Breakdown Essentials For The Rockies

From the Canadian British Columbia to the Northern tip of New Mexico, the Rockies are one of the most powerful images of the United States. Originally home to numerous indiginous peoples, including the Blackfoot, Apache, and Sioux peoples. The Rocky Mountains were later visited by European and American expansionists such as Lewis and Clarke, Alexander McKenzie, and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. 

Today, it is a popular destination for both adventurers and families looking to rediscover some of the most beautiful vistas in the entire continental United States. Because of these beautiful vistas, rugged terrain and rich American history, it is no surprise why thousands of people come to visit them every year. 

For most folks, these trips go down without a hitch – you go, you take pictures, you visit a nice (if slightly greasy) diner by the side of the road, and then you go home. At worst, you get a little bit of food poisoning. 

But what do you do if something happens? What do you do if you have a flat tire? What about if your fan belt breaks unexpectedly? What do you really need in an emergency?

In this latest article from John Craddock, we’re going to go into a bit of detail about the supplies you’d need if you ever found yourself without a paddle in the rockies. Once you’re finished reading the article, you should have a full idea of what supplies you should carry in your Land Rover to make any breakdowns as inconsequential as possible. 

10 Things You Need in a Breakdown

There are some key pieces of equipment you should consider packing in your Land Rover before your vacation to the rockies. Some of them you’ll have with you anyway, others you may need to pick up. Either way, we’ll take you through it. 

Cell Phone

No doubt the most important piece of equipment you’ll want to have in the event of a breakdown is a cell phone. Whether you’re making a phone call, texting, or even using WhatsApp, having a cell phone allows you to stay in contact with your friends, family and emergency services at pretty much every hour of the day. In an emergency, this level of security and connectivity is crucial – which is exactly why you’d want to have one on hand during a breakdown. 

As well as communication, having a cell phone on hand during emergencies can also help you to work out what’s wrong with your car – meaning that you may not need the emergency services at all. 

First-AID Kit, Food, and Water

After a Cell Phone, the most important thing you should have in your bug-out bag is a First-AID Kit, some food, and at least two liters of drinking water. 

This is because, depending on the nature of your breakdown, you or your companions may require some sort of medical attention. While First-Aid Kits aren’t designed for serious injuries, for cuts and scrapes they’re great to have with you. 

Likewise, depending on where you are, it may be some time before emergency services or the nearest tow truck comes to collect you. As such, having some food and water in your Land Rover is not a bad idea – particularly if you’re driving through warmer or more remote parts of the rockies. In an emergency, having some food and water can be the difference between life and death. 

John Craddock carries a couple of First-Aid Kits. Our smaller kits are ideal for most situations where you don’t expect any serious injuries. For most vehicles and trips, this one will be ideal. However, for the more cautious driver we thoroughly recommend our larger First-Aid Kit. 

This kit will help you to stabilize most patients long enough to get them to a trained physician or paramedic. 

Spare Tire & Jack  

The next important thing you should definitely keep in your SUV is a spare tire and jack. John Craddock carries a wide variety of Land Rover tires. These tires are suitable for a wide range of Land Rover types – everything from a Land Rover Freelander to a Land Rover Discovery 2. 

Whether you’ve sustained a full slash, have worn-out treads or have just driven over a nail,  keeping a spare tire  and jack in your car is a fantastic idea. Visit our catalog to see some of our examples of jacks. 

High-vis vest, torch, and a warning triangle

Not only will a high visibility vest and a warning triangle help keep you safe when lighting is low, but having a torch will help you to ward away any animals that may approach while you’re waiting for rescue to turn up. Furthermore, you can use a torch and a warning triangle to signal other drivers or emergency vehicles. 

Jerry Can

Randomly running out of gas is rare. However, even though it’s very unlikely to actually happen, having a Jerry Can in your trunk is still a good idea. Having one means that even if you do find yourself starting to run on empty, you should at least have enough to get to the next gas station. John Craddock carries a wide range of Jerry Cans, any of which would suit your needs. 

Jumper Cables

If your vehicle has run out of juice, having jumper cables on hand can be a godsend. Because of that, you should make sure that you carry a set of high quality jumper cables with you on your journey. 

Warm Clothes

Depending on the weather conditions, it might be a good idea to carry some warm clothes with you. Not only should you carry a warm, waterproof jacket, but you should ideally carry a pair of replacement socks and pants. These warm and replacement clothes will keep you warm if you’re stuck waiting for a tow truck and the temperatures are starting to drop. 

Spare Screen Wash, De-Icer, and Scraper 

Having a spare screen wash on hand can help keep your visibility high – allowing you to keep watch for potential emergency situations. 

Tent 

If worst comes to worst, you may have to hold up for the night. While you have the option to sleep in your car, this isn’t ideal as you’d have to keep your car running to keep it warm – which risks carbon monoxide poisoning. In contrast, using a tent to sleep in is not only much safer, and you’ll have a much greater chance of  being seen by passing drivers. 

John Craddock carries a wide range of high quality tents by ARB. These tents have been tested to ensure that you’ll be warm, no matter where and when you break down. Furthermore, we have a wide variety of  styles, so that you can easily find the tent that suits your personality. 

For example, if you want to keep off the ground, ARB’s Simpson Rooftop Tent is ideal. The Simpson rests on the roof of your car, keeping you away from the cold ground and any varmints  that may want to say hello. Getting up and down couldn’t  be simpler: all you need to do is climb up the included ladder.  Included posts help to support the tent, so the weight isn’t all on your car. 

However, sleeping is only one example of where a tent or similar structure would be useful. If you just want to keep out of the sun, you should  consider one of  our awnings – for example, the ARB touring awning. Equally capable of keeping you out of the sun and the rain, the ARB Touring Awning is an excellent start to any emergency shelter. 

Likewise, the ARB Room and Floor Set can function as a fully-enclosed room. This allows you to really get out of the elements – allowing you to make phone calls and arrange rescue. 

For Your Land Rover Needs, Contact John Craddock Today 

For over fifty years, John Craddock has provided our clients with high quality Land Rover Parts and Accessories. Whether you’re looking for a replacement front wheel for the Land Rover Defender, accessories for the Discovery Sport, or wheel bearings for a Range Rover L405, John Craddock has everything you need to take your driving experience to the next level and keep you safe on the road. 

Don’t delay. Order from John Craddock today.