My dad was a 31-year veteran who taught us kids to always be prepared for road side emergencies. Now, I live and travel the U.S. in my van conversion (DIY). It is a rolling emergency kit with multiple redundancies, food and water. I wish more people were better prepared on the road. Great video!
One item to add for comfort. Foam pipe insulation to add to the rim of your potty. I does two thing, 1. It hold the bag in place. 2. It is a lot easier to sit on than the bucket rim.
Midwest farmer here, so I drive a rolling kit, aka a farm truck. You don't have to be on the Interstate to get in trouble. Rural roads can be just as hazardous with little chance of help coming by for a while. One thing I have learned is that an extra pair of work pants that are about 2 sizes too big are great to have. Put them on over what you are wearing. They add an extra layer of warmth and an extra layer of protection (makeshift chaps). You really appreciate them when you have to change a tire or wade brush. I recommend Cowboy Cut Wranglers from you friendly local farm store!
Garmin makes a GPS called in reach which allows you to send & receive text messages. It also has an SOS button to call for emergency help. Each message or SOS message sent also sends your GPS coordinate
@@raulsanchez4493 Yep. I have the $30/mo plan. It’s more than enough. Got me out of the mountains from a fire standby when I got COVID Pneumonia this last Sept. Had it for a year. Have used it a few times, but just that made it worth it. We had no infrastructure set up yet at the time. We would have had to abandon our post without it which wouldn’t have been good. It stays on my BOB that goes from truck to truck or my jump bag for work
@@visamedic We use one when we are offshore fishing 100 miles west of Key West. It adds peace of mind knowing the family is ok at home & puts them at ease knowing we are ok at sea when we are out of cell phone range for 3-4 days. I love it’s capability.
@@raulsanchez4493 Sorry I misspoke. I have the Zoleo. It was considerably cheaper than the inReach and the plans is $35/mo. Either way I’ve had zero issues with it. Does the same things as the inReach, including sending location with texts. But like anything satellite it needs a good southern view
I’m from Indiana, wintertime is a hit or miss depending on what part of Indiana you live in. I live out in the country close to tony Stewart… that’s right….tony Stewart hahaha I was in my Jeep on my way home from work and I seen a car in a ditch that had slid off the road do to ice. The car was still running with a female inside. She didn’t have cell service to call for help.I pulled her out with my winch. She asked me to follow her home incase it happen again.
Will suggest have a safety vest in the car ALWAYS! Especially when need to exit vehicle to change a tire, walk along the road, help someone else get out of their situation. Can also be used to wave for rescue.
One item I highly recommend : a few heavy duty gallon or 2 gallon ziplock bags. Put your stored water inside them so if the container bursts or leaks it doesn't get your gear wet. Works as a liner to waterproof & windproof shoes/boots/gloves/hat. Great for collecting snow and ice to melt inside the car.
I swear, Andrew is one of those people whose face completely changes when he smiles. He goes from stern disciplinarian to fun uncle with just a facial gesture. The flare demonstration made that jump out at me. Oh and hand warmers are NOT a convenience item. When you're in extreme cold (whether base temperature or cold accumulation) and start to lose fine motor control, those are lifesavers.
Be careful not to leave the water in the vehicle if the temperature will drop below -10°C. The bottle(s) have a good chance to freeze and rupture your container. This sucks when it's a metal container. I also suggest a jug sling knot on top of each plastic bottle. I roll with 1 to 2 4L plastic jugs along with smaller bottles to drink from. Crack your windows when using lit candles inside and/or idling your engine for more than a few minutes.
Yeh, I was also concerned about the fumes given off by the candle. If the windows are cracked open, will it only defeat the purpose of lighting the candle for warmth?
We're good for about 2 weeks if stranded! Got mucho supplies, even more since it's winter! We have an 8' x 4' roll of insulation barrier to pull over us when we're in our 0° bags! 2 xtra lrg camo moving blankets to fold up & sleep on. Our luggable-loo is full of kitchen size trash bags, tp, wet wipes & hand sanitizer. I hope lots of folks watch your video & act on it! Great info, Thanks!
Got stuck on I40 during an ice storm back in the 90s. I just pulled my car onto the shoulder walked about 50 yards and set up camp. Was stuck there 12 hours and didn't suffer a bit since I was prepared. I got comments from a few people about my preparedness and stated they'd be ready for the next time it happens. Great video... didn't consider the squaty potty idea, I will now.
I would also add a small tarp and some form of cordage. If you have to change a tire in the snow, the tarp will act as a moisture barrier. Also, as a shelter if you have to leave the vehicle.
Sound and timely advice, Andrew… I assembled my first winter car kit in the early 90s, after I had to change a tire on the side of the highway, in a snowstorm, temp in the mid 20s, 8" already on the ground, wind blowin’ like hell, and me in a business suit and shoes, and a trench coat...thought I was gonna die! I went out the NEXT day and bought the gear for a kit: base layer, boots, socks, fleece layer, shell layer, down vest, mittens, glove liners, beanie, balaclava, hand warmers, trail bars...I have updated a few times since, but I carry it from Columbus Day until Easter, then swap it out for my summer bag. I always have a grub bag on board, too, with water, some freeze dried meals, some trail bars and pemmican, some gorp and some instant hot beverages, usually about 4000 calories worth. I store the bottled water upside down; water freezes from the top down, so unless it freezes solid, the cap ends will be clear. I keep a 12V beverage heating coil on hand to boil water; my 12V adapters only work if my vehicle is running, so I keep a backpacking stove on board as a backup. My vehicle kit has remained effectively unchanged for quite a while: a basic tool kit, head lamp, flashlight(s), magnetic work light, gas can, gallon of washer fluid, a 2.5 gallon anti-freeze, couple quarts of oil, spare set of wiper blades, fuses, electrical and duct tape, a small coil of baling wire, another small coil of insulated electrical wire, radiator sealant, flat-fix and tire repair kit, 25' tow strap and shackles, 25' HD jumper cables, a bottle jack, chocks and cross bar lug wrench...and a full-size spare, BTW! Another item I use regularly is ice melt; I keep a 5 lb. jug in the trunk, along with a set of traction boards. I had a really tough little shovel I bought at Home Depot about 10 years ago, made from some tough-ass plastic, and it served me well until this past season, when the handle split. I'm trying to convince myself to spring for a top-shelf collapsible avalanche shovel...hmmm! Maybe… I have urged all of my family members and friends to assemble such gear for their trunks, and have gone as far as to purchase and assemble kits for some of them. I also teach them to "dress for the weather, not the trip". This means that you should always be prepared to be outdoors if necessary. In summer, it might simply be a matter of having adequate water, electrolytes, sunscreen, bug spray, decent walking shoes and a brimmed hat with neck shade and head netting. In winter, solid footwear and adequate coat, with hat, gloves, scarf, hand warmers, as previously noted. I have seen too many local geniuses on the side of the expressway in two feet of snow in Keds and hoodies, and I try to make sure none of my people are among them! Keep up the great work! If even one person watches your vids, or reads our comments and discussion, and benefits from it, it will all be worth it. Keep on the sunny side of the street, and keep on keepin' on!
I went with a full sized cargo van with AWD. Won't handle rough terrain, but will deal with snow and less than stellar back roads. Went with the van because it can fit a dirtbike in the back. So Van would be a central location and dirtbike would be a more fuel efficient way to explore surroundings while fuel exists. Would have 4 20 liters of fuel that buys time until fuel is gone. Definitely planned for life without fuel but will use it until the bitter end. Plenty of room to store tools, medical supplies, basic food (meat and fish can be taken from nature), four 20 liter drinking water jugs, a potable water jug for cooking and cleaning, and I am thinking of a bag of kingsford charcoal to use for filtering and wonder how long it would last. Will be mounting comms like a CB at the minimum. Will have to check if Starlink has roaming and then there is a solution for 200 mbps internet anywhere while internet exists. CB will work as long as there is another CB with power out there. Try to live off the land as long as possible before getting into the provisions.
One thing to consider if you’re able to find them is winter MREs… they’re designed with no freezing components and specialized for winter survival. Nice kit and layout!
