Veteran drivers need your advice

[2busy4life]

We are driving to Florida in 13 days. This is our first holiday in 21 years.
I am trying to find out if some of you take emergency road safety kits with you in your cars and if you also take power/battery packs in case you need a boost. We were going to rent a full size car but have since decided to take my Dodge Magnum since we will have more room. Any advice would be helpful....

 

[tribus121]

I all ways pack my winter coat and boots in the trunk even if they are not needed for the trip down as the weather may be very different for the return trip I also tack an extra jug of windshield washer antifreeze ( I had to do a lot of searching to find some in Florida ) I would all so recommend joining CAA Just having a 800 number to call if you have a problem makes the cost worth it .

 

[dancin Disney style]

My DH is in the auto biz and he likes to bring a gallon size jug of water and a can of puncture seal...you do need to get the right size for your tires. He also changed our spare to a full size when we started taking road trips and checks the inflation of the spare before we leave. I'm sure if we had room in the car he would bring along the booster pack as well. He also brings along a tool that he has that looks like a Swiss Army knife....it folds out into a bunch of different screw drivers and plyers.

We do have CAA so I make sure that I have the 800# written down as well as programmed into the cell.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

We are driving to Florida in 13 days. This is our first holiday in 21 years.
I am trying to find out if some of you take emergency road safety kits with you in your cars and if you also take power/battery packs in case you need a boost. We were going to rent a full size car but have since decided to take my Dodge Magnum since we will have more room. Any advice would be helpful....

For such a long trip I always go prepared. Since you will have no idea what the weather on the way down may bring you - you need to be prepared for the worst.

Booster cables are a must for me, along with a warm blanket, fully charged cell phone, full bottle of windshield wash fluid, erc. I'm sure there 's lots more you could bring - all depends on how much room you have in your car.

 

[coastgirl]

Our drive tends to be through the wintry parts--we drive from NS and hop a plane in NH, so I am more concerned about weather than mechanical problems I guess. I always make sure we have our "space blankets", water, a collapsible shovel, and a candle. (I'm told a candle burning in the cabin of a car can keep you a lot warmer than you'd think. Haven't had to put it to the test yet!) We also have a small first-aid kit. I think dh has some safety flares back there somewhere, and yeah, we are CAA members.

First holiday in 21 years?? You'd better have fun--you've certainly waited long enough! Enjoy!

 

[Nahanni]

Yes the candle does eventually help warm a car. Car interior cools down very quickly with no engine running. We hit a piece of debris in the snow and it shut off the fuel line. We waited about an hour for the tow truck and it toes were cold.

 

[2busy4life]

Our drive tends to be through the wintry parts--we drive from NS and hop a plane in NH, so I am more concerned about weather than mechanical problems I guess. I always make sure we have our "space blankets", water, a collapsible shovel, and a candle. (I'm told a candle burning in the cabin of a car can keep you a lot warmer than you'd think. Haven't had to put it to the test yet!) We also have a small first-aid kit. I think dh has some safety flares back there somewhere, and yeah, we are CAA members.

First holiday in 21 years?? You'd better have fun--you've certainly waited long enough! Enjoy!

"space blankets" please explain?

Yes we plan on having the time of our lives.

 

[tribus121]

"space blankets" please explain?

Yes we plan on having the time of our lives.

They are a foil blanket that folds up small enough to put in a first aid kit

 

[2busy4life]

They are a foil blanket that folds up small enough to put in a first aid kit

Can you find these at Canadian tire? Dollar store?

 

[tribus121]

I have seen space blankets at the dollar store and at Canadian tire (Coghlan's Emergency Blanket Product #76-3501-0)