Be Your Own Roadside Rescue
As truck owners, we have a reputation to uphold. When somebody breaks down, drives their car into a ditch, or needs to move something, who do they call? Their buddy with a truck.
But, truck lover, you can’t get by with just a big bed and a gung-ho attitude. If you really want to help your friends, neighbors, and — yes — yourself, you need the right tools for the job. So here’s a list of just about everything you need to be a one-man (or woman) roadside rescue crew.
*And if you don’t want to assemble all this stuff, skip to the bottom to see our readymade tool kit, rescue kit, and first-aid kit.
Automotive Tools for repair and maintenance.
Your neighbor calls. She’s got a flat tire. Your buddy calls. His car won’t start. You’re driving to the lake and slash a tire on broken glass. These things happen. Here’s a basic list of automotive must-have tools for anybody who wants to be self-reliant and help others.
- Jumper Cables and Starter Battery
- Always carry jumpers. Not just for you, but also for the person stuck out in the woods with a dead battery. After you’ve got those covered, consider a compact, portable jump starter, so you can save your own bacon, or avoid sketchy maneuvers to jump-start a car. A good kit will also include a battery tester and amp clamps to test the battery.
- Jack and/or Jack Stands
- Flat tires are one of the most common rescue scenarios. If you’ve got a truck, don’t settle for a rinky dink standard jack that barely gets a small SUV off the ground (don’t ask how we know). A heavy-duty jack like one from Powerbuilt is a lot more sturdy, and doesn’t even require jack stands.
- Tool Box or Kit
- Everybody should have a basic set of tools in their vehicle. If you want everything in one place, and you want top-quality tools, we recommend our DECKED X Boxo Tool Roll. But for a more basic kit, slap these in a toolbox:
- Wrenches (metric for automotive use)
- Pliers
- Screwdrivers
- Hammers
- Ratchet and socket set (check out the Torx collection from Lisle)
- Multimeters plus those zip-ties we mentioned
- Zip-ties or Cable Ties
- These can be surprisingly handy to McGuyver your way out of mishaps. Wire a bumper back on. Secure rattling components. Or temporarily fix just about anything. They take up almost no space; you might as well keep a good variety of sizes (and colors?) on hand.
- Spare Tire and Repair Kit
- Get rid of that useless donut and get yourself a full-sized spare. That way, a flat tire will hardly slow you down. A repair kit can often fix minor issues faster and easier than changing a tire, too. For about 40 bucks, you can pick up a flat tire repair kit with everything you need to plug a puncture and keep on rolling.
- Bonus: Generator
- If you want to prepare for anything, add a generator to your wish list. Whether you’re camping, hunting, off-roading, or at home during a power outage, a small generator can power all the basics.
TOOLS FOR TOWING.
If you have a truck, there’s a good chance you’ll get roped into towing something, and it might not even be a trailer. Embrace the pull of towing, and get the tools for the job. Who knows, you might be puling a cow from semi-frozen lake or dragging your buddy’s truck out of the ditch very soon.
- Winches
- We love a good winch. Your winch is a fantastic rescue tool, grounded by 2 or 3 tons of truck weight. They’re a classic tool and don’t take up too much space. Heavy-duty and sleek, almost every die-hard guy with a truck has got one of these attached.
- Tie-downs
- You’ve got plenty of tie-down options available, including bungee cords, ratchet straps, chains, and nylon rope. Use the method most appropriate for whatever you’re trying to secure or rescue.
- Recovery Strap or Snatch Strap
- Recovery straps are slightly stretchy nylon webbing, kind of like a gigantic rubber band — designed to yank a large vehicle that’s stuck. A word of warning: Using these improperly can be VERY DANGEROUS, so definitely get a good one, follow the instructions, and attach it only to rated recovery points.
- Tow Straps
- Tow straps look similar to recovery straps, but they are not stretchy and usually come with hardware attached. They’re effective for towing one vehicle behind another, but not designed for recovering stuck vehicles.
- Chains With Hooks
- Heavy-duty chains are the ultimate tool. They’re heavy but easy to handle and attach. They won’t break or come apart under pressure. They make towing heavy objects, like another vehicle or a fallen tree, less risky.
