# What's in your car's trunk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 9, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583 "2005-06-09T13:12:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/1 "2005-06-09T13:12:32Z")
what do you carry for emergency gear in your car? Car; 2002 Dodge Neon base model Summer/Fall; jumper cables full-size spare tire on an old rim from my Dodge Shadow (so i lose a _little_ cargo space, so what, i _HATE_ temp-spares) small 2-ton hydraulic floor jack (i also hate the mediocre “scissors” jack car manufacturers supply with the car) Kryptonite braided Krypto-cable (12 footer) used primarily to lock my bike to the roof rack when i’m in less-secure areas, i suppose i _could_ use the cable for other emergency things like a tow or pull cable lightweight jacket (just in case) ballistic nylon straps with spring clips on the end, normally used to secure my kayak to the roof rack, but you never know when a good set of straps might come in handy my old Fila Taos mountain bike (normally it lives on the roof rack, but it goes in the trunk when it’s raining, and it’s raining today) Spring/Winter all of the above, minus the bike, _and_ with the following added… sleeping bag spare heavy jacket, hat, and ski gloves the full size tire on the rim is one of my old snow tires on another spare Shadow rim so, what’s your emergency kit? ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/2 "2005-06-09T13:17:10Z")
Car: 1999 VW Beetle What’s in my trunk? A bag of potting soil and an empty gun case. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/3 "2005-06-09T13:22:42Z")
I have a mini-van so I have no trunk, however I do have a stove in the back of my van. No, not a camp stove, an actual stove. It’s not hooked up of course. There’s also a small desk in the backseat. I’ve found that vans make for handy storage buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/4 "2005-06-09T13:59:55Z")
Right now the list includes: - temp spare - bumper jack - tire iron - 2 empty gallon milk jugs (left from when the radiator sprung a pin hole leak) - 1 brick (to help hold milk jugs upright when filled with water) - baseball glove - 2 baseballs - bag of catcher’s gear - clipboard with my daughter’s softball team info (I coach) - daughter’s ball bag with bat, helmet, glove, water bottle, etc. - 3 fishing rods - tackle box - bait bucket So I’m all set. If I’m stranded in the widerness I can fish for food and play baseball for entertainment. Who could possibly need anything else? Oooh, that reminds me - I’ve got to put my jumper cables back in there! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/5 "2005-06-09T14:06:58Z")
2002 Kia Rio A cardboard box with low sides, so I can put grocery bags into it and not have them slide all over the trunk and spill. An old shower curtain, for when I’m moving plants, compost, etc. (April through November) The ice scraper. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/6 "2005-06-09T14:07:53Z")
I drive a van, so no trunk. Jumper cables, oil funnel, trailer hitch, ice scraper, snow brush, spare jacket, and some flares all live in a rubbermaid container. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/7 "2005-06-09T14:22:32Z")
Right now, an empty bottle of Tide detergent and a giant stain. It spilled on the way home from the laundromat. In the winter, I keep a kit in a giant Rubbermaid tub, complete with the following: emergency car kit with jumper cables, flares, etc first aid kit heavy-duty windshield scraper large metal shovel small metal shovel (trowel) kitty litter or sand heavy gloves, boots, wool socks, hats, scarves blankets granola bars I do a lot of long-distance driving. My mom put the kit together. She went a little overboard, but if I did end up in a ditch, I’d be glad of it, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/8 "2005-06-09T14:57:10Z")
What car? I have no car. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/9 "2005-06-09T15:01:52Z")
12" Sub with amp Gas can A 120-something piece tool kit Jumper cables I highly recommend the gas can. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/10 "2005-06-09T15:12:17Z")
2000 Nissan Pickup, with a bed-mounted tool box. jumper cables, flares, reflectors, ID panels, smoke markers, etc. tool kit, jack, tire iron trauma kit blankets, gloves, rain gear car vacuum stadium seats entrenching tool 2 gallons water MREs SlimJim car window jimmy bug-out bag, with spare clothes, shoes, emergency cash ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/11 "2005-06-09T15:16:26Z")
Going from memory: [ul][li]Skateboard[/li][li]Rollerskates in bag[/li][li]various knee and elbow pads and helmet[/li][li]2 pairs of basketball shoes (mine)[/li][li]various other shoes belonging to **OhFace** [/li][li]cargo net[/li]4 cardboard boxes to be used for an upcoming move[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/12 "2005-06-09T16:40:36Z")
And the winner of ther “Prepared to the point of looking paranoid” award goes to **silenus**. I am a little dismayed that nobody said they had any vestige of first aid supplies until the seventh post. As for me, I’m not traveling in arctic cold or desert heat, so thinks like blankets and ice scrapers are needless. I do have the full-size spare that came with the vehicle. Under the back seats are fix-a-flat, flares the jack and jumper cables. In the way-back are a small tool kit and first aid kit. Just the basics for urban life. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/13 "2005-06-09T16:56:11Z")
