Whether your vehicle is brand new or has logged more than its fair share of mileage, you never know when car troubles might arise. And there may be no worse time to be unprepared for vehicle issues or any other type of emergency than during a road trip, when you’re a long way from home, far from your friends and family — and a great distance from your trusted mechanic.
Before you hit the road for your next vacation, prepare yourself for the unexpected by putting together a car-emergency kit, plus a general survival kit so you’re prepared should you find yourself stranded in harsh conditions. Either of these can be purchased from a retailer as a kit, or you can assemble them on your own.
Below, we’ve put together lists of some basic essentials to consider for each of these kits. Neither list is exhaustive, so you can add to them as you see fit — and you may want to tailor them based on the weather conditions in the areas in which you’ll be driving:
Basic car-emergency kit
- Jumper cables
- Car cell phone charger
- Ice scraper
- Flares or reflective warning triangle
- Cat littler or sand for better tire traction in icy conditions
- Quart of extra motor oil
- WD-40
- Duct tape
- Multi-purpose tool (such as a Leatherman)
- Fire extinguisher
Survival kit
- Emergency blankets and/or warm clothing
- Paper map or atlas
- Bottled water, or water bottles and water-purification tablets
- Non-perishable, high-calorie energy and protein bars
- Waterproof matches or lighter
- First aid kit
- Scent-free baby wipes
- Hand warmers
- Flashlight and batteries
- Tarp
- Ponchos
- Small, battery-powered fan
Once your vehicle is prepped for the unpredictable and ready to roll, why not plan an epic road trip to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand? Check out our specials and book your getaway to Caribbean Resort & Villas today — you’ll give yourself and your family a long list of reasons to get excited about a trek to the Carolina Coast!
