The Proper Junk for Your Trunk

March 24, 2010, By Greg Hoard 2 comments

Greg Hoard

Odds are the trunk of your car is used for little more than collecting stuff, and stuff in all manner of places and disarray when, in fact, it should be a storage place for the unexpected occurrences that come along with the road.

For instance, do you know exactly where your jack is and, furthermore, do you know how to use it?

That little bit of knowledge can save you time and money. Besides, there is nothing that makes you feel less manly than watching some burly guy named Oddie change your tire while you stand by the roadside like a damsel in distress. (That experience is bad enough, but when Oddie hands you a bill for a hundred bucks that just deepens the sting.)

So, first step in adding order and purpose to your trunk: pull out the jack and get to know everything about it. Of course, this may necessitate reading directions which none of us like to do but forge on.

Next step, clean out all the junk that is already in the trunk, and goodness knows what you might find. Keep what’s near and dear and trash the rest. (Now, that you’ve located that old ball glove that’s been missing for two years, we can get started.)

• Find an old blanket and spread it out neatly on the floor of the trunk. This can come in handy in all kinds of circumstances: a cool night on the beach or a snowstorm.
• Spray the trunk with an air-freshener like Febreze, which gets rid of all those gnarly road smells and may come in handy after a night out with the boys for cigars.
• Now for the tools that may come in handy: a good adjustable wrench and screw driver, a reliable flashlight and extra batteries; an ice-scraper that stays in the trunk; an umbrella that stays in the trunk; and a couple of flares in case of a breakdown. (Ever noticed that Oddie always has flares?)
• Storing the tools is important because you don’t want them just flying around in the trunk so try a large, soft sports bag which will accommodate the other necessities you may need.
• For instance: a five-pound bag of kitty litter, not that you travel with cats, but it comes in real handy in a snow storm and a first-aid kit, because we have all lost battles with the jack.
• And finally, because you never know what might take place or when a game might break out: a pair of sneakers or comfortable walking shoes, an old pair of jeans or sweats and a sweatshirt, a pair of socks; a hat and flexible work gloves.

Now, your set, and look you still have room for a few of your favorite incidentals like energy bars or bottled water, and you can hit the road with relative assurance that you won’t have to deal with Oddie.

Greg Hoard is the senior writer and former editor of Cincinnati Profile magazine. He is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.

The above story refers to products made by Procter & Gamble Company, the parent company of Procter & Gamble Productions, which owns ManoftheHouse.com. The creator of this content received either direct or indirect remuneration from Procter & Gamble Productions.