Every year winter makes adjustments to the plans of many travelers, because severe frost, snowfall and icy conditions are not the best companions on the road. However, no matter what, you need to travel all year round, including in winter, because each season has its own advantages and disadvantages. Winter time was and still is considered the most romantic and suitable precisely for travel by car. In the winter, many interesting sights will play with new colors, which allows you to look at them from a different angle. Today, we will talk about road trip essentials in winter, which you should always keep with you when going on exciting adventures in the freezing winter. Read below to learn more.
1. Scraper And Brush
The scraper is a versatile and easy-to-use device for destroying the windshield and side windows in the car door from a thick layer of ice. This often happens when, after a temporary warming with precipitation in the form of rain, it starts to get cold and ice begins to form. Another useful thing for a winter road trip is a snow brush, because often a large amount of snow can fall in just one night in winter, forming a thick layer of snow.
2. Flashlight
It’s no secret that the closer to the date of the winter solstice, the shorter the duration of daylight hours, and that in freezing weather speaks volumes. When you’re planning your winter road trip in the best way possible, it’s a good idea to bring a regular flashlight, or better yet, several. It’s important to get some powerful flashlight and batteries for them beforehand, and it wouldn’t hurt to find yourself a headband flashlight, so you can get the job done and not be distracted by where to put the flashlight. Also, in the case of camping, you will also need quite a few lights, so keep that in mind.
3. Tire Chains
A trip to the snowy mountains is both an exciting and an extreme adventure that requires a special approach to equipment and safety measures. Even when you decide to rent cars, make sure your vehicle is equipped with a new set of winter tires, or better yet, ask about the possibility of installing special chains on the wheels for mountain travel. This will greatly improve safety on the road, especially with regard to the extreme climbs and descents on snowy off-road terrain.
4. Towing Strap
A towing belt is a very necessary thing that should be in the trunk of any car at any time of year, because with the help of such ropes you can pull the car out of drifts, deep ditches, pits and abysses. Having found the offers of budget car rental, you should always take the tow-rope with you, and several of them are better, to have enough for sure. Note that the choice of such rope directly depends on the weight of your vehicle, so it is worth carefully reading the instructions to take the right option.
5. Shovel
As trivial as it may sound, the familiar shovel is an indispensable helper when traveling. With the help of shovels, you can clear the space around the car, clear the paths to get out of the skid and even cope with ice on the road. During the trip, which includes the choice of the cheapest rental car, you should certainly take with you several portable shovels of different sizes and purposes, because only in this way can you insure against unpredictable circumstances of deteriorating weather conditions.
6. Emergency Medical Kit
Of course, it is necessary to have a first-aid kit in case of emergencies related to injuries or frostbite. In particular, the first aid kit should always be present such medicines as painkillers, styptic, antiseptics, drugs to reduce or increase BP, antiviral medicines, bents, tourniquets, anti-inflammatory and drugs for the flu. Therefore, if you regularly use the services of budget rent-a-car, then you should pay attention to the presence of these necessary medical products in the first aid kit, because it can save your life or the lives of other passengers.
7. Anti-Freeze
What is antifreeze liquid? It is a special product to prevent the formation of ice on the glass, hood or other parts of the vehicle, which is pre-applied before the deterioration of weather conditions. It should be noted that this liquid in conjunction with the work of windshield wipers will help to ensure good visibility even in adverse winter conditions. The overwhelming majority of clients of car rental companies face problems with frostbite on windshields and other parts of transport already during a trip, therefore it is necessary to take antifreeze with you.
8. Toolbox
In case of breakdowns or emergencies, you should always have spare tools like screws, hammers, screwdrivers or bolts and more nearby, because before a full repair you can always do something quickly to at least get to the nearest gas station. It is clear that such tools should be of high quality and widely represented in your kit, sometimes even the smallest parts decide a lot.
9. Winter Clothes
Warm blankets, gloves, hats, scarves, and jackets are definitely useful if you get into trouble on the road and can not get out of a snow drift. Warming pads, which come in different sizes and purposes (including for hands and feet) are a good help to keep warm. When the thermometer begins to fall well below zero, it is useful in additional sets of thermal underwear, which fits closely to the body and is designed not to let in extra heat.
10. Connection Cables And Adapters
It is extremely important to have several sets of connection cables and adapters with you in case the car battery is broken, because it is not surprising during severe frosts. In particular, use them and another car to try to temporarily restore certain car functions, including lights, the operation of the car radio or even heating inside the cabin. Keep in mind that connecting wires should be made of unadulterated copper and covered with insulating material. Make sure that all adapters and connecting cables are intact and do not overheat during use.
Conclusion
Therefore, if you are planning to go on a winter trip, the above items are sure to help you get safely to your destination, and in case of unforeseen circumstances – quickly get out of a difficult situation. You should carefully prepare for a long car trip in fierce winter weather. Be sure to put these items on your checklist of helpful tips.
