Motoring corner: “Must Carry Kit”

As a matter of fact, each and every motorist must at all times carry a number of necessary or mandatory equipment in case the need for them arises. There are a number of emergencies that you may encounter while on the road. One of the most indispensable things you can have is the Motor vehicle’s Owner Handbook for your car. Normally, this highlights to you all the important information about your vehicle, that you need, and give you tips and advice on keeping your car well-maintained and roadworthy, reducing the chances of a breakdown. Even if you are such a seasoned of driver that you change your consumables and other parts by the rule of thumb, it is necessary that you should make sure that you have a set of basic equipment that will see you through emergencies and for carrying out the most basic maintenance that you can get away with. Most essential gear will come with a new car, but if your car was already used, or you’re not sure what you should have, then take a look at the following list which covers the basics of what you must carry. Nearly every motor vehicle will come with a type of basic Jack, and this is sufficient to allow you to change the wheel if you need to. If you need to carry out more complicated repair, you may need to find a trolley jack, though if you take your vehicle in for repairs rather than carry them out yourself you are unlikely to need one. As for the Jack, you will need to have a wheel Spanner, this is the tool that loosens or tightens the wheel nuts. These come in many shapes but a basic one will come with a single box spanner that fits into the tyre rim holes such that, it enters into the wheel nuts firmly. Some more luxurious wheel spanners come with either pressure or electrical operated. These may make the work much easier but have a drawback in that, you will require the powering device like an electricity outlet or compressed air. Spanners, these are yet another important aspect. This is where a lot of people find themselves stuck on the road or not. Spanners are sometimes included with a vehicle and sometimes they aren’t, so make sure you have the right size spanners for your vehicle. Even when included, some of them may not be the right size or could even get misplaced. Through experience, spanners easily get stolen by mechanics or are left at the scene of repair. You’ll need to check your owner’s manual for details as to which spanner sizes to carry; it is advisable to buy a set of different sized spanners. Among the spanners, please remember to buy a set of pliers, they always get handy. Spanners in themselves may not be enough, screwdrivers are a tack for anyone carrying out mechanical work of any kind. There are a couple of different types and lots of different sizes and shapes e.g. star or flat end screwdriver, these should push you through any minor work. Emergency EssentialsAs well as maintenance essentials, you should always make sure that you are able to cope in an emergency situation, by carrying the following with you in your vehicle; a length of rope in case you need to be towed, a small spade, torch, thick and loose-fitting clothes, boots and blanket, you never know when and where you will get stuck! If on a long journey, carry a warm drink and emergency food. Carrying a mobile phone is good, but don’t operate it while driving unless you have a hands free kit. As a point of caution, try never to set off on a long journey with less than half a tank of fuel. You could run out of fuel and yet there maybe none nearby. motoringcorner@live.co.uk

Lifestyle

Motoring corner: “Must Carry Kit”