Survival food in the car

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by fritz_monroe, Nov 10, 2007.


  1. fritz_monroe

    fritz_monroe Guest

    I'm getting my stuff together and one of the things I need to do is get the car kit fixed up. I have water, tools and various other things in it. But one thing I'm missing is some food. I've thought about putting some MREs in there, but I've read about the shelf life being really shortened due to high temps and a car gets pretty hot. I've also though about power bars and even those survival bars that get packed into life rafts. So I figured I'd ask here. What foods do you keep in your car in case of emergency?
     
  2. Blackjack

    Blackjack Monkey+++

    My wife.


    Sorry, couldn't help myself. It's a good question that I don't have the answer to, but I'm sure somebody here does.
     
  3. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I have a case of bottled water, half a dozen MREs, a case of Vienna sausages, a few cans of sardines in my vehicles.
     
  4. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I don't keep food in my truck all the time. Summer temps are a food killer.
    I have stocked a few things when we are traveling.

    I stay in a 50 mile radius of my house for the most part and have a few spots along the way that have some of my supplies set aside. I've never been worried about not having enough food to get home. And that's all my truck preps are for, To get home.

    If I have to BO for some reason, Fire, Nuke, etc. I'll have to take some things on the fly. I am in the process of pre-positioning some of my extra food in another couple of locations so if we need to run we can.

    I'd say a few granola bars and some beef jerky is probably fine.
     
  5. sniper-66

    sniper-66 Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Don't keep food for any period of time, heat will kill just about any food and freezing can be just as bad. You can last thirty days witout food, better off stocking other items.
    Ever smelled a MRE that was rotting anerobicly? You won't ever forget it.
     
  6. poacher

    poacher Monkey+++ Founding Member

    I have some of those "survival tabs" in my veh. They say that the tabs are designed to work for a life raft. I haven't tried em but those I have talked to that have say they taste like cardboard. I'll take cardboard taste for peace of mind any day.
    Take care Be safe Poacher.
     
  7. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    I am a living breathing example of survival without food for (let's say) several days. (You don't want to know, although there are some humorous parts to the story.) Fully functional becomes problematic after 4 days (more often than not from loss of sleep) and essentially impossible after 14, so they told us. If you go the full 30, pretty significant medical efforts will be required to restore normal health. That said, if you are not heading for a long term do without situation, you can do without anything more than energy bars of some kind for several days. Go light on food for short term and heavy on water and climatological (weather) protections. Water of sufficient quantity will kill hunger pangs.
     
  8. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I drive a truck with a camper shell on it and at times go places for work and what not where I dont know if will be eating out, fed or on my own, so for that AND emergencies I keep a foot locker in the back (in addition to my BOB) and have a few cans of stuff like deviled ham and such, a couple boxes of snack crackers, 3-4 packs of fruit newton, several large bottles of water, powdered gatorade, cup o' noodle soup, rice, beef base, powdered salsa mix, alcohol stove and mess kit, some dehydrated fruit and a few other odds and ends. I also snack out of this stuff when i go hunting/fishing and so on so most of it gets rotated through at least a couple times per year. Beyond that I also keep some cable snares in there and my fishing stuff in the truck along with a shotgun most all the time, so in most situations could also suplement food for an extended time if needed.
     
  9. fritz_monroe

    fritz_monroe Guest

    Thanks for all the input. My stocking of the vehicle is to get me home also. I work about 30 miles by road from home, but there is a large body of water that I'd have to go around since in a SHTF situation, I doubt I could depend on the tunnel being passable. That puts me probably 40 miles on foot. I think I'll just grab some of the granola bars and beef jerky, although beef jerky doesn't last long around me.

    I can't carry a gun in the truck since I work on a military base and the car is subject to search upon entering and guns are on the prohibited items list to come in. And yes, I've been stopped and searched by the MPs and dogs. But I will have the other stuff there. I haven't put a blanket in there yet, but I do have a wool blanket that is just screaming out to go in there. I'll also put in a small stove and dig through my stuff to see what I'm lacking.
     
  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Won't last long around those dogs, either. (Glad my base entry days are long gone.) :shock:
     
  11. sheen_estevez

    sheen_estevez Monkey+++

    [ROFL]

    I'm thinking the MRE's that have been frozen and then baked at high temps in the car would taste better :shock:
     
  12. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    I thought of this too, but figured that since I'm never more than ten miles from home, all I really need in the car is a basic Get-Home Bag with water and other essentials.
    If I travel any further, then I do carry food items.
    I do tend to carry a couple tins of sardines in my bike's tankbags, along with two canteens of water - in case I get stuck in the bush. I'm still fairly close to home where I ride off-road.
     
  13. fritz_monroe

    fritz_monroe Guest

    Another bad thing about my commute is it will get longer. Being near the Balto/Wash corridor, I have to move farther out to get any property. That means a longer commute. Probably the same distance, but longer travel time since it will be less highway.

    Sardines??? I'll pass on that one. Going to pick up the granola bars. I vacuum packed the wool blanket and it is ready to put in the car.
     
  14. MOS19K

    MOS19K Monkey+++

    This is what is in my Wife's "get home bag".

    1. 1 liter water bladder, goes in backpack.
    2. one full change of clothes, pants, shirts, undergarments, socks and
    sneakers. (some times she wears a dress to work hence the change of
    clothes)
    3. Several breakfast type bars.
    4. Hard Candy.
    5. High Decibel Whistle
    6. Windbreaker/rain coat
    7. Baseball cap
    8. Extra Sunglasses
    9. Suntan lotion 45 SPF
    10. 100% Deet
    11. Multi-Tool
    12. CZ-52 w/2 extra magazines
    13. Telescoping walking stick.
    14. Old digital camera w/ extra batteries.
    15. Extra Cell phone battery
    16. Hand Crank Flashlight/Radio

    Probably forgetting some stuff.

    Everyone will have different needs depending on your location and the distance you'll be traveling and the areas you'll have to go through. I do suggest you go over your possible routes with your family or friends so they know where to look if you get hurt and don't make it.

    I know this is a bit paranoid but I'd rather she have it and never need it than find herself needing it and not having it.
     
  15. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Good start. I'd give some thought to adding a pair of good well broken in hiking boots. Even in FL, wet feet are no fun if the problem is a storm. Also, with the battery operated stuff, you might want to add a regular check of charge. Miami heat will shorten the life considerably. Bandaids, a knife, and something for blisters, too. Don't forget to change out the water periodically, better yet, get a carrier for sealed commercial water (but change it out too, just not as often.)
     
  16. MOS19K

    MOS19K Monkey+++

    It's funny you mention the hiking boots, she's been wanting to get another pair to replace the sneakers in her bag. Bandaids she has in the cars first aid box, along with mole skin and I'm sure a million other things. The water is our biggest concern because we tend to forget about it even when we do the monthly checks.
     
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