Emergency roadside kits essential for road trips

Summer is fast approaching. The kids are out of school and you are ready for that long awaited vacation. Although your bags may be packed there may be one essential part of your trip that you haven't packed yet, your roadside emergency kit. You may think a spare tire is all you need. However, there are many issues that can arise on the road which may need some extra accessories. So what are some ideas that this kit should include?

Here is a handy checklist:

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• Hose-patch kit for emergency repair of coolant hoses. These kits can be found at your local auto parts store.
• Jumper cables
• Emergency flares, warning triangles or cones
• Cellular phone along with a charger and/or a back-up battery
• Flashlight or spotlight with an extra set of batteries
• A battery-powered air compressor
• Bottled water and snacks, such as crackers or energy bars
• Blankets
• Fire extinguisher
• First-aid kit
• A rain coat or poncho (brightly-colored for visibility to other motorists)
• Pair of disposable work "coveralls"
• Safety goggles or glasses
• Pressurized can of tire inflator and sealer for emergency filling of a flat tire. This item can be purchased at your local auto parts store
• Wheel chocks to place under the wheels to prevent the car from rolling when fixing a flat tire
• Roll of duct tape
• Basic tool set including an adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, pliers and a wrench set. Many auto stores sell easy to transport "tool kits" which can be easily stored in the trunk of your vehicle
• Funnel for pouring liquids
• Extra fuses (your owner's manual should provide a list of necessary amperage sizes)
• Mechanical or elastic tie-down straps
• Heavy duty paper towels

To get your vehicle prepared to take on any roadside emergency, click here.