Having a personal EDC kit at each layer has been well covered on the Loadout Room. However, most of us spend hours in our vehicles, living at various longitudes, climates, and on various types of roads during our daily lives and unless you are in a military convoy; with your full kit, there are times that we are at a loss for items when things go FUBAR or SNAFU.
This is my vehicle Everyday Carry and it should be different from yours. It should be dependent on your occupation or hobby, what temperate zone you live at and the threats you may encounter daily. I live in the northern latitudes, so this article covers my cooler weather vehicle kit. In the very hot summers, I routinely add a 5-gallon military-grade water container. The less obvious choice in determining a vehicle Everyday Carry is the type of vehicle you will be utilizing which is again dependent on your mission. Are you blending to conduct surveillance or just simply a personal choice of a pick-up or 4×4 vehicle? Since I am in the 1st CivDiv, mine is a personal choice and I drive a four-door Jeep Wrangler. It provides the ability to adapt to various climate options, choice of roads, and plenty of third-party market opportunities to customize it. Smittybilt and Bartact make MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) for Jeeps and I installed the tailgate MOLLE panels to provide numerous load out opportunities into various gear configurations. Currently, I have on the tailgate a full trauma kit packed with multiple tourniquets for my firing range instructions and other potential emergency medical needs. Additionally this configuration allows me to put all my off-road tow-straps, tie-downs, etc., into the proper kit for rapid deployment.
I also keep an Osprey Talon 44 pack ready for bugging out and stocked with climbing gear; the climbing gear is there because during the winters there have been numerous vehicles that spun off the road into the woods. At many junctions along the road the drop off is immense and would require someone to descend or climb out from to get help. Bug out bags have been covered as well, but mine contains some cold weather survival items that will assist in the event I am trapped in snow, or need to stay warm for hours or days. To assist in keeping warm, I have a signaling, shelter and warmth generator such as a red-colored thermal tarp; a great item to have for these or other problems that could arise. A poncho is a must for backup shelters and keeping the rain off during flat tire changes. My poncho of choice is the Hazzard 4 poncho villa. The next items in the pack should be a water collector, a fire starter (magnesium is the best), a compass and some layers of clothing to keep you dry and warm. My extra layers are in a water-proof compression sack that contains a poncho liner, M-65 Field Jack liner, a military E.C.W.C.S., (Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System) sleep shirt and a wool balaclava.
As you move towards the front of the vehicle I have the same Smittybilt MOLLE but in seat covers that provide optional loadouts. Currently I carry a pair of binoculars, a leatherman , a Maglight, another Rain Jacket and duct tape. One of the many benefits of having a MOLLE panel on the back of the seat is to provide room for a Vehicle Rapid Deployment kit with all the right magazines, ammo you may need and a dump pouch for brass pickup or trash. The front of the seat is equally important and also provides for MOLLE attachments. On the left side of the seat I have a Gerber Seat Belt Cutter that I got in my SOFREP Crate Club and on the right side a Black Hawk MOLLE SERPA S.T.R.I.K.E. platform with Quick Connect so that I can disconnect my SERPA Level 2 holster from my gear and reconnect it here for quick access. I chose a level two holster for the retention aspects as it prevents the firearm from unholstering in the event you hit something or it provides that split second to react in case someone attempts to quickly grasp it. No matter what you build for your Vehicle Everyday Carry make it personal that covers key survival equipment within the area and activities you may require.
