What You Should Always Keep in Your Jeep
When driving your Jeep, you may try to reduce your load as much as possible to improve its fuel economy and towing capacity. However, there are a few essential items that are worth the extra weight. To stay safe in the case of an emergency or prevent one from happening, here’s what you should always keep in your Jeep.
A First Aid Kit
The most important item to keep in your vehicle is a first aid kit—especially if you’re the adventurous type that enjoys off-roading. You never know when you will need a bandage or some antibiotic ointment if you end up accidentally cutting yourself on the road. At the very least, a first aid kit can help you avoid bleeding on the interior of your Jeep. It could also help you avoid infection or worse. Keep one in case of mishaps.
Extra Water and Food
Nobody ever plans on getting stranded somewhere. However, accidents do happen. Whether you ran out of gas or got stuck in a mud pit that you can’t escape, it’s important to plan for the worst.
If you do find yourself stuck for several hours or even days, it’s crucial to have some food and water to tide you over until you are rescued. All Jeep owners should keep a jug of water or two and some snacks in their vehicle in case of an emergency—especially if you plan on visiting a remote location where it could be hard to find help.
A Toolbox
A toolbox is something else that can come in handy from time to time. For example, if a vehicle component starts to come loose while jostling over rugged trails, having a wrench can make the difference between getting stranded and making a quick and simple repair. You don’t need to keep anything particularly fancy or cumbersome in your Jeep. A basic set of tools will do the trick for any quick fixes you need to make on the road. If you do decide to keep tools in your Jeep, just make sure that you strap them down or secure them some other way. You don’t want a hammer flying at you or your windshield when you make sudden stops.
A Flashlight and Headlamp
A toolbox won’t help you very much if it’s pitch black out and you can barely see your vehicle. It’s important to always keep a flashlight handy. However, you may have trouble completing some repairs if you need one hard to hold the flashlight. For this reason, you may want to consider keeping a headlamp in your Jeep.
A Spare Tire and Lift Jack
Whether you’re on a paved road or a bumpy trail, you’re bound to get a flat tire at some point. To avoid getting stranded, all Jeep owners should carry a spare tire and a lift jack in their vehicle. That way, you can quickly replace the damaged tire with a spare until you’re able to drive to a shop and get a new one. This also keeps you from getting stranded and needing to call a tow truck.
A Shovel
Another item you should always keep in your Jeep is a shovel. A simple shovel can work wonders for helping you get your Jeep out of a sticky situation. If you find yourself stuck in snow, ice, sand, mud, or some other slippery surface, you can use a shovel to dig out the terrain under the tire. Your vehicle can get more traction and drive to freedom. If you’re low on space, there are many lightweight, foldable shovels you can purchase to save room.
A Pair of Gloves
If you do find yourself having to dig your way out of a hole or other bind, your hands will thank you if you have a pair of gloves to prevent blisters. If you’re driving in a colder climate, a pair of warm gloves in addition to protective gloves will help insulate your hands from discomfort and frostbite in case you get stuck in the cold.
Portable Tire Inflator
Those who plan on doing a lot of off-roading should always keep a portable tire inflator with them. When traversing low-traction landscapes, deflating one’s tires can increase the tire’s surface area and help prevent slippage.
Driving on paved surfaces with under-inflated tires, however, is not good for your vehicle or your tires. As such, you will need to re-inflate them before switching back from the trail to the road. When this happens, it is highly beneficial to have a portable tire inflator, which allows you to easily adjust your tire pressure as needed.
Recovery Straps
As you’ve probably gathered from the other points on this list, getting stuck is a common concern when off-roading—which is a popular pastime of many Jeep owners. If you find yourself caught, even a Good Samaritan probably won’t be able to help you if neither of you have recovery straps.
You can use recovery straps by securing them to the recovery points on your Jeep. Then, you attach them to another vehicle, which can then pull you to safety. If you don’t want to splurge on a winch kit or carry the extra weight, recovery straps are the next best option.
Extra Gas
Sometimes, you may think you can get by on that sliver of gas you have left, only to find yourself out of luck on the side of the road. To avoid having to call for help or being completely stranded if you don’t have any cell service, keep a bit of extra gas in your Jeep just in case—especially since most Jeeps are notorious for being gas-guzzlers.
If adding this equipment to your Jeep makes your vehicle a little heavier than you would like, we have an easy solution—just take the top off. Top Lift Pro’s Jeep hardtop hoist makes it easy to safely remove your top all on your own in just two minutes or less. To learn more about our innovative tool, contact us today.
