Winter road trip, what do you pack?

[etoften]

I've been doing winter road trips for decades. I'm getting ready for my next one and putting my packing list together. What do you keep in your vehicle besides your luggage? Here's my list

1. Sleeping bag - Mine is a 0° bag.
2. Travel blanket - If I don't need the sleeping bag
3. Snow shovel - For... snow
4. Extra winter coat/pants/hat/gloves - In case I need to hike out of wherever I get stranded
5. First aid kit
6. Flashlight
7. Jumper cables
8. Tool kit
9. Air compressor
10. Extra food
11. A car refrigerator
12. Recovery gear (straps, shackles, winch controller)
13. Tire repair kit
14. Snow chains if I don't have snow rates tires

Thankfully, I've not needed a few of those but I carry them just in case. What else do you pack?

Sevev

I've been doing winter road trips for decades. I'm getting ready for my next one and putting my packing list together. What do you keep in your vehicle besides your luggage? Here's my list

1. Sleeping bag - Mine is a 0° bag.
2. Travel blanket - If I don't need the sleeping bag
3. Snow shovel - For... snow
4. Extra winter coat/pants/hat/gloves - In case I need to hike out of wherever I get stranded
5. First aid kit
6. Flashlight
7. Jumper cables
8. Tool kit
9. Air compressor
10. Extra food
11. A car refrigerator
12. Recovery gear (straps, shackles, winch controller)
13. Tire repair kit
14. Snow chains if I don't have snow rates tires

Thankfully, I've not needed a few of those but I carry them just in case. What else do you pack?

I have three vehicles. Some of the items on your list are standard carry regardless of season in each. I have heavy duty plastic tote that lives in my daily driver. I throw it in another vehicle anytime I am taking that one more than an hour from home. Them I have a back pack that goes with me on any trip.

Standard carry in every vehicle.
1 - large knife with serrated blade
2 - heavy cotton blanket
3 - non perishable emergency snacks
4 - tire plug kit
5 - first aid kit
6 - Flashlight

Tote
1 - snatch strap
2 - cordage
3 - bungee ratchet straps
4 - noco jump box doubles as power supply
5 - Air compressor
6 - tool kit

Back pack with seasonal spare clothing.

Throw the Recovery boards and grain shovel in the back when winter weather hits.

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[_olllllllo_]

I live in Southern Arizona, so winter camping is not the same as those in the Northern areas of the US, but here is what I pack on every off-roading/overlanding/camping trip I take:

1. Bag of tools (1/2" impact wrench, drill, 1/4" impact wrench, 3/8" ratchet, and plenty of M12 and M18 batteries).
2. Tool roll with 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sockets.
3. Electrical bag with automotive multimeter, soldering iron, wire, heat shrink, connectors, and splices).
4. Mechanical bag with screwdrivers, open end wrenches, pliers, and all types of other wrenches.
5. 1.5 ton Badlands off-road jack
6. Traction boards
7. Tire Repair kit
8. Recovery gear (shackles, tree saver, kinetic rope, pulley, etc.)
9. Fluids (coolant, oil, transmission/transfer case, brake, power steering, and gear oil) and serpentine belt.
10. 1 3/8", 1 1/2" and 1 5/8" open end for Rock Krawler tie rod, drag link, and control arm adjustment
11. 1/2" breaker bar
12. Moving blanket and automotive jump suit for repair situations on hot pavement or rocky terrain.
13. Two first aid kits and aluminum splint
14. Shovel and axe

I also take solar panels, an Ecoflow 1kWh portable battery, and Starlink.

 

[dragoneggs]

Regarding water, that was implied with food but not explicitly stated.

And for the fridge, I can't do an external pack outside the car because it could freeze and that's "bad".

I carry the little fridge into the hotel. It's pretty small at 5x8x8". I have a wall plug adapter for it so I can keep everything at a consistent temperature no matter what. Some of the cheap motels I stop at don't have a fridge in the room. Although, in-room fridges are getting way more common than they used to be. Still, it's my meds so I don't take chances.

That is a tiny fridge!

 

[grimmjeeper]

That is a tiny fridge!

Like I say, it holds a 6 pack. Good for meds and a few snacks. Perfect for a solo on road trip. Not enough for a long off road trip but that's what the ARB is for.

 

[Gio]

 

[JW-UK]

Winter strength screen wash. Always in the vehicle, especially on a road trip.
Also fill up with winter strength a month or so before the cold weather starts.

 

[hoch]

Oh, a couple more things I thought of. Some kitty litter and slip on micro spikes (for your shoes).
Ive “rescued” folks stuck, spinning tires on ice by simply sprinkling some cat litter in front of their tires.
And microspikes because during recovery, it can get pretty slick at times.

 

[THAW]

back in olden days id have condoms in glove box. they get mighty cold in winter

 

[Malpaso]

Along with the survival gear, an HF radio and extra battery, and if traveling with others, two VHF radios.

 

[grimmjeeper]

Along with the survival gear, an HF radio and extra battery, and if traveling with others, two VHF radios.

Yeah, I do usually grab my ham, even on road trips.

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