Tools for Off-roading, Overlanding, and Camping.
When you’re going off the grid, you need extra prep to be ready for everything from a harmless little sprinkle to a torrential act of god. The great outdoors, while great, can sometimes spell disaster if we ain’t ready. Here’s a list of some essential truck tools you might need to be prepared for just about anything.
- Recovery Straps and Ratchet Straps
- Don’t mix ‘em up. Recovery straps are for pulling vehicles, either with a winch or another vehicle. Ratchet straps are for strapping heavy items securely to your vehicle.
- Air Compressor
- Allows you to air down, air up, and top off your tires on the road. Great for off-roading, where lower pressures give you better traction. Invaluable when you’re losing air. And extremely handy when you need to pump up an air mattress and a couple inflatable paddle boards at the lake.
- Traction Boards
- If you’re off-road, alone, and stuck in sand, snow or mud, stomping the gas pedal might just dig you into a deeper hole. You need traction. And these handy inventions could be the difference between driving home or you hiking to the nearest town for help.
- Chains
- Does it get cold and snow where you live — or where you’re going? If so, always pack chains and an ice scraper. Some mountains or overland terrain won’t let drivers pass without chains on hand. Don’t get caught with your pants down.
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY.
Now we come to the common sense part of the article. These next things aren’t quite tools per-se, but they might just fix your problem.
- First-aid Kit
- Even bandages, wipes and gauze will go a long way when things go wrong. But there is a plethora of complete first-aid kits available. We sell a complete kit that’s packed full of life-saving equipment.
- Road Flares
- Flares are pretty handy when you (or even a stranger) are stuck on the side of a highway. Get a set of flashing lights to warn drivers on the road and be easy to spot.
- Flashlight
- Again, don’t cheap out on a dollar store plastic flashlight. Get a tactical flashlight bright enough to illuminate a big area and sturdy enough to survive running it over with your truck. Some of them even have a strobe, which seems like a handy thing to have if wolves are stalking you or there’s a bear after your picnic basket.
- Duct Tape and Electrical Tape
- “Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.” No idea who said that, but it’s 100% true. If you need it and don’t have it, you’ll rue the day. Electrical tape is handy if you have a short.
- Spare Key
- A no-brainer. Who hasn’t lost their car keys or locked them in the truck? A spare key in a magnetic box is a smart move when you’re out in the wilderness. You don’t need a professional installer. Just make sure it’s secure and accessible only to you.
- Extra Coolant
- Engine coolant is a handy thing to have. Your engine block is nothing to take for granted. Overheating is such a common problem in older trucks that it should be a no-brainer.
- Map
- When all else fails, you can always count on print. It may be old-school, but at least the battery won’t die, and you don’t need 5G to make a printed map work.
DECKED EMERGENCY KITS.
Assembling your own truck tool kit and roadside emergency kit can be complicated and costly. If you don’t already have some of these products, you could save yourself a lot of time (and maybe even some money) by buying a high-quality kit from DECKED. Plus, these are all designed to slide directly into the DECKED Drawer System. Grab whichever one you need, or all three to become the Most Prepared Person In the World.
ROADSIDE OS KIT
A complete roadside assistance kit, housed in a rugged D-co Case. This one’s meant to handle all the most common mishaps like dead battery, getting your truck stuck in the snow or mud, or breaking down on the side of a freeway. Includes jumper cable battery box, headlamp, safety vest, LED safety lights, fire suppressor, tow straps and more.
DECKED x Boxo USA Tool Bag
A 100% American-made portable tool bag and tool roll, loaded full of pro-grade tools from the legends at BoxoUSA. This one’s for rebuilding a motor on the side of the road, or just having a complete set of tools at all times in your truck. Includes full wrenches ratchets and socket set, hammers, jammers, spanners, drivers, pliers, etc. All in a compact, durable package that easily fits in your Drawers.
Improved First Aid Kit
The best improved first aid kit (IFAK) in the business, made in collaboration with Refuge Medical. Almost 100% American-made, easy to transport, extremely robust, and fits perfectly in DECKED Drawers. This 133-piece kit includes everything you need to handle minor scrapes right up to serious trauma. Even better: Refuge Medical will replace any contents of the kit that are used to save a life, free of charge.
