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Using Your Winter Car Kit (and What to Do If You're Stranded)

What NHTSA and Ready.gov say to keep in your car, how to check your state's chain rules, and the CDC and NWS steps if you're stuck in snow.

5 min read · Crew role: Scout · Shelf: Vehicle

Not legal or medical advice. Chain and traction-device rules are set by each state and can change; check your state's department of transportation or 511 before you drive.

What it's for

In winter storm country, roads close and highways back up for hours. A car kit turns a long, cold wait into an uncomfortable one instead of a dangerous one. The Scout owns routes and getting there, so the car kit is theirs.

Before you need it (practice)

Pack what NHTSA recommends

NHTSA's winter list: a snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper; sand or kitty litter in case you get stuck; jumper cables, a flashlight, and warning devices (flares and emergency markers); a first aid kit; blankets; and a cell phone and charger, water, food, and any medicine you need. Our kit adds tire chains or snow socks, a tow strap, hand warmers, and a crank radio.

Know your state's chain and traction rules

  • Rules vary by state and by road, especially on mountain passes, and some states can require chains or another approved traction device during storms. Check your state's department of transportation before the season.
  • Dial 511 (or your state's road-conditions line) for current road conditions, closures, and restrictions. The FCC set 511 aside nationwide for traveler information; each state runs its own service (FHWA).
  • Check your tires. NHTSA says check pressure against the label on the driver's door frame (not the number on the tire), and tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch on all tires. Consider snow tires.
  • Practice putting on chains or tire socks in the driveway, in gloves, before you need them.

Prep the car

NHTSA's checklist: have a mechanic check the battery and charging system; fill the reservoir with winter washer fluid with de-icer and replace worn wiper blades; check that defrosters work; check coolant; test headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and flashers; and keep the gas tank close to full (or an electric vehicle charged). Ready.gov also says keep a full tank of gas.

Step by step

Before you leave

  1. Check the forecast and your state's road conditions (511).
  2. Tell someone your route and arrival time (NWS, CDC).
  3. Clear all snow and ice off the car, including the roof and the tailpipe (CDC).

If you get stuck

From the CDC and the National Weather Service:

  1. Stay in the vehicle. NWS warns you can quickly lose your way in wind-driven snow.
  2. Call 911 if you can, and tell them where you are.
  3. Make yourself visible. Tie a bright cloth (red if you have it) to the antenna or door. Raise the hood after the snow stops falling. At night, turn the dome light on while the engine runs.
  4. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat, with a window cracked a little.
  5. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Check it before each run.
  6. Bring gear from the trunk into the cab. Wrap up in blankets, the sleeping bag, and extra layers, including your head.
  7. Stay awake, move your arms and legs, and huddle together for warmth (CDC).
  8. Don't eat snow. The CDC says it lowers your body temperature. Drink from your water jug.
  9. Don't overdo it. Shoveling or pushing a car can be hard on the heart in the cold (Ready.gov, OSHA).

Jump-starting

Follow your vehicle owner's manual and the instructions on your cables or jump starter. Connection order and attachment points vary by vehicle.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the house on a quarter tank.
  • Gear in the trunk you can't reach when the trunk's buried.
  • Running the engine with a snow-blocked tailpipe.
  • Walking off for help in a whiteout.
  • Chains still in the box, never tried on.
  • Pouring hot water on an icy windshield. The CDC warns it can shatter.

Care & storage

  • Swap the kit in each fall: fresh water, fresh snacks, test the flashlight and radio, charge the jump starter and power bank.
  • Keep blanket, water, and snacks in the cab, not the trunk.
  • After winter, dry your chains and store them per the maker's instructions.

Related gear

Sources

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