Expert’s guide to handy car tools and accessories

One of the exciting things about heading out on a road trip is the idea of being in uncharted territory, responding to the conditions and circumstances as they arise.  Part of being a smart driver is having your bases covered if anything goes awry.  

You wouldn’t be the first person to be caught out in the middle of nowhere, and you certainly won’t be the last.  But we could try a wild concept and avoid that altogether.  

In that vein, here’s our list of accessories to get you up and moving as soon as possible.

Caught spare?  Only if it’s a tyre!

Okay, so we’ll start off with something fairly obvious, but making sure your spare tyre (or spacer tyre) is in good nick only takes a couple minutes and could save you a few hours of worry and woe should you get a flat tyre while you’re out and about.

Don’t get left behind!  Pack a tow strap.

Generally found wherever there’s a car stuck in the mud, tow straps are a great one to have around.  It could be you, or it could be someone else who needs them.  We recommend the heavy-duty variety, and makes life oh-so-much easier when you invest in a tow strap with hooks on both ends.

An LED flashlight is a bright idea

If you’re ever caught out at night, having an LED flashlight is a great idea.  

Why LED?  It’s low on battery consumption and super bright.

A multi-tool is your Swiss Car-my Knife

Okay, so the subtitle might be a bit of a reach, but it’s nothing like the reach you’ll need if you don’t pack a multi-tool.  A little bit like the aforementioned Scandanavian military accessory, a multi-tool is hardier, and more versatile, gives you all the tools you can think of in one smart-looking tool.  It comes equipped with a knife, pliers, screwdriver bits, files and other handy features.

Our pick of the bunch?  We like what Leatherman has on offer, and you can generally pick one up at a decent price over on a Trademe.

A common wrench is common sense

A quick scan of your car and you’ll realise it requires quite a few nuts and bolts to put a vehicle to order, to say the least.  Naturally, it makes sense to give yourself the ability to tighten or remove them when time calls.  We recommend keeping a set of both metric and SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) on hand.  If you’re tight on space, then just grab a basic ratchet and socket and you’ve got the essentials.

Don’t get screwed, driver!  Keep a screwdriver on deck

There’s endless use for a screwdriver, so please don’t leave home without one in the car!  You can align bolt holes, pry stuck items apart, get to tucked away spots, or punch a hole in a pop can with a broken tab.

Pack jumper cables and avoid being jumped by a flat battery

Dead batteries always happen at the most opportune times, don’t they?  Jokes, jokes.  Quite the opposite really, and in my experience, although it seems like everyone has jumper cables stowed in their car, this isn’t actually the case.  Take our advice and be your own, or somebody else’s roadside hero, with a set of jumper cables tucked away in the boot.

When in doubt, duct tape

I have a special affection for duct tape, it’s such a good thing to have on hand, especially when you’re out on the road.  Whether it’s a broken window, a seat cushion or you somehow figure out what that constant ticking sound is, duct tape is there when you need it.  It’s a good, cheap adhesive that doesn’t make a mess – perfect.

Remember, if you’re caught out and need the help of a qualified mechanic, we’ve got you covered here at My Auto Shop.