survival kit

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cjd1980

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Sep 3, 2008
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I'm loking at putting a survival kit to tegther to carry in my truck not to limited in size was going to use a day pack to hold it any recomendations what to include ( i live in vermont and winters get fairly cold here I usualy have a sleeping bag in the truck during the winter
thanks chris
 
since you aren't concerned with size or weight, bigger is better generally. a full size coleman propane stove with one or two burners makes cooking fast and easy and if you have to you can stay in the truck and crack a window.

you should try to cover water, shelter, food and signalling. with a truck you basically have shelter together, but it might be a good idea to have a tent or large tarp with you, something you can setup and sit under or take with you if you need to leave the truck.

i suggest keeping a case of bottled water or one or two of those big gallon jugs of water. this will come in handy even in day to day life when you realize how thirsty you are but you are in the middle of nowhere...

a complete first aid kit is good. even if you don't know how to use it, someone else might if you stop to help at an accident or if you are in a group stranded somewhere.

a telescoping pole with a bright flag or safety vest that you can tie to it is good in case you are snowed in somewhere. you can stick it out the window to make you easier to find if rescuers have to come looking.

a couple sharps (i suggest 14" fiskars, large folding or fixed blade saw, and old hickory butcher knife) are handy and will cover you for just about all your needs. also cheap so if it is stolen or lost or damaged (or needs to be left behind) there is no real heartbreak. a good flashlight or headlamp with plenty of spare batteries is handy in all situations, survival or not.

the sleeping bag is a good idea, i suggest a couple of those AMK space blankets in addition in case it gets even colder or if you have someone in the car with you.
 
Just a list from what I use to carry in my truck...contents varied with season, but it gives you a pretty good idea...

12 foot jumper cables
Wool (surplus) blanket (at least two)
Quality Sleeping bag
Fuel can (2.5 or 5 gallon)
2-ton jack
Water (2-3 x 2.5 gallon; case of bottled water)
Svea 123 backpacking stove with extra bottle of fuel (can use gasoline)
Small pot/mess kit
Toilet Paper (4 individual roles)
Anti-Freeze (1 gallon)
Axe (a good limbing axe)
Motor oil (2-3 x 1qt)
Small pry bar
Brake fluid
Candle Lantern (with extra candles)
Adjustable pliers
Compass
Gas Siphon
Fire Extinguisher
Space Blanket
Heavy parka
Portable Bolt cutters
VS-17 signal panel
Bow saw
Hack saw
Small Shovel (Cold Steel)
Woodman’s Pal or machete
Tow Strap
Washer fluid (1 gallon)
Tow Chain/Cable
Road flares
2-ton come-along (Power Pull)
Emergency strobe light
Utility Rope (60 foot, 3-strand)
Flashlight (LED; consider an inexpensive headlamp for hands free lighting)
Extra Batteries (prefer lithium, they handle extreme temperatures better)
Cable ties (14” x 50)
550 cord (100ft)
WD-40
Bungee set
1200 Watt (constant) inverter
Bailing wire
Lineman's pliers, needle nose pliers
Cyalume (chem.) lights
12V, 260psi compressor and 450
Duct tape (100 mph tape)
Large Garbage bags (2-3)
Amp Portable Jumpstarter (Vector)
Electrical Tape
Utility knife
Gasket tape
Rags (assorted, ½ dozen)
Silicone adhesive/sealant
Leather work gloves
Fix-a-flat (2)
Cover-all set (Aramide/Nomex)
Vehicle 1st Aid Kit*

Of course I added a small pack with a few MRE's, soups/drink mixes, Camelback/water bottle, water filter, fire making kit, change of clothes, work boots, firearm/ammo and you other typical backpacking items in case I had to hike out from a bad situation.

ROCK6
 
Besides your sleeping bag, I think that shelter will be your #1 need during the winter. Get a tarp large enough to keep you dry and out of the wind. You might also want something to help insulate your body heat. Some carry the mylar space blanket, or the larger, more sturdy sportsmans blanket, but another consideration is the Adventure Medical Heatsheet. They offer 3 different versions. A single sized, one sized for 2 people and a lite weight bivy style. All are made to withstand considerable use and are worth the asking price in my opinion. Throw in a couple of Industrial strength drum liners, or similar. They can be used for any number of jobs. Fire! Have a couple of ignition sources that are easy to use with cold/wet hands. During winter, finding dry tinder and kindling might present a challenge, so have it with you. To keep the fire going, a good limbing axe and saw will come in real handy, because you might need to split the wood to get to dry wood inside. Have at least a gallon of water with you, as well as an adequately sized pot w/lid for boiling, cooking and melting snow. Extra socks and other clothing could save your life, depending on your circumstances. Some sort of communication device and signaling tools are a good idea too. Other things to have with you in the PU would be cat litter, shovel, high rise jack and whatever else you think will be necessary.
 
As usual, lots of good advice.

In severe cold, water in a plastic container is, at best, a wrapped icecube. At worst, freezing may rupture the container when some of the water is still liquid - and can leak out all over the place. In metal, it can be melted. Good, therefore, that two have suggested a metal container for heating water (including bottle-shaped cubes) and snow to liquid.

