28 August 2010

Safety Kit for Long Drive

Nothing is more important than safety on a long drive. Remember that you are going to be a long way from home. Its not the same when something goes wrong while you are in your own country or for that matter, when you know help is just a phone call away. A safety kit is an assembly of important items you should carry on a long drive. The kit is meant to keep you going so that you can reach your destination safely and seek professional help. Most importantly, make sure your car is in a road worthy state before embarking on a long drive. This safety kit is in addition to a daily safety kit that I keep in my boot all the time.



Tyre Repair Kit. Never leave the border without these items in your boot. The kit consists of an Airman Tyre Repair/Inflator. The Airman injects latex into the tyre as it inflates it. However, if you use the latex to repair the puncture, speed is restricted to 80 km/h and chances are the tyres may be damaged and need to be replaced. If the hole of the puncture is manageable, I use the standard hole repair kit used by the shops. With the repair done using this kit, speed is not restricted as the tyre is essentially as 'good-as-new'. I carry a spare jack (made for Porsche) in case I need to use two jacks at a time. Wheel chocks are a must when you jack up your car. I got these from Australia; they are collapsible and made of steel.


Fold able bucket and water bags. The bucket can be used for many purposes from washing car or as a container for washing up. The two water bags can carry either 3.9L or 5L of water in case more water is needed. These bags are collapsible so they don't take up space and weight until you need it.


Spare oil for transmission & power steering, brake and clutch fluid, brake fluid and radiator coolant. In addition, carry at least 1 litre of engine oil. The need for these spare oils and coolant is obvious. The Super Cleaner is used to clean throttle bodies or places where dirt and gunk can accumulate. The grease spray is for lubricating areas where there are squeaks or even for a simple job like lubricating a nut before removing it.


Rags, gloves, spare clips, spare belt, rubber hose, cable ties, funnel with hose and plastic pump. Always work with gloves to prevent injury to the hands. It also helps to keep the hands clean as water for washing up may not be available. Cable ties are essential to tie cables or hoses together in case they come loose. Since the belt on my car is not standard BMW, I carry a spare belt in case the overseas workshop does not have one. The funnel and hose is used to pour octane booster into the fuel tank. Not all manufacturers of fuel additives are smart enough to build in a funnel in their octane boosters. Imagine having a bottle of octane booster but not being to use it because you cannot pour it in. The rubber hose is used to extract fuel or engine oil in conjunction with the rubber pump. In case you do a dumb thing like pump diesel into your regular fuel tank because you cannot read the label on the pump at the gas station, you can use this to siphon out the wrong fuel or oil.


Battery charger. In case you suspect the battery is not charging properly, this charger will make sure you have enough juice to start up the car. If you are lucky enough to find a place where you can plug it in, that would be best. If not, then the next best thing is to take the battery out of the car and charge it in the room. Of course, if you have company, you can always use a jump start cable but nothing beats being self-sufficient. I also have an emergency battery starter (not pictured) that is in the boot all the time.


Tool Kit. This is the basic tool kit you must carry. Its enough to tackle most small jobs.


Towing gear. If all else fails, a tow cable may be the answer. The securing strap can also be used if you make a few passes between the the two cars.

You may think that this safety kit is not necessary and add weight to the car. Perhaps, you might also be thinking that wherever you are going, there will service stations along the way that can sort out whatever problems you have. Think again. Firstly, you need to get to the service station first in order for the mechanics to work on your car. Next, you might not be able to speak their language to explain what it wrong. Then, you realise they do not have the spare part or the oils/liquids they use is not compatible with your car. Most importantly, this safety kit is not for you alone. If someone in the convoy has a breakdown, it is important that you help him out because if you do not, he will slow everybody down. During an emergency, there is no time to lay blame or accusations that the person is not prepared for the drive. Sort out the problem first and decide what you want to do with the 'idiot' later.

posted by gabey @ Saturday, August 28, 2010