All round an excellent kit. A few suggestions if i might from the maintenance side - a T handle tire plug patch kit, they are dirt cheap and hold several plugs, combined with an el cheapo 12v air compressor. These can generally be had for less than $50, Only needs to run once to get you off the road, save the potential risk of swapping a tire off, especially if you only have the 'factory provided' jack tools that arent exactly known for stability or sturdiness. Spare oil, ensuring its what the vehicle calls for - also serves as a safer fire accelerant than gasoline. Battery booster packs have come a huge distance and are much more affordable, most now also have USB out ports to allow cell phone etc recharging. I also suggest a roll of electrical tape to supplement duct tape - i always leave a roll of electrical tape on my dash on the heater so its soft and pliable when i need it. The biggest thing though, that would avoid most breakdowns in particular? Keeping up with the vehicle's maintenance, and Reading and knowing your vehicle's owners manual. It seems obvious, but many people dont truly understand what their vehicles are capable of, what they are equipped with, what their limitations are, where the spare tire is and how to get it off, that sort of thing. Speaking of spare tires - if they are mounted in their under body cradles, exercise them - take them off, check them over, and if the travel is in muddy, snowy, icy etc conditions, consider storing them elsewhere - caravans and SUVs are notorious for spares being either junk or impossible to access by the time they are needed. I make my sister carry a full size spare in the cargo area of her caravan, and ive taught her how to use it, rather than try to depend on the one under it; with it in the dead center of the vehicle, accessing it especially on a busy road or mountain road is asking to 'shake hands with danger'. Bonus points if you get that reference!
Fix-a-flat. The can has enough pressure to inflate a tire to driveable. If you have a smaller pickup, you don't even need to jack it up. If you have a bigger truck, would need to jack it up then squeeze in the fix-a-flat. It sprays foam inside the tube to seal from within. Kind of like the foam insulation around basement windows. Actually, it might be the same stuff who knows?
Don’t do recovery with a tie-down strap, the ratchet is a hazard… as is the steel hook. Get an actual kinetic recovery strap. Affordable versions exist at the local farm store and even harbor freight tools.
Amazon has one made by G.R.I.P thats pretty affordable, i think its 30 feet long and either 5/8" or 7/8" diameter, much safer than attempting to use a ratchet strap as a recovery strap
I live in Canada and I have to travel the highway to get to work, 'Night Shift'. My truck is white and I always have the fear that if I get stuck I might get rear-ended by the snow plow. That reflective tape is a great idea! I keep a hockey bag with the following items in my truck, Wool hat, socks, gloves, sweater, blanket. Sleeping bag and candles. I also keep a portable battery charger with me. But the most important things of all are already on the truck. PROPER SNOW TIRES. Great videos Ranger!
Thanks for another great video. Two criticisms. I would never store my water with clothing/blankets that a leak could wet. Although tempting perhaps to insulate it, protect it, or save space, it is just not a good idea. Water should be stored separately away from anything it could damage. I actually used to have my water stored in a bucket. Now it is distilled water in a stainless steel bottle, in a Ziploc, for car use if necessary, or to drink, and we usually have our own supply along. I also do not recommend using or storing Alkaleaks or the Duraleaks that you show. I have lost more electronics including headlamps and flashlights to them and avoid using them. I have had brand new ones that had many years to go stored in a house environment leak in the package. I took them back and try to avoid them. I use either a hybrid battery, something like an eneloop, or a lithium battery such as an Energizer. Most of my batteries in the car flashlight and headlamp are actually rechargeable lithium batteries, which I periodically charge in the flashlight. I tend to mechanically lockout the batteries. When I use primary batteries, I often store them separately. Lastly, you show a type of bottle that holds up well, but a note to those that might not know. Gallon water jugs that look like the gallon milk jugs will not hold up for long storage in either a car or house. The plastic in the jug type breaks down over time and then they leak. Lastly, a video idea. What in a car can be used to improvise in an emergency situation. Even if one has their supplies in their car, someone else may not, like in the I-95 debacle. Or your supplies may have been stolen, or you could be in someone else's car. For example it may be less common these days, I don't know, but my trunk has a liner or carpet that could be pressed into duty for added warmth and other purposes. Thanks again for the video and I also appreciate the many insightful comments that have been posted.
1' x 6' strips of old carpet work well as traction devices. They can be laid flat or rolled up. They also double as a ground insulator for working on the vehicle. I roll my tire chains in them for easy deployment.
Good video, Andrew. When I lived in Oregon, I used to keep a bundle of asphalt shingles in my truck. It added needed weight and I could make a makeshift "road" with them to drive out of a snow drift. Good video as always.
Who runs Bartertown?!? Ranger does! Great class today Andrew and like you said, very timely. Growing up in the Mid-West myself (The Gopher State) it was common to have these items or similar set ups, knowledge passed down because we know that weather will do what it wants to do. The coffee can candle heater and a wool blanket was the bare bones I had when I started driving… I went to the local gas station to buy a local road atlas and he commented that it was the first one he remembers selling in years… IMO we’re too digital heavy, and I get it… it’s convenient and easy. But, got to have a PACE plan for navigating, knowing the analog ways won’t let you down if you’re proficient in them (always practice when you can!). I read that many people we’re complaining that Police didn’t come rescue them on the 95… shaking my head,… that says a lot IMO about headspace and timing…Anyways, great stuff as always Andrew! Keep up the Fire!
John Kline the emergency services might not be able to rescue those stranded in the traffic if they’re responding to the situation/incident/accident that causes the back up/traffic stoppage.
Great video! If I might add my 2 cents. 3.5 million mile trucker here. I would suggest you always put your water away from other items you can't afford to have wet. Like spare warm clothing. Put water in a cooler or tote so When the water leaks it won't Ruin your life saving supplies. Also a set of tire chains can get you out of trouble. Best Wishes from Montana M.H
All good advice for sure for your own vehicles, but I do snicker at the thought of you getting on the bus with 50 other people with your orange home depot bucket. LOL
LOL, Thought of you when I read about the stranded individuals! Thought....Andrew would have had 50 motorists rounded up & had a 50 x 100 survival lodge constructed alongside the interstate w/ a bonfire, coffee & folks eating venison when rescuers showed up!😁
Love the handcrank on radio, bag of snacks so when you eat your full meal mre you got something else, bathroom idea, extra batteries for flashlight cause I can't tell you how many times you go for that flashlight and those batteries are dead, and obviously the rest!!!
It's cool to see what the pros suggest. Things you don't always think about until you need them. I like to see purposeful kits. Catch and cooks. Gear review. But, I do enjoy what your doing. Please continue.
In regard to recovery, although a ratchet strap can most definitely be used in an improvised fashion as a static tow strap, that is one piece of kit I would purchase dedicated equipment for. A kinetic recovery strap/rope (snatch strap) and a pair of soft shackles, all of which, rated for 1.5 times the weight of my vehicle. The snatch strap being designed for hard jerking pulls, which is usually what is needed to free vehicles in snow, sand, and mud to create and maintain momentum necessary for the recovery. The benefits are many; least impactful to vehicle structure from energy transfer, smallest footprint, lightest weight, safest in failure, can be used to tow, can be adapted to be safely used with vehicles that have no dedicated recovery points. Vehicle recovery takes skill and knowledge to be done safely and effectively, last thing you want is a stuck vehicle in a survival situation that is now compounded with a medical/trauma situation.
Best survival channel on RUclips! Always the best most thought out information that can save your life and equip you to survive what is thrown your way. Much respect for you and thank you for your service to this country ... 💪🏻🇺🇸👍🏻
Back in the 90s, Interstate 70 was closed for several days inside of a couple of days or so 100 people died because the lack of preparedness mostly exposure and carbon monoxide poisoning when stranded on the road always remember keep your windows cracked just a little so that you could breathe real fresh air. Thank you Ranger awesome video very informative. Very thorough.
Great video. My one concern is fire. In the unlikely event you need your fire extinguisher, seconds matter. You have to get out of the car, open the back, open the bucket, and get it out to use it. That might be the one piece of gear I have strapped somewhere near the drivers seat. Keep up the good work!
Having spend five+ decades in SD, MN, ID & MT these are important things to have! Even a fairly small vehicle can still carry a lot of gear so better to err on the side of having extra especially in the winter. IMO the most important items for winter are snow boots, a heavy coat, mittens and a winter-weight sleeping bag. Obviously you should have tire tools, recovery straps, jumper cables, basic tools, etc- those are core things you need all year around (but a surprising amount of people don't even check to see if they have them!). Flashlights & spare batteries are key. If you have room traction mats are great and the kitty litter can help for sure. Good video!
Great kit, I also have the same items (and a few more lol) even the same duffel lol. I added a tarp and plastic painters drop cloth, not only for potential shelter but also for ground cover in case you need to crawl under a vehicle. Some other items to consider that I carry is knee pads, rain gear, water filter, siphon kit, rope, tire plug kit. Excellent video sir keep up the great work 👍
Good ideas. On the water filter if it is with a membrane (Sawyer mini or the same kind) be carefull as if it is freezing in the car and there is some water left in the filter the ice may broke the filter without letting you know and after you'll drink non filtered water.
@@monlonlabe5016 thats for sure, I just keep a new one in there so there's no worries. Plus as cheap as they are if it was needed in an emergency just replace it with new lol, but good call as I didnt mention that.
For traction to get out of snow I highly recommend carrying some attic vent material. Looks like a giant roll of dish scrubbies. Just cut some lengths off and they can stow anywhere in the car. Even under the rear floor mats which aren't much help anyway.
