Any driver knows that winter is a difficult time to drive. Ice, rain, salt on the roads… hinder circulation and can cause us more than one scare. As in any season of the year we must know how to react before the problems that can derive from the cold, but we must also know how to anticipate them to avoid them.
Protecting your car during the winter is of vital importance for its conservation, but you can also avoid many scares and bad times with a few simple gestures that will not take a long time. Pay attention to these ten things that should be taken in the vehicle, before the snow and cold arrive to stay for a few months:
Mobile phone
Currently the mobile phone is the faithful companion of all of us, we cannot imagine a life without the facilities that this device offers us. But many times we have the feeling that it fails us at the worst moments. For this reason it is important not only to have your mobile phone close at hand during the winter but also take it with battery especially if we are going to make an incursion into areas far from urban centers. It does not hurt to bring a mobile charger for the car either.
Chains
Perhaps you may think that it is not necessary to carry them in the trunk because it does not snow frequently in your area, much less with intensity, but the truth is that it is necessary to carry them because we never know when bad weather may surprise us.
In addition, by always carrying them in the trunk you will save yourself the unpleasantness and forgetfulness that occur when we make a trip to the mountains during the winter. Some time ago we explained what type of chain to choose. And if you don’t know how to put them, take a look at this article.
Scraper brush
Frosts are the faithful companion of winters. Those unfortunate enough to have to leave their car parked on the street and not in a parking lot know what we are talking about. For this reason, carry a scraper brush, a scraper either A spatula It is essential, because if we do not carry it we will not be able to start the march, since the ice completely prevents us from seeing.
In addition, there are currently multiple scraper brush formats that facilitate the operation and reduce exposure to cold while we are removing the ice. We leave you with some tips for removing ice and snow from the car that can also be useful.
Jumper cables and towing sling
Cold is the worst enemy of car batteries. Freezing temperatures cause our car batteries to give out and often lose power. For this reason, it is important to bring jumper cables to be able to start the march as soon as possible. Don’t you know how to connect them? Relax, we teach you how to start a car with tweezers.
As the battery does not always revive with these operations, it is important to also carry a tow sling, to be able to be towed in case of emergency. Highway exits are frequent when the pavement is frozen, so it doesn’t hurt to make a hole in our trunk.
Campaign shovel
If you plan to go to the woods or travel secondary roads or dirt tracks, where it can snow heavily and its maintenance is not as fast as the highways, it does not hurt to carry a small shovel in the trunk. It will help you remove snow or other materials that may have been washed away by storms.
Extra warm clothing
You never know for sure what the weather is going to be like in the place where you are going. Carrying a coat in the trunk or on the back seats can protect you. Especially if you have to get out of the vehicle to carry out any operation, even if it is as basic as adding gasoline.
Warm blanket
Imagine that the car breaks down in the middle of the road and you even have no heating. What do you do in the middle of winter? Very simple: take out the blanket that you carry in the trunk, after properly signaling your situation and calling the insurance.
We recommend the fleece blankets, since they are very light and insulating, in addition to the fact that they can be stored in the trunk without taking up much space. The simple gesture of storing a warm blanket in the trunk can ensure that your health is not in danger.
Lantern
During this time of the year, the sun goes down early and the night can suddenly surprise us anywhere. Do not forget to carry a flashlight in the glove compartment, even if it is small. It will help us in case we have to put the chains or change a wheel, for example.
There are models specially designed for the carwhich can be recharged from the vehicle’s socket (there are some without batteries, which work with a dynamo after cranking it), or which have different types of light.
Water and energy foods
Just as in summer it is important to be hydrated during our trips, in winter any trip can become an odyssey due to bad weather. Always carry energy bars or other snacks with you and don’t forget your bottle of water. Time will go by faster if you have something to fill your stomach with.