Current Events > Who keeps jumper cables in their car?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Jumper cables used to be standard auto equipment, just like a jack and a spare tire. Yet I'm not seeing that the majority of people carry them anymore. What's up with that?

This thread was prompted by an incident we had while on vacation last week. We were out exploring the countryside, an hour away from our lodging, when we returned to our car in the parking lot of a Walgreens from an errand - to find we had a dead battery. We had no jumper cables in the car. First we tried calling the roadside assistance that our insurance company provides, but there was no one available according to the operator. Then we called about ten local towing services, but nobody there was available, either.

A Walgreens clerk said that there was a hardware store a few blocks away. So my poor husband, who had a very bad cold, hiked in the cold damp weather to the store and to look for jumper cables.

While he was gone, I asked Walgreen customers in the parking lot if they had jumper cables and if they could help us. Most people said they didn't have any, and a couple of people said they thought they did but couldn't find any when they rummaged their trunks.

Thankfully, the hardware store had cables, and a Walgreen customer gave us a jump, bless her. Then we drove to a Sears Auto Store which thank goodness was open on a Sunday afternoon, and bought a stout new battery.

Well, now I have cables in my car. What about you? Who still keeps jumper cables in their car?
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This reads more like a copy and pasta...

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Prestoff posted...

This reads more like a copy and pasta...

cuz it is

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Jumper cables, tire inflator, jack and stands. I practically live in the field though.

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It's all about portable jump starters these days: no need to have to look for a helpful stranger to get your car moving again (they can even come with an air compressor!).

Get with the times already!

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rogersimon10 says hi
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I keep an entire rescue set in my car. In case I get stranded.

I have a jumper cable that runs off batteries and a tired pump that does too.

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Philo topic

But I do have a convenient little cubby next to my spare tire underneath my car's cargo area where cables fit.

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Paragon21XX posted...

It's all about portable jump starters these days

This.

Who doesn't keep them in their car?

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I keep jumper cables, spare fuses, a couple of towels, and an umbrella in my car.

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CommonStar posted...

This.

you have to keep those charged though and they mess up your car computer and turn the check engine light on
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They dont do anything like that. Portable jumper ftw

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Portable jumper, air compressor, first aid kit, rags, blanket, and fire extinguisher. Always.

spungemunky posted...

Portable jumper, air compressor, first aid kit, rags, blanket, and fire extinguisher. Always.

A fire extinguisher may explode during the summer

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My old car had jumper cables and a jack. I don't think my new one does. Should probably look into that.

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i do.

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Philoktetes posted...

you have to keep those charged though and they mess up your car computer and turn the check engine light on

Yes

No

No

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I have a portable jumper.

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ya portable jumper is the way to go here.

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the one upside to a manual transmission, you can just pop the clutch. not the easiest thing to do by yourself but it is possible.

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