How about a good AM radio so you can keep track of search activities and weather forecasts?

Loud whistle for signaling group. Good where lines-of-sight are limited.

Mirror for signaling aircraft if there is sun.

I would prefer a rectangular/zipper on all sides sleeping bag to blankets, but blankets are better than nothing.
 
Thomas Linton said:
How about a good AM radio so you can keep track of search activities and weather forecasts?

Loud whistle for signaling group. Good where lines-of-sight are limited.

Mirror for signaling aircraft if there is sun.
Click to expand...

Oops, forgot most of my signalling stuff:o You're right Thomas, I do have a small AM/FM/shortwave radio and would recommend some type of H/T (if you have your license) or a portable CB radio; a cell phone is great, just don't forget a vehicle charger (or regular charger if you have an inverter). A whistle and small signal mirror should always be in you kits.

ROCK6
 
cjd1980 said:
I'm loking at putting a survival kit to tegther to carry in my truck not to limited in size was going to use a day pack to hold it any recomendations what to include ( i live in vermont and winters get fairly cold here I usualy have a sleeping bag in the truck during the winter
thanks chris
Click to expand...
outerwear/etc
1. thermal underwear
2. smartwool socks
3. waterproof poncho
4. mylar blanket
tools
1. flashlight (I recommend a Fenix T20 for toughness and versatility) with lithium batteries (Energizer makes lithium AAs) because they store for longer (10 year shelf life) and will perform in the cold. Alkalines won't really work below 0F.
2. headlamp (if you have to use both hands in the dark, nothing else will do). Princeton Tec makes good ones.
2. good multitool (leatherman wave or better)
3. reliable fixed blade knife (~3")
4. duct tape
5. cyanoacrylate glue (super glue)...
6. 50-100ft of 500lb paracord
7. jumper cables and a blinking light (sold as kits in many hardware stores)
8. contractor bags (2mils or thicker) - these can be used for so many things...
9. roll of paper towels

i am sure there are many other things I haven't thought of...
 
Most of these lists are good advice.

Not sure that I'd carry a bunch of water. It's usually laying around in frozen form all winter here. A small supply is never a bad idea. A way to thaw the snow is imperative. Remember that you still need to purify the water if it is of a questionable source.

Basically, you need a sleeping bag or two and/or some blankets (depends on the size of your family) some ways to make fire, a nice first aid kit, signalling devices (whistle, mirror and flares are nice, maybe one of those distress signal flags and an emergency 2 way radio). Items to help you with improvisation (cord, wire, electrical tape, duct tape, etc) are always helpful.

Others have mentioned appropriate clothing but don't forget that headgear and gloves are a must. Get several. I like wool hats. A few waterproof/windproof jackets are nice also. I keep a few extra old work jackets with hoods in my cars. You could pickup stuff at goodwill. They don't have to be pretty.



The biggest threat in winter is simply getting stuck so I'd have

a fullsize shovel or two
bags of sand or kitty litter for the icy patches
Chain saw/ax/big saw is nice too for all those tree limbs or trees that fall once that heavy snow hits them and also to make cribbing if necessary
Tow chain/or big tow strap
Come-along and/or high lift jack

Ron Hood has a vehicle survival video that would be well worth the investment. http://www.survival.com/volume-12.htm It concerns arid land, but the vehicle extraction stuff would be the same for you in a Maine winter.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Just my .02.
 
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A few good, unscented candles and a small metal can opened and rinsed, tuna or tomato sauce is something we've always carried in our vehicles during Western New York winters. With the window cracked and the candle lit it generates quite a bit of heat if you have to spend several hours or the night in the vehicle.
My wife's mum got caught in a surprise blizzard with everyone else during after work rush hour on the State Thruway for 13 hours a few years back. We made her a car kit with some basic instructions and she used the candle/can/slightly cracked window and said she was comfy until everyone was rescued:)

Lots of great ideas so far, this has helped me fill some holes in our car kits. Water is always a top consideration. Sugary beverages wrapped in a ziplock bag just in case of leakage and wrapped in blankets haven't frozen solid TOO often.

Mark
 
I live here in CA so i dont worry about the cold so much. But i always carry some chemical heating pads they are cheap work anywhere from 6-24hours depands on the size. Toss acouple in the sleeping bag and you would be nice and toasty. An energy drink might help you as well helps the body burn calories and if you need to work the get the car out, might keep you going longer. Are you more worried getting stuck out in the bonnies or just on the freeway in a whiteout??? If you can i would also carry a portable battery jumper, You might get more use of it then anything else. I wont realy post my list as i leave in the warm weather.

Sasha
 
Didn't read all lists. Did anyone mention a pee bottle? Will save you from getting out of warm truck to do your business. Also helps when you're stuck in bumper to bumper winter traffic. Some empty gatorade or G2 bottles work great.
 
Hi Thomas i meant i live in the warm weather lol. Most of the time i type faster then i think lol. But its normal for a man most women say we dont think....
 
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