Need help with low-budget commuter survival kit

I am looking to build a general purpose low-budget commuter survival kit for my Subaru Forester.

My commute will soon changing from around 20 miles a day to more than 100. I will be traveling from the Philadelphia suburbs to New Jersey and back every day.

I don't want to depend just on the contents of my shoulder bag for this. Or should I?

I have a new 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium and a hefty monthly car payment to go with it. I just paid off a credit card. Also, our annual per capita and occupational school taxes will be sent out in July. Hence, my available cash is on the low side.

Any hints, tips, or suggestions in putting together this kit would be appreciated.

-- Craig

I may be being dense, but are we talking emergency gear, rations, entertainment..?

I travel between 30 to 45 miles a day (nothing compared to your commute). I always have quick snack items in my bag, and when driving my "real" car I have books on tape, cds, etc. Lately I've been driving a 12 year old car with great gas mileage, but only a radio and questionable tape player for entertainment. I've been looking at the portable XM radio to share between the vehicles. BTW - the old car gets about 28 mpg in the city - so, I think I can deal with the boredom.

When I used to commute 45 minutes each way, my car always had a small cooler in it with healthy snacks and drinks, plus extra water bottles that could be put in the cooler to get cool. This way, if I didn't have time to pack a proper lunch, I could still grab things to eat without too much trouble. (Of course, my desk drawer also had some healthy snacks in it as well.)

If you're looking at something to make the commute more enjoyable, then I guess CDs/tapes/satellite radio would be your best options. Our library has a wonderful selection of books on tape/CD so I listened to those a lot. And I also bought some Spanish tapes in an attempt to learn it. (I haven't done so well with that, unfortunately.)

If you're talking emergency gear, the most important things are really shelter and sustenance. You can take any container or bag you already have at home and put some things from the grocery store in it that will keep. Simple stuff like granola bars/protein bars keep for a long time. And water. A gallon of water is cheap. Then throw in an extra blanket and you're already ahead of most people as far as emergency preparedness goes. You could throw in some extra clothing items, especially for winter driving, like boots, gloves, hat, a warm coat, etc. You don't have to buy anything special. And, of course, you should have a flashlight and some extra batteries.

If you really want to be prepared, you should check out this thread. It will probably tell you more than you really want to know. LOL

Hmm.. like everyone else .. a couple of questions . Are you looking for an "emergency" kit for the car, in case something dreadful happens (ranging from a flat tire to another 9-11)? Or just what people keep in the car to keep themselves sane on long commutes?

I think most of the answers are for the latter. When I had a 75 minute each way commute, I was teaching myself Russian using a language course on tape. That, plus a big bottle of water and the radio got me through 75 minutes of traffic every morning and evening. I do have an acquaintance who had a similar, nasty commute and he swore by a cassette recorder -- he was a part-time writer and outlined and basically dictated a book a year on the road.

Unlike alot of people, I don't consider an emergency kit if it contains more "entertainment" than it does survival gear.

When setting up a survival kit such as the one I believe you are hinting at, the rule of thumb I have been taught to use is to be self-efficient for 72 hrs. Some sort of aid should be availble by then (I hope).

To start off with, I recommend making a purchase of one particular kit that is very well set up, and is a good amount of what you'll need.

The American Red Cross and Target teamed up to create this Emergency Preparedness kit. It rides with me wherever I go. It includes:

"Equipped for 4 people, the kit includes both first aid and emergency items: 2 pairs of non-latex gloves, 2 flashlights and batteries, 2 pairs of canvas gloves, first aid/emergency preparedness guide, transistor radio and batteries, 4 emergency ponchos, survival blanket, instant cold compress, 4 dust masks, children’s activity booklet and crayons, plastic drop cloth, scissors, breathing barrier, adhesive cloth tape, assorted adhesive bandages, 3" and 4" roll-type bandages, triangular bandages, absorbent compresses, 3x3" and 4x4" sterile gauze pads, hydrocortisone ointment, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, thermometers, aspirin, tweezers, moist towelettes, 4 plastic whistles and 8 snap lights."

It's a great all-in-one starter kit. For one person, this kit would last quite a long time. It also contains a lot of things people tend to forget about: battery powered radio, dust masks, 'work' gloves, etc. All you need to add is things like waterproof matches in a waterproof container, and some other items that are recommended on a list thats included in the kit. As far as a commuter bag, I would amend this quite a bit.

