3 must-haves in your truck?

I've read through some tools/things to keep in your truck in case of emergencies, some of them are really thorough and is quite the exhaustive list. If you can only choose 3 things one being a toolkit box (what toolkit box are you getting? a link would be awesome) what are those 3 things you are keeping to solve the most probable issues to occur?

say for daily driving around town and a 20-mile radius, also knowing that plenty of autozones/wal-marts are not too far off

 

A inflated spare tire.

 

Inflator


The 181, not the 180.

 

10mm wrench combination wrench, 4 way screw driver and a cell phone.

Your parameters make it pretty simple.

Agree with the inflated spare, but that's not an 'add on' tool choice. Also, are all the parts there to lower your spare, does the mechanism work freely and do you know how to use it?

 

A good (and large enough) fire extinguisher.

 

Car newbie here, I've learned the 10mm will work on a lot of the sockets under the hood. Any truck specific use for the 4 way screw driver or just a good handy tool to have? I assumed most people always have their cell phone so I didn't include that and I inflate my spare every tire rotation so didn't include that as well but definitely a good mention

First aid kit - how deep are you making your kit, are we talking a few different bandages/gauze pads or full-on ice pack, splints, tourniquet, kind of deal?
Flashlight - I'm thinking the flashlight function on our phones are good enough or are we thinking middle of the night & phone is on low battery situation
Fire extinguisher - Am I just naive or been fortunate, haven't encountered any situation where I have had to use a fire extinguisher or wish I had one available, any stories?

 

Dog treats, water for dog and leash!
He goes everywhere with me.
I’ll leave the truck locked and running for AC/heat as needed!

 

High output headlight. Flashlights and cell phone lights aren't worth shit

 

- Comprehensive water-tight Trauma First Aid Kit:
Splints, Tourniquet, Triangular bandage, etc. misc gauze Compresses, gauze sponges, ace bandage,basic meds like Tylenol, Motrin, Pepto
Band Aids, First Aid tape, Rescue breather, thermometer, Ice Packs (2: they don't last very long), Antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, tick removal tool, latex-free gloves, Bic Lighter and many other standard items.
I used to carry all of it in a nice military-style bag. It was a beautiful, compact multi-compartment zippered bag that folded up into an extra-compact footprint. The water-resistant coatings wore off here and there over time without me realizing it. (It usually lived life in the vehicles I had.) I had to use it during a pouring rain one time and most of the contents got soaked and ruined. I now have everything in a gasketed metal case with two positive-close clasps. Everything inside is now also itemized in zip-lock bags.

- Medium basic tool kit: that includes regular and needle-nose vice grips
- Inflator that has the power to refill a flat-tire to spec.
- Headlamp: Get the brightest they make now. Mine is a 400 Lumens Black Diamond Storm.

(oops: I guess that's four items)

 

I have a

$100 NOCO GB40 1000A UltraSafe Car Battery Jump Starter, 12V Jump Starter Battery Pack, Battery Booster, Jump Box, Portable Charger and Jumper Cables for 6.0L Gasoline and 3.0L Diesel Engines

NOCO GB40 serves multiple purposes for me. Boosts battery if it dies at an inconvenient time and place ... you say "mostly 20 mile radius", but sometimes you are on the freeway traveling between cities. Charges cell phones in a pinch. Has a flashlight.

 

I’d go jumper cables, a pocket knife, and a super small self-packed trauma kit.

Skip the third if you don’t know how to use it or buy one off the shelf.

 

For around town only?

I’d say air compressor for low tires
Tire plug kit….easier than busting out the jack
Battery jump pack so i don’t have to waive someone down for a jump

 

Most frequently used items in order-
bungee cords
ratchet straps
trunk organizer
reusable grocery bags

Most used "essentials"-
First aid kit with a large supply of small bandaids and ibuprofen.
Inflator
Jump kit.

Most frequently used tools at home but stored in the truck-
Breaker bar
21mm socket
torque wrench

Least used "essentials" starting with one never used -
Fire extinguisher
stock jack
tow strap

 

I bought a Leatherman Surge ($180 for me) ... they make ones with fewer tools but this one has screwdrivers, knives, metal files, pliers, wire-cutters ... basically a complete toolkit in a small package, if not quite as easy to use as full-sized tools.

 

One of my carry pistols my girlfriend and my dog..could possibly swap the latter 2

 

Someone is going to have a bad day

 

Pro tip: if every day is a bad day time for a different one