[subego]

Bonus question. Do you keep the leather thingus the manual comes in?

[Cap'n Tightpants]

The leather/pleather holders? Absolutely. Don't keep those in the car, though, download your manuals to your phone and keep the OEM copies in your garage.

What do I have in mine? Usually not much. In my main DD: registration, POI, backup license, a pack of Kleenex, wet wipes, napkins, an extra car usb adapter, and a small med kit.

[subego]

What should I do with the holder? It sits around for 10 years then I pitch it.

I do keep the actual manual in the glovebox (which hides my emergency $100 bill), but I also have a copy on the "car" iPad mini, which does GPS duties.

Medkit goes in the milk crate with jumper cables, atlas (in ye olden days), roll of paper towels, box of trash bags, ice scraper, etc.

[subego]

Double extra bonus question. What's in your medkit?

[residentEvil]

glove box: registration, poi, manual in pleather case

dash storage: kleenex, napkins, phone chargers

console storage between seats: OBD2 reader, spare change, 100% deet spray, pens, duct tape, electrical tape

hidden "trunk" under cargo deck behind seats: a real car jack, set of tools (wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, sockets in a bin), duct tape (again), bungie cords, toilet paper, blanket, 6 bottles of water, med kit, hammer, hatchet, bow saw, tie down straps, tire chucks and blue tarp.

[mindwaves]

Glove compartment: registration and insurance, and car manual. That is all.

Center console: Napkins from Mickey D's, gloves (weird, right?)

Door pocket: More napkins, wet wipes, receipt book, pen

[Spheric Harlot]

A couple emergency cables (1/4", power), protective gloves for carrying cases, car manual, tire profile depth gauge.

[osiris]

In recent memory I haven't had a car long enough to keep much in there except the manual.
Once those ashtrays get filled, you have to dump the whole car.

/s

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Originally Posted by subego 

Double extra bonus question. What's in your medkit?

Alcohol wipes, bandaids, tourniquet, scalpel, super glue, scissors, gauze, tape, cold pack, antibiotic ointment, and an epipen.

[P]

Glove compartment on mine is tiny, so probably only the manual these days. Used to have the GPS there back when I used one. Center console has some tissue and the "key nut" for the wheels or whatever that thing is called in english. Door pockets have one water bottle and ice scrapers. Luggage compartment has some basic tools, gloves, flashlight + high visibility jacket and warning triangle. I think there may be an ancient first aid kit in there too.

[andi*pandi]

glove box: registration, poi, manual in pleather case, napkins, tylenol, advil, tire gauge, flashlight, sporks, feminine hygiene products, one of those "break the window in case of submersion" tools

dash storage: carmex, pens, sunglasses, duct tape, change

console storage between seats: napkins, straws, usb charger, aux audio cable

door pockets: sunscreen, bug spray, maps maps maps, printouts from mapquest.com

trunk/cargo in cubbies along sides: roll of paper towels, tissues, plastic bags, blankets, umbrellas, maine atlas, boston atlas, dog toys, frisbee, first aid kit, bungies, rope, fire extinguisher (winter: compact snow shovel, snow brush, windshield wiper fluid. spring/summer/fall: folding lawn chairs, soccer gear, bike gear)

under trunk: jack, 4way bolt wrench, jumper cables, quart of oil, funnel, bungies, leather spray, vinyl spray, tire cleaner

I'm bolding the things no one else has mentioned yet. I do like to be prepared.

Subego, might it be interesting to submit pix, and have one person post them all, and guess whose car is whose?

[OreoCookie]

@andi*pandi
Where do you keep your inflatable rubber dinghy?

[andi*pandi]

That falls under seasonal.

[Thorzdad]

Registration, proof of insurance, tire warranty, brake warranty, parking pass for my father-in-law's assisted living home.
No manual. Bought the car used and the manual had been lost. Otherwise, it definitely would be in there, too.

The St. Christopher medal is in the center console.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

The St. Christopher medal is in the center console.

Wow, I haven't heard this in years. My grandmother had a St. Christopher medallion stuck to the console of her '74 Dodge Dart for years, hope it works for you.

[P]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

tylenol

Not in the car, but a couple of pills in a bag I usually carry. About 90% of cases they're consumed by someone else begging me for one.

