If you ever set out on a long distance road trip, imagining yourself the heroine, you’ll soon learn that crazy things happen. You probably won’t be mistaken for a princess, or be stuck with a travel partner that has 3 different personalities, but sooner or later, the unexpected emergency will occur, and make your day hell if you aren’t prepared! Maybe you’ll get a flat tire in the forest, run out of gas in the desert, or even get caught in a freak snowstorm. But whatever the case may be, a few simple tools will solve the problem, and get you back on the road in a jiffy.
Before you head out on the road, get some basic tools. Even if you don’t know how to use them, having them can mean the difference between getting help from a kind passerby, or sitting for hours on a lonely road until AAA or the local trooper finally gets to you.
Must Haves
1) Get a wrench and socket set. Japanese cars have metric parts, so make sure you have at least a combination of imperial and metric if your car is a Prius.
2) A metric wrench set. The most common bolt you’ll have to loosen on the Prius is 10mm. The more expensive sets have flexible ends, so you can access tight spots easier.
3) A set of fuses for your car. Especially useful if you tried to pull too much power from your 12v socket and blew your fuse. AutoZone sells little packs with one or two of each of the most necessary fuses for your vehicle model.
4) A portable air compressor to inflate your tires. Plug it into your 12v outlet and inflate your tires anywhere. I got a puncture in Yellowstone, and was able to wait 2 days on a holiday weekend to get my tire fixed. All I had to do was add air a few times!
5) A gas can. Fuel in national parks and remote areas can be very expensive, and sometimes a long drive away. I keep a small fuel can under my bed (no, it never smells or leaks fumes). Note that CARB compliant containers can be tricky to use because the tube that goes in the gas tank has to catch on the threads inside your gas tank. You can get a universal spout that doesn’t have the safety tab (there’s no way you’ll overfill your tank if you’re near empty, right?). Just be sure to keep your original cap and stopper, because that’s what keeps the fumes away from you.
6) A jump starter pack. These small battery banks are charged via USB and can be used to jump start your car if your battery is low. Inexpensive ones will only have one charge and then it will need to be plugged in for an hour or so to recharge.
7) Jumper cables. Because even if you have a battery pack, there are times when you might need more power, or your bank isn’t charged. Most strangers on the road will be happy to give you a jump, but not many carry cables.
8) A lug wrench, in case you need to change a tire and AAA is far, far, away. State troopers once changed my tire for free, when AAA would have taken an hour to arrive!
9) Snow cables (they’re better than chains). I carry these in my car always, because you never know when there will be snow. I went from 80 degree weather in Utah in May, to snow around Denver that same day! And in the National Parks, side roads don’t get plowed, and they can be required anytime it snows. On the bright side, there are often people who will put the cables on for you, for a small fee.
10) A thin camping mat for emergencies, like when your regular air mattress has a puncture you can’t fix, or your car breaks down and you didn’t have your usual sleeping gear in the car. Or your travel buddy had an emergency. Coupled with a space blanket or a lightweight down sleeping bag, it will get you through the night in some degree of comfort.
11) Long extension cord. They come in really handy when you want to run power from your car inverter, or your campsite hookup to your tent. I like the ones with the flat, rotating plug, in case I need to get into a tight space.
Basic Tools
12) A power drill. This comes in handy not only for when you want to build things in your car, but also when you need to loosen a bolt that was overtightened and you don’t have the hand strength. Cordless is best so you don’t have to worry about power.
13) Drill bits. Mine are heavy duty titanium, in case I ever need to drill something hard like steel.
14) A Dremel with cutting wheels, in case you need to cut small holes, pipes, or locks, because you lost a key. I’ve only had to use this once or twice in a year, so unless you’re doing builds, you may never need it.
15) A hand saw can be used for cutting wood in a pinch, or PVC, and takes no room at all.
Hitch Items
16) A hitch ball mount. This comes in very handy if you have a hitch and want to rent a trailer for moving stuff. Uhaul trailers are about 20 bucks a day, which is much cheaper than a truck since you don’t pay mileage! Get one that rises (if it ‘drops’ just turn it upside down), so your chains don’t drag.
17) A hitch ball, so you can tow the trailer. Rental trailers usually need a 2″ ball. Utility trailers from Harbor Freight use 1 7/8″. If you’re not sure what you’ll need, you can get a mount that takes multiple size balls. They’re really nice because it also keeps people from stealing your hitch ball.
18) A hitch ball wrench, because the ball has to be tightened really well for safety, and you can’t get it off without a lot of torque.
19) A tow strap. This isn’t a must, but if you’re adventurous and you get stuck in sand, mud or snow, your friends or a good Samaritan can use it to pull you out. It’s better than paying $700 for the rangers to call the tow trucks that service the National Parks!
20) A tow hook. This attaches to the bumper on your car and can be used to pull you out of a jam, without yanking off a piece of your car! The Prius includes one in your spare tire kit. If you don’t have one, you can get a replacement from Amazon.
So there it is! Not a list of every tool I carry, but definitely the most used, aside from my screwdriver. I hope this will help keep you safe and prepared. Happy travels!
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