Winter has not yet seriously announced itself, which means motorists still have time to calmly prepare their car for snow, frost, and unpleasant situations on the road. Some things are only remembered when they are urgently needed: a compressor after a puncture, a jump starter for a dead battery, or anti-skid tracks when the wheels helplessly spin in the snow.
Assembling such a kit at the last minute is not the best idea. It is much more convenient to put several compact accessories in the trunk in advance that can help out in typical winter situations. Such a kit can include five different items: a car compressor, an organizer, a jump starter, a turbo fan, and anti-skid tracks.
1. Car Compressor
A car compressor is especially useful in winter when tire pressure changes significantly due to temperature fluctuations. In addition, after hitting a pothole, it is sometimes necessary to restore pressure independently, without waiting for a visit to a tire shop.
When choosing a compressor, you should pay attention to its performance, connection method, cable and hose length, operating temperature range, and the presence of a pressure gauge. For permanent storage in the car, the device's size and casing quality are also important.
For winter, a frost-resistant high-pressure hose is especially useful. The compressor itself should be connected to a suitable car power source, and the fuse in the circuit should preferably be rated for the appropriate load.
Universal models usually come with adapters. Thanks to this, they can be used not only for car tires but also for bicycle wheels, balls, inflatable mattresses, and other suitable products.
Before the start of the winter season, it is advisable to check the compressor at home, rather than turning it on for the first time on a snowy roadside. It is also worth making sure that the cable reaches all four wheels.
2. Trunk Organizer
In winter, things that seem necessary but constantly get in each other's way accumulate especially quickly in the trunk. A snow brush, wires, gloves, a compressor, a tow rope, and tools gradually turn into a set of items that have to be searched for among all the other contents.
An organizer solves this problem in a fairly simple way — it collects winter car inventory in one place. It is better to choose a model with a rigid frame, several compartments, and the ability to secure it in the trunk.
A useful feature will be a removable partition. If many small items need to be transported, the internal space can be divided into several sections. For large equipment, the partition can, on the contrary, be removed.
A closing lid protects the contents from dirt and dust, and reinforced handles allow the entire kit to be carried.
Such an organizer can store:
- compressor and cables;
- tow rope;
- gloves;
- brush and other car cleaning accessories;
- small tool kit;
- jumper cables.
This is not the most technologically advanced car accessory, but order in the trunk in winter has a very practical meaning. When the right thing can be retrieved in a few seconds, you don't have to unload half the trunk's contents onto the snow.
3. Jump Starter
In winter, a dead battery becomes a separate problem. If the engine does not start in the morning due to a dead battery, you have to look for another car, jumper cables, and a person who agrees to help with the start.
A portable jump starter allows you to do without a second car. It is charged at home in advance, and then stored in the car in case of an emergency.
When choosing such a device, it is important to consider what type of engine it is designed for, what starting current it can provide, and what cables and protection systems are included in the kit.
The main advantage of a booster is its autonomy. If the car battery is dead, there is no need to look for a donor car and connect it to your own battery.
Many modern jump starters also function as a power bank. You can charge your smartphone or other mobile electronics through the provided connectors.
For a long journey, this is especially convenient: one compact device can perform two tasks at once — help start the engine and provide backup power for gadgets.
4. Turbo Fan for Snow Removal
Freshly fallen snow is usually easy to remove from a car. The situation is much more unpleasant when, after a heavy snowfall, the body and windows are covered with a thick layer of precipitation, and some of the snow has time to compact.
A high-speed turbo fan can speed up the cleaning of loose snow from a car. A powerful air stream allows it to be blown off the body, windows, and other surfaces, reducing the amount of manual labor.
The benefit is especially noticeable after a night's snowfall. If the car is covered with several centimeters of loose snow, some of it can be removed with an air stream, and then the remaining areas can be cleaned with a brush.
Such devices can be used not only near a car. They are suitable for removing snow from various surfaces and can also be useful for household purposes.
However, you should not rely on them as a substitute for a scraper. If the snow has turned into dense ice or a thick ice crust has formed on the body, the air flow will not solve the problem. In such a situation, careful mechanical cleaning will be required.
5. Anti-Skid Tracks
One of the most unpleasant winter situations occurs when the car almost reaches its destination, but the last few meters turn out to be impassable. The wheels start to spin, snow flies out from under the tires, and the car remains practically in place.
Anti-skid tracks are designed for such cases. They are placed directly under the drive wheel, after which the tire gets additional support and the ability to grip the surface.
Compact models take up significantly less space in the trunk than full-fledged off-road equipment. At the same time, they can help get out of shallow snow, a snowy parking lot, or an icy section of the road.
Before use, it is important to correctly position the track relative to the wheel and make sure that it is designed for the weight of a particular car. Some designs allow several elements to be connected to each other, which increases the working length.
Tracks can be used not only in snow. Depending on the design, they can also help on ice, but you should not rely solely on them in every situation. If the car is deeply stuck, it makes sense not to overload the transmission and ask for help.
Each of these accessories has its own task. A compressor helps restore tire pressure, a jump starter helps with a dead battery, anti-skid tracks are designed to combat wheelspin, and a turbo fan allows you to quickly remove fresh snow from the car.
The organizer, meanwhile, performs an auxiliary function, but it is precisely what allows individual items to be turned into a single winter kit. A compressor, wires, gloves, a tow rope, and other necessary items can be stored together and quickly found when needed.
It is better to prepare all this before serious cold weather. When the first big snow has already fallen, figuring out what exactly is missing in the trunk will be significantly less convenient.