Dead Body in Your Trunk?

Probably not, but for some people, a dead body would be an improvement!  I've seen all manner of clothes, tools, cans, bottles, balls & baby stuff - the widest assortment of trash, junk, flotsam & jetsam outside of the neighborhood landfill.

Whenever I see a trunk like that, I wonder if those people have a room in their home that they treat like the house's trunk... but I digress.

So is your trunk a giant rolling trash bin, or is it a useful, organized storage closet for your car?

The List

  1. Jump Starting System.

It's good to have a backup - especially if you live in the snow belt where car batteries die with alarming regularity.  Whether you choose good old jumper cables, or one of the new in-car battery boosters, learn how to use it properly, according to the directions.  An exploding battery can ruin your whole day.  If you pick jumper cables, get a good quality set of 4 gauge jumpers.  Smaller cables (which can be identified by their larger gauge number) have too much electrical resistance, so they will have greater difficulty starting your car.

  1. Flashers or Reflectors

Having a breakdown on the road is bad.  Getting hit by another car is worse - much worse.  It pays to be seen, so it's worth paying to be seen.  Make sure that other drivers notice you by using a safety flasher or triangle reflectors whenever you have a breakdown.  One flasher I really like is Guardian Safety & Rescue Life Light LED Beacon . The flashers are bright and extremely visible, but the reflectors don't need batteries.  Why not both?  Use the flasher when you really need to be seen and keep the reflector as your backup.

  1. Fire Extinguisher

Cars contain lots of extremely flammable materials and fluids.  Ever seen a car-becue?  They don't last long because the flames spread so quickly.  A compact fire extinguisher is cheap insurance.  Why keep it in the trunk?  Two reasons.  One: in an accident, a fire extinguisher in the passenger compartment can become a deadly missile.  Two: if you keep your extinguisher in the trunk, you have to get out of the car to use it.  One nice little unit is the Kidde 466310 Automotive Pindicator Fire Extinguisher.

 

  1. Old Towels

Obvious uses: protect your trunk from dirty or leaky purchases, or your interior from wet and muddy kids or pets; dry off after an unexpected rain storm.  Less obvious uses: keep your clothes clean while working on the car; emergency bandage or sling; emergency blanket; wrap an injured animal for your/their protection.  Amazing versatility.

  1. Blanket

We have a large blanket that is insulated, waterproof on one side and zips into a self-contained compact bundle with a carrying strap.  Sometimes called picnic blankets, outdoor blankets, stadium blankets, or sports blankets, these come in a wide variety of sizes and prices. As their name suggests, they're great for sporting events, picnics, car and/or clothing protection and all the same uses as the old towels, except on a larger scale.  One particularly versatile one is the Coleman All Outdoors 3-In-1 Blanket, which can be converted into a hooded poncho!

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