How I Prepare for the Unexpected, Winter (And Year Round!) Vehicle Supplies,

I was driving home after dark one winter night having just finished cleaning a home that is one of my regular jobs. The drive takes me along a road that is only 5 miles or so from a small town at one point, but due to the mountain shapes, there is no cell service for a couple mile stretch. It's a winding road with lots of hard corners. Anyway, I came around one of those cell phone service lacking corners and there was not one, but two cars who had been traveling toward me on the opposite side of the road, totally buried in the snow bank on my side of the road. Like many smaller country roads, there's not really a shoulder, so this means they are both nose down over the few foot drop off. Resting the front corner of their cars against a barbed wire fence, and nearly into a little creek that flows along that road edge. Obviously both drivers had spun out on the same slippery patch and I don't know how they had avoided hitting each other. One of these cars was a pretty new Audi with a middle aged couple inside. They were just sitting inside looking totally helpless. Doing nothing. The second stuck rig was a little larger SUV, also pretty new with a single male driver. He was outside, attempting to use the only thing he had, to try to dig himself out. That was a window ice scraper. While I applaud his efforts, he was never getting that rig out of it's position with an ice scraper. Ever. If he had waited till the snow all melted several months later in the spring, he would have still been stuck in the mud, nose down towards the creek, high centered on the road edge.

Some of the most frequent comments I have received over the years of sharing life here in my tiny house relate to how am I not terrified to live out in the woods? Or what would I do if something goes wrong since emergency services are not next door? Lets talk about the things that can routinely go wrong on the road which is one little aspect of that. Winter is probably totally over for some of you already or you never have cold temps in your area at all. But some of us still very much are in winter. I just heard a forecast that much of my neighboring state Colorado is expecting a record blizzard that will shut down much travel today and tomorrow. And of course some of you are on the other side of the globe and are just getting ready to head into winter again. And I know many southern parts of the country recently had to deal with temps far colder than normal. But honestly, most of this stuff applies to any area. And there are probably some specific considerations if you are in a super hot area, but those I don't have personal experience with, so if you do, please share your tips!

Just to be clear, I'm not a certified expert safety anything. As always, I expect everyone else is grownup and will make their own decisions. But I do live where it's winter 8+ months a year, cell service is often spotty, and you should always plan on being on your own if something goes wrong. So like always, I am just sharing my personal experience and things I have found to be useful over the years.

In my vehicle there are some things I just keep there all the time. There are a few things that I add only in the winter, but everything else permanently lives in my rig. This list sounds like a lot. Someone jokingly asked "am I driving a bus?" No, I'm not. And I've had pretty much the same gear in every vehicle I have owned. From my first Toyota Camry to my van, etc. 

Everything except for some of the winter clothing, the big shovel, and the gravel bucket are in my car year round. And you know a really cool feature? Even if something doesn't go wrong while you are actually driving, your vehicle tends to be near where you are. Whether that is at home, work, or somewhere else. So if something happens in any of those places, you will also have all these supplies at hand. And since I always keep these things in the vehicle, I never have to think twice about it, remember to pack it, or even really have it on my mind at all. It's just there when I need it. And as an added bonus when you live in a tiny house, all these things don't need stored in my house if they live in the vehicle full time! In no particular order, things I carry include:

-food 

-utensils

-water

-water filters

-wool blanket

-down sleeping bag

-space blanket

-a few pairs of gloves

-hats

-extra pants/boots/layers

-lighters and flint

-a couple knives and leatherman style tools

-headlamp and batteries

-flashlights

-backpack

-large (for the car) and small (if on foot) first aid kits

-bear spray
-brightly colored bandanas for flagging

-paper/pen/pencil

-a good book

-unbreakable big shovel

-small shovel

-5 gallon bucket of gravel

-rain coat

-maps

-sunscreen

-jumper/air compressor/inverter/battery combo unit

-phone charger for my phone and one for the other most popular model out there in case someone else has a dead one

