What's always in your truck for road trips?

[Alan]

I never leave without a good cooler, extra phone charger, and way too many snacks. My buddy thinks I overpack but I've saved us multiple times with stuff I brought. What do you always bring on road trips that other people might not think about? What's your essential item?

 

[Karate_kid]

Cooler and snacks are musts. I also always keep a small first aid kit and some basic tools just in case.

 

[Haven]

 I always make sure to toss in extra water and a basic tool kit. It feels like a bit much, you know, until some tiny thing goes sideways and then all of a sudden, you're the one who actually thought ahead.

 

[Unshaven2897]

For us to make a trip to town for groceries, parts or supplies would seem like a road trip to many folk. So for us it's mostly weather related. So far this year just to get to the highway means a chainsaw might be required. Certainly a log chain. In the winter, tire chains and tensioners for fronts and rears.

 

[Onramp]

Coffee...

 

[Sagerider]

I have a lot stored under my backseat of my PU. 12v air compressor, tools, fold up shovel, wire connectors, first aid kit, jumpers and lithium jumper battery, blanket, extra serpentine belt, fire extinguisher, tape, bungees, ratchet straps, towel and rags, small rope, electrical wire, bailing wire. I’m probably forgetting something but I can’t fit much more under that seat.

 

[Hilldweller]

My old school “emergency kit” that I just checked because y’all got me curious on what I actually have in my Jeep. Turns out that I obtained most of the stuff over 25 years ago. Things like a SpyderCo Mariner serrated knife, gauze pads, stretchy tape, set of curved needles and cat gut and the like were fine.
Things that failed….those fluorescent ‘snap’ lights, the batteries for the old AM radio, antibacterial stuff and the like were all toast.
Other than gloves, some bungee cords, a length of climbing rope & carabiners (from my younger days), and some miscellaneous crap my jeep is pretty empty.

The only things that prevent me from getting to the main road are snow/ice that makes the road impassable (nope studded tires nor chains help) and the occasional (annual actually) tree down across the road. That means that I have to back down the drive and get one of my chainsaws to clear the road.

We’re too old to go out into the “boondocks”, off road, etc. AAA is a call away.

 

[BearBio]

Posted elsewhere but I'll repeat here!

Every year or so, my wife and I take a 2-3-4 week trip through the SW, starting and ending in Wenatchee. This year we will be going down to Seal Beach, CA with a side trip to Tucson to see my daughter and SIL, as well as one or two Buddies from my years with Fish and Wildlife. Basically, south on Hwy 97, then over to US395, down to Tucson & then on to Seal Beach. Later, we'll go down to Big Bear, CA for my nephew's wedding and then to Gallup, Denver& Boulder, back to Wenatchee, following the same basic route with CO added on.

I drive a 2019 4Runner. A couple or three years ago, we blew the rear end (a technician didn't put the filler cap on!). We were about 50 miles north of Alturas on 395. It took a 135 mile tow to Klamath falls. No cell reception, no houses for miles. So since then, on long trips, I carry a portable CB radio (as well as USB cord for the phones).

About 10 years ago, we came upon a fatal accident on Blewett Pass. US Fish and Wildlife required we take and annually refresh Advanced First Aide and several CPR classes, including defibrillator. Since then I have a small First Aid Kit that includes Israeli Battle Dressing, QuickClot, Super Glue, Bandaids and Benadryl. For longer trips I have a large first aid kit that includes a wound stapler, chest seals, bite-swabs, a small solid fuel stove, as well as general first aid supplies. Oh, and a tattered copy of Medicine for Mountaineering!

Tools: I have a battery quick jump, tire inflator, bungees, padlocks (and spare keys!), shackles, a tug strap, parachute cord, battery lantern, assorted screw drivers, pliers, and a socket wrench with a dozen most used sockets.

Misc: A roll of paper towels, a roll of TP (!), two urinals, in the console: sugar tablets, pain killers, Kleenex, phone charger cord, sunglasses, hot sauce (IMPORTANT!!), snacks (also important=my wife can't drive 20 minutes w/o snacks!). Of, course a dog leash and a tie-down dog rope (12 ft).

 

[Hilldweller]

What I carry….

Misc: A roll of paper towels, a roll of TP (!), two urinals, in the console: sugar tablets, pain killers, Kleenex, phone charger cord, sunglasses, hot sauce (IMPORTANT!!), snacks (also important=my wife can't drive 20 minutes w/o snacks!). Of, course a dog leash and a tie-down dog rope (12 ft).

Forgive me but when you mentioned the dog leash I just couldn’t help thinking of the movie National Lampoons Vacation with Chevy Chase……

 

[Unshaven2897]

I have had Starlink since I could get the original Dishy after the initial mad rush. It is our only communication for phone and internet. Last November an auto-update failed and bricked the unit. It's kind of hard to deal with customer service AI when you have to drive an hour for a signal. In the end they acknowledged the error and replaced the unit on their dime. They also sent me a free 'Mini' for $5/mo on stand-by which is adequate for anything but streaming a movie. That is our backup now.

If we had to take a road trip that box will come with us. Nothing worse than what you went through and there is no signal. In a few years that will not be a problem.

 

[VancMike]

A few years ago, when I sold my extended cab pickup, I removed all I'd tucked away over the last 10 years. As I gazed at the now-filled garage half, my wife suggested that maybe next time I buy a bigger truck. Or, maybe, I didn't need most of that crap?
Well. Obviously I married someone who has no appreciation for the possibility of the "Big One."
I replaced that truck with a Subaru Crosstrec and obviously had to cut back. For a long coast to coast (and back!) solo road trip, I had an extensive first aid kit, an ice chest, two blankets, small tire air compressor, backpacker stove, water, and because I could, a Henry survival rifle, complete with "survival kit." *
And a handgun. I've detailed elsewhere on this site the issues of doing so. It remained in a safe in the spare tire compartment the whole trip.
I carried a hand-held CB radio, but the only times I ran out of cell phone coverage was in western Montana's mountains.
And I carried two credit cards and a wad o'cash.

*it's so cute and clever, especially with my custom camouflage paint!