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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You wouldn\u2019t be the first person to be caught out in the middle of nowhere, and you certainly won\u2019t be the last. But we could try a wild concept and avoid that altogether. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that vein, here\u2019s our list of accessories to get you up and moving as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, so we\u2019ll 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\u2019re out and about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally found wherever there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re ever caught out at night, having an LED flashlight is a great idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why LED? It\u2019s low on battery consumption and super bright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, so the subtitle might be a bit of a reach, but it\u2019s nothing like the reach you\u2019ll need if you don\u2019t 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. A quick scan of your car and you\u2019ll 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\u2019re tight on space, then just grab a basic ratchet and socket and you\u2019ve got the essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s endless use for a screwdriver, so please don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dead batteries always happen at the most opportune times, don\u2019t they? Jokes, jokes. Quite the opposite really, and in my experience, although it seems<\/em> like everyone<\/em> has jumper cables stowed in their car, this isn\u2019t actually the case. Take our advice and be your own, or somebody else\u2019s roadside hero, with a set of jumper cables tucked away in the boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a special affection for duct tape, it\u2019s such a good thing to have on hand, especially when you\u2019re out on the road. Whether it\u2019s 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\u2019s a good, cheap adhesive that doesn\u2019t make a mess – perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA common wrench is common sense<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t get screwed, driver! Keep a screwdriver on deck<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pack jumper cables and avoid being jumped by a flat battery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When in doubt, duct tape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n