After either buying the items alone or as part of the kit, you can choose to either ditch the heavy plastic case (except the detatchable first aid case), or keep it all tightly organized. Personally, I'd consider ditching the case for the car.

Other add ons I'd recomend are:
A basic plastic hard-hat
A 'headlight'
Sturdy boots. You can't hike through rubble in your casual work shoes.
A pair of jeans
Basic clothes: a tshirt or two, a sweatshirt, 2 pairs of socks.
Food-stuffs: Granola bars, trailmix, MRE's... Spam. Yes, Spam. You can eat it cold, it won't kill you.
Water pouches. Visit a military surplus store or outdoor outfitter, you can usually find water packets. Although they say you need a gallon/day/person, I'm not going to carry 3 gallons of water. You might get away with doing it in the trunk, but if you have to leave, the water will probably stay. Several water pouches is better than nothing at all.
Toilet Paper. Self explanitory there.
A list of important phone numbers. Just incase you forgot to charge your cell phone or it got crushed somehow.
A Compass.
A map of the local area.
A cap and bandana.

Of course, you should amend for local conditions. In Phoenix, AZ, there's no need for warm winter clothing. But elsewhere there is.

I actually at one time had most of this fitted into one backpack. My problem is I'm not a small person, so the emergency clothing tends to take up extra space. Of course, the hard hat hung on the outside of the kit and the boots were tied to the outside as well, but it was all there and ready for action.

I would also consider including Bug Repellent and Sunblock as well.

There's probably things I'm forgetting, but this would at least get you by on your own for a while.

Others may have a different idea of a car Survival Kit, but for me, this is what I feel comforable with, especially after the last major disaster. It really proved why you need to make sure you're self sufficient. You never know when help can arrive.

-Brad

After seeing what happened with Katrina and attending local meetings detailing what might happen if a tsunami hits my area, I have upgraded all emergency kits in our cars and at our home to help us be self-sufficient for at least 7 days. Minimum. (The one at home should work for a month providing I can get to it before the tsunami sweeps it away.)

72 hours might be OK in a small, localized disaster but if it's a wide-spread, regional one, 72 hours just isn't gonna cut it, imho.

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Originally Posted by Judy

After seeing what happened with Katrina ... [I need to] be self-sufficient for at least 7 days. Minimum.

72 hours might be OK in a small, localized disaster but if it's a wide-spread, regional one, 72 hours just isn't gonna cut it, imho.

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Judy,

On one hand I agree with you. The more days you can prepare for, the better.

However, 72 hours is the generally accepted minimum for most disaster kits. I say this because within 72 hours State and Local disaster aid should (and I repeat, should) reach you, or you to reach it (walking, driving, etc.).

Also, the size of a 1 month survival kit for a family of 4 would take up an entire basement. The idea of a survival kit is something that can, for the most part, can be easily taken with you if you have to move... and most disasters that will be the case.

My plan has always been not to fall into the trap of milling about, but seeking out assistance and providing assistance.

Again, bigger is always better, but 72 hours is a safe start.

-Brad

Of course, if space is an issue, and if you want something you can carry without it getting too heavy, a 74-hour size one would be the size to shoot for.

My one for a family of 4 for a month isn't all that big. Just the size of a large Rubbermaid container. It could fit in the backseat of my New Beetle so it's not huge. It's not full of enough water but there is a back-packer style water filter in it. Our major problem is going to be a tsunami. There won't be a lack of water, just a lack of clean water.

Of course, my house may not withstand the tsunami so I realize chances are slim we'll be able to get to that container. That's why we all carry a large fannypack with enough stuff for a week. Again, not enough water but those water-filters that look like a regular water bottle to clean the dirty water that should be readily available and one container of fresh water to start with. The food rations won't be plentiful for a week but would be enough to keep you from getting too-too hungry. Everyone in my family could stand to lose a few anyway. LOL

BTW, it's a fanny pack so it's still light enough to carry and run with. It's likely there will be no driveable roads. I do have a second small bag with a bit more food in it in case I'm close enough to high ground to get there in time without having to run. In that case, I'd grab both bags and be fairly well set.