As an over the road truck driver for many years yeah I still carry everything except the kitchen sink .I'm prepared to live where I stop. You're right, forethought and planning is key. Most all of my delays and stops have been medical or breakdowns. I always see people broke down, Run out of gas, flat tires the most common. I've been on that Bus adventure and I did not like it at all. Thanks for making the video.
Great video. I just realized I have a coffee cup that you can plug into the cigarette lighter that could heat up some soup or water for coffee. I will test it out and see how long it takes to get the water from cold to hot enough. Thanks for sharing!
I guess there is also a significant crossover between this kit and an urban "get home" bag. You'd need to add some items like a bigger knife, a poncho or tarp for shelter, a stainless water canteen and/or a water filter, and a bivvy for the sleeping bag, to make it completely equivalent.
In regards to a knife 🔪, I suggest, as others would, to check the laws/regulations for the area you’re traveling in/through to make sure what you have in certain areas is legal. What is legal in one state or your area, might not be in others.
Great video Andrew, my truck has a lot of these items, I also carry a military parka , change of clothes and a self inflating air mattress in case in need to get down on the ground, “I’m old”. I’m usually wearing my boots but I do keep xtra foot wear. I have a bag of ice melt in my truck bed. People should my sure they have good tires to. Alan R
Since the dawn of my vehicle-owning life, I've always carried a full kit of camping gear, no matter how small the car is. This is a good video for young people to learn from.
For everyone, not just young people. A lot of times young guys know a lot more than the older ones, age is just a number, it's all about whether you're ready to learn or not.
Ever since I started carrying a shovel, I've avoided getting stuck...and that's a long long time. Being prepared really pays off. As always great content and entertainment, lets hope we don't need it.
When I lived in Northern New York during winter I kept alot of items in the trunk of my car,winter sleeping bags with 3 or 4 wool blankets, water, candy, shovel, flashlights, crackers, cookies, scarves, wool socks(extras), boots unless we were wearing them, med kit, duct tape, I bought a floor Jack for car and it and jumper cables stayed a car all times,
A Garmin In Reach is also an excellent tool to have. It allows sending text messages when your cell doesn’t work. It also tracks your GPS location from where you send the message. It also has an SOS button in case you need emergency services
Great content as always! I've driven the ALCAN multiple times and one thing I'd emphasis is if you drive an older car without a pass-through seat to the trunk, never store your kit in the trunk (as seen in this video). If you get rear-ended or your trunk gets pinned against a tree, you won't be able to get access to the kit. This reportedly happened to a driver when I lived in Alaska back in the mid-90's. The driver's car spun off a rural road, rear ended a tree, and the kit bag was trapped in the trunk. The driver, if I recall correctly, froze to death. Also, I'd throw in a VS-17 panel in there too in order to mark your vehicle in case you do become stranded. Again, great video!
My 2015 Passat requires me to pull on a release from the open trunk area to pull down the backseats, which is the dumbest thing. My trunk is full of breakdown/emgx stuff. I keep extras in an ammo can and glove box for now, but need to see what it's going to take to breach the trunk from the back seat area.
I put my water and food in a soft cooler bag, it will keep it from freezing for a while and you can always throw a hand warmer packet in to prolong the the thaw. Not a perfect solution but good for a night
I have a couple of bright safety vests in my kit. If I have to leave the vehicle, I want to make sure that I can be seen under all conditions. They are very light, and pack well.
Excellent stuff, man. Here in the Hell of the Midwest myself, and I've carried an EDC, BOB, and auto emergency kit for 15 years. Keep droppin those gold nuggets. (The Corporal sent me 🤘)
Great ideas, I live in Canada, and I used to buy 2 bags of 1/2 inch gravel in case I got stuck on ice. It's only a few bucks. Also, If I kept water in my truck It would be frozen and not much good.
Andrew, I pretty much have the same emergency travel kit that you showed on your channel with one exception and that is having a locker type box. I bought mine from Wal-Mart for $40.00 bucks and I'm pretty sure you can fit most of your kit inside of it, including the potty bucket. Regardless of what I have or used, this was an awesome 👌 video, thank you for making it for all to learn and share.
Great info. I’ve been in 5 white out snow storms in Indiana, Wyoming, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kentucky and here’s what I have learned, heed weather reports and thus at first sign of fog, sleet, ice, freezing rain or snow get off the interstate and onto a state road to nearest motel. If motel is booked camp in parking lot. One more thing, when on the interstate keep gas tank in a full condition, gassing up after each quarter tank of usage. This assures intermittent heat for about 24 hours if you are indeed stuck somewhere for awhile.
All great suggestions! I always take my backcountry hunting pack on any kind of extended distance trip with about 7 days worth of food, sleep system, tent, extra clothes, everything I would take on a week long hunt in the backcountry so I can survive in or away from my vehicle.
From 95 to 2000, Me an the wife lived in the Leavenworth/ Lansing area, an Denver prior to that. An I was taught to carry an orange signal flag that I could attach to my CB radio antenna, as it was an 8'ft whip antenna. Mainly if I went offroad or broke down on the I-70 corridor, for those blue northerns that hit the kansas prairies. I would think a magnetic antenna on the top of a stranded vehicle would work just fine in this day an age, easy to keep behind the seat, or stowed in the trunk. An yes we carried pretty much all of the gear your mentioned, but I also carried a Hi- lift jack an 2x6's or other dunnage. JIC I ran into problems along the I-70 or backroads of the area, never needed any of it, but glad to have if needed, an carried all that gear for the 30 yrs I was up in snow country, whether the rockies, or the midwest, or the upper east coast. Thx for the vid
I like to see a calm man explaining really good survival tips, without a sense of catastrophism or anxiety that other survival channels have, only to do views. You know how to teach and you do it with a calm natural voice and professionality. Remember: it wouldn't be with the fear and anxiety that I have seen in many who are involved in preparation that we would be able to resist to any survival situation. I am very interested in survival, self-sufficiency and being able to be autonomous but for pity's sake I reject the mentality of those who prepare themselves (like some preppers) believing that their safety will derive only from their stocks, and from Them, they accumulate with something of fear and a sense of catastrophism. Those who have faith do not be afraid, give their best in every opportunity and believe and will never be abandoned. Therefore no sense of anguish in learning these techniques, or a somehow hidden sense of catastrophism. Bless you and keep going mate!
As always, top shelf tips. I’m going to add the squatty potty to the kit I keep in my Jeep Cherokee. The one thing I recommend is a set of chains to go on the the tires. Here in SW Virginia I’ve wished, on more than one occasion, that I had put them in. So now at the beginning of winter they go in the vehicle and stay until winter.
Great video! I like how you packed everything. I was stranded recently and had to wait 2 hours in cold Michigan weather for road service. Fortunately I had a blanket in my van. Found out that I needed an extra pair of gloves because mine got wet from removing snow from my van. Added a warmer blanket too. My battery died on my new used van so I could not run the heater. In the winter I keep my gas tank at least half full. Also, the Toyota dealer said the batteries in my key fob need to be replaced every two years or you will have a hard time starting your vehicle like I did. I have a 2018 Toyota Sienna with a push button start. Will add more supplies for emergency. Thank you for your service for our country! My son-in-law is a U.S. Army veteran.