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

4way bolt wrench

Have that too, included in the "basic tools" (also includes the jack and "multitool" with plier, foldable knife, a few screwdrivers and whatnot). Also a snow brush that I usually forget to remove.

[Spheric Harlot]

My medkit is a standard-issue legally-required one.
You get fined here if police stops you and you don't have one on board, or if it's expired.

[starman]

Manual
Registration
Insurance
Emergency tools

[Cap'n Tightpants]

One thing I'd recommend is getting a 2nd copy of your driver's license and placing it w/ your POI and registration. If you're ever stopped you just hand over a single envelope with everything inside it and you won't have to dig for your wallet.

[OAW]

Owner's manual
Flashlight (complete with dead batteries I'm sure)
Windshield scraper
Map of the US (in case of a zombie apocalypse and GPS is gone)
Extra fuses
Napkins

OAW

[Waragainstsleep]

Mine has a manual and a bunch of cables.

[subego]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Subego, might it be interesting to submit pix, and have one person post them all, and guess whose car is whose?

I like this idea! I'll gladly do the host-n-post.

[Doc HM]

Loads and loads of crumpled tissues I stuff into the door bins (hayfever)
Many broken and non working pens and biro's
Melted sticky sweets
Faded receipts that are no longer legible.
A TDK D90 cassette tape


Glove box contains my broken dreams and faded promises of a better tomorrow


It's that kind of car.




PS, my car has little plastic clip on the A pilar that protrudes towards the screen. I used to keep car parking tickets on the dashboard just below it until I was shown what it is for.

[subego]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

one of those "break the window in case of submersion" tools

I've got one in the glovebox, and one in the driver's side door cubby floating around loose.

Just my luck, I'll flip into the drink and not be able to reach either one because they're not secured.

[subego]

The window cracker in my glovebox is pretty sweet...



The edge of the pommel is the cracker part.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Doc HM 

PS, my car has little plastic clip on the A pilar that protrudes towards the screen. I used to keep car parking tickets on the dashboard just below it until I was shown what it is for.

What's it for?

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by subego 

What's it for?

Parking permits/tickets!

[subego]

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

Parking permits/tickets!

Ah... I misread. I thought he said he was using it for tickets, and then was told what they were for.

It was especially confusing because I thought to myself "gee, those would be great for tickets, what's this better use I'm missing?"

[Doc HM]

Originally Posted by subego 

The window cracker in my glovebox is pretty sweet...



The edge of the pommel is the cracker part.

My god you do plan ahead!

[subego]

Originally Posted by Doc HM 

My god you do plan ahead!

Why, thank you.

Every car should have something similar. Here's the (less sinister looking) one in my door.

[andi*pandi]

Mine looks something like that.

[starman]

Oh so THAT'S what it's for!

Huehue

[reader50]

Registration, insurance, flashlight, old map, pen, notepad, tape measure, compact umbrella, nail clipper, band-aids. And a roll of toilet tissue, for emergency use only. Never needed it, but what the heck.

Thanks to subego, it also has a $20 for emergency gas now. Never thought of that before, excellent idea.

[Chongo]

Let's see, mostly fast food coupons, auto service records, and the owners manual.

It is a spacious glove compartment though, room enough for 22 and a bottle of spañada for Saturday night

[subego]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants 

Alcohol wipes, bandaids, tourniquet, scalpel, super glue, scissors, gauze, tape, cold pack, antibiotic ointment, and an epipen.

Superglue is a good call... never thought of that.

[subego]

Originally Posted by reader50 

Thanks to subego, it also has a $20 for emergency gas now. Never thought of that before, excellent idea.

Thank you!

$20 is plenty for most emergencies. I upped it for the types requiring multiple rounds at the saloon.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

Let's see, mostly fast food coupons, auto service records, and the owners manual.

It is a spacious glove compartment though, room enough for 22 and a bottle of spañada for Saturday night

Do you have a "trunk box" filled with stuff, then?

What do you drive? I imagine everybody in Arizona with a big Lincoln.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep 

Mine has a manual and a bunch of cables.

I'm starting to move in the direction where I go micro-USB, and then have Lightning and 30-pin converter tips.

Assuming those are the types of cables you're talking about.