I really think people should plan for a week. I can't emphasize that enough. Unless it's a small, localized disaster, there is no way you can plan on help getting to you in 72 hours. In fact, in my area, we've been told it might be as long as 2-3 weeks before aide would get to us in a tsunami. That is, if it's a tsunami caused by a quake in the Cascadia Fault off the Pacific Coast. The reason for the long timeframe is because the quake that precedes it will devestate all the major population areas near us (Portland, Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, Vancouver, BC, etc.) and those areas will likely get help first becuase there's more people there needing the help. Also, since most help would normally mobilize from those areas, it would be hard to find a mobilization point for rescue teams to get to us in the outlying areas. Considering this event would effect people from Northern CA to Alaska, that's a lot of people who should be prepared. And, of course, we saw what happened with Katrina. It took over a week for many people to get assistance.

I'm not trying to scare people....really, I'm not. But I just always think being prepared is a far better idea than being unprepared. In fact, being prepared takes a lot of the fear out of a disaster situation, imho. So, I say, plan for a week, or even more if you have room for more stuff.

Well, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. :-)

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Originally Posted by Arizona Brad

However, 72 hours is the generally accepted minimum for most disaster kits. I say this because within 72 hours State and Local disaster aid should (and I repeat, should) reach you, or you to reach it (walking, driving, etc.).

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As a former DAT (Red Cross) coordinator and one who has been in scores of "disaster" events, 72 hours*** is an unrealistic pipe dream for the normal American family. The minimum standard should be one week for self-sufficiency, in my view and it is far more likely to be multiple weeks in the case of a large, national or regional event.

I should add that it*** isn't because public sector and private individuals won't try their dardnest to provide assistance -- but in true non-typical serious event -- like Judy has said, every public agency will already be taxed to the limit providing basic service to their immediate area.

There is also the "school's-out-for-summer" syndrome. I have seen it at virtually every "disaster" I worked. Efforts on the part of the affected individuals to get everything back to normal will be delayed for 2-3 days. Partly this is due to shock, partly it is due to desire to "be different" for a while. Which is why I think the 72 hours is way, way too short.

Mark

Most people that left south Louisiana in vehicles before the storm or even before the flooding were able to reach shelter, food and clothing within a few hours. It was people without cars or those that decided to stay and protect their property that had to wait so long. The biggest problem was finding gas along the way. You should always have cash handy for emergencies because without electricity that quickly became the only acceptable currency throughout much of the Gulf South.

My sister has enough food, water etc to last at least a few days in her car if she ever gets trapped in South Louisiana (she goes to college in Lake Charles).

However, as Judy said the problem is time. Where I live in North Louisiana, the problem is tornadoes. All that I can do in that situation is hide in a closet or the bathtub and pray. I've survived three tornados already. I keep jugs of water, nonperishable foods such as cereal, crackers and canned foods, candles and lighters at handy reach. We are also prone to ice storms, so I will never live in a place that doesn't have a gas stove so that I can at least have some heat.

I think that everyone's emergency preparedeness is going to depend on where they live. If a tsunami hits Shreveport, then we're all in trouble. However, for many years, we were at the head of the list for a nuclear attack from the USSR due to Barksdale airforce base. We probably are still near the top of the list.

Mark and Judy,

I completely agree with you on being prepared for a week or more. Katrina proved that when it comes to a large scale disaster, agencies don't always think logically (such as a state legislature not allowing Naval doctors to treat injured civilians on land- Mississippi). That, and volunteers in organizations such as the Red Cross quickly find themselves fighting with both hands tied behind their backs. I come across this on many of the small "disasters" I respond to.

I too have a much larger kit (aka a fully stocked pantry) at home. 72 hours kit is just my 'Grab & Run' kit... although right at this moment, its sort of spread out everywhere!

It's been a good discussion. I might be looking into a larger hiking backpack (when my finances allow) to set up a larger mobile kit. I don't want to go too large, because it will be too much to carry and frankly, I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb in the aftermath of a large disaster. You might attract the "you have it, I need it" syndrome as well.

