The average car is usually filled with such useful items as old parking tickets, empty food packets and, if you're lucky, a misshapen Mars bar wedged under the passenger seat. Trouble is, not even a glovebox full of Bon Jovi CDs will be of much help in the event of a breakdown or some extreme weather.
It’s at these times when you may wish you’d cleared your car of clutter and equipped it with a few everyday essentials that could get you out of a tight spot. We’re not talking a full-on Bear Grylls, off-grid survival pack complete with machete – just some simple items to keep man and motor running smoothly.
01 Fix a flat
Thankfully if you're not a Sébastien Loeb wannabe Scandinavian flicking your way around dirt tracks, punctures are rare occurrences. But if you're unlucky enough to fall foul of a flat, carrying the right gear will make all the difference.
A can of tyre sealant and a 12v compressor or foot pump can be a basic fix, but nothing can beat carrying a proper spare wheel. Just be sure the tire isn't perished and it's properly inflated.
Check your jack and wheel wrench are still in-situ, and if you've got locking wheel nuts, don't lose the key! Keeping your vehicle's manual handy will familiarise you with jacking point locations.
02 Winter woes
When motoring in cold weather, a can of de-icer is a must, and so is an ice scraper. A neat trick to quickly and effectively clear internal windscreen condensation before your heater warms up is to wipe it away with a normal household squeegee.
Stashing a blanket in the trunk could be a life-saver if you break down in freezing conditions, and it'll come in handy in any season should you need a nap in a service station.
Finally, just like their drivers, cars don't always like waking up in cold conditions. You could try fuelling it with an espresso, but jump leads will provide a better boost.
03 On the right track
Sat nav is a terrific driving aid, so be sure you always have the right power cable on board for your sat nav unit or smartphone, as well as a 12v USB adapter if your vehicle doesn't have a dedicated USB charging port.
A decent mounting cradle will make the difference between a sat nav being insufferable and invaluable.
And should the unthinkable happen and you lose a satellite link or your phone dies, an old paper road atlas is far better than a blank screen; although make sure it wasn’t last revised back in 1992.
04 Health and safety
Watch too many YouTube videos of Russian dashcam footage and you may want to drive everywhere with an entourage of ambulances. At the very least, carrying a basic first aid kit is wise, not only if you encounter an accident, but also for treating everyday ailments while on your travels.
Just don't forget to check it from time to time and replace any expired items. You'll also thank yourself for packing some long-life energy food (that won't melt in hot weather) and a can or two of energy drink should you stray from civilisation and the going gets tough.
05 Roadside repairs
Even the latest and greatest cars blow bulbs and run out of windscreen washer fluid. You can keep less frequently used bulbs in the garage, but dipped beam headlight bulbs are vital and blow most often, so keep a pack on board and know how to fit them.
In addition to a bottle of washer fluid, that ice scraper will come in handy for dislodging persistent pigeon poo. A basic tool kit including a socket set, extension bars and Torx bits could help you mend your motor away from home, but you'd be amazed at what can be fixed with just a roll of duct tape and some zip ties.