-all the car stuff bin like extra oil, washer fluid, transmission fluid, spare fuses, head/tail light bulbs, tools, jumper cables, tow strap, tire changing supplies and large cheater bar for stubborn lug nuts

-dog crate/collar/leash/bowl since Burley travels with me

 At this point in my life, I have used almost every single item on that list at least once. Some things many many times. Sometimes for myself, sometimes for others that I encounter in trouble along the road. Because I somewhat regularly have come upon others stranded in their travels. And I'll admit, it's much more fun to take a few minutes out of my day to stop and help someone than to be the person stuck on the side of the road waiting, probably much more than a few minutes, for someone else to come along and help me. I'll try to include where I found items when I can. Some are affiliate links where I get paid a small commission at no cost to you if you buy something. But like always, I only ever discuss or share links to items I purchased, value, have used for a while, and would buy again if I needed another one. Anyway, where does it all go? 

Maps. Real physical paper maps that don't break, leave service areas, or get dead batteries. These live on the floor under the front seat. I always keep a full country wide atlas as well as Gazetteers for the state I live in and the surrounding states as well. So I have WY, ID, UT, and MT. This allows me to always be able to find my way around whether by road or foot if necessary. Even if you use a GPS system on your phone as a normal way to find you way around, I would still recommend that every vehicle have at the least, a good map of the area you most often drive in. A young woman was found dead not too far from my home last summer after she left her friends where they were camping, drove back to town for some more supplies, and then was never seen alive again. When they finally found her truck several weeks later, down another dirt road in the area, it appeared (though no one will ever know for sure) that she realized she'd taken a wrong turn, tried to get cell service, climbed uphill from where she left her vehicle, got more lost, and died where her body was found a few miles from her truck. Very sad and totally preventable. 

The big shovel (this is a twin to the one that lives by the front door that I use for shoveling all around my house), which is one of the few winter only items, spends most of it's time right here in front of the front passenger seat. I can put it in the back if I have a passenger, but this is the handiest spot for me most of the winter. I can grab it in a heartbeat as I hop in and out at various homes where I shovel snow as a job. And if there is a little snow left stuck to it, the melting water can drain into the rubber catchment on the floor rather than making everything wet. Obviously I use this tool for a lot of regular work. But I have also shoveled my rig or others out when they are stuck. And it's virtually indestructible unlike most plastic shovels that tend to crack and split apart. It's normally sold as a grain scoop and your local farm/feed store is probably the best place to find one. Otherwise it is available online here. It says it can hold 4 pounds. I don't know where that number comes from. I've been using both of mine for years to move literally many tons of snow and it can pick up anything I can pick up. It should be the last shovel you ever buy if you do get one as they are super tough!

This is exactly what it looks like. A second hand 5 gallon bucket acquired for free from a restaurant where I used to work, filled most of the way to the top with the regular crushed gravel. I have also used this multiple times when my or someone else's tires need a little extra traction on some ice. Or even to just scatter some across an area where I need to walk if it's a sheet of ice. It's easy to just grab a handful with gloves on and scatter it where needed or I can scoop it with one of the shovels. For the winter, this bucket lives just inside the back door. In the summer I take it out. If you don't have a gravel pile around to fill a bucket from and you do live in an area that gets snow, you could probably fill a bucket for free with sweepings from a road edge or sidewalk in the spring when all the graveling/sanding material accumulates as the snow melts. Or buy some sand.

The glove box holds a lot of little things. In addition to the owners manual and other vehicle related paperwork that resides there, and some personal feminine care items, there's a flash light (I have a few of these, like the adjustability of the beam, and find them durable), lighter, multi-tool, sunscreen, pencils, and chargers for both my phone and the other most popular model out there in case someone else needs a charge. So that all fits nicely, handy to access, and out of the way.

