Driving lifestyle is catching up fast. With more and more people venturing into drive tours for convenience, fun and economic reasons, ensuring a car is equipped with the key gadgets is vital to prevent any unforeseen setbacks in the course of its journey.
Here’s a list of a few essential items suggested by Team WHEELS you must consider carrying on long drives.

LONG DRIVE ESSENTIALS|
1. Hydraulic Jack
2. Tyre Inflator
3. Puncture Repair Kit
4. Tow Chain
5. Cellphone Holder
6. Emergency Light
7. USB Charger
8. Bin Bag|
9. Glass Cleaner and Newspaper
10. Jerrycan and Umbrella
11. First Aid Box
12. Warning Triangle

1. HYDRAULIC JACK
Most cars are supplied with a simple mechanical scissor jack. You may wonder why you need an extra one!

Lifting a car for tyre change with the help of a common mechanical jack can be exhausting and strenuous. In these finger-tapping-get-all days, when obtaining quick results effortlessly is the key, ‘hydraulic jacks’ could save you from the physical stress that a mechanical jack demands.

A hydraulic jack is slightly bulkier and more powerful than a mechanical jack. It comes in compactly packed boxes. Acknowledged as the most versatile tool to lift a car, a hydraulic jack has just got to be rolled under a car, locked, and pumped by the lever to lift it simply.

Product description
Hydraulic jacks of various sizes and lifting capacities are available in the market to suit the weight of a vehicle. The usual capacities for automotive use range between 2 - 5 tons. For the lighter hatchbacks or sedans, a 2 ton is good, while SUVs would require 3-5 ton.

Hydraulic jacks are basically of two types – floor jack and bottle jack. We recommend floor jacks that have a hydraulic lever for providing the required mechanical leverage to lift a car. A long detachable lever or handle makes the raising and lowering of a vehicle a breeze. They are shorter than bottle jacks and are suitable for vehicles with low ground clearance.

Price: Hydraulic floor jack: Rs 1800-5000

 

2. TYRE INFLATOR
On long drives, the condition of the tyres of your car is of utmost importance. Since tyres are the only contacts of a car with the continuously varying road surfaces and spin at extremely high speed, it is crucial to ensure that the tyres are of sustainable standard, failing which they may burst.

The condition of the tyres including the spare one must be thoroughly inspected before you begin your journey. If required, they should be changed.

Just before setting out, check for the manufacturer’s recommended air pressure in all the tyres. Remember, that the tyres must be filled to achieve the recommended air pressures, which is on display on the driver’s door panel. Since tyres are manufactured to sustain the natural increase during long runs, make sure not to decrease the air pressure, apprehending fluctuations on highways.

Despite best efforts, if a particular wheel behaves abnormally on a drive, immediately bring the car to a halt and check the tyres.

In case one of the tyres is found to be partly or fully deflated, make it a point to inflate it before continuing with the drive. As most of the present day car tyres are tubeless, a temporary air refilling of the tyre, even without checking for the leakage, would generally sustain it for the next 30-40 kilometres of run.

An ‘electric tyre inflator’ (also known as ‘electric air compressor’) comes in very handy in case of such an emergency. It is basically a mini electric pump that can be connected to a car’s 12V power slot to produce air at high pressure. It occupies less space and can be called upon to get you back on the road in a matter of minutes. Just connect the tyre inflator to the deflated tyre, plug into the power socket (of the cellphone charger) keeping your car ignition on, and you are ready to pump in air.

An inflator is of immense help on long drives also to mitigate the risks of running a vehicle with low air pressure which can cause major damage to the deflated tyre or pose serious threat to the passengers.

Product description
Depending on the capacity of the electric tyre inflator or compressor, it can take around 3-10 minutes to fill a tyre.

Its fully adjustable pressure level can be pre-set before inflating a tyre. The fairly long cord can easily reach out to all corners of your car to do the job. Most of these machines come with a digital or analog gauge which gives an almost accurate reading of the pressure while it is on. Some also have an inbuilt light. The compressors are compact and light, weighing between 1.5 – 3 kg. This makes for easy handling and storage in the boot of a car.

Price: Rs 1000 – 2500 
(Note: Do not forget to check the warranty / replacement clause before buying)

 

3. PUNCTURE REPAIR KIT
A ‘tyre puncture repair kit’ happens to be a crucial item to be carried on long drives. A normal leakage or puncture on a highway can lead to a disaster.

All modern cars have tubeless tyres. Easy repairing of a puncture without having to remove the tyre from its rim is the biggest advantage of tubeless tyres. If a tyre gets deflated, first and foremost, refill it using an electric tyre inflator, if you are carrying one. If the tyre fails to hold the air for long even after pumping, or before reaching the next available tyre repair shop, you would have to fix the leakage on-road.

