[subego]

Originally Posted by starman 

Anyone keep maps anymore?

Google does.

I have a map of Chicago Boulevards, because my "truck" is banned from them, but that's it.

[andi*pandi]

Last summer google maps brought us to a remote cul de sac in new hampshire. Paper maps were sure handy. Plus, paper maps allow planning, and you can open them up to see where one town meets the next. I dislike getting my directions one inch at a time.

Maybe I don't need the ones of Colorado and LA anymore though...

[P]

Originally Posted by subego 

It's also can be handy if you come across an accident. Then you could be dealing with locked doors.

If I can reach my luggage compartment, I have tools there that would suffice for both. I suspect that if all doors of the car are blocked, the crash was serious enough that I will need external assistance, but the seat belt cutter may be a good idea.

[subego]

Part of the deal is they come with a mount so can keep it in arm's reach. The idea being you flip and have leaking gas everywhere, time is of the essence.

But again, the key use case is where water is blocking the doors and has shorted your electrics.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Bought a car not too long ago that had half a pack of Trojans in the glove box. They'd baked for so long that the lube had turned to sludge.

[Chongo]

Yet you still used them?.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

I drive a 2005 Colorado. Trucks and SUV's are big sellers.

That makes sense. I think I'm imagining how the snowbirds roll.

[Chongo]

Originally Posted by subego 

That makes sense. I think I'm imagining how the snowbirds roll.

That would be the Sun City snowbirds. Many snowbirds drive compacts they tow behind thier motor homes.

[subego]

That also makes sense.

[Chongo]

Full time residents of the Sun Ciites and Leisure World for the most part don't own cars. They drive around in decked out golf carts.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

Full time residents of the Sun Ciites and Leisure World for the most part don't own cars. They drive around in decked out golf carts.

I always wondered about these cart-only places, especially in AZ. Are the carts air conditioned?

[Chongo]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I always wondered about these cart-only places, especially in AZ. Are the carts air conditioned?

I haven't seen any. That does not mean there aren't.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

Yet you still used them?.

Obviously! No, a guy that works for me opened one and showed it to me. I've not used a condom in decades, probably since I lived in LA. They were awful then, and if I had to rely on them now I'd probably just forgo sex entirely.

[subego]

Turns out I had less useless crap in there than I thought. Part of the reason I started the thread is I wanted to go in mine and clear out some clutter.

Manual with emergency money
Emergency lighters
Emergency sunglasses
Registration
Expired POI
Knife/window cracker tool
Earplugs (I have irritatingly sensitive hearing)
Tire gauge
A couple chemical hand warmers
A couple Mylar emergency blankets
30-pin cable
AC USB charger
Phone sized clamp for the car mount

In the cubby over the glove compartment I have:
Gum
Box cutter
USB key
Micro-USB cable
Lightning tip
30-pin tip

In the dash-well I have a "Scoop" Jackson sized notebook and sharpies.

No real "console" in the center, but there's a little cup with a few dollar coins. I heart dollar coins.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

You're officially a hoarder

[subego]

On one hand, I look at the quantity of items on the list and would be forced to agree. Hell, the whole reason we're here is I wanted to check the manual for something and thought "gee... this is two tons of shit in a one pound bag".

But then I look at each item, and with the exception of the 30-pin cable, they all look perfectly reasonable and have obvious use cases.

[andi*pandi]

that's all very reasonable. If you're on the road a lot, it helps to be prepared.

[subego]

I'm actually not on the road too much, but the only things on that list which haven't gotten used at one point or another are...

Cracker
Hand warmers
Space blankets
AC Charger
Phone Clamp

Never used the USB key, but ever since that one time I needed one and didn't have it, I bought a half-dozen tiny ones and scattered them around. Of course, the one time the AC charger would have come in handy I was in a rental.

[osiris]

I wish I had a need for a car so that I too may keep random things in my glove compartment.

[andi*pandi]

Tell us all about the stuff you keep in your backpack or bike saddlebag, then!

