If you are going on a long journey or a road trip in your car, then you need to take certain precautions. After all, you can never tell when your car will begin to cause trouble for you. Furthermore, you may be driving through some rural or remote spots. Thus, the chances of you getting any kind of mechanic help may be slim to none.
So, considering the circumstances, it is best if you can take care of your vehicle by yourself. To do this, of course, you will need the right set of tools and gizmos. In case you are wondering what the most important gadgets are, think no more. Instead, here is a list of the most top priority items:
Screwdrivers
If you take a look around your car, there are plenty of things that can come loose. Furthermore, many of these elements are held together by screws. Thus, it is important to have at least one screwdriver on hand. Of course, to cover all your options, you may want to get a set.
If you are trying to limit how much you are carrying in your vehicle, opt for a multi-head screwdriver. This way, you can just swap out the heads to match a particular feature. One screwdriver that you definitely should have is a flathead screwdriver. This is because it can double up as a small prybar as well.
Tools for Tires
More often than not, tires tend to be one of the weakest points in your vehicle. Furthermore, there is always the risk of you driving over nails, glass, or a wide variety of debris. So, it is important to stock up your car to deal with any tire emergency that you may come across.
Air Pressure Gauge
First, you will need an air pressure gauge. This, of course, is to tell you whether or not your car tire has lost or is losing air. After all, there is no sense in swapping out a tire that is perfectly fine. These devices are pretty small and can be easily stored in your vehicle.
Now, an air pressure gauge isn’t just a part of the before process. You should also use it to check once you have inflated a tire. This will ensure that the tire isn’t under or overinflated and won’t cause you any problems later down the road.
Air Compressor
If your tire has deflated or is simply underinflated, then you are going to need to get the pressure back up. Here, you can use an air compressor. These devices are rather portable and pretty easy to use. Just make sure to invest in a high-quality model.
It is better to spend a little more on a good device as it can take the hassle outside of roadside stops. With the right compressor, you will be able to pump up the tire in no time at all. Just as importantly, you will have peace of mind knowing that you did a good job.
Cordless Impact Wrench
Sure, you can use a standard lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts on your car tire, but who has the time. Not to mention, do you really want to put in the elbow grease that comes along with this task? If not, you should get a cordless impact wrench.
The calling card of this tool is the impressive torque that it is capable of producing. You can have the lug nuts out in the blink of an eye. Needless to say, you can also use this tool when you are replacing the lug nuts as well. Here, though, you should be a bit careful as it is possible to over-tighten them.
Portable Hydraulic Jack
If you are like most responsible car owners, then you will know exactly how to use a jack. At the same time, you will have to admit that using a traditional jack can be a time-consuming and impact-heavy endeavor. This means that you may end up quite a bit of time on the side of the road.
If you want to cut down on how long it takes to change your tire, get yourself a portable hydraulic jack. With this on your side, you will hardly have to break a sweat! Not to mention, you will be done a whole lot sooner as well.
Tire Repair Kit
If you have a tiny puncture, then chances are you won’t have to change your tire – at least not yet. What you need is a quick fix that will tide you over until you come to a service station. This is where the tire repair kit comes in. These are readily available.
Now, each tire repair kit will differ from one brand to another. Typically, however, they will contain reamer and insert tools as well as several plugs. Once you get the hang of how to use this kit, your punctures should only take a few minutes to fix up.
Portable Charger
Another thing you may have some experience with is a dead car battery. The biggest issue with this is that you tend to need the help of others. This can make for an awkward situation, particularly when you are on a long journey and don’t know anyone.
Well, fortunately for you, there is no need to make awkward chitchat anymore. This is because, with the help of a top list from AutoQuarterly.com, you can find the best car battery charger around. Thus, you can get a jumpstart all by yourself.
Therefore, this is a tool that you should keep in your car at all times. After all, it is difficult to know what will kill your car battery. So, if you don’t want to end up stranded in an unfamiliar place, this is one gadget that you shouldn’t even consider doing without.
These are the tools you should carry in your vehicle if you are headed out on a long journey. They will ensure that you can get out of most situations that you find yourself in. Even if you never have to use them, you will have peace of mind knowing that they are in your vehicle.
