Whether you call it a boot or a trunk, it’s more than a place to stow luggage, it’s a place to keep stuff for life’s little emergencies. From snow chains to ratchet straps to tools, trunk preparedness varies wildly depending on what you’re driving, when you’re driving it, and where you’re driving it.
Obviously, my use case will be different from your use case, because we likely don’t have similar driving patterns. I typically pack fairly light, as aside from the odd Sunday drive, I don’t typically venture too far outside of my massive greater metropolitan area. So without further ado, here’s what I keep in my trunk:
- Tire plug kit. On my 325i, which never came with a spare tire, being able to quickly and economically repair punctures on the go is desirable.
- 12-volt tire inflator, because a plug kit is only so useful without a way to re-inflate a punctured tire.
- Torque wrench. Sure, you can eyeball things with a lug wrench, but wouldn’t you rather be sure? A cheap click-type torque wrench is good enough for roadside lug tightening, and doesn’t take up much space.
- Spare indicator bulbs, because BMW owners already have a bad rep regarding turn signals, and I’m doing my part to fight stereotypes.
- Tool kit. Hey, it came with the car.
- Reusable bag, in case I’m caught without one.
- Picnic blanket, because sometimes you just need to savor the view.
Keen readers might note that some things seem missing. I don’t have jump leads (“jumper cables” to my American friends), but that’s mostly because all my cars have manual transmissions, and a bump-start doesn’t take up any space in the trunk and doesn’t require another car to make happen. As for a fire extinguisher, the trunk probably isn’t the best place for one of those just based on access. An Element 50 is small enough to keep in most map pockets. There’s also no winter-specific stuff in my trunks, mostly because my cars don’t go out in wintery conditions.
So, what do you keep in your trunk? Whether you rely on AAA rather than tools, or you’re ready for a roadside main bearing job at any given time, we’d love to hear from you.
(Photo credits: Thomas Hundal)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
What’s A Car You Hated That You’ve Come Around To?
-
Which In-Car Features Should Always Have Buttons, Knobs, Or Switches?
-
Should Honking Your Horn Be Considered Free Speech?
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
nosebleed kit (afrin, nose clips, guaze) when the winter hits (dry air in MN + CPAP)
IFAK cause this is murica unfortunately.
Harbor Freight Icon Meme Tool and a set of 1/4 drive deep sockets
Water Bottle
Flashlight
1 qt Motor Oil (the 2005 grandcherokee burns roughly 1 qt every 5kmiles)
I like to play on dirt roads, so, in addition to tools, 12v pump, jump box, etc, I carry a little shovel, snow shovel in-season, sturdy boots, spare wool socks, extra warm clothes if I have to walk out, tow strap, cash to pay a Good Ol’ Boy to pull my silly arse outta a hedge, good flashlight, spare fluids.
Much of it is just peace of mind. I’m more cautious now, so no longer carry a come-a-long & 60’ of cable. Oh; I check the spare periodically, have functional jack, breaker bar & torque wrench—and a socket for the lug nuts lives in the car. Also zipties (a bag of the 3’ for emergency snow ‘chains’ also) & bungees in case I tear front or rear clip 1/2 off. Basic first aid kit & eyewash.
In my Prius v, under the trunk floor: spare tire and (included) tools, tire inflator, four warning triangles, jumper cables.
In the trunk, under the pull-out cover: large blanket, three pillows, tablecloths for protecting the floor from any particularly dirty cargo, car wash towels. In the winter, also the ice scraper/snow brush.
I have some other supplies I keep in a backpack if I’m driving more than 30 minutes from home. Spare sunglasses, sleep mask, bandages and antibiotic ointment, a cap…
In my old van I used to keep all that above plus two toolboxes to really feel ready for anything, but they got stolen when it got broken into. (They took the subwoofers, too.)
So I’ll have to rethink how the hell you conceal something in a conversion van in the future without driving around with the shades down all the time, nor having to pull them up/down every time you park it or move it.
Unused cassette toilet + fake poop.
**conversion van = 4-6 captain’s chairs plus a bench seat that turns into a bed.
Not a class B RV.
A cassette toilet is about the size of an ice chest. You might find one that can fit behind the rear seat, if you have a long wheelbase van.
Put your stuff in a big diaper bag. No one steels diaper bags.
The other thing I discovered living in Brooklyn is that if you leave the doors unlocked the thieves figure that it’s not worth looking for something to steal.
You are assuming thieves are smart enough to try the doors. In the 90’s, I had a convertible Mustang that I always left the doors unlocked because replacing the roof cost more than anything in the car and I didn’t want to have some idiot cut it up to get a few cassette tapes (early 90’s) and a factory Ford radio.
Coming back to my car one night downtown and some idiot smashed the window even though the freaking door was unlocked!?! The sound of the breaking glass attracted a cop who happened to be nearby and scared the would be thief off.
Thieves are dumb.
Yeah I had a Malibu convertible in LA in the 80s. Never put the windows up, often left the top down. Only problem I had was once some people were having sex in the back with the top down. Because LA. Another time someone left a smashed up Stratocaster in the back seat. Because LA.
In the trunk: One german shepherd
In the backseat: Basic toolkit, windshield shade, hat, jacket
It’s a wagon, so the shepard is comfortable.
