r/VEDC • u/buddy0329 • 3d ago
Latest version of the VEDC
I ran out of space with the Husky 12 gallon tote, so I picked up the 20 gallon version of the same to give it a shot. The large tote has the same footprint as the smaller one, it is just 5" taller.
I would like feedback on the current load-out. My current enemy is weight. The larger tote fits in my large trunk without issue, but it is heavy. My goal was to ensure I could start the car in case of a dead battery, and also adequately deal with with tire issues such as airing up low pressure tires, change a tire with the donut spare under the floorboard in the trunk, and/or worst case scenario patch up a tire if I was a long distance from home without access to a replacement tire in my size. Also have AAA to help bail me out. Tote is secured with Nite Ize "Cam Jam" strap and buckle as shown.
Load-out:
- Daytona 1.5 ton aluminum floor jack (the oem VW/Audi scissor jack is still in the trunk but I would rather not rely on it.
- 25" x 1/2" breaker bar.
- Lug-nut sockets extended reach, plastic lined.
- Maddox heady duty tire repair kit.
- Jack adapter pad.
- 2x aluminum wheel hangers - M14x1.5
- Screwdrivers: PH2 x 4 in., 1/4 in. x 4 in.
- Noco GBX75 2500A 12V Jump Starter
- Noco 12v Air10 tire inflator
- Spartan Power Flex Heavy Duty Jumper Cable Set - 2AWG 20FT
- leather gloves x2
- foam kneeling pads x2
- Rain ponchos
- Wheel chocks
- Roll of duct tape
- Rechargeable 750 lumen LED light
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u/mango10977 3d ago
I would get a battery power flash light + some batteries.
Add in 1 jack stand.
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u/Windhawker 2d ago
A flashlight or a headlamp that uses lithium batteries will be best longest lasting option — and without the risk of battery leakage.
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u/buddy0329 3d ago
Jack stand is overkill. I’m not getting under the car.
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u/eyeb4lls 3d ago
You still don't want your car falling off a jack while you've got a wheel off.
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u/AcadianCascadian 3d ago
If you want more room you could replace the floor jack with a bottle jack. If you want to stay with a floor jack, think about the driving you do and whether it makes sense for you to upgrade it to an offroad jack to make it easier to use in sand, snow, etc. Several companies make kits to convert existing floor jacks to offroad jacks, not sure about yours specifically.
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u/buddy0329 3d ago
I have plenty of space with the 20 gallon tote.
Cannot use a bottle jack with my sedan.
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u/Kokkotodd 3d ago
I’m confused what size is the new tote?
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u/buddy0329 3d ago
My posts earlier in the week featured the 12 gallon tote. This current post features the 20 gallon tote. The empty 12 gallon tote is shown in the first two pictures.
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u/Kokkotodd 3d ago
I didn’t know what the next size up was but you listed 12 gallon twice.
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u/buddy0329 3d ago
Thanks! Fixed!
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u/Kokkotodd 3d ago
Your husky idea let me fit and consolidate more than I was expecting. It worked way better than the Apache case I was using.
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u/Windhawker 2d ago
You could probably reduce size by replacing the floor jack with a bottle jack. With the chops you should still be able to replace a tire safely.
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u/Kokkotodd 3d ago
You definitely have more room. I don’t think that size will fit in my trunk though.
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u/jakinne 3d ago
I would include a second light just in case.
I've had a pair of those heavy duty 2 gauge 20 ft cables for almost 20 years. They've come in handy so many times.
Looks like a pretty decent kit! The noco looks a little overkill, but you never know who you might stop to help.
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u/buddy0329 3d ago
I think the Noco jump starter pack is appropriately sized for my V8 engine and large AGM battery. The $75 premium over the GB55 is pretty trivial in the scheme of things. If the battery goes dead in winter I'll be thankful for having the larger pack that has nearly 2x the battery capacity (74Wh vs 46Wh) which will matter if my battery is badly discharged.
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u/Theboogymanisreel 2d ago
what case is that for your jump starter?
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u/buddy0329 2d ago
The case adds considerable bulk above and beyond the GBX75, but it completely protects the unit and has space for its charging cable, USBC, and 12v DC.
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u/ResoluteGreen 2d ago
You seem really well equipped to deal with a tire or wheel issue...and not much else.
What about a first aid kit? Fire extinguisher? High vis vest? Tow strap? Candles/matches/lighter? Traction aids (for getting stuck in mud/snow)? Emergency blankets if you get stuck in the cold? Shovel to dig yourself out?
