I got this idea from reading the What do ya carry ?!?! thread.

Make a list of what you consider essential gear / emergency gear that you should always keep in your truck. The twist? You are limited to $50 or $150. So, in other words, make a list of the gear you'd have if you could only spend $50 (not counting any containers for it). Then make a list of what you'd have if you could only spend $150. Reduce and refine!

 

It would really take me to long to list it all, but what I will say is I am prepared to the extreme and could survive easily. I have my pack and it surely didnt cost me 150 bucks (well that includes the pack and the sleeping bag), but I could get buy with what one could buy at walmart.

Basically one needs:
Water and a way to get and hold more.
Food and a way to get more of that
Clothing to keep you dry and or warm

If you have that stuff you can survive if you know wtf to do. But thats the key, you can have all kinds of crap but if you dont have a clue you will die or suffer greatly if stranded.

Oh, I found the list I made awhile back:

https://www.yotatech.com/50381604-post3.html

 

Let's see for the $50 list:

Bottled Water $4.00
Road Flares $5.00
Tool Kit (already owned)
Fire Extinguisher $11.00
Flash Light (already owned)
Change of clothes
Extra Oil $3.00
Extra Trans fluid $3.00
Fix o Flat $3.00
Knife (already owned)
.40 Cal (already owned)
Toilet paper $0.99
Cell Phone charger (already owned)
Energy Bars $5.00

This would put mine over the limit but I think one of those $49.99 air compressor, jumper box, portable power things are an excellent addition.

 

That kit remindes me of mine, When my friends see it they all laugh but then they say if anything ever happens they'll be lookin for me.

I've always said, we bury the dead, not the prepared.

 

a real tow strap is about 100 bucks