To fix a puncture, one needs a repair kit that includes puncture repair rubber strips to plug-in and a strip insertion tool. Along with the kit, you need a cutting plier and a knife/blade. We recommend you make a quick fix box with these items and keep it handy in your car to save yourself from a potential disaster. A small investment along with some preparedness from your end and you can prevent a major catastrophe!

Price: Rs 150 – 350

 

4. TOW CHAIN
This add-on is sometimes a real saviour! If your car breaks down on the highway, you may succeed in stopping a passing vehicle, but you won’t be able to pull your vehicle if you don’t have a connecting accessory, strong enough to do the job.

A metal tow-chain with hooks on both ends that can be easily attached to the towing points of a car is readily available in the market. It is very light, weighing about a kilo or two, comes compactly packed, and can be easily left inside the boot before going on long drives. Mind you, ordinary nylon ropes used to dry clothes would not serve the purpose as they are sure to break in trying to move the dead weight of a car.

Price: Rs 500 – 1500 

 

5. CELLPHONE HOLDER
Not all cars are equipped with GPS navigation systems. Following online maps on cellphones for navigational guides on long drives has become a common practice. This calls for a cellphone holder to aid easy hands-free viewing.

A car mobile phone holder must help keep the device at eye level or a little lower so that you don’t lose your focus from the road while the front visibility of a driver remains unhindered.

The three types of car phone mounts available in the market are AC vent mountable, dashboard mountable and windshield mountable.

While choosing the cellphone holder for your car:

• Double-check the dimensions of the holder to match the size of your phone.
• Ensure there is a tilt-swivel-rotate feature to allow you to position the device at an angle that best suits you.
• Make sure that the passive mounts can connect your device to the 12V electrical system of the car for charging.

Although, accessing mobile phones while driving must be strictly avoided, choosing the best cellphone holder for your car can ensure safety, to some extent.

Price: Rs 350 -1500

 

6. EMERGENCY LIGHT
When do you need an emergency light while travelling in a car?

There are a variety of reasons you will want to use an emergency light such as when there is a flat tyre at night, in bad weather conditions, in case of a mechanical problem or even to find something that got lost. These portable rechargeable battery-powered lights with blinkers also serve as warning lights with a flasher for other motorists, if there’s a problem on the road.

Product description
Various models are available ranging from basic to high-end – high powered flashlight, multifunction flashlight with strobe, LED searchlight with remote control and so on. There may be additional features such as dimmable outputs with USB phone charging points or power bank connectors. Also available are high-intensity torches or flashlights with multiple functions.

Among the most popular ones are the advanced camping hurricane lights which can be set for various outputs. The prices vary, based on features and battery pack specifications.

Price: Rs 300 – 1500

 

7. USB CHARGER
Following online maps and intermittent communications are deemed necessities on long drives nowadays. Thus, to keep it alive, a car cellphone charger is one of the most crucial accessories on drive outs.

USB charger: These are multi-port chargers that can connect multiple USB cables. It is always preferable to have at least one fast charging port. This can be determined from the ampere (Amp) mentioned on the ports. Normal charging ports are of 1-2 Amp, while the fast charging ones are of 3.1 Amp. We recommend you go for a branded charger as there is every possibility that a sub-standard or local charger may blow up the 12V power socket of your car and may even damage your device.

 

USB port: All new generation cars come with built-in USB ports. It is highly recommended to use an original USB cable of the same brand as the mobile device. Local USB cables may have compatibility issue with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

 

USB cable: USB cables are available in different shapes and forms for all mobiles with varying lengths and charging capacities. A fast-charging USB cable capable of carrying the extra current from the charger to the phone (found in all the branded cables) is recommended.

The length of a USB cable is generally about 1m (3 ft). This suffices, in many cases, where the device is placed in the mid-section of the car between the two front seats. However, there are cars where the power socket is in the mid-section of the dashboard or between the front seats and the device has to be plugged into a holder fixed in the right corner of the windscreen. For SUVs and compact SUVs having extra power ports for the 3rd row or behind the 2nd row in the boot, longer USB cables of lengths 2m (6 ft) and 3m (10 ft) would be useful.

Price: Rs 500 – 1500

 

8. BIN BAG
Car trash may range from toll tickets to pet bottles, food wrappers, empty cans, used tissues and even cigarette butts. In absence of any provision inside the car, these are thrown out of the car windows in an indiscriminate manner not only causing pollution but also flouting ideal societal norms. Such thoughtless actions on the part of an aware urban motorist is simply unacceptable and poses a serious threat to the environment. As a conscious motorist, carry a bin bag in your car and keep the roads clean.