[osiris]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Tell us all about the stuff you keep in your backpack or bike saddlebag, then!

I walk, and I have sherpas carry my stuff.

actually I just carry keys, license and amex, work ID and phone.... that's all I need, nothing fancy.

[subego]

Have you gone ca$hless?

[osiris]

for the most part, but if I need cash I shake down tourists.

[subego]

I've moved registration and (updated) POI to the visor, so Shortcut can be happy I've now got two less items in glove compartment.

I'm going to look at the spare DL idea. I mentioned it in another thread and someone brought up this isn't legal in a bunch of states. I think Illinois is one.

[subego]

I've had registration and POI in the visor, only to realize if I use the visor with the window open, shit kinda wants to fly out.

May need to introduce the envelope.

[andi*pandi]

clear envelope bulldog clipped to visor.

[subego]

I like the clip idea!

There's a built-in strap, but only one, and the problem is it's very loosey-goosey for only a couple slips of paper.

Plus, the printer toner on my POI started to glue itself to the strap, which does help with the blowing around, but is a less than ideal solution.

[ghporter]

I don't keep any maps in the glove box because the car's hard drive has all the maps I need. (Says so in the owner's manual! )

My glove box has registration, insurance, a small flashlight (which I need to check for function), tire gauge, hand sanitizer, and a couple of pens.

The center console has gum, my mileage log and a pen, a Lightning cable and a small package of tissues. Bulk $bux/Chipoltle napkins are in the bins in each side's doors.

My cargo area (it's a BMW X3 SUV) has a folding "trunk organizer" which makes getting groceries in plastic bags actually doable, and the folding box BMW gives you that holds a neck pillow and a fleece blanket. Under the cargo deck is a storage area with my small first aid kit, extra nitrile gloves, and a number of reusable grocery bags (including one cold bag). The cargo area has two tracks for adjustable tie down loops - those live in the space under the cargo deck when not in use.

[subego]

Partially because of this thread, I decided to update my first aid kit, which I bought sometime last century.

Apart from everything being no doubt expired, I've since started building them custom. The pre-made ones usually have everything you need to do a roadside lobotomy, but nothing actually useful. I've got...

EMT shears
Neato folding tweezers
Thermometer
3" gauze squares
Vetrap*
Band-aids, tough strip and Hello Kitty
Alchohol pads
Neosporin
Prescription muscle relaxant
Sudafed, the good shit
Benadryl
Tylenol
Aleve

All of which fits perfectly into a tiny Pelican case.


*This is the "animal" version of the stuff you use to (for example) wrap your ankle. The only difference is it's loads cheaper and comes in fabulous colors. I'm rocking royal purple.

[ghporter]

Vetrap is essentially the same as "Coban" bandage material - though BOTH are made by 3M, so is there really a difference? Probably not.

It's good stuff, and it compresses any dressing you put it over. But don't leave it on too long if you don't have to - it will eventually pinch uncomfortably.

I'd add a couple things: Solarcaine (it contains lidocaine, which helps manage superficial pain), a couple ACE bandages, and a butt load of nitrile gloves.

[subego]

I waffled on the lidocaine for some reason. I have some in my (almost) identical "work" kit. You have convinced me to throw it in.

It can be wasteful depending on circumstances, but I feel Vetrap actually makes a better Ace bandage than an Ace bandage.

I know I should make gloves part of the kit, and this would horrify any medical professional, but I go commando. If the isopropyl won't kill it, someone's going down with the ship.

[ghporter]

Mine is cleaner too. The dealership had to replace the door because the covering (matching the upholstery) peeled off, apparently in some sort of internal difference of opinion among various parts of the car...

I will add that I have a Lightning cable in my console (not the glove box) because there's a USB port in there that I can charge my phone with while on trips. It's also easy to forget your phone inside the console, and wind up wondering what you did with it. Not the most fun I've had.

[Chongo]

Don't tell anyone.