Recently heard of these. Used by general aviation pilots. Can be used by ladies while seated in a vehicle. Might have been useful when stranded in that bus. Several versions available. Travel John Resealable Disposable Urinal Bags (TJ1N) - 6 Pack INSTANTLY TURNS TO GEL! - HOLDS 28 FLUID OZ (800cc)
If you look up section 3 on the SDS of most of these products, including those little single use 'poo' packets, you will see the main 'ingredient' is sodium polyacrylate. This is basically the polymer that is absorbent diaper crystals, fake snow powder, and that gardening water retention stuff. Depending on where you source the polymer in bulk (garden centers, feed stores, science or craft stores, etc.) you can DIY these urine/poo bags pretty easy. Just gotta be sure to get the quality brand name quart freezer bags or gallon bags (which are said to be 3 mil thick). A quart bag is around 900 millimeters. They also sell 4-mil bags in varying sizes for extra security. The thickness is key for leak prevention and better odor containment. Trash compactor bags are 8-gallons & 3 mil thick, which are sturdy and perfect for 5-gallon buckets. Obviously, you have to be a little strategic when freestyling with a loose bag, but one can also finagle some sort of stiff circle out of a 3"-4" flattened piece of cardboard or thin hard plastic where you would flip the bag's open end over and around it to place and hold more securely over/against the nether regions. Much like you do with the excess top piece of a new garbage bag placed in a garbage can. Helpful for the ladies. A little extra deodorizer or fragrance is usually added to the ready-made commercial urine bags. One product has lemongrass and citric acid as additions. Citric acid is readily obtained and a lemony essential oil could sub. Who's to say a little baking soda wouldn't work either (for those who hate All Fragrance). With that, you could also place those elderly/disabled medical bedpan/commode pads in a zip loc. They have the same polymer absorption deal going on and come in big, cheap multipacks. If you find big kid, adult diapers, puppy or bed pads on clearance, you can drop those at the bottom of a bag inside a bucket as well to catch the action. For some reason, I always see new bags of adult incontinence items at the thrift store. You'll also find that some of these pricey vomit, blood, and spill clean up specialty products contain very simple things like perlite, vermiculite, sawdust, and coco coir. One vomit/blood product I came across was literally just sawdust with pine scent added. (I went down a weird internet rabbit hole on poop, pee, and other bio & environmental clean up one day for many hours... 😶) I personally keep a bucket with the flip lid attachment which contains repackaged old-school cat litter, cedar pet shavings, a box of baking soda, toilet paper rolls, wipes & small hand sanitizer in the trunk. Then there's a few of those thrift store adult diaper pads in gallon ziplocs stowed away up front. I have extra Ziplocs in case there is a double bagging emergency. I also have to keep a small tarp on hand to hang to section off & create a covered private area inside if the weather is hellacious or with one of the car doors open. This includes the use of heavy duty magnets and/or large plastic clips. My oldest is squeamish with anything bathroom related being done in family-public or public-public. 😑
I see you have a 1lt fire extinguisher may I recommended 2 2lt extinguishers and keep one at the front and one at the back for quick access. Great vid many thanks
Another thing if I could suggest is to have in that car kit is a way to treat and/or filter water (preferably both ways) with an extra couple containers (preferably metal to boil/cook in) or hydration bladders, etc., as many highways often cross creeks, streams and rivers, etc.. if you are on or near a bridge and need water, you might be able to drink or use the water to cook with from under a bridge after you treat, filter or boil it, to make it safe for consumption.
Those thick black plastic bags are good for added warmth, just cut neck and arm holes into them. For the crapper that Kitty Liter would work in a pinch....no bun intended. Thanks for the good info Ranger.
Great info as usual! My daughter and future son-in-law actually were caught up in that fiasco for 20hrs. He is Airborne and had a lot of those tools, I sent him your link to tweak his kit.
If a truck, then a high lift jack. Must have. Also a come-a-long so that you can hook it up to a tree and pull yourself out. Then a long metal spike. If there is no tree, drive the spike in the ground and use the come-a-long to fasten to that and pull yourself out. You mentioned hatchet or axe. Also a saw, like a Silky Saw. Small, compact, but effective.
Yup, every vehicle I've ever had has had 2 totes in it no matter how much or little of the trunk/bed space it took up. One with emergency gear for people, the other for the vehicle itself.
I’d add a power bank with interrelated solar for phone power. Also there are toilet seats that attach to a bucket. We keep compressed wood pellets in the lined bucket so we can put more in when it’s used. I’d also add a ham or cb radio
I know many Californians could have used the advice during the Christmas weekend 2021up in the sierras I bet u most items are at home sitting in their garage. Thanks again Andrew
Great video! One very small thing to consider adding is a hide-a-key. If would be a bummer to get locked out of your running car in the middle of nowhere when it’s 10 degrees out.
A robust kit, I've been in such situation when 23yo in a snow storm so I absolutely agree on your kit. Since then I never ever let my gas tank under half full. Regarding battery I have added a "electrical booster" able to start the car in case of a dead battery, mine or other people's car, like for the fire extinguisher we are not alone on the road !. The booster also serve as a backup battery for electronic device with USB port in case I have to left the car I can recharge my phone to get maps directions or call for help.
What booster do you have? I live in Texas but all I carry in 1 veh is a set of cables. I've been in the market for a starter, battery pack, charger device. Thanks.
@@carlk1183 Check out Project Farm or Scotty Kilmer's channel. They have links to the ones they've tested and recommend. One of them was a Goo-Loo, Imazing, TopVision, one of the Noco's, and Fantik. I need to get one of these as well and have them on my Amazon wishlist for price tracking. They are running anywhere from $80-$120 depending on the day.
This video will probably save lives. Thank you for this! I’m here to learn how to road trip safely in the winter from the Canadian Prairies to the American Midwest. This looks like a great list of gear to start from. I appreciate you!
Check out your jack and associated hardware. Drove my truck for 15 years before needing it. Missing most of the stuff. Never came in the truck! Check for it when you purchase. I keep thinking about getting one of the long jacks.
I’ve watched quite a few of your presentations and have made a number of changes to my pack/kits per your recommendations/demonstrations. One thing I’ve utilized for a lot of years are nylon mesh ‘ditty’ bag for storing those small, loose items stored in the smaller kits. They are see-through, allowing quick ID of the particular contents in said kit. I primarily carry a pack at all times I’m in the field and have different colored mesh bags to quickly identify the different kits stowed in the pack, for quick access. Believe me, I do carry 100mph tape and spare baggies for ‘utility’ purposes.. A great place to start looking for these mesh bags is REI. THANK You for your service and sharing your experiences and knowledge…
Great video. I use styrofoam cooler for anything that could freeze, or get too hot, water etc. I leave in car year around. Use items in cooler, (so don’t outdated) if not needed for emergency then restock. Hot in summer and below zero in winter in my area.
I’ve been waiting for this!!! Thank you so much!!! I’m sharing with all my family and friends.. My 4x4 pickup is a single cab and has a toolbox which works perfectly well for storage… But no topper for shelter… That’s where I must improvise and adapt to what I do have to make it work … Both my pickup and my suv must be equipped… Working on it.. May we all be blessed with safety in travels… 🥰
G'day Andrew, whilst I do have a very similar kit, I still learned a shipload from this vid and it's apparent a few upgrades are in order, many thanks mate !!!! No snow where I am, more rain, wind and mud during our winter, but the principles are still the same; fair to say, for all 4 seasons in fact. A couple of those cheap poly tarps, with extra cordage and carabiners have a myriad of uses. I do carry a small multimeter and a couple of methods for wiring repair. Spare fuses always good too and pays to get HD and LONG jumper cables, since you can't always park nose to nose. I might even go for one of those starter packs, particular brands/models are supposed to be very good. I put First Aid in the glove compartment, a fire extinguisher and glass breaker within reach, in case you're trapped or incapacitated in the drivers seat. Since I only run an AWD SUV, I was think'n about a hand winch, maybe a block & tackle, but more thought required on that one. Cheers Duke. P.S. Re: road atlas; there is a mob here by the name of Spatial Vision, that produce outstanding mapbooks and are available in digital format too. They are primarily designed for key first responders. You get various map scales, from 1:20,000 through 1:150,000, with contour lines, as well as the Military Grid Reference System, (MGRS), GPS data and much, much more. Not cheap, but not exorbitant either and there's not better data and detail available to the public to my knowledge. I expect your main audience will be in country, so I wonder if you have something similar in the U.S. ?
8hr tealights are cheap and compact compared to the size of the tealight you have in that heater tin. Back when I commuted to the next city on the map, I used to pack a thermos of hot water with a view of if I got stuck I could make a hot drink or food without having to wait.
My dad was a 31-year veteran who taught us kids to always be prepared for road side emergencies. Now, I live and travel the U.S. in my van conversion (DIY). It is a rolling emergency kit with multiple redundancies, food and water. I wish more people were better prepared on the road. Great video!
One item to add for comfort. Foam pipe insulation to add to the rim of your potty. I does two thing, 1. It hold the bag in place. 2. It is a lot easier to sit on than the bucket rim.
Midwest farmer here, so I drive a rolling kit, aka a farm truck. You don't have to be on the Interstate to get in trouble. Rural roads can be just as hazardous with little chance of help coming by for a while. One thing I have learned is that an extra pair of work pants that are about 2 sizes too big are great to have. Put them on over what you are wearing. They add an extra layer of warmth and an extra layer of protection (makeshift chaps). You really appreciate them when you have to change a tire or wade brush. I recommend Cowboy Cut Wranglers from you friendly local farm store!
That’s thinking. You don’t have to be away from home or too far away to have a life threatening emergency
Garmin makes a GPS called in reach which allows you to send & receive text messages. It also has an SOS button to call for emergency help. Each message or SOS message sent also sends your GPS coordinate
@@raulsanchez4493 Yep. I have the $30/mo plan. It’s more than enough. Got me out of the mountains from a fire standby when I got COVID Pneumonia this last Sept. Had it for a year. Have used it a few times, but just that made it worth it. We had no infrastructure set up yet at the time. We would have had to abandon our post without it which wouldn’t have been good. It stays on my BOB that goes from truck to truck or my jump bag for work
@@visamedic We use one when we are offshore fishing 100 miles west of Key West. It adds peace of mind knowing the family is ok at home & puts them at ease knowing we are ok at sea when we are out of cell phone range for 3-4 days. I love it’s capability.