There there is a little center console storage area. These have been situated a little differently in every different vehicle I have owned, but there always seems to be some space for little things. I have everything from a nail clippers and hand lotion which are handy when I have had my hands in the dirt for a while, to paper, pens, and pencils along with a sharpener. Pens often do not write when it's very cold. Breath mints, silverware for when I need to eat on the road, paper clips, carabiners, a second flashlight, lighter, and multi tool, comb, hair ties, knife, and a couple music CD's. Some of these items are clearly just for comfort and enjoyment, not emergencies. And a lot of things would be used for both. They are mostly just spare whatevers that I have acquired over the years for free and stashed here for convenience. 

Then I have this nice little storage basket that I have had for years and it happens to fit right behind the front seat. It stores all kinds of things from audio books I am currently listening to (I almost always have a book going when traveling. It helps me focus and I get to learn interesting things.) to snacks. I very often don't stop to eat lunch whether I am working in someone else's garden or shoveling all day or whatever else. So I usually keep some nuts and seeds, crackers, jerky, dried fruit, and even stuff like pickled asparagus in there. All things I can snack on easily, that are fairly nutritious, and that store just fine even if they get a little warm or very cold. This of course also means I always have some food along should I be stranded somewhere. Since I eat it and refill from my pantry regularly, keeping it fresh is no problem. Then there are a few other random things like a little battery powered lantern and extra trash bags which make great temporary waterproof covers for things. 

Right behind the other seat where you can also see I keep a book stashed so I have something good to read in case I am sitting somewhere waiting on someone, I have a pile of gloves. This is usually a year round feature though the kind of gloves changes a bit with the temps. With more insulated gloves in the winter and thinner garden gloves in the summer. But either way, I do a lot of work in the dirt or snow so having more than one pair is nice for when I soak through one and need a clean or dry pair. Like many of the other things, these are used regularly but then they are also there if I have an emergency. Beside them, and nearly hidden under the backpack, is my gym bag. Again, it has another purpose, but also means that I always have things like a change of clothing, medical tape, and clean shoes at hand. Not pictured is the extra jackets and coats that I keep tossed on the back seat in the winter. And if I ever go somewhere wearing shoes, my boots get tossed in the back too in case I need to walk through something colder, wetter, or deeper than shoes can handle.

 And then my little blue backpack is the one that I carry whenever I go for a walk away from my home or car. Find all it's contents described here, but that includes things like a small first aid kit, head lamp, water filter, fire starters, bear spray, and much more. You'll notice a theme here. Once again, this item has another purpose, I use it whenever I go walking. But should I get into a situation where I need to walk away from my vehicle when I wasn't planning to, I can easily carry a lot of items with me and it's already stocked with the things I would want at a very basic level to survive in the wilderness since that is what I set it up for in the first place. I don't need to make space to keep it inside my tiny house, and I can grab it in a second even if I am going for a walk right from my front door since in that case my rig is parked right there too.

Then there is a repurposed free cardboard box that nicely holds a bunch of water bottles upright. For in my vehicle or in the wilderness, I really value the indestructibility of Nalgene bottles. I have used them for many years, frozen them solid lots of times, filled them with boiling water, dropped them on rocks, etc. and never had a single bottle fail. In the winter the water in the car often freezes solid overnight with temps to -30F, so not bursting when frozen is a big deal for me. I try to keep them all full and if frozen, I can almost always defrost one in the sun on the dash or on the floor near the heater while driving. I count on drinking from these while working outdoors in any of the places I drive to in all weathers so they are constantly emptied and refilled. And that means I always have drinking water with me. As well as the water filter that resides in the backpack as I mentioned, and a second option in the car stuff box that we haven't gotten to yet, so if I need to refill from a creek/pond/etc. I can do that easily and safely too.

Burley's stuff takes up much of the back. He always rides in his sturdy airline rated crate that he loves, and it fits perfectly and snuggly between the back of the seat and the door so he is unlikely to get thrown from the vehicle in case of an accident. His favorite "frisbee gun" toy comes along too so if we want to play wherever we are, it's handy. And again, that means I don't have to make space to store that somewhere in the house. Right beside it, in that almost hidden pocket in the side, lives an extra collar, leash, water bowl, and towel for drying him off if needed. He pretty much goes along for everything I do in life, so his items are there full time.

