As every Boy Scout knows, being prepared is being safe. So, when you take to the highway, Uncle Wentworth says "Be ready."

OK, ready for what? Number one is still a flat tire. Do you know how to change yours? Have you actually LOOKED at the spare? Is there a little key to protect your valuable wheels that you need to locate?  Put the mouse down. Go outside. The rest of this guide will be just as helpful when you get back.  BE SURE YOUR SPARE IS READY TO GO.

Here's an interesting thing to think about. BMW makes some of the most reliable cars on the road.  Have you ever seen the tool kit from a mid-80's BMW?  It includes a half-dozen wrenches, screwdrivers, spare fuses and light bulbs. It is a good model to follow. At the very least, a well-prepared traveler takes a pair of pliers, an adjustable wrench, and  spare fuses. And a 24 inch length of two by four.  You just don't know. Consider a small shovel, maybe a hatchet, some rope, and one of those mylar rescue blankets. How much trouble would it be to add a few band aids? And here is something  to discuss with your mechanic: spare belts. I say discuss, because your car may be one of those whose belts take an hour and a half to expose. But it would be nice to know you are never going to be somewhere and hear "I could do this, but the part will take a week to get here."

You can never have too many flashlights. Be sure one of them is working before you set out.  One of those plastic shoe boxes will hold everything you need, excepting maybe the shovel and the two by four. Just keep it at the edge of your trunk or in a safe corner of the cargo area and give it a reassuring pat when you are loading up. Remember Samuel Jackson in THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT?  The five bar blues as memory aid: da DA da da DA. "I'm checkin my flashlight. Gettin ready to go..."

A quart of oil is a great thing to have, as is a gallon of anti-freeze and maybe two or three bottles of drinking water.  I like to have an emergency fifth of something stronger, in case I find myself in one of those notorious dry counties.

Other than your flashlight and your sense of  adventure, the most valuable tool you can carry is your cell phone with the number of your auto club already programmed.  It is amazing to see how relatively minor an emergency can be when you have everything you need. It ceases to be a problem and is instead just one more feature of the trip: "We saw some bears, then, while  we had the car jacked up, a pterodactyl flew over us."  That's a whole lot more fun than "We were exhausted and while we were waiting for the tow truck, we missed Halley's comet directly overhead."


Here's your checklist:

Belts, Bulbs and Fuses
Wrenches and pliers
Oil and anti freeze (automotive and human)
Flashlight
First aid kit
Lug Wrench, Jack and Spare
Emergency blanket
Shovel, Rope, and Two by Four

 I like to think of this as the BWOFFLES list, but you may choose some other name, such as Wentworth. Just be sure you have it in your vehicle.

Shakespeare's Hamlet said it best: "Readiness is all."  With a little bit of preparation you will be ready for just about anything. And remember, Let's be careful out there. The easiest Emergency to solve is the Emergency you avoid entirely.

I hope you have found this guide to be useful and will consider giving it a "helpful" vote. Please see my other guides and reviews for information on a surprising variety of topics.

WT