Essential Vehicle Kit: Gear for Every Journey

I carry this kit in my vehicle everyday. I don’t necessarily need it everyday, but you’d be surprised how often I actually use these items. Some of them I haven’t used at all but it’s good to know it’s there if I need it.

I did a separate video on my everyday carry, or my EDC, which you can find here. This kit is not that. I mentioned in that previous video that I don’t carry a whole lot of tools in my person because I have more tools in my vehicle kit. That’s what this is.

Another thing that this is not is a first aid kit. I actually have a separate first aid kit, which I also keep in my vehicle.

This isn’t meant to replace a bugout bag either. I’m not going to be able to survive with this kit alone for months on end. It does have some survival and signal tools that’ll come in handy at a pinch so if I’m broken down on the side of the road, have no phone signal, and need to fend for myself for a bit, I can certainly do that with this kit. Before we look at what’s inside, let’s start with the container.

LOCHBY Tool Roll

This is the LOCHBY Tool Roll. It’s made of waxed canvas and we double stitched and bartacked everywhere we could to make it bulletproof. It’ll survive the elements and is meant to last a lifetime.

The closure is an aluminum hook which is different from other tool rolls that have velcro straps. The problem with velcro is it breaks down over time, but with this aluminum hook, you won’t have that.

On the inside, you have this one mesh pocket that I’m not currently using, but is perfect for smaller items. The main thing is the series of elastic loops: it’s in different sizes to accommodate various tools. Behind that are three pockets that can fit pocket notebooks or a passport—something of that size. It can also fit a watercolor tin, though I have a separate Tool Roll that I use for my Urban Sketcher Kit.

Bic Lighter

The first thing in my kit is very simple: a Bic Lighter. It’s useful to be able to make fire when you need it—whether it’s to stay warm if you’re out in the elements or if you need to boil water. Fire is always useful to have.

Olight 3T EOS

The next is a flashlight. It’s slim, runs on a single AAA battery, and has a push button. It’s simple and easy to use with only two modes: low and bright. Nothing too crazy. I can also clip it onto a ball cap and use it as a headlamp or for signaling.

The color is also a bonus and is nice: this anodizing happens to match our waxed canvas perfectly.

Whistle

Another signaling tool is a simple whistle. I also have a backup for this in the next item.

Leatherman Signal

This is the main piece of this kit. I like this one because it’s smaller than Leatherman’s other full-sized multitools and has some survival items built into it.

• There’s a fero rod and a small whistle.
• It has the standard tools: pliers, blade, saw, and can opener.
• I like both Gerber & Leatherman for multitools, but I especially like Leatherman’s bit kit, which is next.
• It expands the capabilities without adding a lot of volume or weight.

Bit Kit

The nice thing about this is that it’s small and doesn’t take up a lot of space while extending the capabilities of my multitool. There are tons of options and it’s a nice addition to this kit.

Bit Driver Extender

This lengthens the bit kit especially if you need to work on hard-to-reach areas. It can also help with easier turning. Watch this part of the video to see how it works.

Tire Gauge

This is pretty self explanatory and is good to have just in case. If a tire looks a bit low, I use the gauge to figure out if I need to stop by a gas station for air.

Karas Kustoms EDK V2

I also have a pen. I like it because it writes very smoothly. It’s also robust and made of machined aluminum. It works well with our refills, which are made of Tomoe River paper, so it’s perfect for less viscous inks like fountain pen and rollerball ink.

LOCHBY Pocket Journal Refill

I also have a refill in one of the back pockets. It's always useful to have pen and paper in your vehicle. If you get into a fender bender, you can write down insurance information or exchange contact information. You can also leave notes for people. It’s a useful thing to have that doesn’t rely on batteries.

So that’s my vehicle kit. The Tool Roll rolls up into a compact little burrito and I keep this in the center console of my Jeep. I rest a little easier knowing that this is in there at all times.

If you think I’m missing anything since I have a bit more room for other items, let me know in the comments below!