10 Things to Have in Your Road Trip Tool Kit

When heading out on a road trip, you need to cover all bases to make sure you don’t run into trouble along the way. The easiest way to do this is to pack a road trip tool kit so any issue that may have otherwise ground your trip to a halt will only be labeled a minor inconvenience.

Below, we have listed ten things to bring with you during your road trip.

1. A Torch

If your car breaks down under the cover of darkness, no one item will be a greater comfort to you than a torch. Without it, the use of nearly every other item in this list becomes impossible.

If you can, be sure to have a spare set of batteries stored away in your glove compartment. There’s nothing worse than responsibly packing a substitute light source then remembering in the instant you need to use it that the batteries are running low.

2. Jumper Cables

These are essential in the event that you’ll need a jump-start as you cannot always guarantee that a nearby vehicle will have their own.

The great thing about jumper cables is you just have to buy them once, toss them into your kit, and not worry about them again. They’ll be there when you need them.

3. Diagonal and Needle-Nose Pliers

Diagonal and needle-nose pliers are the two items you always wish you had on you when seeing to a job with a standard pair of pliers that are just not making the cut.

Whether you just need to reach a centimeter or two around a corner or want to make the smallest of adjustments, you will never regret packing these pliers along with your standard ones.

4. An Extendable 1/2” Ratchet

Need we say more? An extendable 1/2” ratchet is one of the most useful tools you can carry with you during your road trip. This is because it will most likely be the first tool you pull out of the box should anything go wrong under the bonnet.

From tightening nuts to simply being used to tap the life back into a certain item, nothing can compare to the versatility of uses of a 1/2” ratchet.

5. Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers, much like the ratchet mentioned above, are great in that they can be used for many purposes when it comes to fixing your car up or shocking it back into life.

Any road trip tool kit would benefit from a small collection of screwdrivers, as often the types and sizes of screws on a car can vary, making it incredibly difficult to get to the area you’re after if you only pack one.

6. Bailing Wire

Bailing wire is one of those items that have no defined use yet it steps in to save the day time and again thanks to its versatility.

When looking under the bonnet it’s rare that you won’t be able to find a use for your well-packed bailing wire. From the smallest jobs to the largest, keep some on hand in your tool kit at all times. You’ll need it sooner than you think.

7. Duct Tape (and Electrical Tape)

Duct tape and electrical tape have so many uses it would be hard to write them all down on a roll of the stuff.

Whether to hold together parts under the bonnet or to stop the glove compartment from falling open, duct tape and electrical tape will play an essential role on any road trip.

8. A Fire Extinguisher

This is an added item that not everybody will be able to fit in their road trip tool kit, but if you can they can save you a lot of harm and money.

If you find yourself in the presence of a large fire you should get as far from the vehicle as possible and call 999. If, however, the fire is only small and you truly believe you can put it out, having a fire extinguisher on hand will pay for itself in an instant.

9. A Cheap, Disposable Poncho

Cheap ponchos are the ideal items to have stored away when going on a road trip, as you never know when you may be hit by a torrent of rain as you work under the bonnet.

They’re cheap, small, and lightweight meaning you can always have a few stowed away for when the situation calls for one.

10. Walking Shoes

Lastly, keeping a pair of walking shoes in your tool kit is a must during a road trip. You never know when your car might break down and you need to walk a few miles to the nearest garage  for help. This is something that would be significantly harder to do if you only had smart shoes or heels at your disposal.

About the Author

Car Shop is a leading British used car specialist, offering a broad online selection, along with showrooms across the UK.