A duffle bag with side and...
A duffle bag with side and end pockets is the perfect starting point for building your own custom roadside emergency kit. It will allow you to store tools, parts, clothes, fluids, and more in one easy-to-grab bag. You can choose to take it out for short drives/local shows and only use it for the longer trips, leave it in the car permanently, or even move it to another car. This is our kit for our '66 Mustang and includes a tool kit, duct tape, electrical wiring and connectors, jumper cables, flares, blanket, fender cover, hand wipes, and more.
Roadside Emergency Kit
We can remember driving with a group of friends back in our younger days and for whatever reason we had the parking lights on while driving but we forgot to turn the lights off in the broad daylight when we parked the car. Later that evening when it was time to head home we realized our mistake, as turning the key caused nothing more than the telltale click, click, click of a dead battery. Everyone else was leaving and one fellow offered us a jump-start if we had jumper cables. Unfortunately we didn't and he left, leaving us to resolve the dead battery quandary on our own. Our car had an automatic transmission so there would be no push-starts either. This was also in the days before cell phones and as such, resolving the problem became more complicated than it would be today.
In any era it would be nice to be able to help ourselves. As we all know there are many other hazards out there and we learned a lesson that day. It pays to be prepared with a few fundamental things when you go on an outing in your classic Ford, or any car. We decided that day to compile a roadside emergency kit of our own that would contain some things that would help get us back underway in the event of a problem. What would such a kit contain beyond the basic jack and spare tire? Common sense told us that a good fire extinguisher would be near the top of the list.
There's no denying a good...
There's no denying a good fire extinguisher is always a wise precaution. This Pro Series 110 from Kidde is a good choice and size for an automotive application. It's UL rated 1-A 10-B: C and is suitable for use on trash, wood, and paper fires as well as liquids and gases and energized electrical fires. It mounts securely to the floor or other surfaces with a locking metal strap. We found this Kiddie extinguisher for $21.99 at a popular automotive retailer.
After considerable searching, we realized that no one kit would satisfy all of our needs. First of all we wanted a roadside emergency kit that would help us out the next time we needed a jump on the battery. But just jumper cables wouldn't be much good at night if you can see what you're doing. Get the polarity wrong and you can fry all sorts of things. So, obviously, any collection of road safety items must include a good quality flashlight. We also wanted to have a small tool kit on board to help with any doable roadside repairs. We know from experience that the best way to not need tools on a road trip is to bring them along. Don't bring them and you'll need to replace an alternator in a Pep Boys parking lot 100 miles from home with no tools. We surveyed a wide selection of offerings and came up with a portable tool kit that was a good compromise between compact size and being comprehensive enough in selection to be worth bringing along.
We also gave some thought to being visible alongside the road in the event of a breakdown. Flares are a good short-term solution, but they burn out after 15 or 20 minutes and then you're back to being invisible on the side of the road. We found a cool LED roadside safety light that really fills the bill for this need and works for a continuous 24 hours. Follow along with us as we take a look at some of the roadside emergency ideas that we put together for peace of mind on our next classic Ford outing.
Here's a total overview of...
Here's a total overview of our road safety kit. Besides the separate kits, which we will examine in detail, our outfit includes a good-sized blanket. It's good for emergency picnics as well as for other unforeseen circumstances. Although our first aid kit contains a heat reflective survival wrap it isn't as good as a real blanket for keeping warm.
One principal component in...
One principal component in our Victor Road safety kit is a good set of jumper cables. They are 10-gauge and have angled clamps to grab onto the smallest modern battery terminals as well as the heavier vintage-style posts. The cables come from Carol Industries and are available separately for about $15.95.
As mentioned earlier if you're...
As mentioned earlier if you're trying to do anything at night with your car, especially connecting jumper cables, you need a good flashlight. We like this Rayovac Sportsman for its all-metal construction and the little bit smaller C-sized batteries it uses still have a long-lasting capacity.
These standard red road flares...
These standard red road flares are good to have and are included in the kit. They have a 20-minute burn time and then they're gone. A disadvantage to these flares is that they can be difficult for some people to ignite and they constitute a fire hazard in certain environments.
A better solution for a roadside...
A better solution for a roadside warning light is this nifty Ezy Flare Emergency Electronic Flare. It uses LED lamps and their very low current draw allows for a long 24-hour run time. It doesn't burn out, won't cause a fire, and costs only $19.95 at Auto Sports Outfitters.
If you come out to the parking...
If you come out to the parking lot and discover your car has a flat you might be in luck with a can of this tire sealer, which was included in the kit. Check to see if the tire bead is still seated on the rim and if it is you can re-inflate the tire and the sealant in the compound will close a small leak in the tire and get you underway. A small 12-volt compressor is another option too. If you've had a flat while the car is in motion then you're probably out of luck because the tire bead will be separated from the rim of the wheel. Time to get out the jack and spare, which of course is OE on any class Ford car that you may be driving. Take note that if you upgrade to disc brakes be sure to have a spare that will fit over your modern binders. A 14-inch wheel in the trunk will do your 13-inch front brakes no good.