can o fix a flat. anything else slows me down. (cant have that!)

 

I make sure to keep a fire extinguisher in my car at all times. It is just a simple type BC dry chem that i used to keep on a boat but it is good for the peice of mind. I am probably going to be replacing it with a Halon or something like that in the not to distant future.

I should probably put some jumper cables in there to, there have been times when i could have used them too.

 

When I was at the auto store, I made a mental note to put together a kit. I guess I need to get busy with it since I have a road trip weekend after next.

 

Bump for this thread, given that we are about to have several large long-distance motoring events (AMVIV, MOTD, MTTS) in the next few months.

To this kit, I added a cheapie leatherman tool and a couple more tools. I now carry a clutch slave cyl (I've been through 2 replacements in the past 2 years) and a spare belt (now that I'm running a pulley) with the tensioner tool.

 

I have absolutely nothing in my car. In the glove box is all the manuals and stuff like that, a pack of MINI playing cards (thank you Hendricks MINI), tire pressure gauge, and a small can of lysol. In the boot I have a 3 d-cell battery Maglight with a mount screwed into the side of the boot, looks freakin sweet. Its good for lighting for roadside maintenance, incase my headlights go out I can still see, and personal protection. Its a bout 14 inches long and aluminum, it can do some serious damage.

 

I'm an Eagle Scout, so you may have heard the old saying, "Be Prepared."

I have a compact LED Flashlight, phillips and flat head screwdrivers, a TORX multi-tool, Camillus 3.5" Pocketknife, Cobra 2-Way w/ Weather Band, Back-up battery for my Blackjack, Advil, bandaids, and assorted extra blade fuses. It sounds like a lot, but it doesn't take up much space.

 

I go with nothing, to save weight. Once on a trip though, I took the belt tensioner tool.

 

Thanks for the good advice, agranger. I've been thinking about outfitting our new MINI with the essentials. It's now on the top of my TO DO list.

 

Update:

At the Dragon in '08 I used the tow strap to tow a big American POS (late '90s Chrysler of some sort that was worth about $500) off the road when his car broke down... I got lots of honks as the midnight on the Dragon folks rolled by! It was a local who had gone out to the Cherokee casinos and lost all his cash. Once we got his car safely to a pull-off, I ran him to the top of the dam where he called his relatives (all drunk... heh!), who came and got him the next day. I was able to leave him with some water and granola bars to keep him fed and more comfortable until they showed up 12-13 hours later.

 

Siphons don't work on newer cars. There is a roll over checkvalve in the filler neck of the tank to prevent spills. It also prevents siphoning.

 

Yep... I've had a hard time with it. I got gas once, but that was after 10-15 minutes of playing with the siphon. Definately not as easy as before.

 

Not sure how my search turned this thread up, but hey, it's a great thread! agranger -- kudos on posting it, even if a lot of us already do it.

I have in mine:

* 14" MAGLITE -- like somebody said: good for light & self defense (I have them in each of my vehicles and a couple in key places around the house)
* Velcro 1st aid pouch -- standard for Euro cars (mine came with the MINI)
* Warning triangles -- also standard for Euro cars
* reflective belt and/or vest -- used that ALOT on the autobahn w/my military convoys
* 2-way radios -- for club events and just good to have for multi-veh long travel
* rain jacket -- it weighs less than an ounce! It's a water proof golf thingie (NOT a golfer)
* bug spray (OFF)
* sunblock
* detail kit (wipe cloths, glass cleaner, etc.)
* MINI (ha ha ha) leatherman -- called a "squirt"
* Misc tools: vise grips, multi-function screw driver, wrenches, etc.
* gloves (cold weather & protection gloves)
* umbrella
* Kleenex/tissues

I used to have a nice kit for my truck, but with storing / shipping vehicles internationally, all my cool stuff has been spread around the rest of my house. Hm. Gotta find those!

 

Well, that explains A LOT..... I recall a recent "experiment" involving a certain well-prepared MINI and a Super-Mod with no gas at midnight....

 

Heh... yep. I got it to siphon once, but didn't have a catch can. I stopped the flow and left the tube where it was, went and got the fuel-needing car but couldn't get the flow started again!

I've got an idea now about adding a fuel take-off just downstream of the fuel pump so if I ever hit that situation again, I can just turn a couple valves and have my own mobile gas station.

 

Dude, you are TOO much!

 

Ah, great thread! I'm going to start getting some of this stuff together for when my MINI arrives.

 

I finally found an emergency triangle. $10. Latches on to side of car at window. Now I feel more complete. I'll have to reorganize my kit soon.

There was an article in the NY Times last week about a guy who had a survival kit in an Altoids tin. I'll have to work on that too.

 

MINI makes a triangle for their European spec cars... on the '06 or earlier models, it attached to the underside of the privacy shelf over the rear storage in the boot.

 

What's a privacy shelf? Is it just on hardtops?

 

I recently converted all my maglites to LED's. They are great. Check them out. I recommend the conversion kit by maglite. I was getting ready to give them all away, but love them with the new bulbs. Like a whole new light. Smoother beam pattern, better color of light, and much more efficient.

 

Yup - actually the '07 models (to be driving in Europe, not just Euro spec - mine's US spec) came with the triangles in a neat little plastic blue box that clips into a cubby hole in the hatch itself. The 1st aid kit is a red zippered soft-side pouch that velcros to the side of the boot well. Both the triangles and the 1st aid kit are mandatory for driving in Europe -- can't get registered w/out them, and can get tickets and BIG fines for not having them if stopped by the coppers.

Oh, one thing I forgot to point out (kind of a duh, but always forgotten!) At least once a year check the shelf life and servicability of everything in your kit -- especially the 1st aid stuff. Make sure everything is still "good" and hasn't expired, and is still in good shape. The 1st aid kits are always the last to be checked, and unfortunately most often the first to be needed! But make the yearly check either on YOUR birthday month, or your MINI's birthday month.

 

Kinda crazy to carry all that stuff in a Mini.. I had things like that in my liftted,geared, lockered Bronco. That truck would get me anywhere and I took it crazy placed. If there was a fire or some other disaster I would be fine. But a mini? If you get more than 4 inches of water your mini will float away.

 

Well, actually, Bang110 - it's like we said before...this stuff isn't necessarily for US...but for other stranded motorists. Ok, I need the sunblock - I burn.

 

True.. I would carry a TON of extra stuff in the Bronco. But that was a tank and had a ton of room.

I carry a small compressor, tire patch kit and as soon as I get my SC pulley put on I will carry an extra belt for it.

I just came from having a truck where I could carry anything extra I needed for either me or other people. I helped a ton of people out with some of the stuff. But the Mini is just too little.

 

Yep... it's a little shelf that covers the area between the headrests of the back seat to the bottom of the boot glass so passers-by can't look down and see what's in your boot (bum lookers!).