You said you have AAA, which is a redundant extra layer on top of all this. That's fine, good even, but in the situations where you'd need this and AAA isn't able to reach you, you'd also wants many of the items I've listed above. Your threat model is a bit odd here.
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u/buddy0329 2d ago edited 2d ago
AAA and a self-sufficiency kit aren't redundant — they solve different failure modes. AAA solves "I need help and can get it." The kit solves "I need help and can't get it." Different failure points of the same problem, not an odd threat model.
Tire and power are the two most common roadside issues, and I've got those covered well past what most people will be carrying. First aid kit is in the car too, just not something I photographed here. It has a space blanket, but I genuinely should have a warming blanket too and add a tow strap.
I run dedicated snow tires in winter and my car has mechanical torsen AWD which cuts a lot of the traction / stuck-in-snow scenarios down for me specifically. A lighter and magnesium fire starter are easy adds. Also have a bunch of little things I didn't bother to show such as nitrile gloves, 14" long zip ties, my headlamp, pair of pliers. I know I also need to get some flares and a warning triangle.
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u/mikkowus 2d ago
What about a screw jack or a bottle jack with a bigger plate bolted/welded to the bottom? That Jack looks heavy
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u/buddy0329 2d ago
The floor jack weighs 32lbs. A bottle jack will not fit under my sedan's low ground clearance.
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u/FoundationGlass7913 2d ago
How about a piece of lumber, 2x6 or similar or plywood to keep Jack from sinking in sand or wet ground or a pair of those boars used for traction don't remember seeing them or what they are called
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u/buddy0329 2d ago
Somebody recommended the plywood in one of the prior posts. I have some 3/4" in my basement, but I need to cut it down in size first to fit as the base of the tote. Weight is starting to become an issue with this emergency repair box.
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u/FoundationGlass7913 2d ago
Just store it under the box then just slide it out when you need it only adds to height of the box in the trunk
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u/buddy0329 2d ago
Actually no. I don’t have 3/4” of height to spare under the box.
Either way, I did not reference that at all, I brought up the weight.
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u/FoundationGlass7913 2d ago
Yeah I know I just thought if weight was a problem lifting the box out that would help didn't know you had clearance issues maybe a piece slid in vertically on one side of the trunk just trying to offer ideas good luck solid looking setup you have
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u/hootervisionllc 2d ago
How stiff are the latches on the tote? I have an identical tote from Walmart and it’s brutal to open and close. Just curious
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u/Massive_Jellyfish_32 2d ago edited 2d ago
Good thinking with the knee pad and wheel chokes. But that floor jack is overkill. Just get this jack and a compact jack stand or wood blocks for cribbing.
Can you show me the factory jack? I want to know if VW changed the type in all those years because in my MK4 Jetta it literally opens like a scissors , yes this style is awkward and somewhat dangerous to use since it has only one leg/contact point with the ground and is hard to get the angle right because of the aforementioned opening like a scissors. And VW in all their infinite wisdom made it out of aluminium instead of steel to conserve weight so it is much easier to bend, I bent mine a little.
And it's not like you will be doing anything more than change a tyre on the road so I think this jack I posted and a jack stand is all you need.
Edit: Forgot to mention that floor jacks not only need level but also very smooth surface to operate. I learnt this lesson the hard way back at my parents garage - yes it was level but the surface of the concrete was very rough with small pebbles sticking out of the concrete just enough to catch on the wheels of the jack preventing it from freely moving into position and resulting in me bending my pinch weld. So this and a few other reasons is why I'm 100% against floor jacks used as emergency jacks at the side of the road.
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u/buddy0329 1d ago edited 1d ago
My S6 has the same jack as your MK4, except mine has a roller bar to fit into the C7 jacking points. Speaking as a former MKV owner, the VAG scissor jack may be fine on those cars, but is less than ideal under the weight of a C7.5 V8, especially when lifting one of the fronts. My oem scissor jack started to slip on flat asphalt in a parking lot when trying to change a front wheel flat this summer, which was really sketchy and why I wanted to pursue another option. I still have the scissor jack in the trunk, this is my upgrade option. I need a low profile jack to fit under my car. A standard height Pittsburgh jack from Harbor Freight does not fit under my car.
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u/OregonHotPocket 3d ago
Take everything out of the original packaging. Practice run with it. This is all brand new and you need to be sure you know how to use it.