A car bin bag is washable and can be hung inside the car (at the back of the co-driver’s seat) and can be used to bin litter on the move, instead of throwing them on the road. The litter can later be disposed of at a suitable place.

Note: Kolkata on WHEELS has come up with one such washable bin bag, which is available online.

Price: Rs 100 – 350

 

9. GLASS CLEANER & PAPER
Very often on long drives, we are faced with a peculiar problem – the windscreen gets smeared with an oily-dusty coat. Sprinkling water and cleaning it with a normal car mop would not be of any help. This nagging problem normally happens due to the oil or grease that gets sprayed on your windscreen by the vehicle tyres ahead of you. 

For this, you would require an effective glass cleaner and some newspapers. Spray the glass cleaner on the windshield from outside and wipe it clean with the newspaper – one swipe at a time – in one direction only – using each piece once.

The problem gets aggravated at night when vision gets blocked badly. Under the circumstances, a specialised glass cleaner and wads of clean newspaper would be your saviour.

Price: Rs 60 – 90

 

10. JERRYCAN & UMBRELLA
Imagine you are on a highway and you suddenly discover that you are running out of fuel. What would you do?

In some of the highways and interior roads, you won’t find a single fuel pump for over a stretch of 30-40 km. Never take a chance if your fuel tank is filled below the reserve level for you may get stuck enroute. Also while ascending an inclination, your car may consume fuel heavily – much above the normal level. Such a condition may turn out to be disastrous!

For such an emergency, it is a good idea to keep an empty plastic jerrycan or a container in your car so that you can at least fetch some bootleg fuel from the nearest fuel outlet. Mind you, this is not a standard procedure.

As a piece of advice, on long drives, never drive with less than 10 litres of fuel in the tank. In case you do, get it refilled at the earliest. Sometimes, the heat metre may indicate a shortage or a leakage of the radiator for which you need to fill it with water. During such emergencies, a jerrycan comes handy.

Often forgotten and ignored, but a very essential item is a big umbrella. Whether you inflate or mend a tyre or simply run to fetch bootleg petrol or get stranded in the mid way – and all of these could be in the scorching sunlight or in lashing rains. Under these conditions the umbrella would be your best friend!

Price: Jerrycan: Rs 30 – 90, Umbrella: Rs 200 – 900

 

11. FIRST AID BOX
Having a well-stocked and ready-to-use first aid kit in your car is one of the best ways you can prepare for a medical emergency. Pre-packaged first aid kits are available in the market. However we recommend you pack one yourself. This way, you can customise it to meet your family’s specific needs and would also turn out to be cost effective.

Price: Rs 250 - 300

Recommended First Aid Box Items
1.	Alcohol Prep	5 nos.
2.	Band Aid (Spot, square, standard)	5 strips each
3.	Roller Bandage (10 cm)	1 no
4.	Roller Bandage (5 cm)	1 no
5.	Surgical Gauze (Sterile)	2 packets
6.	Cotton Wool (25 g)	1 no
7.	Antiseptic Lotion (50 ml)	1 bottle
8.	Micropore (1”)	1 no.
9.	Antiseptic Cream	1 tube
10.	ORS	5 packets
11.	Eye Drop	1 phial
12.	Analgesic / Antipyretic Tablet	4 tabs.
13.	Antidiarrheal Tablet	4 tabs
14.	Antacid Tablet	4 tabs
15.	Antiemetic Tablet	4 tabs
16.	Analgesic Gel	1 tube
17.	Safety Match Box	1 no.
18.	Safety Pin	6 large
19.	Razor Blade	1 no.
20.	A Pair of Scissors	1 no.
21.	Tweezers	1 no.

 

12. WARNING TRIANGLE
On a highway where vehicles move at high speeds, a warning triangle is useful to avert accidents from behind. If your vehicle gets stalled, on the shoulder or in the middle of moving traffic, it is best to alert other drivers from a safe distance to enable them to be cautious.

• The warning triangle has to be put on the side of the road to warn approaching cars of your breakdown or crash.
• Always put the warning triangle on the same side of the road at least 50 metres behind your vehicle.
• Additionally, do not forget to put on your blinkers for safety, to avoid an imminent crash from behind.

However take care to place and retrieve the triangle after use. Never put it on the main carriageway for it may block other vehicles.

Product description
A warning triangle is a foldable equilateral triangle of around 2 feet in size, with bright red reflective material. These are generally made out of plastic with a metal frame. Nowadays, a warning triangle comes as an integral accessory with all new cars.

Price: Rs 300 – 500

 

Forewarned is forearmed! Practical common sense, a little bit of planning and careful stocking up on things to make not just the passenger but the vehicle itself comfortable, and you are good to go!  So get this list today – and start foraging and gathering. Your next drive is guaranteed to be less hazardous.