Winter driving is difficult whether you are in a two-wheel drive vehicle or a four-wheel drive SUV. Skidding, sliding or your car breaking down is a common occurrence during the cold months. In order to prepare yourself for the inevitable, you must have the right accessories. Most of the time you keep a few accessories in the car for winter driving, but there are a few accessories you may overlook that are just as essential.
1. Polyester Blanket
One accessory most people forget about is a blanket. Since you are already bundled up for the winter, you probably don’t think you need a blanket in the car. A blanket, along with your winter clothing, will keep you warm long enough for help to arrive. Even if this help takes a day or two.
2. Tow Rope
No one ever thinks they will get stuck in the snow if they just drive carefully. Snow-covered roads are unpredictable and your vehicle can easily slide in the ditch. When someone stops to ask you if you need help, you can always ask them to help pull you out.
3. Easy-to-Follow Car Fix-It Manual
You never know when your car is going to breakdown mechanically in the winter. It seems the cold weather affects the engine and transmission more in the winter, then it does in the summer. Putting a easy-to-follow car fix-it manual in your vehicle will help you fix the minor problems yourself.
4. Energy Bars
A lot of people that drive during the winter months always believe someone will be around to help them, or they can easily call someone for help. However, there may be times when it takes days so you must keep your strength up. Put high-calorie energy bars in your car just in case this does happen.
5. Salt
Salt is always a good accessory to keep in your car for winter driving. Throwing salt on snow will make it melt. Once the snow has melted, you can get traction with your tires and get yourself out of a slippery situation.
6. Heater
A small battery operated heater is an overlooked accessory for your car in the winter. You read about people getting stranded in their car for days. A blanket and winter clothing may not be enough to keep you and your children warm.
7. Fix-a-Flat
It is common to get a flat tire in the winter, because of all the slipping, sliding and spinning your tires go through on these road conditions. Having a can of Fix-a-Flat in your truck will pump up your tire enough to get you to a safe location.
8. Cell-Phone Charger
Everyone has a problem with their cell-phone battery going dead over a 24-hour period. If you get stuck in the winter for a long period of time, it is good to have a cell-phone charger in your car so you can recharge the phone.
9. Shovel
Most people that drive in the snow do not believe they will ever need a shovel. However, a shovel can dig your car out of many winter situations. It can also help you carry gravel, salt and sand, found on or along the road, over to your car when you get stuck.
10. Fluids
Always keep a host of different fluids in your automobile during the winter months. Deicing fluid, transmission fluid, oil and a small can of gasoline. These fluids will come in handy if your car ices up, loses oil, gets a transmission leak or runs out of gas.