@@raulsanchez4493 Sorry I misspoke. I have the Zoleo. It was considerably cheaper than the inReach and the plans is $35/mo. Either way I’ve had zero issues with it. Does the same things as the inReach, including sending location with texts. But like anything satellite it needs a good southern view
I’m from Indiana, wintertime is a hit or miss depending on what part of Indiana you live in. I live out in the country close to tony Stewart… that’s right….tony Stewart hahaha I was in my Jeep on my way home from work and I seen a car in a ditch that had slid off the road do to ice. The car was still running with a female inside. She didn’t have cell service to call for help.I pulled her out with my winch. She asked me to follow her home incase it happen again.
Will suggest have a safety vest in the car ALWAYS! Especially when need to exit vehicle to change a tire, walk along the road, help someone else get out of their situation.
Can also be used to wave for rescue.
I would add a Pool Noodle to your Bucket, you can slice it on one side and create a "rim seat" around your bucket to assist with comfort.
One item I highly recommend : a few heavy duty gallon or 2 gallon ziplock bags. Put your stored water inside them so if the container bursts or leaks it doesn't get your gear wet. Works as a liner to waterproof & windproof shoes/boots/gloves/hat. Great for collecting snow and ice to melt inside the car.
😁👏🏼👏🏾👏🏻👏🏿
An empty Gatorade bottle for obvious reasons.... !
I was thinking the same thing when he put the water inside the duffle bag. The water could spill open and soak the dry clothing.
I swear, Andrew is one of those people whose face completely changes when he smiles. He goes from stern disciplinarian to fun uncle with just a facial gesture. The flare demonstration made that jump out at me.
Oh and hand warmers are NOT a convenience item. When you're in extreme cold (whether base temperature or cold accumulation) and start to lose fine motor control, those are lifesavers.
He has a lot of military and personal experience. The man knows what he is talking about. A real Road Warrior. Lots of great info. Thx! 🇺🇸👍
Be careful not to leave the water in the vehicle if the temperature will drop below -10°C. The bottle(s) have a good chance to freeze and rupture your container. This sucks when it's a metal container. I also suggest a jug sling knot on top of each plastic bottle. I roll with 1 to 2 4L plastic jugs along with smaller bottles to drink from. Crack your windows when using lit candles inside and/or idling your engine for more than a few minutes.
Yeh, I was also concerned about the fumes given off by the candle. If the windows are cracked open, will it only defeat the purpose of lighting the candle for warmth?
Cool channel, sir. Corporal Kelly sent me.
We're good for about 2 weeks if stranded! Got mucho supplies, even more since it's winter! We have an 8' x 4' roll of insulation barrier to pull over us when we're in our 0° bags! 2 xtra lrg camo moving blankets to fold up & sleep on. Our luggable-loo is full of kitchen size trash bags, tp, wet wipes & hand sanitizer. I hope lots of folks watch your video & act on it!
Great info, Thanks!
Got stuck on I40 during an ice storm back in the 90s. I just pulled my car onto the shoulder walked about 50 yards and set up camp. Was stuck there 12 hours and didn't suffer a bit since I was prepared. I got comments from a few people about my preparedness and stated they'd be ready for the next time it happens.
Great video... didn't consider the squaty potty idea, I will now.
I would also add a small tarp and some form of cordage. If you have to change a tire in the snow, the tarp will act as a moisture barrier. Also, as a shelter if you have to leave the vehicle.
Sound and timely advice, Andrew…
I assembled my first winter car kit in the early 90s, after I had to change a tire on the side of the highway, in a snowstorm, temp in the mid 20s, 8" already on the ground, wind blowin’ like hell, and me in a business suit and shoes, and a trench coat...thought I was gonna die! I went out the NEXT day and bought the gear for a kit: base layer, boots, socks, fleece layer, shell layer, down vest, mittens, glove liners, beanie, balaclava, hand warmers, trail bars...I have updated a few times since, but I carry it from Columbus Day until Easter, then swap it out for my summer bag.
I always have a grub bag on board, too, with water, some freeze dried meals, some trail bars and pemmican, some gorp and some instant hot beverages, usually about 4000 calories worth. I store the bottled water upside down; water freezes from the top down, so unless it freezes solid, the cap ends will be clear. I keep a 12V beverage heating coil on hand to boil water; my 12V adapters only work if my vehicle is running, so I keep a backpacking stove on board as a backup.
My vehicle kit has remained effectively unchanged for quite a while: a basic tool kit, head lamp, flashlight(s), magnetic work light, gas can, gallon of washer fluid, a 2.5 gallon anti-freeze, couple quarts of oil, spare set of wiper blades, fuses, electrical and duct tape, a small coil of baling wire, another small coil of insulated electrical wire, radiator sealant, flat-fix and tire repair kit, 25' tow strap and shackles, 25' HD jumper cables, a bottle jack, chocks and cross bar lug wrench...and a full-size spare, BTW! Another item I use regularly is ice melt; I keep a 5 lb. jug in the trunk, along with a set of traction boards. I had a really tough little shovel I bought at Home Depot about 10 years ago, made from some tough-ass plastic, and it served me well until this past season, when the handle split. I'm trying to convince myself to spring for a top-shelf collapsible avalanche shovel...hmmm! Maybe…
I have urged all of my family members and friends to assemble such gear for their trunks, and have gone as far as to purchase and assemble kits for some of them. I also teach them to "dress for the weather, not the trip". This means that you should always be prepared to be outdoors if necessary. In summer, it might simply be a matter of having adequate water, electrolytes, sunscreen, bug spray, decent walking shoes and a brimmed hat with neck shade and head netting. In winter, solid footwear and adequate coat, with hat, gloves, scarf, hand warmers, as previously noted. I have seen too many local geniuses on the side of the expressway in two feet of snow in Keds and hoodies, and I try to make sure none of my people are among them!
Keep up the great work! If even one person watches your vids, or reads our comments and discussion, and benefits from it, it will all be worth it.
Keep on the sunny side of the street, and keep on keepin' on!
I went with a full sized cargo van with AWD. Won't handle rough terrain, but will deal with snow and less than stellar back roads. Went with the van because it can fit a dirtbike in the back. So Van would be a central location and dirtbike would be a more fuel efficient way to explore surroundings while fuel exists. Would have 4 20 liters of fuel that buys time until fuel is gone. Definitely planned for life without fuel but will use it until the bitter end. Plenty of room to store tools, medical supplies, basic food (meat and fish can be taken from nature), four 20 liter drinking water jugs, a potable water jug for cooking and cleaning, and I am thinking of a bag of kingsford charcoal to use for filtering and wonder how long it would last. Will be mounting comms like a CB at the minimum. Will have to check if Starlink has roaming and then there is a solution for 200 mbps internet anywhere while internet exists. CB will work as long as there is another CB with power out there. Try to live off the land as long as possible before getting into the provisions.
One thing to consider if you’re able to find them is winter MREs… they’re designed with no freezing components and specialized for winter survival. Nice kit and layout!
All round an excellent kit. A few suggestions if i might from the maintenance side - a T handle tire plug patch kit, they are dirt cheap and hold several plugs, combined with an el cheapo 12v air compressor. These can generally be had for less than $50, Only needs to run once to get you off the road, save the potential risk of swapping a tire off, especially if you only have the 'factory provided' jack tools that arent exactly known for stability or sturdiness. Spare oil, ensuring its what the vehicle calls for - also serves as a safer fire accelerant than gasoline. Battery booster packs have come a huge distance and are much more affordable, most now also have USB out ports to allow cell phone etc recharging. I also suggest a roll of electrical tape to supplement duct tape - i always leave a roll of electrical tape on my dash on the heater so its soft and pliable when i need it.
The biggest thing though, that would avoid most breakdowns in particular? Keeping up with the vehicle's maintenance, and Reading and knowing your vehicle's owners manual. It seems obvious, but many people dont truly understand what their vehicles are capable of, what they are equipped with, what their limitations are, where the spare tire is and how to get it off, that sort of thing. Speaking of spare tires - if they are mounted in their under body cradles, exercise them - take them off, check them over, and if the travel is in muddy, snowy, icy etc conditions, consider storing them elsewhere - caravans and SUVs are notorious for spares being either junk or impossible to access by the time they are needed. I make my sister carry a full size spare in the cargo area of her caravan, and ive taught her how to use it, rather than try to depend on the one under it; with it in the dead center of the vehicle, accessing it especially on a busy road or mountain road is asking to 'shake hands with danger'. Bonus points if you get that reference!
An air compressor is great. I used my tire inflator many times. Good other suggestions as well.
Fix-a-flat. The can has enough pressure to inflate a tire to driveable. If you have a smaller pickup, you don't even need to jack it up. If you have a bigger truck, would need to jack it up then squeeze in the fix-a-flat. It sprays foam inside the tube to seal from within. Kind of like the foam insulation around basement windows. Actually, it might be the same stuff who knows?