Getting good 30-pin tips is a real drag, though. AFAICT, Apple stopped making theirs, which verges on criminal considering the garbage alternatives.

[subego]

Originally Posted by OAW 

Map of the US (in case of a zombie apocalypse and GPS is gone)

If the zombies get into space, we're all pretty much ****ed.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants 

One thing I'd recommend is getting a 2nd copy of your driver's license and placing it w/ your POI and registration. If you're ever stopped you just hand over a single envelope with everything inside it and you won't have to dig for your wallet.

If I were a cop asking for your DL, and you handed me an envelope, my first thought would be "there's going to be cash in here".

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Originally Posted by subego 

If I were a cop asking for your DL, and you handed me an envelope, my first thought would be "there's going to be cash in here".

Funny, but not encountered that. If I get stopped I pull the unsealed envelope out, put it on the dash, place my hands on the steering wheel, and wait for instructions. When they ask for my info, I just hand them the whole envelope and tell them everything is inside. It makes the encounter much less stressful for all involved. You should never, ever be reaching for your wallet or your glove box while the officer is standing beside the car.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants 

Funny, but not encountered that. If I get stopped I pull the unsealed envelope out, put it on the dash, place my hands on the steering wheel, and wait for instructions. When they ask for my info, I just hand them the whole envelope and tell them everything is inside. It makes the encounter much less stressful for all involved. You should never, ever be reaching for your wallet or your glove box while the officer is standing beside the car.

It's by no means a bad plan, that was only what jumped to mind.

I don't think I even have POI. I have my registration, but it's not required for in-state shenanigans. For out-of-state, my plan has always been to tell the officer "it's in the glove compartment, there's a knife in there, and I'll proceed however you feel most comfortable".

For the POI, I was going to get it off the web while the officer was taking 20 minutes to write shit down.

[subego]

This thread has gotten me to thinking I should print up some POI as a courtesy, and figure out some envelope-like system.

Likewise, figure out a way to avoid the knife issue altogether.

I'm partial to the Elwood Blues method.

[P]

Originally Posted by subego 

Why, thank you.

Every car should have something similar. Here's the (less sinister looking) one in my door.

Is this common in the US? Never seen it here except for buses (where all the doors are on the same side and you might conceivably be trapped if it tips onto that side). Is it for getting out of a car in water or something?

[subego]

That's the main idea. Any situation where you can't get the door open and the electrics aren't functioning.

They're not as common as they should be. I'm the only person I know who has one.

Local bus windows have emergency latches where you can pop the whole thing out (it's still attached with a hinge). The trains do too I think.

[Spheric Harlot]

And of course, the hook is a seat-belt cutter. Every emergency rescue worker here has one.

[Chongo]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

Let's see, mostly fast food coupons, auto service records, and the owners manual.

It is a spacious glove compartment though, room enough for 22 and a bottle of spañada for Saturday night

)Cheech and Chong reference)

Originally Posted by subego 

Do you have a "trunk box" filled with stuff, then?

What do you drive? I imagine everybody in Arizona with a big Lincoln.

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

[P]

Originally Posted by subego 

That's the main idea. Any situation where you can't get the door open and the electrics aren't functioning.

They're not as common as they should be. I'm the only person I know who has one.

Local bus windows have emergency latches where you can pop the whole thing out (it's still attached with a hinge). The trains do too I think.

IIUC, if the door is unlocked or was locked from the inside, it should always be possible to open from the inside even if the electric power is missing - pulling the opening lever should open it. In water might be different as you're supposed to lower windows to let water in so the door will even open, but that is an edge case.

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot 

And of course, the hook is a seat-belt cutter. Every emergency rescue worker here has one.

That is a little more generally useful. I have thought about that, but decided that I could always get out by moving the seat back (manual length adjustment) to release tension on the belt even if the pretensioner has fired.

[subego]

Originally Posted by P 

IIUC, if the door is unlocked or was locked from the inside, it should always be possible to open from the inside even if the electric power is missing - pulling the opening lever should open it. In water might be different as you're supposed to lower windows to let water in so the door will even open, but that is an edge case.

Water pushing against it is the main case, but the door can get blocked in other ways, and an impact can jam it shut.

In theory, one of the doors will probably work, but if the car's on fire it's nice not to have to check.

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

[starman]

Anyone keep maps anymore?