Putting Together Something for my Significant Other

S

steelscout30

Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
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I had a real eye-opening experience the other night. My girlfriend ran out of gas on US30, made it up an off-ramp to OH61, was left out in the cold. She called me, and when I arrived on the scene I was shocked at the lack of preparedness.

I now drive a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab Z71 4x4, which is a work truck for our family business, Bucyrus Road Materials. It is equipped with a roadwork yellow light bar, which I turned on. It also has a Boss snowblow, which wasn't necessary at the time, and, most importantly, fuel tanks in the back. I filled her car, followed her to the nearest town, filled her car up for her (she didn't have any cash...her excuse was "I was Christmas shopping" :D), and then came home and got to thinking.

My girlfriend has the worst of luck when it comes to travelling, whether it be getting lost, running out of gas, breaking down, etc. I've decided to help put a kit together to make these things easier on her. It's one of her Christmas presents, you might say. I plan on taking her on a nice camping trip or something and showing her all the finer details of firestarting and such when the first available time comes up...I think she'll like it!

So far, the contents include:
Garmin Nuvi 255 portable GPS system
AAA maps of Ohio
Silva compass
$40 emergency cash (ten ones, two fives, and a ten)
$2.00 in quarters and miscellaneous change (payphones)
Spare cell phone car charger
Spyderco Salt1 folder, plain edge and yellow handles
Victorinox SAK Breast Cancer Awareness Knife
SureFire G2
2 spare CR-123A lithium batteries
Emergency flares
AMK .7 first aid kit
Jumper capables
Miniature shovel
Liquid windshield de-icer
Scraper
Bic lighter
LightMyFire firesteel
LightMyFire Mayadust
32 ounces Nalgene bottle;
inside are several coffee filters and four Kataydn Micropure tablets

Et al...

I want some self-defense item, but I'm going to ask her opnion on that, whether it be a CCW and a small S&W, the new portable Taser, or regular OC spray.

Have any of you thought of a kit similar for your significant others, whether you are a woman with a survival uninitiated man, or a man with an uninitiated woman? I tried to be thorough, I think subconsciously so, because I also drive her car. :D

God bless.

KATN,

Wade
 
My wife has a bag in her car. A box of strike anywhere matches, small gas can, jumper cables, FAK, multitool, cliff bars, etc....
 
I have something similar in each vehicle and then some. I try to let my wife know what/where things are but she just gets a glazed look. So I tell her and the kids often. Car kits are a great idea though. Good on you!
 
No offense, but there is bad luck and not paying attention. My wife has been guity of the latter also. My wife has ran out of gas, killed her battery by leaving the lights on, flat tire from hitting a curb etc. Yes I got her a aaa card and battery charger, even a new car that will tell her when its time to get gas and automaticaly shut off the lights. It still drives me nuts when I get in the car and see it is on empty! It is not good for an engine to run on fumes!

Why can't they just pay attention? I know, I know, My wife could mention a few dumb things I do also......
 
sounds like a nice set up...:thumbup: make sure she knows about everything in there (except for the $$$) and is familiar with it all...

my wife, who is a knife nut and gear head, carries a pack averyday while at work... it has a little of everything in it... actually she can proably live out of it for a few days and be just fine......:)
 
How about a blanket or something else for warmth. Maybe some spare clothes.

Tonym, I think my wife and your wife studied from the same book. I put a pretty high dollar set of rims and tires on her car...they don't look too nice now and we have replaced 2 tires already. Not to mention how many times I have repaired the front airdam on her car because she ran it up on a parking lot curb thing and pulled it half way off. Now she drives a Toyota 4x4. The tires seem to hold up a bit longer, :)
 
some bottled water
energy bars
extra blanket
small candle maybe
if ccw is an option maybe a small .38 cal revolver ? with some extra shots
good multi tool
 
I got my wife a dedicated 12 volt cell phone charger since we only had one and were switching it between vehicles. Your kit looks great. A little preparedness goes a long way. My wife also runs her car fuel down too far. We live 30 miles from town so at times I end up driving her car so at least if it does run out she's not in it. As for flat tires, my turned too sharp in a parking lot, hit a curb and both passenger side tires went flat. I should have been mad, but the look on her face and the explanation that followed were "priceless". I just laughed.
 
