Whats in your car?

[Bluebottle]

In all three of our cars you will always find, as well as the usual tyre changing tools, a can of WD40, a roll of duct/tank/gaffa tape and a roll of self-amalgamating rubber tape (great for burst hoses etc) and assorted bits of wire and fuses, bulbs etc
Is there anything you never travel without? (dosn't have to be tools or fix-it things..)

[Don K]

Originally posted by Bluebottle
Is there anything you never travel without? (dosn't have to be tools or fix-it things..)

I always have a set of maps.
As a rule, I also have a bottle of water, a telephone, and something to eat (like an apple).

Of course, in a small, heavy populated country like ours, most of those things are not really neccesary ---unless you're stuck in heavy traffic, of course...

[woodyracing]

I carry a tow rope, jump leads, and everything to change a wheel. Tow rope was useful 6 months ago (unfortunatly).

[djb]

I have a diaper box in the trunk (the boot, mates) full of stuff like jumper cables, tow rope, wd-40, usually a litre of oil, some gas line anti-freeze for when if gets below -20, some lock de-icer (which really isn't much use INSIDE the car, atlthough there is usually one door you can open), a shovel, a set of those gratey-traction thingees for getting out of deep snow.

if in winter, along with the shovel and grate thingees, a plastic bag with candles, some old, too-big but warm super mitts, a blanket if I'm going with the kiddies.

and if I'm going far, I always tend to throw the toolbox in from a purely superstitious point of view, the wifes plug- in tire pumper upper, her car phone, and a flashlight.

in other words, the kitchen sink wouldn't be out of place sometimes!

[KayBee]

I have several cuddly hedgehogs.

[josvandeperre]

Some of you people have no class - a corkscrew of course !

Or do you only drink champagne....

[Carrie]

It all depends on the time of year, as the racing season goes on I seem to collect more and more junk in my car.
Lets see, there's always a box in the boot with an air compressor in (good for walking everyone up in the early hours when trying to inflate and inflatable matress), oil, water, extendable wrench, assorted tools, fuses, bulbs, screen wash, cloths etc. There's always at least one pair of hiking boots and waterproofs, usually a travel rug. Then you get into the race season and I collect assorted race programmes, race tickets, film cannisters which roll around the car in a most annoying manner and seem to get everywhere and I do seem to have this habit of assembling an additional wardrobe in the boot of the car as well.
Plus, the all important item which anyone who regularly frequents Britain's racetracks will be familiar with - mud!!!!

[Carrie]

How could I forget, there's also a little cuddly Loch Ness Monster that travels around to the racetracks

[TimD]

Hmmmm...

Sensible stuff: Lightbulbs, oil, antifreeze, warning triangle, first-aid kit, jump-leads.

Non-essentials:

Large bag of assorted tape cassettes, ranging from Eddie Izzard to the only Queen compilation in Christendom that doesn't have Bohemian Rhapsody on it.
Binoculars
Straw hat
Film cannisters
Half a dozen Motorsport News papers
Broken umbrella (BTCC finale at Brands did for that)
Tartan blanket
Brooklands Society and Goodwood club stickers

[Ray Bell]

Let's see now... briefcase for work, my tools (two socket sets, a box full of other stuff, up to and including a valve removing tool), sleeping bag, several jerry cans for fuel, jack etc, spare wheel, camera, film, lenses, spare clothes (three changes at least...) and a few other odds and ends.

Of course, when I do a trip I review all this to add what other things I might need...

[SL]

My God you lot make me feel bad.

RAC rescue card, empty water bottle, spare CD's, spare cigarettes, phone charger, mobile phone (Spare emergency only), one use camera and a few Monopoly 'Get out of jail free' cards. I think I have a few spare fuses in case the RAC man asks for them. There is also a load of rubbish in the back, empty cig packs, empty 1st aid box, out of date road map, assorted fungus cultures and maybe a few Francs, Pennies, Punts, Lira and Dollars. There is a few funny metal things in the boot that look like they might jack the car up and change one of those BBRT's as well (Big Black Round Things)

Such is the state of modern cars, I know the theory but opening the lid on my car is a mass of hoses and wires. Now when I was a lad...........