My Cherokee does not have a trunk, but a rear cargo area. This is what I have, based on memory: [ul][li]An [REI Backpacker First Aid Kit](http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47901894&parent_category_rn=4500543&). Mine is an older model than the one pictured. I have two kits: One is attached to my ‘grip bag’, and the other is in the Jeep. I bought them after an accident occured on a film set and I used up nearly the entire contents of my old Johnson & Johnson kit that I had in the glove box.[/li][li]A ‘survival kit’ containing a small pocket knife, a magnesium fire starter, some fuel tablets, a ‘space blanket’, a few waterproof matches, and some Charms candy. It’s in an LC-1 compass pouch.[/li][li]A ‘roadside assistance’ kit containing a flashlight/flourescent light/flasher, booster cables, small electric air pump, revlective triangle, cloves, and a couple of other things.[/li][li]A cardboard box containing crap that gathers in the storage space[/li][li]An umbrella[/li][li]A nylon bag containing assorted straps[/ul][/li]Under the seat I have my jack, another set of booster cables, three road flares, and an entrenching tool. I used to carry a rope there as well, in case I, or someone else, needed to be pulled from a ditch or something; but I don’t remember if it’s still there. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/14 "2005-06-09T17:29:38Z")
My truck has no trunk, so I’ll list the contents of the cab and glovebox: Cab: Gallon of antifreeze half-empty bottle of power steering fluid quart of oil jack jumper cables gray tarp lug wrench 9/16 wrench bath towel Glovebox: lug nuts work gloves first-aid kit spare set of points radio, CD changer and owner’s manuals registration proof of insurance ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/15 "2005-06-09T18:13:31Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 2000 Nissan Pickup, with a bed-mounted tool box. > > _snip_ > SlimJim car window jimmy > _snip_ The key for the tool box isn’t on the same ring as the keys for your truck, is it? It would be a shame to be _that_ prepared and then blow it by not being able to get in the tool box once you locked your keys in your car (or lost them altogether). Also: > [@](#): > > bug-out bag, with spare clothes, shoes, emergency cash For when you have to dive out of your girlfriend’s window naked and don’t have time to gather your things lest dear old dad tag you with the 12-gauge. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/16 "2005-06-09T18:14:04Z")
In my trunk, I have a large Rubbermaid Container, and in that container are the following: [ul] [li]Jumper cables in a neat little circular bag.[/li][li]2 quarts of motor oil[/li][li]Rope (see bungie cords above)[/li][li]Adjustable Emergency Belt (I’m not sure what I’d use it for, but it’s there anyway)[/li][li]First Aid kit[/li][li]1 can of de-icer (ice scraper is in glove compartment)[/li][li]extra tampons[/li][li]Wool blanket (see bungie cords above)[/li][/ul] I also have a spare tire in the tire compartment, plus a 2 ton floor jack and a crowbar. …This is such a weird post, since I cleaned out my trunk last night. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/17 "2005-06-09T18:22:06Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > The key for the tool box isn’t on the same ring as the keys for your truck, is it? It would be a shame to be _that_ prepared and then blow it by not being able to get in the tool box once you locked your keys in your car (or lost them altogether). > Also: > > For when you have to dive out of your girlfriend’s window naked and don’t have time to gather your things lest dear old dad tag you with the 12-gauge. 😃 Actually, I carry a key card in my wallet for when I lock my keys in the truck. The jimmy is for breaking into student vehicles when they lock \*\*their \*\* keys inside! Living as I do in earthquake country, it is just prudent to have spare clothes somewhere. Not to mention having a change when you trash what you are wearing changing a tire or something like that. Really, I’m not paranoid… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/18 "2005-06-09T18:37:50Z")
You must have been an epic boyscout. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/19 "2005-06-09T18:52:07Z")
A jacket. A first aid kit. A phone book. A puzzle magazine. An umbrella (actually, normally rides inside the car, but sometimes it’s in the trunk). Jumper cables (unless they’re in the other car). ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583/20 "2005-06-09T19:18:48Z")
Car: 2005 Mazda Mazda3 - A blanket that snaps into a sleeping bag. - Tire chains bought in Reno, Nevada after a nasty snowstorm (never used) - Winter coat - Cujo\* water (in the back seat) - shoes (never taken out after recent road trip) - donut spare, jack and tire iron. \*my mom carried a gallon of water in her car for decades after reading Cujo, and I picked up the habit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-cars-trunk/307583.md?page=2)