 But under his toy is one of the most valuable things I carry. My jumper box/air compressor. The one I have is a Duracell 600 Watt Powerpack Pro and it seems to no longer be manufactured. I don't know why because it is amazing! The closest thing I can find today is this which looks nearly identical but should have even more power. But it seems to be sold out everywhere right now. This thing has saved me many times and let me help a whole lot of other folks over the years as well. I've even given a handful of them as gifts to various girl friends of mine as well so they can take care of themselves better. The one I have can jump anything I've ever connected it to. Including a big RV that had been sitting dead all winter. I have needed to jump my own rig enough times due to stupid mistakes like leaving a light on to make the cost of this thing totally worth it. Even though it is the one item I mention here that is not free or cheap. It lets me jump my car even if there is no one else around with a second vehicle and that is a huge benefit in possibly remote areas! I have also used it to jump other folks who had dead vehicles parked in such a way that getting a regular jumper cable to reach their battery and another car at the same time would have been impossible. But in addition to all that, it has an air compressor. This does not work like a big one in a shop for sure. But I did fully inflate a van tire that went flat on a remote dirt road. It just took a while, but still beat walking or needing a tow! And then it has other things like a light built in which I have never used, and the ability to charge USB devices or even plug in a regular three pronged AC wall plug. It doesn't last many hours with big stuff plugged in but I have charged phones, camera batteries, and a laptop from this while traveling. Overall if someone asked what is one single item they should have in their vehicle, I would say get one of these. When simple things like dead batteries or flat tires happen and you are on your own, it's worth it's weight in gold I think.

And while I don't have a photo of this, don't run on an empty gas tank. I try to refill any time I get to half full so I have some options for dealing with detours, traffic jams, getting lost, or even running a heater if stuck in the cold. If you are going to do that, just be sure there is nothing blocking your exhaust pipe. People die every year when they use a running car to stay warm. Either parked in the snow where it's covering the exhaust backing it up into the interior and suffocating everyone or going to sleep while snow is falling that then deepens enough to cover that exhaust pipe.

I also carry a fire extinguisher, bigger first aid kit (you can see the whole contents of that here, I build my own), heavy wool blanket, and in the back corner you can see my little down sleeping bag. These things are year round too, minus the gravel bucket in the foreground. Even summer nights here in the mountains are usually cool or even below freezing and I have spent some pretty cozy travel nights sleeping under one or both. And wool is warm even if you get it wet, so that's a plus.

 And then finally there's what I call the "car box." This is inside that sturdy tote you can just see under the wool blanket. It is geared towards all the things I know how to do that can keep a vehicle running. And I am no mechanic, so that is somewhat limited. This bin holds a full spare bottle each of engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, funnel, fix-a-flat, small hand tool kit, bigger hammer, hatchet, heavy tow strap, regular jumper cables, spare fuses, spare light bulbs for front and rear lights, emergency blanket, old rain coat in case I need to fix something in a downpour, flair, bright flagging, bungees, folding shovel, another flashlight, spare batteries, and probably a few other little things I am forgetting. I have used all of these items more than once, some dozens of times, over the years. 

The spare tire, jack, etc are stored under the "floor" in the back where you can't see them at all. And I replaced the little doughnut spare with a full sized real tire. The last thing I've added more recently to my tool kit is this cheater bar. It normally lives in the crack behind the car box and Burley's crate where you can't see it at all either. A few years ago I had a flat tire on a quiet rural road. I had the tools. I knew how to change a tire. I've done it before. But the lug nuts were on there super tight. Like at one point I tried jumping on the lug wrench handle, succeeded in rocking the whole vehicle, and still couldn't budge a couple of them. So I was stuck. Thankfully after about an hour, a truck full of folks came by and stopped. Including a man and his wife. He was built approximately like a tank, with biceps the size of my thighs, and was able to apply a few hundred times more force to that wrench than I could. The lug nuts came off for him! But even he said they were on there tighter than they should have been. This brought to my attention that I needed some kind of force multiplier on hand. So a friend cut this scrap galvanized 1 1/4 inch pipe from his spare pile, smoothed off the ends, and gave it to me to keep on hand. Even at my size, with that slipped over the little lug wrench, I can apply some serious force with that much leverage! If you are a woman as well, this might be something you want to add to your vehicle too. 