SL

[Alan Jones]

A decent jack,WD40, a roll of gaffa, plenty of fuses, some water, some nappies and wipes!,a change of clothes for the kid, a spray jacket and a nylon tarp.
In the front their is the usual change, cd's,a brush,a dummy and the good ole street directory. Also assorted foodstuff in the back from the kid and various toys.

[Amaroo Park]

Gee Ray do you work for Lube Mobile on the side or something

[Lorna]

De-icer, Air fresheners, sunglasses, mobile phone chargers (x2), pen, tissues, tapes, litter on floor, maps a plenty. In the boot is STILL my camping gear plus, jar of coffee, bbq tongs, candles and their jam jars, dish cloth, plates, cups, serviettes, (no alcohol, I drunk that - haha!), inflatable mattresses + pumps, jump leads, oil and probably other stuff that is growing in places I've forgotten about.

My sister has my car at the moment so it probably includes potty, wet wipes, spare pair of trousers (Luke is just in the process of being potty trained), empty sweet/crisps wrappers and anything else you need to take the kids out for five minutes.

[Bomn]

A screwdriver to remove the numberplates (the only items of value)

[Maisie]

Oil, wheelbrace, tools, jump leads, CD collection, about 15 street maps, UK atlas, sunglasses, baseball caps for wet weather, several cans of Red Bull.

[Chris Y]

You forgot the travel blanket and the bewildering collection of ratchet straps

[DAVID PATERSON]

Wow, you guys make me look really blase. I have a street directory, paper napkins, spare wheel and factory tyre changing eqipment, two aspirin and my phone. That's it.
Oh the joy of living in a big city with a brand new car.

[Morris 1100]

Originally posted by DAVID PATERSON
Oh the joy of living in a big city with a brand new car.

I thought you were in Brisbane??

[Ray Bell]

Bigger than Goulburn, at the last census...

[Morris 1100]

Yes but I don't call Goulburn a Big City!

[DAVID PATERSON]

Well over a million people is a big city. It is the third biggest in Australia, by a very large margin and should be second biggest in about 10 years.

Last one out of Victoria, turn the lights off please.

[Ray Bell]

What is the margin to Perth? I wouldn't have thought it that great...

[Bluebottle]

While you Aussies are arguing about the size of your cities, I notice that I have only told you the 'never travel without' stuff in our cars, so here's the rest:

In the Granada:- spare fuel tank strap(!) CD/tape adaptor, old Le Mans parking passes, loads of petrol recipts, many maps, the origional Owners Handbook- including the suppliment for the stereo, fittings for the trailer stablizer, first aid kit, an envelope full of docunentation for the purchase and delivery of the car from way back in 1984, two copies of 'The Strad' (a magazine about violins...), a violin stand, a pushchair, several bottles of petrol additive (havn't changed the valve seats yet...) two phone chargers, CD power supply, lots of fluff, a 4' chome tube (not sure where it came from, but it holds the boot lid up quite well)

In the Hurricane:- some dead tapes, a travel rug on the passenger seat to hide a hole made by battery acid (don't ask!) a foot pump, manky overalls, a soggy map, hood and hood frame (not used very often) jump leads, a bottle of silicone brake fluid, not much room for anything else!

In the Dutton:- the Dut was emptied of rubbish when I put it up for sale last year (no luck yet....) so there's only a solar charger and a piece of wood.


I'm sure I've forgotten something!

[NPNG]

WELL I HAVE 4 DIFFERENT CARS ALL TO SUIT MY NEEDS, DEPENDING WHERE I AM GOING, WHAT I AM DOING AND WHETHER I FEEL LIKE BEING STOPPED BY THE POLICE!

BUT ONE ESSENTIAL HAS TO BE GOOD MUSIC, CAN'T GO ANYWAY WITHOUT IT. BUT OF COURSE THERE HAS TO BE A KICK ASS SOUND SYSTEM TO GO WITH IT, WITH A COUPLE OF 6B'S ON THE PARCEL SHELF!!