I am not sure if it was already mentioned, but if snow/ice is a problem maybe a small bag of kitty litter for traction? I was driving a 2WD car home, and it saved me on a few occasions. Of course, that was when I first started driving and didn't have a 4x4.
 
Have a mechanic set up the low fuel signal to go off at one quarter left and have the sound changed from a suttle ping that most have to a loud fingernail scrapeing against a blackboard sound.

Bet she never lets the gas run out again,

John
 
I have set up a similar setup in my wifes Subaru that is stored in a Rubbermaid tuff bin:
spare shoes and socks
poncho
jumper cables
spare fluids for pretty much everything
road flares
aerial flares
knife
SF G2LED w/ spare batts
2 cold weather MRE's
zip ties
fix-a-flat
radiator sealer
headlamp
gloves


that's pretty much all I can think of off the top of my head. I need to add a phone charger, pre paid phone card, some cash
 
Unless your putting a ring on her finger I would keep it a little more basic and cheaper, or easy to remove from her car. :D
 
steelscout30 said:
Garmin Nuvi 255 portable GPS system
AAA maps of Ohio
Silva compass
$40 emergency cash (ten ones, two fives, and a ten)
$2.00 in quarters and miscellaneous change (payphones)
Spare cell phone car charger
Spyderco Salt1 folder, plain edge and yellow handles
Victorinox SAK Breast Cancer Awareness Knife
SureFire G2
2 spare CR-123A lithium batteries
Emergency flares
AMK .7 first aid kit
Jumper capables
Miniature shovel
Liquid windshield de-icer
Scraper
Bic lighter
LightMyFire firesteel
LightMyFire Mayadust
32 ounces Nalgene bottle;
inside are several coffee filters and four Kataydn Micropure tablets
Click to expand...

With that kind of equipment, Im sure she's gonna be ok :) Make sure that the knife is within easy reach... its good to have the means to cut the seat belts if necessary.

A few ideas... maybe youd wanna add one of those bright yellow reflector vests (dont know what their called in english...) U know, like this:

50965020.jpg


Also, Ive noticed that CR123 flashlights are extremely bright, but they eat batteries like crazy. So, Id personally prefer a 2xAA LED light, you can easily find one that has 6+ hours of battery life. Or, get both :D Chemical light sticks are great for signaling etc because they pretty much have endless shelf life, and are weather resistant. You can just thrown them in the trunk and forget about them.

I also have warm clothes in my car, and Ive been thinking about throwing an old sleeping bag in there. Just in case I get stucked in some forest road and its snowing like hell. Actually, maybe I should add some candles too...
 
If it's legal in your jurisdiction (which I'm assuming it is), I'd throw in a can of bear spray until the question of a firearm is resolved. They have pretty good range and can suppress several bad guys.

DancesWithKnives
 
+1 on the "hit-me" vest, seems that breakdowns happen on foggy nights more than not, and I've picked up guys who wished that in the dark people could see them to stop to help.. funny the last one was a rig worker who had his safety overalls in his truck...
I guess I'm just one of those lucky guys who found a girl who likes to be prepared, even if she relys on my stuff when we are together, I know that she can take care of herself pretty well, (even though I wish she could keep more stuff at work, but it would just get stolen)

As for poor drivers, the quick-lube shop I used to work at had just as many guys as girls drive there car into the work pit. apparently its hard to figure out which way to turn with someone pointing for you.

no offence, but would you trust a guy friend with a CCW that couldn't handle keeping a car full? I know a lot of people, and although I care about them, I only let them play with picnic knives. I know we all wish that everyone would carry, but we also must admit that a great number of people are not fit to, like any of the people who have taken off their mask on my paintball field "because no one was shooting at them, and it was fogged up" eye-dee-ten-tee ERROR!
 
Reflective vest is a tremendously good idea. Take it from someone who has spent his share of time on the highway working accident scenes, those things are BRIGHT!!

Also, now it is law if there is federal money in the road, EMS/fire are required to be in one of those vests. My wifes uncle pulled over one night to help a female who was broke down. His truck was nose to nose with her vehicle, and her car was struck by another vehicle, sandwiching him between them, and giving him a serious traumatic brain injury. He is not, nor will he ever be the same. Its really sad the shadow of the man that remains. He was one of the best guitar players I have ever heard. He cant even hold one anymore. You might save your life by having one on.
 
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