-Brad

That's one reason why I have the 2-bag set-up. In my fanny pack are the basics that should last me a week if I'm careful with the protein bars and other foodstuffs. I have another small backpack with extra clothes and food in it and a few other odds-and-ends. If I'm fairly close to high ground, I figure I won't need to run and can carry both bags. If I'm not, I'll have to hoof it with the smaller bag. Anyway, this at least gives me an option.

The harsh reality is that if we experience a tsunami from a local quake, we will be lucky to live through it as it's expected to be a 9.0 magnitude. Yikes! If we have a tsunami from a far-away source, we will have plenty of hours to get to high ground. If it's the latter, help will probably get here relatively quickly because the metro areas and places like Fort Lewis and other military areas that can mobilize helicopters, etc. will not be impacted. But a 9.0 earthquake means that the places that would send us help aren't going to be in very good shape themselves.

Personally, I think these discussions are healthy. The more people are aware of the potential of disasters in their areas and what they need to do in order to protect themselves, the more people will have their own emergency kits. This means that you are less likely to stick out and be vulnerable to someone wanting to take your stuff. But, alas, some people never listen and will still be unprepared.

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Originally Posted by lhuff

I may be being dense, but are we talking emergency gear, rations, entertainment..?

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To keep things simple, let's say "everyday emergencies," plus the occasional Omigod, such as having to sit in traffic for an hour while an overturned tractor-trailer is cleared.

-- Craig

For basic everyday emergencies: flashlight and extra batteries, blanket, warning triangle or flares or cone for flashlight (to warn people in case of an accident), cellphone with car charger, basic 1st Aid kit, filled spare tire, basic tools including tire-changing tools/jack. I find my AAA membership invaluable.

Do you really need anything more than some good music and maybe something to drink in case you're delayed for an hour due to an accident ahead? I always have a few bottles of water in my car, add a radio/CDs/tapes/satellite radio, and you should be set. If you're worried about getting hungry, carry a few granola bars and/or protein bars. They keep a long time. And the cellphone would come in handy to let anyone at home or work know you'll be late. I always keep a couple of magazines and a book in the car in case I find myself with time to spare. I usually use these for a picnic lunch break. But if you're truly totally stopped, and not creeping along, something to read might be nice.

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Originally Posted by Craig720

Any hints, tips, or suggestions in putting together this kit would be appreciated.

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Craig, a couple of my articles published on MSNBC address parts of this "road kit." How to Pack the Trunk and Cabin Gear.

To this I would add these soothing CDs and a good audiobook thriller.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Judy

When I used to commute 45 minutes each way...

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It's going to be a bit over an hour each way. I'm just trying to plan ahead a bit. I've never had a commute this hectic.

I have tried to zone out during my trips to headquarters, but the traffic is so intense -- especially the part where I'm driving in New Jersey -- I've had to keep my wits about me so as to arrive alive (and exhausted).

I know I'll get used to it, but why commuters have to treat roads like their own personal Indy 500 is beyond me.

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Originally Posted by Editor

Craig, a couple of my articles published on MSNBC address parts of this "road kit." How to Pack the Trunk and Cabin Gear.

To this I would add these soothing CDs and a good audiobook thriller.

Mark

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Excellent. Very good, too.

-- Craig

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Originally Posted by Craig720

It's going to be a bit over an hour each way. I'm just trying to plan ahead a bit. I've never had a commute this hectic.

I have tried to zone out during my trips to headquarters, but the traffic is so intense -- especially the part where I'm driving in New Jersey -- I've had to keep my wits about me so as to arrive alive (and exhausted).

I know I'll get used to it, but why commuters have to treat roads like their own personal Indy 500 is beyond me.

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Our commutes are quite different. It sounds like your hazards consist mostly of other cars. My hazards consisted of weather and how it effected road conditions, and animals. My drive was 37 miles (which, come to think of it, took more like 50 minutes to do, yeah, I know, splitting hairs...) from town into the country along a 2-lane, twisty, turny county road.

