year-round as a picnic blanket. I recommend getting a blanket that is large enough to completely cover you and thick enough to keep you warm on a cold day. Mine stops midway up my chest if I am lying down – fine if waiting for a tow truck in winter, but not fine when I tried to use it for bedding on an impromptu camping trip last spring.
Getting Unstuck
If road conditions make a stop in the ditch a possibility, it pays to have a tow strap and whatever hooks, pins, or clevises are needed to attach it to a solid anchor point on your vehicle and know how to do so. Never hook up a strap for someone else, or you may assume responsibility if damage is caused. If you get a lot of snow, a scoop-type shovel is a good companion to dig yourself out if needed. A bag of sand or crushed walnut hulls for traction, plus some non-perishable food, like an MRE, is also a good idea. I didn’t mention water because you should always have a water bottle with you anyway.
Optional
One could cram a near-endless amount of crap into their vehicle depending on their needs and situation. I have the following in my truck.
Backpack
All that extra stuff needs to go somewhere, and a vendor freebee backpack works well to hold my rain gear, blanket, an MRE, and some other gear with space to add more. It could function as a rudimentary get-home bag if needed, and it keeps the jumble behind the seat partially contained.
Hiking Boots
Tennis shoes or office footwear don’t always work well for the woods, so I keep an old pair of hiking boots (with socks) behind the seat so I can go scouting or hiking after work if I want to.
Wrap up
As Americans, we tend to live in our cars to an extent every day. As such, our vehicle EDC should make our car an extension of our home. A place of refuge and a means to help others if need be. Properly done, your vehicle EDC should make your car or truck a means of self-sufficiency for you in most situations. There is no excuse for being unprepared.