This is one reason I like underfloor storage in my cars and the Ramboxes on my truck. I can keep all of this stuff in them and not have to worry about it being in the way of whatever I’m transporting. The truck has more stuff than I can probably remember, but the car has something along the lines of:
-Battery-powered tire pump
-Bike pump (much easier to get bike tire pressures right than with the battery one)
-One of those camping blankets that is waterproof on one side and fleece on the other
-Umbrella
-Camping chair
-Tool kit
-Disc golf discs
-A couple of pieces of foam for when I transport bikes and need to stack things.
This reminds me that I really need to get a jump pack for that car though.
In the trunk of my 1972 Super Beetle, I keep a small toolbox with enough basic tools to fix damn near anything on that car. That said, I also have AAA so unless it’s something really minor, I’m not going to try and fix it on the side of the road.
Generally speaking, I hate having loose items in the trunk or passenger compartment of my car. I’m ridiculously neat when it comes to my car. There’s plenty of storage under the floor of the wagon’s trunk though. I keep jumper cables there, as well as three old sheets, large plastic trash bags, and a small tarp (great for protection from whatever I happen to be hauling), rope, bungee cords and some spare bulbs. Oh, and some quick detail spray and microfiber towels to quickly remove bird poop before it can etch the paint. The Sportwagen is what we use to haul things (bricks, mulch, lumber, bikes, furniture, etc) so I like to make sure I’m prepared to throw anything back there…and not have it make too much of a mess or damage any upholstery.
I keep the basics- a small toolkit, first aid kit, poncho, a tow rope, jumpers, and a battery pack.
I just cleared everything to take the car for a service. Under the boot floor – a warning triangle, doughnut wheel, subwoofer in said doughnut wheel, Drizabone jacket, a waxed cotton hat that I found in my dad’s house, four pairs of wellies – one for each of the family, and a woolly hat my daughter thought she’d lost. In the boot, a wheel clamp to deter thieves from stealing a car that’s been there for six months since the car was stolen before I could fit it…
Jumper cables, 12V air compressor, tool kit, ice scraper, gloves, blanket, bungee cords, reusable grocery bags, pack n’ play (for the kiddo), diesel pump nozzle funnel (came in handy twice when only truck pumps were available), diesel fuel additives bottles for fill-ups.
I also stash consumables such as wiper blade inserts and air filters for convenience (and inventory purposes) as I don’t have a garage.
Uhh I don’t know, this is just the stuff that’s ended up in there over the past few years.
A ‘go bag’ (backpack) lives in both cars with:
We also have a NOCO battery, fix-a-flat, flares, and a fire extinguisher.
In the car we take on forest service roads, we also take:
Not much. A couple of those folding cubes to hold groceries, and a couple of just-in-case winter coats.
Now, on a cross-country road trip? I’ll make a tool box stocked with everything I might need and bring that, along with my smaller, lighter floor jack and jack stand set.
Year round, Jumper cables. Winter I have a winter survival bag with a tow strap, candle, shovel. You know for all of the things, that I would have problems with, if I didn’t have the bag
I think just some rope, a ratchet strap, a blanket, and a Noco Boost.
Zip ties, trash bags, gloves, duct tape, and a disposable camera
I used to have the same list. And a shovel. Then I got pulled over by the cops one day.
He said to take that shit out, unless I planned to be on Dateline one day…
My vanquished enemies, but only for a short time…
I think if I answered this I would end up on a watchlist.. I guess another watchlist actually..
If you aren’t on at least one watchlist, you aren’t living an impactful life.
This is true.. I guess what I really meant was I didn’t want to upset the pearl clutchers.
That reminded me. How long does the FBI actually keep one on the list?
Asking for a friend here.
That’s the fun part! There’s not really any sort of rule, so it could be a couple weeks, or it could be the rest of your life! Or longer, if they’re watching known associates.
I just put in a foipa request, so we’ll see if they tell me anything. I used to get justice department hits (and not just automated ones–they stayed and looked around sometimes) on a blog I ran, so there ought to be something. If I’m still on a list, they’ll probably have at least a little recent stuff.
My BIL is a retired cop. When I became engaged to his baby sister he ran a check on me. Then decided we should have a conversation. Apparently being on several lists is not a good thing. Who knew?
But yeah, it’s the damn “associates” that get you every time.
A baseball bat. And as my lawyer once told me, Make sure I also have a baseball glove and ball would be great too…….
I went 33 years without ever having a trunk, driving only hatchbacks, trucks, and SUVs. I now have my very first car with a trunk! And it’s a 25 year old BMW! So the trunk is filled with tools and parts!
A feather.
Sincerely,
Dumbo
zip ties, tarp, shovel, balaclava, change of clothes
Are you parked across the street?
Maybe
Depending on the season, between 1 and 3 different weight of jackets so I can drive top down no matter the temperature.
My shoes that I wear in to work since the floors are so filthy even in the office (manufacturing facility) that I change shoes before I get in my car.
The can of fix-a-flat and air compressor that Mazda included in with the car in lieu of a spare (that Autopian helpfully reminded me to check the expiration date of).
Absolutely nothing else since that barely leaves enough room for my work bag and lunchbox in the tiny Miata trunk.
Enough tools and spares to effectively rebuild an entire car, but never the car in which said tools and spares are being carried in.
Ridgeline, so I have a trunk!
Under the back seat
Boots