And if you do need a tow, make sure someone can help you! My rig can easily be towed from the rear by attaching a strap to the hitch. From the front, you have to screw that eye bolt into one of the little special holes that go through the bumper. Twice now I've been at scenes where someone had slid off the road or gotten stuck. Others showed up who were happy to help, had tow straps, and vehicle power to move it. But the stuck vehicle was a newish smallish variety where everything you can reach is wrapped in a plastic shell and there are no points of attachment available. Unless you screw that eye bolt into one of it's special spots. But in these two instances, either the car owner didn't know where theirs was, or didn't have one with them. Which left everyone else unable to help. And resulted in them having to sit on a snowy road edge for a couple hours waiting for a tow truck and stuck with the resulting bill.

Back to our two stuck cars story. In addition to no tools to help fix the situation they were in by themselves, none of the three occupants had any warm clothing. This is nighttime on a dark rural road in the middle of winter and the temps are below 0F/-17C. The only thing they had were along the lines of tennis shoes and a light jacket. Even if they had walked back along the road a few miles till they got a cell signal and were able to call AAA or the local towing company or whoever, they would have at the least been miserable. Quite possibly fallen on the slick road injuring themselves, because cars with 4 decent tires often have much better traction that two feet on slippery roads, risked wildlife or other vehicle encounters in the dark, and then had to walk back and wait in the cold for a while. That is probably the best plan they could have had once they were in the situation they were in at the time. And a much better option than the one that another woman sadly chose recently in another area of Wyoming. A plow driver reported seeing an abandoned car and after search and rescue spent two days looking, they found her dead body several miles from her vehicle, somewhere cross country. The best they can tell, she got stuck, walked away to either find help or a cell signal, did not stay with a road, got lost, and froze to death. That is very sad and a worse case for sure.

This brings me back to what I think is the central point of planning ahead for things to go wrong. Not that that will prevent every bad thing that can happen by any means, it won't. But when something does go wrong, I want to be miserable and not dead. Or less miserable than I otherwise would be. Or comfortable, but a little inconvenienced and not miserable. Or possibly even totally fine. Or able to help someone else.

I was able to offer extra coats, gloves, and blankets to these cold folks. Get out a real shovel and start clearing some of the snow away from the tires, get some gravel underneath, and prepare to tow them each out. Get a tow strap on the rear of the two stuck rigs and start to gently rock it backwards. About this time another driver came along with a very large pickup. Since this fellow had a lot more power than my rig, we switched the tow strap to his truck and he pulled the first car out with no issues. Other than the damage that happened when it initially slid off the road which at least was going to require replacing a side mirror, probably a bumper, and some scratching on the side that contacted the fence. Then we repeated the whole process for the second car. And got them back on their way too with only similar drivable damage. Everyone lived, no one was hurt, but it could have gone a lot differently for them.

 Please don't be those folks or worse yet the poor dead frozen or lost women! Things happen. They always do sooner or later. If you live where there's never snow, fine. You are probably in an area with floods, wind, sandstorms, heat, or hurricanes then. I can not think of any place on the planet that does not have some kind of weather that can interrupt travel, strand or trap a vehicle, and possibly kill you. If you think you live in an area where cell coverage is good everywhere, are you prepared to be ok till whoever you call for help arrives? Have you ever had a lost, dead, or broken phone? Has there ever been a cell service interruption due to weather, power outages, or a bomb going off near a major communications provider? All these things have happened to me or someone close to me at some point.

Hopefully some tip here will come in handy at some point and save you from some misery. Stay safe and helpful out there everyone!