Be Prepared – Carry Traction in Your Trunk

February 8, 2010 | Posted by Clair Schwan

I like to be prepared. The alternative is being unprepared – not a good idea at all. It just doesn’t feel right to me. Preparation means we’re ready for eventualities and many emergencies at home and on the road.

One of the things you can do to be prepared is to carry a form of traction in the trunk of your car. Here are some ideas:

• full tire chains or cables, or the strap-on variety (one pair per drive tire)
• lengths of 2 by 6 lumber
• liquid chlorine bleach and old rags
• sand
• pieces of carpet or rubber doormats

The liquid chlorine bleach and sand are only useful for getting traction on ice. All other items can be used when you find yourself getting stuck in the sand, mud or snow.

Lighter and less bulky is better, especially if you’re going to carry it around all the time. Scrap material will be cheaper so you won’t care if it is destroyed by mud and spinning tires. Flat material will store conveniently and not get in the way.

If you drive in loose material or in foul weather, you might consider one or more of the items listed above as standard equipment in your car. Be prepared, or pay the price in terms of inconvenience and perhaps a towing fee.

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Clair Schwan was never a boy scout, but he believes that “be prepared” is a great motto. Carrying a bit of traction in your trunk can help you get out of an unanticipated jam. It’s better to have it and never need it than to need it and not have it.

Categories: emergency preparedness | Tags: be prepared, driving, emergency preparedness, self reliance | No Comments »