Do You Have an Emergency Roadside Kit For Your Car?

Automobile breakdowns are bound to happen at some point or another. You can take your car into the shop every time the "maintenance required" light flicks on, but there are some problems you simply can't predict. Unless you want to be stranded on the side of the road, it's recommended that you keep an auto safety kit tucked away somewhere in your automobile. These kits can help get your vehicle back in working order while keeping you safe and comfortable during the process.

Automobiles can break down for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes it's a bad alternator that's unable to charge the battery, while other times it's a crack in the radiator leading to an overheating engine. Even if your car or truck is in perfect condition with brand new parts, running over a nail or jagged piece of rock in the road could easily blow a tire and put you and your vehicle in the emergency lane.

If a tire blows out, you might have a spare to replace it in your trunk. Most cars and trucks are built with an additional spare tire for this very reason. The problem, however, is that spare tires place a greater amount of weight on the other tires, which could result in another blowout. You have to remember that spare tires are smaller than standard factory tires; therefore, they may contribute to blowing out the other nearby tires. Auto safety kits are designed with special-made tire patches to plug up any holes you may find, so you don't have to worry about using a spare.

Of course there's much more to an auto safety kit than just tire puncture patches. Depending on the type of kit you purchase, some of the other items commonly found in them include high-calorie food bars, thermal blankets, tow rope, jumper cables, bungee cord, reflective vest, oil funnel, duct table and pen and paper.

In addition to an auto safety kit, it's also a good idea to keep your car's owner manual nearby. This booklet will include valuable information such as how to change a flat, recharging the battery with jumper cables, etc. If you are unable to find this booklet, contact the dealership or car manufacturer to see if they are willing to send you another. Most reputable dealers will gladly send you another user manual if you purchased the car through them.

Ideally, you should purchase an auto safety kit for every car you own. Some people may have a car they drive to work and a truck they take out for camping or other recreational activities. Unfortunately, there's no way of telling which vehicle is going to break down. Storing an auto safety kit in each of your vehicles will give you the peace of mind knowing that you are fully prepared when a breakdown occurs.