Don’t do recovery with a tie-down strap, the ratchet is a hazard… as is the steel hook. Get an actual kinetic recovery strap. Affordable versions exist at the local farm store and even harbor freight tools.
Ya I learned that in Northern NY (Watertown - Ft. Drum) in 1990... that ratchet breaks and become shrapnel!
Amazon has one made by G.R.I.P thats pretty affordable, i think its 30 feet long and either 5/8" or 7/8" diameter, much safer than attempting to use a ratchet strap as a recovery strap
I live in Canada and I have to travel the highway to get to work, 'Night Shift'. My truck is white and I always have the fear that if I get stuck I might get rear-ended by the snow plow. That reflective tape is a great idea! I keep a hockey bag with the following items in my truck, Wool hat, socks, gloves, sweater, blanket. Sleeping bag and candles. I also keep a portable battery charger with me. But the most important things of all are already on the truck. PROPER SNOW TIRES. Great videos Ranger!
Proper Snow tires and chains (depending on where you are)
A Decked storage device with a topper is awesome to store your items. All lockable too!
Thanks for another great video. Two criticisms. I would never store my water with clothing/blankets that a leak could wet. Although tempting perhaps to insulate it, protect it, or save space, it is just not a good idea. Water should be stored separately away from anything it could damage. I actually used to have my water stored in a bucket. Now it is distilled water in a stainless steel bottle, in a Ziploc, for car use if necessary, or to drink, and we usually have our own supply along.
I also do not recommend using or storing Alkaleaks or the Duraleaks that you show. I have lost more electronics including headlamps and flashlights to them and avoid using them. I have had brand new ones that had many years to go stored in a house environment leak in the package. I took them back and try to avoid them. I use either a hybrid battery, something like an eneloop, or a lithium battery such as an Energizer. Most of my batteries in the car flashlight and headlamp are actually rechargeable lithium batteries, which I periodically charge in the flashlight. I tend to mechanically lockout the batteries. When I use primary batteries, I often store them separately.
Lastly, you show a type of bottle that holds up well, but a note to those that might not know. Gallon water jugs that look like the gallon milk jugs will not hold up for long storage in either a car or house. The plastic in the jug type breaks down over time and then they leak.
Lastly, a video idea. What in a car can be used to improvise in an emergency situation. Even if one has their supplies in their car, someone else may not, like in the I-95 debacle. Or your supplies may have been stolen, or you could be in someone else's car. For example it may be less common these days, I don't know, but my trunk has a liner or carpet that could be pressed into duty for added warmth and other purposes.
Thanks again for the video and I also appreciate the many insightful comments that have been posted.
1' x 6' strips of old carpet work well as traction devices. They can be laid flat or rolled up. They also double as a ground insulator for working on the vehicle. I roll my tire chains in them for easy deployment.
In England, if you breakdown the most important kit is a flask of tea to keep you going for the the half mile walk to the nearest café. Safety 1st.
Good video, Andrew. When I lived in Oregon, I used to keep a bundle of asphalt shingles in my truck. It added needed weight and I could make a makeshift "road" with them to drive out of a snow drift. Good video as always.
Thank you, sir. Remember everyone deployed. God bless you all. All the way. 173rd Airborne!
Who runs Bartertown?!? Ranger does! Great class today Andrew and like you said, very timely. Growing up in the Mid-West myself (The Gopher State) it was common to have these items or similar set ups, knowledge passed down because we know that weather will do what it wants to do. The coffee can candle heater and a wool blanket was the bare bones I had when I started driving… I went to the local gas station to buy a local road atlas and he commented that it was the first one he remembers selling in years… IMO we’re too digital heavy, and I get it… it’s convenient and easy. But, got to have a PACE plan for navigating, knowing the analog ways won’t let you down if you’re proficient in them (always practice when you can!). I read that many people we’re complaining that Police didn’t come rescue them on the 95… shaking my head,… that says a lot IMO about headspace and timing…Anyways, great stuff as always Andrew! Keep up the Fire!
LIFT EMBARGO!!!!
Blaster grunts gleefully
John Kline the emergency services might not be able to rescue those stranded in the traffic if they’re responding to the situation/incident/accident that causes the back up/traffic stoppage.
Great video!
If I might add my 2 cents.
3.5 million mile trucker here.
I would suggest you always put your water away from other items you can't afford to have wet. Like spare warm clothing. Put water in a cooler or tote so When the water leaks it won't Ruin your life saving supplies.
Also a set of tire chains can get you out of trouble.
Best Wishes from Montana M.H
All good advice for sure for your own vehicles, but I do snicker at the thought of you getting on the bus with 50 other people with your orange home depot bucket. LOL
Long Live the Republic 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 God Bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
LOL, Thought of you when I read about the stranded individuals! Thought....Andrew would have had 50 motorists rounded up & had a 50 x 100 survival lodge constructed alongside the interstate w/ a bonfire, coffee & folks eating venison when rescuers showed up!😁
Love the handcrank on radio, bag of snacks so when you eat your full meal mre you got something else, bathroom idea, extra batteries for flashlight cause I can't tell you how many times you go for that flashlight and those batteries are dead, and obviously the rest!!!
I like listening to this guy who shares the benefits of his wisdom. Tips and tricks make all the difference
It's cool to see what the pros suggest. Things you don't always think about until you need them. I like to see purposeful kits. Catch and cooks. Gear review. But, I do enjoy what your doing. Please continue.
In regard to recovery, although a ratchet strap can most definitely be used in an improvised fashion as a static tow strap, that is one piece of kit I would purchase dedicated equipment for. A kinetic recovery strap/rope (snatch strap) and a pair of soft shackles, all of which, rated for 1.5 times the weight of my vehicle. The snatch strap being designed for hard jerking pulls, which is usually what is needed to free vehicles in snow, sand, and mud to create and maintain momentum necessary for the recovery. The benefits are many; least impactful to vehicle structure from energy transfer, smallest footprint, lightest weight, safest in failure, can be used to tow, can be adapted to be safely used with vehicles that have no dedicated recovery points. Vehicle recovery takes skill and knowledge to be done safely and effectively, last thing you want is a stuck vehicle in a survival situation that is now compounded with a medical/trauma situation.
Best survival channel on RUclips! Always the best most thought out information that can save your life and equip you to survive what is thrown your way. Much respect for you and thank you for your service to this country ... 💪🏻🇺🇸👍🏻
The floor mat tip. Excellent! Empty soup can & tea candles. Squatty Potty. Batting for the cycle. Luv it. Well done.
Back in the 90s, Interstate 70 was closed for several days inside of a couple of days or so 100 people died because the lack of preparedness mostly exposure and carbon monoxide poisoning when stranded on the road always remember keep your windows cracked just a little so that you could breathe real fresh air. Thank you Ranger awesome video very informative. Very thorough.
Great video. My one concern is fire. In the unlikely event you need your fire extinguisher, seconds matter. You have to get out of the car, open the back, open the bucket, and get it out to use it. That might be the one piece of gear I have strapped somewhere near the drivers seat. Keep up the good work!
Great reminder of being prepared. I'm a California lady, but I've always tried to have most of those things in my vehicle for the last 59 years.
Having spend five+ decades in SD, MN, ID & MT these are important things to have! Even a fairly small vehicle can still carry a lot of gear so better to err on the side of having extra especially in the winter. IMO the most important items for winter are snow boots, a heavy coat, mittens and a winter-weight sleeping bag. Obviously you should have tire tools, recovery straps, jumper cables, basic tools, etc- those are core things you need all year around (but a surprising amount of people don't even check to see if they have them!). Flashlights & spare batteries are key. If you have room traction mats are great and the kitty litter can help for sure. Good video!
Great kit, I also have the same items (and a few more lol) even the same duffel lol. I added a tarp and plastic painters drop cloth, not only for potential shelter but also for ground cover in case you need to crawl under a vehicle. Some other items to consider that I carry is knee pads, rain gear, water filter, siphon kit, rope, tire plug kit. Excellent video sir keep up the great work 👍
Good ideas. On the water filter if it is with a membrane (Sawyer mini or the same kind) be carefull as if it is freezing in the car and there is some water left in the filter the ice may broke the filter without letting you know and after you'll drink non filtered water.
@@monlonlabe5016 thats for sure, I just keep a new one in there so there's no worries. Plus as cheap as they are if it was needed in an emergency just replace it with new lol, but good call as I didnt mention that.
For traction to get out of snow I highly recommend carrying some attic vent material. Looks like a giant roll of dish scrubbies.
Just cut some lengths off and they can stow anywhere in the car. Even under the rear floor mats which aren't much help anyway.
As an over the road truck driver for many years yeah I still carry everything except the kitchen sink .I'm prepared to live where I stop. You're right, forethought and planning is key. Most all of my delays and stops have been medical or breakdowns. I always see people broke down, Run out of gas, flat tires the most common. I've been on that Bus adventure and I did not like it at all. Thanks for making the video.
