Forget the huge lists of dozens of things you should have in your car to be prepared for a Montana winter. If you really want to be safe, and able to help others, there is a basic emergency kit checklist to keep in your vehicle.

Any seasoned Montanan has dealt with a dead battery, a slide-off, or some other problem while driving in the winter. We also pride ourselves on being helpful to others who might be having trouble. Being diligent about keeping a roadside 'box of tricks' is key.

Just this week, I encountered a guy getting out of his car which was dead in the middle of the street behind our radio stations. I was about to pull into our parking lot, but this young man and his Mercedes were blocking the road - not to mention it was dark, snowy, and 5:45am.

After determining the guy wasn't an axe murderer, I pulled up preparing to give his car a jump. Even though I had jumper cables in the back, I asked if he had them. He did not. OK, no sweat - I'll grab mine.

Long story short, jumping his car didn't work so we simply needed to push his (heavy) vehicle out of the street and into our parking lot. There was a LOT of snow on the ground with ruts, ice, etc. Again, no sweat - I'll grab my short shovel.

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Here's what being safe during a Montana winter boils down to: have a box of tools in the back of your car. You don't have to be ready to camp out in your vehicle for a week but having the basics will cover you 9 times out of 10.

-30 Rain-x De-Icer wiper fluid - This stuff is liquid (purple) gold in a Montana winter and we won't use anything else. (Although cheap vodka works in a pinch, but that's a story for another time.) If you can't see out your windshield, nothing else matters. Check your wiper fluid often and keep some in the car if you drive a lot.

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Flashlight - Have a good one. It doesn't have to be big, but it needs to be tough. I keep one in the side pocket of my door that is 'military grade' and has lasted me for years. Every Fall I change the batteries and that's it.

PRO TIP: Almost every auto parts store will test your car battery for you. Taking the five minutes to stop by every Fall is valuable, FREE information. If you need a new battery and don't replace it, imagine how expensive getting stuck will be.

Jumper Cables and KNOW HOW TO USE THEM - There's no shame in needing a lesson in how to jump a car. There is shame in living in Montana and never learning. It's foolish and dangerous to not knowing how to jump a car safely.

Photo by Mark Stenglein on Unsplash
Photo by Mark Stenglein on Unsplash
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Small shovel - I've recently added this to my own car safety kit after being in situations where it would have been very helpful...and not having one in the car. Mine was $15 and I've already used it twice.

Cardboard box - You can just keep whatever emergency kit tools you gather in a sturdy banker's box. That box can then become another tool if you're in need of some traction. Cut it up into strips to put underneath tires.

(Some folks swear by cat litter, but I prefer something more substantial if a car doesn't have any traction in the snow or mud.)

PRO TIP: If you have any old floor mats from another car or a set that you upgraded, toss those in the back of your car. They take up no space and they're great for traction, too.

Wire brush (small) & cheap gloves - Another couple of items that we recently added to our emergency kits...because not everyone keeps their battery terminals clean. Good intentions fly out the window without a good connection.

Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle for our harsh Montana conditions
Photo by Glenna Haug on Unsplash
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AAA Membership is worth every cent if you can afford it. It pays for itself with one inconvenient breakdown, dead battery, or flat tire. I've only used it once in the 30 years I've had it, and it's the best peace of mind you can buy for about $100/year. (This is just my opinion...AAA did not sponsor this article or anything like that.)

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