[TechCat]

Hi all, I've had my new Bolt 2023 EUV for two weeks now and loving it...waiting on the charger to get installed at home so having fun exploring public charging scenarios.
I was wondering, if anyone could recommend a 'car kit' that had a jumper cable, other emergency rode side stuff and also wheel repair stuff as well. I know the GM site has wheel repair but wondering what folks have found useful.

 

[PhilipD]

@TechCat
I carry a 10mm x 13mm wrench to remove the battery ground and the guard that covers the positive terminal. This one

I have a jump pack so I can jump the car if no one is around. Here

The car came with the GM inflator but I also threw in a tire plug kit.Here

I also keep a small LED flashlight in the console, a roll of heavy-duty paper towels and an old blanket in the trunk.

 

[Lets Bolt]

Same info as above sorry

 

[evtinker]

Along with much already mentioned I carry simple 120-volt outlet tester. If offered the opportunity to plug in, it allows checking to make sure the outlet is live and wired correctly. No point in plugging in if it is not, and no risk to the EVSE or the car. They are less than $10 and easy to use. I will admit, I have never needed to use it since I got the Bolt since it has so much range, but I did use it with previous EVs.

 

[VoltoBolt]

I have a jump pack so I can jump the car if no one is around. Here

How do you keep it charged?

 

[Elijah]

The thing I want to protect from most is being out in the road with traffic, so first 3 items below (vest, gloves & flashlight) are close at hand. There isn't anything in this list that I have not needed and appreciated at some point in my driving adventures.

Easy reach small bag under driver's legs:

• Reflective hi-viz work gloves & vest
• Flashlight (USB charged)
• Utility scissors
• Simple first-aid kit
• Masks & latex gloves
• Cotton bandana

Easy reach behind passenger seat:

• Folding hi-viz traffic cones
• Window sun shades
• Hard copy small road atlas in backrest pocket

Under rear deck:

• Spare tire, jack, patch kit, lug wrench, 12v inflator
• Simple tool kit + tie down and tow straps
• Foam camp pad for under car repair/inspect
• Golf umbrella
• Muck shoes
• Utility tape
• Blanket/poncho/ground-cloth combo

 

[PhilipD]

How do you keep it charged?

Well, I've only had it a week so I have not recharged it yet. It plugs into a USB port to charge. When I got it, I charged it until it was fully charged. I plan on recharging every 2-3 months.

 

[jmcbrew]

The thing I want to protect from most is being out in the road with traffic, so first 3 items below (vest, gloves & flashlight) are close at hand. There isn't anything in this list that I have not needed and appreciated at some point in my driving adventures.

Easy reach small bag under driver's legs:

• Reflective hi-viz work gloves & vest
• Flashlight (USB charged)
• Utility scissors
• Simple first-aid kit
• Masks & latex gloves
• Cotton bandana

Easy reach behind passenger seat:

• Folding hi-viz traffic cones
• Window sun shades
• Hard copy small road atlas in backrest pocket

Under rear deck:

• Spare tire, jack, patch kit, lug wrench, 12v inflator
• Simple tool kit + tie down and tow straps
• Foam camp pad for under car repair/inspect
• Golf umbrella
• Muck shoes
• Utility tape
• Blanket/poncho/ground-cloth combo

So, no room for passengers, then?

I keep a lithium ion jump pack, good tire plug kit, lithium ion inflator, and a tool roll, which includes a bunch of stuff — screw drivers, wrenches, gloves, zip ties, fuses, etc.

 

[Elijah]

So, no room for passengers, then?

I have more passenger room than you do
No, nothing in above kit is visible or impedes on passenger space.

 

[TechCat]

@PhilipD , links are so helpful, thank you!
My bolt did not come with an inflator so I’m looking on recs for that too, someone did post a link to this which would take care of a few things:
1200 Amp Jump Starter with Air Compressor, acetek https://a.co/d/5LE9E1n

Just wondering if it’s overkill.
I’m a tech strategist for a living but car stuff alludes me!

@TechCat
I carry a 10mm x 13mm wrench to remove the battery ground and the guard that covers the positive terminal. This one

I have a jump pack so I can jump the car if no one is around. Here

The car came with the GM inflator but I also threw in a tire plug kit.Here

I also keep a small LED flashlight in the console, a roll of heavy-duty paper towels and an old blanket in the trunk.

 

[VoltoBolt]

Yes, unless you want jumper cable charging to the 12v battery as well.

I got this Slime device, which works well, but I wish it would fit more easily in the wheel well:

Amazon.com: Slime 40030 Tire Inflator, Pro Power, Compact, Portable Car/Light Trucks Air Compressor, with Analog 100 psi Dial Gauge, Long Extended Reach Hose, 12V, 6 min Inflation : Automotive

Buy Slime 40030 Tire Inflator, Pro Power, Compact, Portable Car/Light Trucks Air Compressor, with Analog 100 psi Dial Gauge, Long Extended Reach Hose, 12V, 6 min Inflation: Air Compressors & Inflators - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

OH: you DO want jumper cable charging...

 

[PhilipD]

@PhilipD , links are so helpful, thank you!
My bolt did not come with an inflator so I’m looking on recs for that too, someone did post a link to this which would take care of a few things:
1200 Amp Jump Starter with Air Compressor, acetek https://a.co/d/5LE9E1n

Just wondering if it’s overkill.
I’m a tech strategist for a living but car stuff alludes me!

Hi TechCat. My car came with the inflator installed by the dealer. I don't see anything wrong with the item you linked to. It appears that it will jump-start your car and inflate a tire.

I truly hope that neither of us will even need to use these items. Good luck.

Edit: One thing I did notice about the Acetek unit is that it has a lead-acid battery. It weighs 17 pounds. For comparison, the Nexpow jump pack I have is 2 pounds. I haven't received the inflator yet so I don't know how much it weighs.

 

[Wattz]

Just wondering if it’s overkill.

IMHO, yes. The Bolt doesn't need that much power to substitute for its 12V. You don't need a heavy lead acid battery when a Li-on jump pack will be lighter and probably hold a charge much longer, as in many months. (Still, check it regularly) Here's one from Costco. They also have a lead-acid clone that's $30 cheaper than the one you linked on Amazon, if you're a member.

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www.costco.com

 

[jmcbrew]

If anyone is looking for a tire inflator, I recommend a li-ion one rather than one that pugs into the 12V cigarette lighter plug. I have owned a number of portable inflators in my time, and have always had problems with the 12V ones... or at the very least they are inconvenient. The li-ion ones are smaller, lighter, and inflate faster. Also, most of them allow you to set the desired pressure, and they will automatically stop when it is reached. I know some 12V ones do that as well... but I will never go back to a 12V inflator after using li-ion ones.

I have bought three of them... one for me, one for my wife, and one for my father. Here is the one I use: Amazon link to FORYOU inflator

Not only great for the car, but we use it on our bikes, sports balls, etc. It's hard to believe how much it can do just on the internal battery.

Last winter we drove my wife's car on a ~1,600 mile road trip to visit family. One of her tires developed a slow leak, so I had to top it off a few times. Her 12V inflator stopped working, and I figured out that it was due to a broken wire. The looooong 12V wire with a cigarette lighter plug on the end goes into the body of the inflator and there was just too much strain on it and it broke. Fortunately, I had my cordless soldering iron in my tool bag. In a Wall-Mart parking lot, I was able to take it apart and solder the connection back together. I replaced it with a battery-powered one when we got back home.

 

[PhilipD]

As an update, I have ordered a spare tire and jack from eBay. Should arrive this week. I hope I never need it but I hate the idea of being stranded somewhere with no cell service.