Great video. I just realized I have a coffee cup that you can plug into the cigarette lighter that could heat up some soup or water for coffee. I will test it out and see how long it takes to get the water from cold to hot enough. Thanks for sharing!
I guess there is also a significant crossover between this kit and an urban "get home" bag. You'd need to add some items like a bigger knife, a poncho or tarp for shelter, a stainless water canteen and/or a water filter, and a bivvy for the sleeping bag, to make it completely equivalent.
In regards to a knife 🔪, I suggest, as others would, to check the laws/regulations for the area you’re traveling in/through to make sure what you have in certain areas is legal. What is legal in one state or your area, might not be in others.
Great video Andrew, my truck has a lot of these items, I also carry a military parka , change of clothes and a self inflating air mattress in case in need to get down on the ground, “I’m old”. I’m usually wearing my boots but I do keep xtra foot wear. I have a bag of ice melt in my truck bed. People should my sure they have good tires to. Alan R
Like the yellow tape to help find things easily. As a child, my dad painted tools yellow to make them easy to find.
Since the dawn of my vehicle-owning life, I've always carried a full kit of camping gear, no matter how small the car is. This is a good video for young people to learn from.
For everyone, not just young people. A lot of times young guys know a lot more than the older ones, age is just a number, it's all about whether you're ready to learn or not.
Ever since I started carrying a shovel, I've avoided getting stuck...and that's a long long time. Being prepared really pays off. As always great content and entertainment, lets hope we don't need it.
When I lived in Northern New York during winter I kept alot of items in the trunk of my car,winter sleeping bags with 3 or 4 wool blankets, water, candy, shovel, flashlights, crackers, cookies, scarves, wool socks(extras), boots unless we were wearing them, med kit, duct tape, I bought a floor Jack for car and it and jumper cables stayed a car all times,
A Garmin In Reach is also an excellent tool to have. It allows sending text messages when your cell doesn’t work. It also tracks your GPS location from where you send the message. It also has an SOS button in case you need emergency services
Great content as always! I've driven the ALCAN multiple times and one thing I'd emphasis is if you drive an older car without a pass-through seat to the trunk, never store your kit in the trunk (as seen in this video). If you get rear-ended or your trunk gets pinned against a tree, you won't be able to get access to the kit. This reportedly happened to a driver when I lived in Alaska back in the mid-90's. The driver's car spun off a rural road, rear ended a tree, and the kit bag was trapped in the trunk. The driver, if I recall correctly, froze to death. Also, I'd throw in a VS-17 panel in there too in order to mark your vehicle in case you do become stranded. Again, great video!
That's a sobering reminder, cheers mate. I do have an older car without that nifty pass-thru seat.
My 2015 Passat requires me to pull on a release from the open trunk area to pull down the backseats, which is the dumbest thing. My trunk is full of breakdown/emgx stuff. I keep extras in an ammo can and glove box for now, but need to see what it's going to take to breach the trunk from the back seat area.
I put my water and food in a soft cooler bag, it will keep it from freezing for a while and you can always throw a hand warmer packet in to prolong the the thaw. Not a perfect solution but good for a night
I have a couple of bright safety vests in my kit. If I have to leave the vehicle, I want to make sure that I can be seen under all conditions. They are very light, and pack well.
Excellent stuff, man. Here in the Hell of the Midwest myself, and I've carried an EDC, BOB, and auto emergency kit for 15 years. Keep droppin those gold nuggets. (The Corporal sent me 🤘)
Great ideas, I live in Canada, and I used to buy 2 bags of 1/2 inch gravel in case I got stuck on ice. It's only a few bucks. Also, If I kept water in my truck It would be frozen and not much good.
Best day of the week!
Andrew, I pretty much have the same emergency travel kit that you showed on your channel with one exception and that is having a locker type box. I bought mine from Wal-Mart for $40.00 bucks and I'm pretty sure you can fit most of your kit inside of it, including the potty bucket. Regardless of what I have or used, this was an awesome 👌 video, thank you for making it for all to learn and share.
The Corporal sent me. He was right, your channel appears to be outstanding. Semper Fi.
Great info. I’ve been in 5 white out snow storms in Indiana, Wyoming, Michigan, North Carolina, and Kentucky and here’s what I have learned, heed weather reports and thus at first sign of fog, sleet, ice, freezing rain or snow get off the interstate and onto a state road to nearest motel. If motel is booked camp in parking lot. One more thing, when on the interstate keep gas tank in a full condition, gassing up after each quarter tank of usage. This assures intermittent heat for about 24 hours if you are indeed stuck somewhere for awhile.
All great suggestions! I always take my backcountry hunting pack on any kind of extended distance trip with about 7 days worth of food, sleep system, tent, extra clothes, everything I would take on a week long hunt in the backcountry so I can survive in or away from my vehicle.
As a van dweller we always have portable toilets and showers but thats just accessories
From 95 to 2000, Me an the wife lived in the Leavenworth/ Lansing area, an Denver prior to that. An I was taught to carry an orange signal flag that I could attach to my CB radio antenna, as it was an 8'ft whip antenna. Mainly if I went offroad or broke down on the I-70 corridor, for those blue northerns that hit the kansas prairies. I would think a magnetic antenna on the top of a stranded vehicle would work just fine in this day an age, easy to keep behind the seat, or stowed in the trunk. An yes we carried pretty much all of the gear your mentioned, but I also carried a Hi- lift jack an 2x6's or other dunnage. JIC I ran into problems along the I-70 or backroads of the area, never needed any of it, but glad to have if needed, an carried all that gear for the 30 yrs I was up in snow country, whether the rockies, or the midwest, or the upper east coast. Thx for the vid
Dont forget the toiletpaper,It's good for all kinds o' $hit!!;)
I like to see a calm man explaining really good survival tips, without a sense of catastrophism or anxiety that other survival channels have, only to do views. You know how to teach and you do it with a calm natural voice and professionality. Remember: it wouldn't be with the fear and anxiety that I have seen in many who are involved in preparation that we would be able to resist to any survival situation.
I am very interested in survival, self-sufficiency and being able to be autonomous but for pity's sake I reject the mentality of those who prepare themselves (like some preppers) believing that their safety will derive only from their stocks, and from Them, they accumulate with something of fear and a sense of catastrophism. Those who have faith do not be afraid, give their best in every opportunity and believe and will never be abandoned. Therefore no sense of anguish in learning these techniques, or a somehow hidden sense of catastrophism.
Bless you and keep going mate!
I couldn't agree with you more.
@@wmluna381 Thank you and be blessed! ☺️
As always, top shelf tips. I’m going to add the squatty potty to the kit I keep in my Jeep Cherokee. The one thing I recommend is a set of chains to go on the the tires. Here in SW Virginia I’ve wished, on more than one occasion, that I had put them in. So now at the beginning of winter they go in the vehicle and stay until winter.
This is probably the best comment. With tire chains you can drive through some very severe conditions…. Negating the need for the rest of the stuff
Very good. Consider adding insulated coveralls, micro spikes, a tarp, and a 24" saw. Good Luck, Rick
CB and GMRS radios, and cell phone power bank. Excellent video Major ! Regards and best wishes for '22
Ditto on the power bank.
yep..yep...yeah..yeah..yep...uhhuh..ya...you're the man andrew.
Great video! I like how you packed everything. I was stranded recently and had to wait 2 hours in cold Michigan weather for road service. Fortunately I had a blanket in my van. Found out that I needed an extra pair of gloves because mine got wet from removing snow from my van. Added a warmer blanket too. My battery died on my new used van so I could not run the heater. In the winter I keep my gas tank at least half full. Also, the Toyota dealer said the batteries in my key fob need to be replaced every two years or you will have a hard time starting your vehicle like I did. I have a 2018 Toyota Sienna with a push button start. Will add more supplies for emergency. Thank you for your service for our country! My son-in-law is a U.S. Army veteran.
Recently heard of these. Used by general aviation pilots. Can be used by ladies while seated in a vehicle. Might have been useful when stranded in that bus. Several versions available.
Travel John Resealable Disposable Urinal Bags (TJ1N) - 6 Pack
INSTANTLY TURNS TO GEL! - HOLDS 28 FLUID OZ (800cc)
If you look up section 3 on the SDS of most of these products, including those little single use 'poo' packets, you will see the main 'ingredient' is sodium polyacrylate.
This is basically the polymer that is absorbent diaper crystals, fake snow powder, and that gardening water retention stuff.
Depending on where you source the polymer in bulk (garden centers, feed stores, science or craft stores, etc.) you can DIY these urine/poo bags pretty easy.
Just gotta be sure to get the quality brand name quart freezer bags or gallon bags (which are said to be 3 mil thick). A quart bag is around 900 millimeters. They also sell 4-mil bags in varying sizes for extra security.
