This material is devoted to the things that are desirable to have in a car for comfortable and safe winter driving.
Tow rope
It would seem, buy a rope and that's it, let it lie around. But winter is a capricious lady. And if you seriously get stuck in snow or slush, not every tow rope will withstand the load.
For passenger cars, prices for tow ropes range from 50 to 200 hryvnias. Our advice is not to skimp and buy a reliable, strong tow rope for winter. Firstly, there is much less chance that it will break when someone is pulling you out of a trap. Secondly, even if it is not needed in winter, it can be very useful in summer – when you suddenly want to test your car's off-road capability by driving onto the beach.
Choose a tow rope with massive hooks and a permissible load of 4-5 tons, no less. The optimal length is 5-6 meters. For winter, it is better not to take short ones, as well as those designed for a load of 2-3 tons.
Shovel
Of course, if there is someone nearby in an SUV or just an all-wheel-drive car, it is better to use their services right away. But Murphy's law is such that there may be no one around. In this case, the most faithful helper will be a shovel. At home, a pillow is a better friend, but in a car, it's a shovel.
If you don't want to throw money away, don't buy flimsy folding shovels for 50 hryvnias. A normal tool is unlikely to be bought for less than 100 UAH. Folding shovels that are quite effective and do not take up much space in the trunk cost on average 130-200 hryvnias. There are spade shovels, and there are specifically for snow (with a telescopic handle). Ideally, have both options, but this is not cheap, and the trunk is not rubber. Therefore, we consider it advisable to still take a spade shovel – it can be useful more often, and in different situations.
Tracks (sand tracks)
Not all motorists actually know about this simple but ingenious invention. And it is truly indispensable in winter! No, of course, you can use the old-fashioned method – putting boards under the wheels. But 50-100 hryvnias is not such a big money…
It is for that much that you can buy the simplest double-sided tracks that will help you get out of a snowdrift or just sand. They do not take up much space, but they can save time and nerves.
There are professional sand tracks (or sandtreks, as they are also called), but they are very expensive (2-6 thousand hryvnias), and not even every SUV is suitable for transporting them. They are bulky, even though they fold.
Canister
As many remember, in 2012, in most of Ukraine, one could observe the consequences of a snow apocalypse. It is enough to recall how in March Kyiv residents spent the night in cars because they could not get home. It was then that many thought about the "Soviet" practice of carrying a canister of fuel with them. Given the current situation in the country, an additional container for gasoline/diesel will definitely not be superfluous.
Today there are plastic and metal canisters with a volume of 5-20 liters. There are vertical and horizontal ones. Prices – from 50 to 600 hryvnias. When buying a canister, we would strongly recommend not buying plastic containers. Firstly, it is not as safe as they might tell you. Secondly, at a gas station, they may simply refuse to fill fuel into it. Better – metal. The volume is not so important – it all depends on the trunk volume and the car's consumption. If, say, you have a Matiz, it is clear that a 20-liter "barrel" is of no use to you.
Flashlight
In general, it should be in every car, regardless of the season. After all, anything can happen on the road. If you still don't have one, be sure to buy it. Especially since the reason today is "excellent" - electricity is either turned on or off…
For these reasons, it is better to buy a dynamo flashlight or a "portable lamp" powered by a battery/12-volt socket. Such options will come in handy if, for example, you have a flat tire at night. Cost – from 30 hryvnias.
We consider portable LED lamps rechargeable from a 220-volt outlet to be an excellent option. If you regularly monitor the charge level, they can be indispensable both in case of force majeure and during a trip to nature, etc. And again, if the electricity is turned off in the apartment - take the lamp from the car. Those that shine 360 degrees are much better than candles. Prices – from 70 to 600 UAH.
For 500-600 hryvnias, you can find whole kits for all occasions (including a solar-powered lamp)
Jumper cables (starting)
"Crocodiles" are as necessary in winter as a shovel. Especially if you have a not-new car or it's just very cold outside. In general, it is highly desirable to allocate 100-300 hryvnias for "reinsurance".
It is better to choose a start cable for 500A-600A about 3 m long. Also pay attention to the insulation of the metal clamps and the handle. The presence of a case in the kit is a pleasant and necessary bonus.
Of course, our review of "winter" useful things for a car will make you think about completing your car. We also note that these are essential items.
