After being stranded a few times thanks to my relative neglect of electric maintenance in my vehicles (yes, I was much younger and less wise), I concluded that I should write a bit about it so you don't have to repeat my bitter experiences. This is what my articles are all about. After all, if I am left stranded, I can't call anybody except for a friend. Insurance companies limit their towing service to 80 km around the place where your address is registered. Go figure.

OK, one time I was cruising peacefully on my old Mustang (I miss you, Cherry Pie!) when climbing a steep hill, like 80 km away from home, suddenly she decided to take a nap. I parked next to the road with the inertia that was left, and the failure was total. Cranked the engine, but she didn´t start. I had a couple of bars on my cellphone and could make an emergency call to my dad. It was a desert road, at full sun. Sure enough, he arrived one hour later with my cousin and made a quick wiring check. His experience, plus the simplicity of my engine detected in five minutes what was wrong: two broken wires in the ignition module plug. With some tools, I could have fixed it by myself, but I wasn't the guy I am now back then.

1- Heat Shrink Electrical Tape: The Indispensable Consumable

While items like first-aid kits, water purification tablets, and multi-tools often take center stage, there's one that deserves a prominent spot: heat-shrink electrical tape. This simple item can prevent a critical system failure, and I consider it indispensable for any serious survivalist or prepper on the road.

Why Heat Shrink Tape Over Regular Electrical Tape?

While standard PVC electrical tape has its uses around the home, heat shrink tape (or tubing, also called sleeve) offers superior protection and durability, and this is better for vehicle uses. On the other hand, I've never been too fine-tuned in my finger precision, and losing part of a finger doesn't help either. Wrapping tape needs to be done carefully, keeping constant tension to cover the wires perfectly. Easier said than done with the crappy cheap tape we find down here. Get the good stuff at least and not that cheap rubbish. The only counterpart of tubing is that you should have several diameters and use the adequate for the wires you're protecting, but it's not a big deal, they are cheap and don't weigh.