While it was a relatively well-traveled road, the only time traffic was an issue was when I would get stuck behind a slow-moving RV that refused to be considerate and slow down to let me pass. Believe me, I got real good on this windy road on knowing what short-straight stretch was OK to try passing on and which weren't. There were some where if you hit it just right, and got your car up to speed fast (easier after I bought a car with a turbo), you could just make it. It did give me a few cheap thrills. LOL

During the time I worked out there, 5 different people (and this was only the ones I heard about) hit deer/elk on their commutes. I tried to keep an eye out for them but it was hard because I would often unconsciously go on auto-pilot ("zone-out") on this drive. One time I came close to hitting a deer when I came out of my zone at the last possible second. Another second and I'm sure both the deer and I would have been quite unhappy. I did, unfortunately, hit a few squirrels and rabbits, even if I slowed and tried to swerve around them because they would often run right under my tires. Eek! Poor things. I hated when that happened. One spring my car seemed to be a bird magnet. I had 3 birds actually dive-bomb my car and get flattened. One was a big, fat crow! I had about another 3-4 birds during that time that almost dive-bombed me and missed. What was up with that? Freaky.

Heavy rains with some flooding, icey roads, and occasional snow really made this a "fun" drive. Any kind of gravelling or sanding was slow to get out to most of the drive. One memorable time, one area was totally flooded. The only way to get home was to drive down onto the beach and go through the "river" where this flooding overflowed to. Some nice guys got out and stood in the river to guide us over the least high spots. High tide was also coming in so you had to time your exodus in-between waves. Kinda exciting but I would have welcomed a more boring drive home that day!

One of the main reasons why I've become a stickler about having a well-packed car for road-safety reasons was because of something that happened to another woman on this drive. She didn't come home from work that night but, apparently, her and her husband were having problems so he thought she was just avoiding coming home. He didn't worry all that much until work called him the next day and asked if she was sick. After calling around friends and family and not finding anybody who knew where she was, he started a more intense search. I think he was thinking she was really with some other guy, but I digress....on the the second day, someone spotted the sun reflecting off of something down a ravine. Yes, there she was. She had a broken leg and various other injuries. None of her injuries were life-threatening but the 42 hours she spent in a car with no water, nothing to eat, and no blankets didn't help her any. Her cellphone couldn't get service because service was spotty out there anyway, and being in a ravine, she couldn't get service to call for help. She was severely dehydrated and probably would have had hypothermia except she was lucky in one way...her car was able to run and she had a fairly good supply of gas. Thank goodness her fuel tank wasn't punctured and that the exhaust pipes weren't buried!

Anyway, after that, I started filling my car with necessities in case something similar should happen to me.

But it was a beautiful drive. So, in that sense, I probably enjoyed it a lot more than you will enjoy your commute. Books on tape or satellite radio will help a lot with that type of commute.

Take it easy!

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Originally Posted by Judy

Some nice guys got out and stood in the river to guide us over the least high spots. High tide was also coming in so you had to time your exodus in-between waves. Kinda exciting but I would have welcomed a more boring drive home that day!

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This story kind of puts commutes in a new perspective!

Mark

Actually, we were all sent home early that day because the coming flood was predicted. There were some folks who ended up staying the night in their offices or sleeping at friend's homes in the little village we worked in (there is no hotel) because they didn't get out in time. And some other folks who got out had to hitch rides with folks in cars higher off the ground because their cars that rode lower wouldn't make it out by the time they got there. I had a low car but I left ASAP once we got the word to go. And I still just barely made it.

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Originally Posted by Arizona Brad

To start off with, I recommend making a purchase of one particular kit that is very well set up, and is a good amount of what you'll need.

The American Red Cross and Target teamed up to create this Emergency Preparedness kit.

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Brad,

This looks great. I guess I'm off to Target. Wonder why I've never seen it.

-- Craig

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Originally Posted by Judy

We really went off-track from your original post, didn't we? LOL

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Yeah, but that's where the fun really begins. Other people chime in and you hear things you've never heard before. The opportunities for learning abound and you can truly expand your horizons. This phrase has gotten a bad rap lately, but I say, bring it on!

-- Craig

My mom has also suggested books on tape and sent me a catalog. I tend to be a very precise driver. I don't like "casual" drivers who neglect to use headlights and turn signals. Sigh. I will have to learn to take it easy for my own well-being.

-- Craig

I don't know about where you are, Craig, but our local library system carries a rather large collection of books on tape.

It's funny that you mention having to take it easy. I've been working on that too, lately. I was finding myself screaming at other cars as they would cut me off with no turn signals or drive in the fog or rain with no headlights (even though there is now a state law mandating their use).

