Nitto Terra Grappler Tires and Roadside Emergency Kits

We are in the middle of what looks to be a particularly cold winter in parts of the United States. It seems as though even if you are in the south, you cannot escape the freezing grasp of winter. And if you are in an area where snow and ice are common in the winter, well, you are suffering as well.

The thing about driving your truck in the winter is that the last thing you want to happen is a break down. Breaking down on the side of the road is never a good thing, but it is 20 times worse in the winter with the cold and ice and snow.

Even if your truck is in pristine condition and the chances you break down are minimal, there is always the possibility of getting stuck in the snow or sliding off an icy road into a ditch. And just because you own a powerful truck with Nitto Terra Grappler tires from BB Wheels, this doesn't mean that the road conditions can’t get the best of you. At any time, any one of us could be caught stranded on the side of a desolate road or in a ditch far from any living soul.

That is a pretty scary thought. And what makes it worse is that it could be very cold outside, bitter cold in fact. Even worse, it could be snowing and the wind blowing so hard that it is difficult to see your hand in front of your face. This is bad enough if you are alone, but it is even worse if you have your spouse and kids with you.

For this reason, you will want to ensure you have an emergency kit all packed up and stowed away on your truck. You know, a tactical bag stuffed with all of the essentials you need to make a bad situation a heck of a lot more manageable.

Some people call these roadside emergency kits, but when the situation is dire, they become roadside survival kits. Yes, they are that important to have and here are just a few things you need to pack in your emergency kit.

First Aid Kit

Whether this is a kit you buy complete at the pharmacy or one that you piece together yourself, your emergency kit is incomplete without a first aid kit.

Your first aid kit enables you to quickly treat minor injuries that may have been inflicted when spinning out on an icy road. It will also come in handy should injuries occur after you have broken down, like cutting your hand while trying to fix the truck.

Flashlights

We urge you to have at least two, if not more, flashlights in your emergency kit ready to go should the need occur. A flashlight is an essential tool if you are stranded in the dark.

If you are packing old school flashlights that are bulky and have incandescent bulbs, we suggest you swap them out with LED units as they are much brighter, far less likely to break and last a super long time.

In addition to the flashlights, you should have backup batteries packed in your emergency kit as well.

Shovel

It would be a crying shame if you had to suffer a cold night in your pickup truck because you got stuck in some snow and ice and didn’t have a shovel to get yourself out.

Jumper Cables

Jumper cables are one of those items that you always assume somebody else has packed in their trunk. The problem is that everybody feels this way so when you are stranded with a dead battery, two, three or more vehicles may stop to help but nobody has jumper cables. If you want to be prepared and able to get your truck started when the battery dies, pack jumper cables in your emergency kit.

Roadside Flares

Roadside flares not only alert other drivers that you are broken down on the side of the road, but also serve as a firestarter and signaling device.

Cell Phone Charger

In the event of a breakdown or should you get stuck, a cell phone is your first lifeline. But if your kids have been using your phone to play Candy Crush on the journey, you may not have much battery life left. And plugging into your truck is a good idea to charge it back up, unless, of course, your battery is dead.

Blankets

If your truck is broken down or your battery dead, then you don't have a working heater. This means that in very little time, the inside of your truck is going to get cold. It is recommended that you have one blanket packed for each person in your truck. You can invest in wool or wool-blend blankets, which are very warm and soft, or inexpensive space blankets that take up very little space.

Extra Clothing

Winter wear is what you want when you are stuck in a storm. We understand that you may take a trip and not wear gloves, a hat and boots, so you need to have them packed in your emergency kit.

You might think you are a tough guy and a coat is all you need to stay warm, but if the temperatures reach single digits and the wind is howling, you are going to wish you had warm gloves, warm hat and warm boots.

Sand

Even though you have a truck with four-wheel drive, an icy road can still leave you stuck and in need of traction. A bag of sand just might be what you need to get your truck out of an icy ditch or up a hill.

Tool Kit

Even if you aren’t a master mechanic, it is a good idea to have a set of tools in your emergency kit. All you need are the tools that take care of many types of jobs, like screwdrivers, wrenches and a hammer. We also suggest you pack a roll of duct tape because as you all know, duct tape can fix just about everything.

Food and Water

If you break down in a remote area during a really bad snowstorm, it might take awhile for help yo arrive. For this reason, it makes perfect sense to have food and water in your emergency kit. You don't need anything fancy, a few protein bars, some snack mix and a gallon or two of water should be sufficient.

If your emergency kit has these necessities, you should get through a roadside emergency without much problem. And you will celebrate your rescue by buying a new set of truck wheels from BB Wheels.