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What to have in the trunk?

Sufler

Sufler

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2005
Messages
1,885
I've recently been thinking about what, if anything, I should have in the trunk of the car. I've had ideas ranging from a full-sized backpack filled with a full load (a BoB) to just a Mountainsmith lumbar pack with things I'd take out on a full day hike.

Also thinking what sort of knife I'd want in... realizing the fact that theft is a possibility - so, looking at $60 for a KaBar Becker Campanion, a used BRKT Bravo 1, or something from Ray Laconico.

Throw your opinions/suggestions at me. Looking forward to the read.

Thanks!

:thumbup:
 
I have been using a Maxpedition Condor II, filled with what I would take on a 3 day hike. Knife wise, I keep a Rat Izula and Rat RC6. I keep my Laconico's safe at home with me. I chose the Rats because they are coated blades, and there will always be moisture in the trunk.
 
things pretaining to climate in your area are good too, for example a small winter kit with a shovel, pylons, flares are good to have in winter if you get lots of snow
 
Good question, and probably the most important stash place you can have. Not sure if you are in the cold or not, but this is a cold weather list. All this is in addition to a good basic survival kit, and comes from a great book, Paul Auerbach's Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine.

First off, make sure you have some signal flares in there for when you come across a highway pileup in the middle of a storm one night. Trust me, you'll be happy you have the flares.

At least 2 gallons of drinking water.

Two 36 hour emergency candles.

Wool blankets, extra warm clothes for 2 (or the whole family, depends on who usually travels in the car)

Space blanket

FAK

Spare meds

Large plastic bags

Extra toilet paper

Cell phone

LED headlamp

Battery cables

Tire chains

Snow shovel

Tow chain 20 ft min

Small sack of sand

Tool kit

Gas line deicer

Long rope

Carbon monoxide detector

Ax

Folding saw
 
As for the theft issue, drill a hole in the floor and mount a small eye-bolt. Buy one of the steel mesh backpack security nets and lock it to the eye-bolt. I have done this to several vehicles over the years. Now, if the vehicle is stolen, a whole nother issue.
 
Not the most popular knife around, but my KaBar Warthog sits in the trunk most of the time. One of my favorite knives for a wide range of chores and didn't cost too much.
 
Yeah. For the price and after viewing a few of the YouTube vids. on the Becker... it's growing on me as a fine choice for a trunk knife.

dbltap45acp

A Condor filled with 3 days worth of stuff? That's quite a lot. I have to figure out why I would really have anything with me in the car. For SHTF? Or, just a hike whenever it seems fit.

:thumbup:
 
I'm working on this. So far I have:

a box of warm winter outer clothing
boots
pot with alky stove and alcohol
lighters
Inova light
Kershaw Vapor
Some 55 gallon drum liners
jumper cables, flares, other car stuff

I intend to add some MREs and maybe a bunch of Ramen packs, some water, and a pack rather than the box this stuff is in.

How do I keep the water from freezing and bursting the containers?
 
I have a couple of machetes, a collapsible buck saw, and a square-ended garden shovel in my trunk, among other things. I chose the garden shovel instead of a snow shovel for this reason: You can sharpen the end of it and use it to bust up ice and snow. It also works on dirt! Fancy that! :D
 
I have a truck bag. I personally wouldn't keep an expensive, carbon bladed knife in it. I have a dependable stainless fixed, and folder blade. I keep good components in my bag, but they are low-cost due to fear of theft, and the fact that the bag just collects dust 24/7/365 days a year. I'd rather use my good stuff.
 
It depends on what kind of area you live in. i would not even put a rat knife in the trunk i would just stick with the frost mora line cheap and if someone takes it no big deal plus hose knives can do anything you want fro self defense to chopping tasks, as far as a kit i would stick with your 3 day kit you have

semper fi do or die
 
You can put water in a bladder bag, just test in the freezer to make sure there is room for the water to expand.
 
Depending on where you live you should have:
First aid kit
cheaper but quality knife ( stainless mora works well)
at least on extra set of clothes
2 pairs of warm wool socks
blanket or sleeping bag
tarp
heavy duty rope strong enough to be used as a tow strap ( static climbing rope)
booster cables and a booster pack if you are often alone
50 or 100' of 550 cord
shovel
flares and chemlights
flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries ( CR123's are best as they have a long storage life and work best in the cold)
source of fire
metal pot or water bottle to boil water in
case of bottled water
water purification tabs
axe, folding saw and machete
tire chains if needed
oil, tranny fluid and pre mixed antifreeze
any medications you may need
 
Add two pieces of old rug, about 18" x 48". These can be slipped under tires to provide traction if needed.
 
This n' that, depends where I'm going and what I intend to do when I get there. In general, a spare tire & tools, emergency light, an empty gas can, this time of year some warm clothing and decent boots. A granfors bruks hatchet, some braided nylon cord, a small tarp, couple gallons water, and a '94 .357 carbine tucked out of sight. Sometimes.
 
I'm leaning more toward buying a pre-owned (on the cheap) Mountainsmith Tour sized lumbar pack and just filling it out with enough stuff for a one-day/one-night hike... just to have something in the trunk when spontaneity hits and I feel like trekking around a new found place.

I'm thinking a Becker Bk2 Campanion with a leatherman and griptillian. One side pocket with a metal water bottle, the other with a tin full of food trinkets. Inside stuffed with a hat, gloves, socks, first aid, whistle, light, signaling mirror, bandana, paracord, fire making (rod, matches, lighter, candles), etc. And, a jacket, blanket or tarp rolled up and strapped under.

:thumbup:
 
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