It got really bad after the hurricanes because I take Highway 171 every day - I have to - no other way to get from Keithville to Shreveport from where I live. Well, this became the only viable north-south route that connected I-10 to I-20 for east/west travel through Louisiana for quite a while there.

Anyway, as gas was getting tight in LA (timing differences, no real shortages) and the price kept creeping up I drug out the family behemoth. The 1994 Buick Century with 160,000 miles on it (hard back roads of LA farm country miles), bizarre stickers from when my sister took it to college, in great need of a muffler tune up, and just general scariness, that belonged to my grandmother. But, it's four cylinders and gets over 28 miles to the gallon in the city.

I've been having the best time getting back and forth to work in that thing. I can't pass people (not enough power), everyone avoids me on the road (note general scariness of car as noted above), and I can't speed (rather alarming lights come on claiming that the engine is about to die). I took my normal car to work this morning and found myself still ambling to work without freaking out about other drivers, even though they weren't avoiding me as usual.

I think that I finally learned to just take it easy and enjoy the ride. I even started to laugh at the people tailgating me (even though I stick to the far right lane in the Buick). Daring them to hit me in their Jaguar (for some reason it's always a Jaguar).

Laura

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Originally Posted by Arizona Brad

To start off with, I recommend making a purchase of one particular kit that is very well set up, and is a good amount of what you'll need.

The American Red Cross and Target teamed up to create this Emergency Preparedness kit. It rides with me wherever I go.

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I purchased this on the Web this morning. Thanks for the tip.

-- Craig

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Originally Posted by lhuff

It's funny that you mention having to take it easy. I've been working on that too, lately. I was finding myself screaming at other cars as they would cut me off with no turn signals or drive in the fog or rain with no headlights (even though there is now a state law mandating their use).
Laura

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I had my driving temperament hit home the other week when my wife and I were heading out for dinner with guests in the car.

Usually I have time to turn on my verbal editor and shut up. This time I was fried. I work as a programmer/data analyst, and my project has been eating up more and more time.

Anyway, I began making rather foul comments about every driver who tailgated me before passing me with their engines screaming. My wife felt obliged to say, "He's usually not like this" every time it happened. I felt like the odd man out, the one you have to make excuses for. Then I bottled.

Life is too short to risk my or anyone's life speeding. I simply wish I could pound that mantra into the leadfoots' thick skulls -- with a sledge hammer! Grin.

Also, the thing about state -- or any other kind of -- law is that there must have enforcement. Law without vigorous enforcement is just words on paper. I guess the police have too much on their plates already.

-- Craig

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Originally Posted by lhuff

I don't know about where you are, Craig, but our local library system carries a rather large collection of books on tape

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Laura, I don't know if you have looked at our reviews department for audiobooks, but (by looking at our reviews) you might find some really good ones for your next trip to the library. The reviews are organized by fiction, roadtrip travel and memoirs. Happy listening!

Mark

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Originally Posted by Craig720

Also, the thing about state -- or any other kind of -- law is that there must have enforcement. Law without vigorous enforcement is just words on paper. I guess the police have too much on their plates already.

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I completely agree with you on this one. About the only place in the State of Arizona where you can drive the posted speed limit and not be flipped off is a stretch of the Loop 101/Pima Freeway through Scottsdale where they put up speed radar cameras. I still see the occational flashing of the cameras, but for the most part, I can lock in at 65 (the posted) and not feel like I'm going to get hurt, either by being run over or by a hot-headed lead-foot. Once people pass through that section of freeway and either reach Phoenix or the Indian reserviation, they floor it. They put in the Cameras because Scottsdale got tired of having the deadliest streatch of freeway in the valley.

All I know is I wish we had more of a system like the Germans (the wonderful episode of Modern Marvels: The Autobahn was on just last night on the History Channel). Many areas of the Autobahn don't have a maximum speed limit, but at the same time, driving is much more professional. You can't get your license until you're 18, driver training is mandetory, and, it costs a few thousand to get a license. One author interviewed for the program said "German automakers never understood the need for cupholders in vehicles."

