from the July 2002 issue of Motor Trend

Car Care

by David Newhardt

Planning against on-road glitches

You've checked the fan belts for cracks and the hoses for splits.  The
engine oil and filter are fresh, the automatic transmission fluid was
inspected ... even the air pressure in the spare tire is set to the
proper
level.  Time to grab the family and hit the road for the annual
vacation/road-trip/flog.

Or is it?

According to Murphy's Law, breakdowns and other maladies surface
when you're in the most inhospitable and inaccessible places.  A basic
selection of tools and other gear, carried in a plastic, liquid-tight
container, is cheap insurance.  Here's the road kit we never leave the
garage without:

* Straight blade and Phillips-head screwdrivers

* Crescent wrench

* Slip-joint and locking pliers

* 1/4-inch ratchet and a selection of sockets

* Duct tape and electrical tape

* Cable-lock style tie wraps

* Three to four emergency road flares

* Pocketknife and/or razor blade

* Tire gauge

* Flashlight with fresh batteries

*spare fuses

* Gloves and waterless hand cleaner

* Paper towels/cloth rags

* Aerosol tire repair

* Jumper cables

* Cellular phone and 12volt charger

* Extra motor oil

* Energy bars

* Bottled water

* First-aid kit

If you don't feel like carrying, or don't have the room for,
a ton of tools, at least take along a Leatherman-style
multipurpose tool;  even the proverbial Swiss Army knife
is better than nothing.  Today's cars, trucks, and SUVs
are more reliable than ever.  But don't give Murphy more
opportunity to ruin your trip than he already has.