Winterizing your Vehicle
Most people take it for granted that when you get in your car, it will take you to where you want to go. This isn’t always the case and some times life intervenes. It may be in your best interest to be prepared for poor weather, break downs, unexpected emergency trips and any other crazy situation that seems to pop up.
Since the cold weather is approaching, I vacuum out my car well and replace my carpet mats with the dealer issued high wall floor mats. These are great for the snow and ice that you may track in your vehicle and are an added protection to the original carpet that is in your car. With these mats, I don’t think twice about tracking anything in from my boots. It’s so cold that I want to focus on getting in the car quickly.
Today, we see lots of people “living” in their vehicles. These people renovate vans and buses and equip them with what they need as they build to their specifications. What about our regular day to day vehicles that we use though? How can we equip them to be our “home away from home” when we are out? Here are a few tips that will help you be prepared while you are away from your house.
If you live in a cold climate and it snows frequently, you will want to be prepared for poor conditions. I always make sure that my windshield wipers are in good condition and I place an extra bottle of wiper fluid in the back of my SUV in case I run out. I also place a blanket (or two) in the car in case I break down - oh, who am I kidding - it is in there for my own comfort. In addition, I store hand warmers in the console for emergencies. Always consider the life of your tires and general health of your car as the colder weather approaches. You may want to consider checking the life of your battery and cleaning the connections of the cables that are attached to the terminals. If you have an extra set of jumper cables, tuck them away in the back of the car. Other items to consider placing in your vehicle are the following.
Absorbent - kitty litter or sweep absorbent works best if you are stuck on the road on some ice.
Extra hat and set of gloves
Brush and ice remover, preferably with a long handle.
Cell phone charger
A first aid kit is a must. In all of the years that I have had one in my vehicle, I have been fortunate enough to never have a major emergency. There are several incidents where I needed a band aid, Tylenol or Tums for someone that was whiney (this could be husband and/or kids).
You can purchase a kit that has all of the items already included or you could put one together with the specific items that you prefer. The kit that I have I purchased years ago. You will want to periodically check it to replace any expired items. You can purchase a kit here on Amazon or create your own. I like to keep the following in my first aid kit:
Several sizes of band aids, steri strips, butterfly closures, several size gauzes and gauze tape
Antiseptic wipes or alcohol wipes
Instant Ice Pack
Antibiotic ointment, burn cream, tegaderm (great for minor burns)
Benadryl (oral and ointment), Tylenol, ibuprofen and tums
Scissors, tweezers, nail clippers (you never know), safety pins
Unopened bottled water, protein and/or granola bars (in case you need to wait for roadside assistance)
I have a TikTok Video of me working on this process. Go check it out. There is a surprise item that I purchased for my vehicle that you can see there.
Happy Traveling. Drive Safe.
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