As far as keeping my cool, I have problems too. The left lane bandits, the fact that turnsignals don't work in Arizona (it seems), the fact that speed limit signs are simply suggestions (again, it seems), and the fact that traffic slows down to a hault when a Police officer is near by means they're less likely to get caught. I just remind myself that one of these days they'll get caught or they'll end up hurting someone (or worse), and maybe that will get them to change... but alas, they just end up suing the state.

I just try to prevent myself from being a copy-cat and adapting to the mentality of the masses. That in itself is hard to do, but I have been mostly successful so far!

-Brad

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Originally Posted by Arizona Brad

As far as keeping my cool, I have problems too.
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I just try to prevent myself from being a copy-cat and adapting to the mentality of the masses. That in itself is hard to do, but I have been mostly successful so far!

-Brad

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Thank God there's someone else out there who feels this way. Now I know I'm not alone. That's an incredibly nice feeling.

-- Craig

Y'all want to know something scary - through a paper glitch at the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles - I have never taken a driving test.

I went to get my learners permit, but they accidentally gave me my license. I didn't realize it until I went back to take the driving part of the exam and the lady told me that I already had my license and didn't need to take it.

So - yeah - I guess I'm not too surprised that my state would pass laws and not enforce it. They're too busy debating the number of pelicans and drops of blood that should be present on our state flag.

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Originally Posted by Craig720

I am looking to build a general purpose low-budget commuter survival kit for my Subaru Forester.

My commute will soon changing from around 20 miles a day to more than 100. I will be traveling from the Philadelphia suburbs to New Jersey and back every day.

I don't want to depend just on the contents of my shoulder bag for this. Or should I?

I have a new 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium and a hefty monthly car payment to go with it. I just paid off a credit card. Also, our annual per capita and occupational school taxes will be sent out in July. Hence, my available cash is on the low side.

Any hints, tips, or suggestions in putting together this kit would be appreciated.

-- Craig

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As someone who used to live in the Philly area, and understand the nature of the drivers and environment there, perhaps I can help.

Here's what I would have to help the trip go well:
- bottle of water
- plenty of material for one's listening pleasure
- some kind of snack in case of a long delay
- some kind of handsfree kit or headset for the wireless phone

Here's what I would have in my emergency kit for that kind of commute:
- flat tire repair kit
- air pump
- flares or other reflective aids for roadside visibility
- duct tape
- full size spare if there's room

Probably not much need to includes hand tools and such with such a new car. Anything that goes wrong and lets you sit beyond a tire issue is most likely to be a factory defect and going to have to be handled by a mechanic.

IMO, of utmost importance is a good roadside assistance plan. AAA is very good. You insurance company might have something good available too for less. If you go with a plan that reimburses you then make sure you have at least $100 cash as part of your emergency kit. The reason for this is because on the highways around there it is often not safe AT ALL to service your car in the event of a breakdown. For example, if you puncture a tire on the drivers side there may not be enough room on the shoulder to change it. It would be better to call a tow truck. The tow truck driver will arrive and usually park his truck well behind your car with the rull lightbar going while he changes your tire. His lights provide better visibility than you can, and his truck will act as a shield in the event of an accident. I would not worry much about the delay in waiting for a tow truck. In that area there is a mess of them circling around like vultures waiting for something to die.

Regarding the items listed above, I recommend a bottled beverage over anything in a so-called travel cup. Most travel cups or mugs that I've seen can still spill stuff when sitting in any position other than upright. Bottles are best because you can easily open them while driving, can just toss it over on the other seat or wherever when done, and you don't have to worry about it sloshing its contents all over the interior during an emergency maneuver. I recommend water because anything that is caffinated or overly sugared will have an adverse effect on your mood when trying to handle the traffic. More on this later.

For whatever you're going to bring to listen to, make sure it's something you can set up and not have to fiddle with much at all during the trip. If you're taking cassettes or CD's, then put them somewhere you can get at them without having to take your eyes off the road. An MP3 player is a much better option if you can take the time to cue up everything you want to listen to and then leave it alone for the ride, otherwise the interfaces on them are too fiddly to be safely operated while driving.

Regarding the commute itself, I fully understand what you mean by being a "precise" driver but I would urge you to relax a bit and figure out how to read the flow of the traffic around you. Every route has a certain flow to it, and it's own set of quirks. Don't fight it, just learn it and roll with it. This is where laying off the caffine and sugar drinks comes into play, as it keeps the aggression level down when the other guy is having problems with his. Makes it easier to just let it go when someone does something stupid.

Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by radimus

As someone who used to live in the Philly area, and understand the nature of the drivers and environment there, perhaps I can help.

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Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum. Thanks for the tips. Where do you call "home" now?

Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by radimus

Here's what I would have in my emergency kit for that kind of commute:
- flat tire repair kit
- air pump
- flares or other reflective aids for roadside visibility
- duct tape
- full size spare if there's room

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Thanks for the tips. My emergency kit is ready to go, but I don't think even the great Forester offers a full-sized spare. You're lucky to get a pony tire these days.

Craig

Craig,

What list of items made the "final" cut? I am always interested to see how individual choices affect the final gear list.

Thanks,

Mark

***Actually there is no final cut -- I find that I keep adding and changing the particulars of stuff over time -- so how about the current "final cut"?

Welcome to the RoadTrip America forum!

We have a 2005 Subaru Forester XT - it came with a full-size spare due to the AWD layout and all of the gearing changes a donut would imply.

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Originally Posted by Editor

Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum. Thanks for the tips. Where do you call "home" now?

Mark

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Thanks. The Harrisburg, PA area.

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Originally Posted by Craig720

Thanks for the tips. My emergency kit is ready to go, but I don't think even the great Forester offers a full-sized spare. You're lucky to get a pony tire these days.

Craig

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You're welcome. Oh, almost forgot one thing. A good New Jersey state atlas. Just in case you need to find a detour around a jam, or if you decide to take the scenic way home from work.

A call to your Subaru dealer will answer the spare question. If yes, then stop by a local auto salvage and ask them for a tire and basic rim to fit your car. It should not cost much, but make sure the tire is at least the same diameter as the rest of the tires on your car. If you can fit a full-size spare than definitely go for it as those donut spares are not designed to travel even the full distance of your commute.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Editor

Craig,

What list of items made the "final" cut? I am always interested to see how individual choices affect the final gear list.

Thanks,

Mark

***Actually there is no final cut -- I find that I keep adding and changing the particulars of stuff over time -- so how about the current "final cut"?

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Well, yes. There is no final cut. Things are always being swapped out and so forth. There is the everlasting battle between what I should carry and what I know I will carry, too.

The most honest answer I can give is, most everything made the cut. My hobby is emergency preparedness, so I even have a tarp with which to make an impromptu shelter in the woods, if need be.

Jumper cables, flares, oil, WD-40, coolant, windshield wiper fluid, fix-a-flat, leather gloves, umbrella, pliers, wrench, Princeton Tec Blast flashlight, paracord, ducttape, Spyderco Cricket folding knife, Victorinox Classic, pen, Storm whistle, Infinity Ultra LED, Windmill lighter, firesteel, compass, etc. -- and that's just in my cargo organizer.

The only thing I don't carry is a full set of tools. That's what AAA's for. I carry a multitool on my person. My EDC (everyday carry) shoulder bag probably contains more than most people have in their car trunks. Grin.

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Originally Posted by Craig720

Jumper cables, flares, oil, WD-40, coolant, windshield wiper fluid, fix-a-flat, leather gloves, umbrella, pliers, wrench, Princeton Tec Blast flashlight, paracord, ducttape, Spyderco Cricket folding knife, Victorinox Classic, pen, Storm whistle, Infinity Ultra LED, Windmill lighter, firesteel, compass, etc. -- and that's just in my cargo organizer.

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Nice list -- I would add my cautionary tale about the jumper cables -- I still carry mine, but I grimace everytime I even think about hooking them up to my car's electrical system. The voltage drop/spike that can potentially happen when a dead battery is connected to your own vehicle's running engine can fry the delicate electronic brains of your ride....

Quote:

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My EDC (everyday carry) shoulder bag probably contains more than most people have in their car trunks.

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That is pretty good -- I don't even carry a wallet anymore. So I am running a tad lighter than you.

Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Editor

I don't even carry a wallet anymore. So I am running a tad lighter than you.

Mark

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You're running WAY lighter than me. I'm kinda envious.

May I ask, where and how do you carry your drivers license, credit cards, insurance cards, money, and all the stuff associated with daily life?