The thickness is key for leak prevention and better odor containment. Trash compactor bags are 8-gallons & 3 mil thick, which are sturdy and perfect for 5-gallon buckets.
Obviously, you have to be a little strategic when freestyling with a loose bag, but one can also finagle some sort of stiff circle out of a 3"-4" flattened piece of cardboard or thin hard plastic where you would flip the bag's open end over and around it to place and hold more securely over/against the nether regions. Much like you do with the excess top piece of a new garbage bag placed in a garbage can. Helpful for the ladies.
A little extra deodorizer or fragrance is usually added to the ready-made commercial urine bags. One product has lemongrass and citric acid as additions. Citric acid is readily obtained and a lemony essential oil could sub. Who's to say a little baking soda wouldn't work either (for those who hate All Fragrance).
With that, you could also place those elderly/disabled medical bedpan/commode pads in a zip loc. They have the same polymer absorption deal going on and come in big, cheap multipacks.
If you find big kid, adult diapers, puppy or bed pads on clearance, you can drop those at the bottom of a bag inside a bucket as well to catch the action. For some reason, I always see new bags of adult incontinence items at the thrift store.
You'll also find that some of these pricey vomit, blood, and spill clean up specialty products contain very simple things like perlite, vermiculite, sawdust, and coco coir. One vomit/blood product I came across was literally just sawdust with pine scent added.
(I went down a weird internet rabbit hole on poop, pee, and other bio & environmental clean up one day for many hours... 😶)
I personally keep a bucket with the flip lid attachment which contains repackaged old-school cat litter, cedar pet shavings, a box of baking soda, toilet paper rolls, wipes & small hand sanitizer in the trunk. Then there's a few of those thrift store adult diaper pads in gallon ziplocs stowed away up front. I have extra Ziplocs in case there is a double bagging emergency.
I also have to keep a small tarp on hand to hang to section off & create a covered private area inside if the weather is hellacious or with one of the car doors open. This includes the use of heavy duty magnets and/or large plastic clips. My oldest is squeamish with anything bathroom related being done in family-public or public-public. 😑
@@wmluna381 Thank you for sharing your research.
I see you have a 1lt fire extinguisher may I recommended 2 2lt extinguishers and keep one at the front and one at the back for quick access. Great vid many thanks
Another thing if I could suggest is to have in that car kit is a way to treat and/or filter water (preferably both ways) with an extra couple containers (preferably metal to boil/cook in) or hydration bladders, etc., as many highways often cross creeks, streams and rivers, etc.. if you are on or near a bridge and need water, you might be able to drink or use the water to cook with from under a bridge after you treat, filter or boil it, to make it safe for consumption.
Those thick black plastic bags are good for added warmth, just cut neck and arm holes into them. For the crapper that Kitty Liter would work in a pinch....no bun intended. Thanks for the good info Ranger.
2 items I would add: 1.) a pump, battery jump pack 2.) tools (ANSI or Metric) appropriate for your vehicle.
Great info as usual! My daughter and future son-in-law actually were caught up in that fiasco for 20hrs. He is Airborne and had a lot of those tools, I sent him your link to tweak his kit.
If a truck, then a high lift jack. Must have. Also a come-a-long so that you can hook it up to a tree and pull yourself out. Then a long metal spike. If there is no tree, drive the spike in the ground and use the come-a-long to fasten to that and pull yourself out. You mentioned hatchet or axe. Also a saw, like a Silky Saw. Small, compact, but effective.
Never a better time for this video.
Let's get Andrew to 60,000 subs folks!
An ice box inside the vehicle to store food and water will isolate them and greatly reduce their freezing point.
What would be good too, is a pair of steel toe rain boots. I use them at work. They keep your feet warmer and drier.
Yup, every vehicle I've ever had has had 2 totes in it no matter how much or little of the trunk/bed space it took up. One with emergency gear for people, the other for the vehicle itself.
I'm so glad you addressed bathroom needs. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!!!
I’d add a power bank with interrelated solar for phone power. Also there are toilet seats that attach to a bucket. We keep compressed wood pellets in the lined bucket so we can put more in when it’s used. I’d also add a ham or cb radio
Really good video Andrew. Keep up the good work! Thank you for your service.
Nice stealth license plate good for tolls !
I know many Californians could have used the advice during the Christmas weekend 2021up in the sierras I bet u most items are at home sitting in their garage. Thanks again Andrew
I agree with it being ingrained at a young age in the midwest. I had most of that stuff in my truck without intentionally thinking about it.
I know that bridge. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Great video! One very small thing to consider adding is a hide-a-key. If would be a bummer to get locked out of your running car in the middle of nowhere when it’s 10 degrees out.
A robust kit, I've been in such situation when 23yo in a snow storm so I absolutely agree on your kit. Since then I never ever let my gas tank under half full. Regarding battery I have added a "electrical booster" able to start the car in case of a dead battery, mine or other people's car, like for the fire extinguisher we are not alone on the road !. The booster also serve as a backup battery for electronic device with USB port in case I have to left the car I can recharge my phone to get maps directions or call for help.
What booster do you have? I live in Texas but all I carry in 1 veh is a set of cables. I've been in the market for a starter, battery pack, charger device. Thanks.
@@carlk1183 Check out Project Farm or Scotty Kilmer's channel. They have links to the ones they've tested and recommend. One of them was a Goo-Loo, Imazing, TopVision, one of the Noco's, and Fantik.
I need to get one of these as well and have them on my Amazon wishlist for price tracking. They are running anywhere from $80-$120 depending on the day.
@@wmluna381 Thanks for the info! I'll look them up.
This video will probably save lives. Thank you for this! I’m here to learn how to road trip safely in the winter from the Canadian Prairies to the American Midwest. This looks like a great list of gear to start from. I appreciate you!
Check out your jack and associated hardware. Drove my truck for 15 years before needing it. Missing most of the stuff. Never came in the truck! Check for it when you purchase. I keep thinking about getting one of the long jacks.
I’ve watched quite a few of your presentations and have made a number of changes to my pack/kits per your recommendations/demonstrations. One thing I’ve utilized for a lot of years are nylon mesh ‘ditty’ bag for storing those small, loose items stored in the smaller kits. They are see-through, allowing quick ID of the particular contents in said kit. I primarily carry a pack at all times I’m in the field and have different colored mesh bags to quickly identify the different kits stowed in the pack, for quick access. Believe me, I do carry 100mph tape and spare baggies for ‘utility’ purposes.. A great place to start looking for these mesh bags is REI. THANK You for your service and sharing your experiences and knowledge…
Great video. I use styrofoam cooler for anything that could freeze, or get too hot, water etc. I leave in car year around. Use items in cooler, (so don’t outdated) if not needed for emergency then restock. Hot in summer and below zero in winter in my area.
I’ve been waiting for this!!!
Thank you so much!!!
I’m sharing with all my family and friends..
My 4x4 pickup is a single cab and has a toolbox which works perfectly well for storage…
But no topper for shelter…
That’s where I must improvise and adapt to what I do have to make it work …
Both my pickup and my suv must be equipped…
Working on it..
May we all be blessed with safety in travels…
🥰
The kitty litter can be used in your bucket to help conserve your bags and also to help with the smell if you’re stranded for a long period of time.
I keep a road flare in my back pack, also. The candles and can are an excellent idea.
G'day Andrew, whilst I do have a very similar kit, I still learned a shipload from this vid and it's apparent a few upgrades are in order, many thanks mate !!!!
No snow where I am, more rain, wind and mud during our winter, but the principles are still the same; fair to say, for all 4 seasons in fact.
A couple of those cheap poly tarps, with extra cordage and carabiners have a myriad of uses.
I do carry a small multimeter and a couple of methods for wiring repair. Spare fuses always good too and pays to get HD and LONG jumper cables, since you can't always park nose to nose. I might even go for one of those starter packs, particular brands/models are supposed to be very good.
I put First Aid in the glove compartment, a fire extinguisher and glass breaker within reach, in case you're trapped or incapacitated in the drivers seat.
Since I only run an AWD SUV, I was think'n about a hand winch, maybe a block & tackle, but more thought required on that one.
Cheers Duke.
P.S. Re: road atlas; there is a mob here by the name of Spatial Vision, that produce outstanding mapbooks and are available in digital format too. They are primarily designed for key first responders. You get various map scales, from 1:20,000 through 1:150,000, with contour lines, as well as the Military Grid Reference System, (MGRS), GPS data and much, much more. Not cheap, but not exorbitant either and there's not better data and detail available to the public to my knowledge.
I expect your main audience will be in country, so I wonder if you have something similar in the U.S. ?
Hey, thanks for you and what you do.
8hr tealights are cheap and compact compared to the size of the tealight you have in that heater tin.
Back when I commuted to the next city on the map, I used to pack a thermos of hot water with a view of if I got stuck I could make a hot drink or food without having to wait.