When I think about vehicle essentials, I'm usually thinking about the items that are used on the outside of the vehicle. Personal essentials are usually the gear you take with you, but is removable/exchangeable depending on your situation. I've listed out the items I usually take with me on almost every journey, and items which I will be including at some point as the need arises:
- Yaesu VX-5R HTs (2x) - These are dated VHF radios, but they work well and are compact in size. VERY necessary when exiting the vehicle and milling around the campsite.
- Yaesu FT880 - I used to have this installed in my former vehicle, but haven't installed it in the T4R yet. I do a significant amount of air travel and it's always annoying to stop before entering the parking garage to lower the antenna.
- Bug Out Bag/ERB - This is a mandatory item I carry with me which includes all the basics for a 3-day 'adventure'. There's an ERB thread I've contributed to which has alot of great suggestions if anyone is interested in building their own.
- Medical kit/First Aid Manual - I keep this apart and separate from my BOB/ERB and rotate the stock depending on the activity. This is a discipline which is difficult to adhere to as it's easy to be lazy about unpacking and repacking the kit.
- Water - I keep a 2 gallon Igloo cooler thingie full of water and with me at all times as my emergency supply even if I'm carrying additional 5 Gal water cans.
- Shumacher Digital Power Station - I can't speak highly enough about this $90 piece of kit. It's got the digital air compressor, emergency light, jumper cables, regular plug, USB plugs and a cigarette lighter style plug. Great for charging phones, tablets, jump starting another vehicle, and airing up/down.
- Extension Cord - For the T4R owners with the 110V plug in the back, I bet you never thought to carry an extension cord, didja? Aside from the Shucmacher DPS, this is the next most usedl piece of kit I carry with me. Not only can you use it to charge the DPS with the engine running when it's low, but also any tools that require power away from your vehicle.
- Drone/GoPro - It seems more like a luxury than a necessity, but my drone has helped me out of more navigational jams than I like to admit. Sending one up to find the exit to a beach trail or to see what's beyond the horizon is more important than people realize. I attribute this little trick to Ronny Dahl and his Ozzie adventures.