This is a discussion about a prepping situation that falls somewhere between a short-term disruption, such as bad weather or earthquake, and the end of the world as we know it.  One of the more likely scenarios that I prep for is the loss of one or both of the income-generating jobs in the house.  With a few exceptions, it’s a tough job market out there, and it probably isn’t a bad idea to plan on being out of work, or at least out of work that makes the same money you’re making right now, for quite a while.  One of the key items in the average household that’s instrumental in keeping things moving, so to speak, is the vehicle.

Since I’m a pessimist, I base my plans on one or both of us being at a reduced income for two years.  I’m talking about reduced income, not no income, and I’m assuming that things like gasoline will be available, so we won’t be stockpiling two years worth of unleaded.

First and foremost, we need to take a look at the car itself.  It doesn’t need to be brand spanking new, but it does need to be reliable.  It’s better if it’s a car you can do normal maintenance on yourself without special tools and if you can get parts and supplies from places other than the dealership.  That last one can surprise you, even if you don’t own an exotic or rare car.  For the first two years I owned my minivan, I couldn’t get oil or air filters for it from the parts store or on-line.  It required a trip to the dealer, and it cost an arm and a leg.  Having a car that uses common parts and supplies is essential.  I know people who swear by 1911’s or Glocks because any gunsmith can work on them, but drive an uncommon car that requires parts shipped in from Outer Mongolia and is lubricated with extra virgin linseed oil that must be purchased from the monks of Sao Paulo.

Basically, for me, it comes down to doing the calculus of time, trouble, and cost it takes or will take in the next two years to keep my car running consistently and safe.  If I’m working two or three part time jobs to keep food on the table, will I be able to afford spending time every week or so to fix something on the car?  If we are having to follow an extremely strict budget to make sure that everything’s covered, will we want to be budgeting for quarts of oil, brake fluid, or transmission fluid because of a leaking seal?  I’m not advising anyone to go deep into debt to get a new car, but you do have to decide how much not having a reliable car is costing you now and how much it will cost you later.

One thing you need when you’re working on your car is knowledge.  Unless you’re a mechanic by trade or hobby, taking care of your own car, when you can’t afford to pay someone else to do it, will not be a familiar exercise.  I have had really good luck with the auto care manuals from Haynes, although others swear by brands such as Chilton.  What I like about the Haynes line is that they tend to be illustrated (black and white, but at least it’s a picture), are written at a very basic level that doesn’t assume too much about my mechanical abilities, and they are organized in a pretty logical manner.  I supplement those with videos and articles on the Internet, but you have to put on your logic filters with these sometimes.  Car care forums are as useful as gun forums, complete with holy wars over methods, materials, and manufacturers.

Next, we talk about the supplies.  On average, I will change my oil and filters three to four times in two years.  That means, in addition to beans, bullets, and bandages, I have started stocking up on motor oil, oil filters, and air filters.  These aren’t very expensive for most cars, so picking up an extra filter or quart of oil every so often isn’t hard.  The same goes for things like oil and fuel additives.

The same should go for windshield wipers.  I tend to go through two sets a year, one in the winter and one  over the summer.  For some reason, I’m always surprised at how much they degrade in just a few months of use.  Again, these aren’t that expensive for most cars, so picking them up won’t break the bank if you do it over a couple of paychecks, and having a couple extra sets in the house now will save money in a tight budget later.

I try to keep a set of spark plugs, ignition wires, and other general tune-up items like PCV valves for each car.  These don’t need to be replaced too often, but when the car needs a tune-up, it needs the tune-up.  Again, spending a bit of money now when you have it may save your bacon in the future when things are tight. You should also find out what bulbs, lamps, and fuses your cars use, and keep a supply of them on-hand.  You could also purchase brake pads and calipers to save for bad times.

After that, you get down to things that will hang in your garage or stay in your trunk in case of an ‘aw shit’ moment, but aren’t going to be used as part of normal maintenance.  Most modern cars, if they even have a spare tire, have a temporary spare that will work at moderate speed for a few miles, but needs immediate replacement.  If you have the money, springing for the full-sized spare now will turn an “aw crap, we have to come up with $150 to replace the tire right now” experience into an “aw crap, we’ll have to run without a spare for a few weeks while we scrape together $150 for a new tire” experience.  You can also look at things like serpentine and timing belts, oxygen sensors, and possibly even an inexpensive rebuilt alternator or water pump.    Those are those “low risk, high impact” kind of things that I’m on the bubble about stocking in your emergency supplies.   They’re, for the most part, on the expensive side to spend money on now, but in the event that you need one when things are tight, they will be a godsend in saving money and time later.

Some of these things are what you need to do your own maintenance (You do know how to change your own oil and do a tune-up, don’t you?), but some of them are to have on-hand in the event that something requires a mechanic.  Most mechanics have no problem with you bringing your own parts, and it may save money and time on their fees.

Finally, take a look at your tool kit.  A good metric and standard ratchet and wrench set is a good start.  So is an oil filter wrench, something that I seem to lose around here with a bit of regularity.  Having a hanging light might seem like an anachronism in this day of tactical lights and such, but having a bright light source that you can maneuver into the tight confines of an engine compartment or under a dash without blinding yourself can make jobs easier.

What you stock and what you don’t stock will depend on your situation.  What you want to stock and what you want to buy in the event of need is up to you.  Just remember, there’s a fine line between having what you need and a reality show coming to your house to talk about your problem.  Take a look at your vehicles, research what the normal maintenance and expected problems are, and plan accordingly.

Does anyone have any suggestions for hard-time prepping for your vehicles?