Whether you are out in the neighborhood to pick up some groceries or going on an out-of-town trip, you must be prepared. For one thing, the road can be unpredictable most of the time. You will never know what can happen while driving your vehicle elsewhere.
That is why all vehicle owners should have a toolbox in case of road emergencies. Large vehicles such as commercial trucks often have an underbody toolbox as part of their logistic requirements.
The same should also be a must for individuals who own a car that they drive to the office or other places. After all, the last thing that any driver needs is a vehicle breaking down in the middle of nowhere and figuring out how to fix it without tools in tow.
What you should include in your vehicle toolbox
You don’t have to bring an actual mechanic every time you drive down the road. Instead, you only need a repair toolbox that you can use when your vehicle breaks down along the way. You don’t need professional mechanic skills, but basic troubleshooting skills won’t hurt.
First of all, you need two types of tools in your vehicle: ones that you will use during emergencies and ones that you will use for basic vehicle repair. Both types should come in handy and prevent accidents that endanger your life. Moreover, you will need these tools to fix car parts that require immediate repair before bringing them to professional auto repair shops.
1. Emergency kits
The following items that should be in your emergency kit:
- Fire extinguisher – in case your car catches fire due to an engine malfunction
- First aid kit – pack it with nonlatex gloves, lots of bandages, ointment, antibiotics, and more
- Road reflector/flare/flashing light – this will tell passing vehicles that your vehicle just broke down and that you need help
2. Repair kit
You don’t have to put a lot of tools in your car; the basics can suffice. You should have the following things:
- Work gloves – you should have a pair especially when doing repairs
- Flashlight – to see better, especially when your car breaks down at night
- Wrench and screwdriver – for repairing tires, the engine, and more
- Ice scraper and snow brush – helps in clearing excess snow so that you can restore your car easily
- LifeHammer – keep it near your seat and use it to smash the window when you are trapped inside the vehicle
- Duct tape – for temporary fixes like a damaged fender
- Tow strap – you will need this when your car needs to be towed or when you want to bring a stalled car to safety
In the end, these are only some of the car tools that every vehicle owner should have. You should remember that being prepared is a must because you never know what can happen on the road. If you don’t stay alert, you might put yourself in danger. Accidents can be very costly, so you should do your best to prevent them.
