Badger Approved
Truck & Car Gear That Earns Its Spot Behind the Seat
This is the short list we'd want in any truck. The stuff that saves the day when the battery is dead, a tire goes soft or a load needs strapping down. Nothing gimmicky, nothing that sits in a drawer. For every one, we looked at the big-name version and asked if it's really worth the money. When the big name earns it, like NOCO, we recommend it. When the value pick does the job just as well, that's the one we picked, and we say so. And skip the pre-made roadside kits stuffed with filler: build his roadside kit from these instead.
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The picks 14
AstroAI27-Inch Snow Brush & Ice Scraper
AstroAI27-Inch Snow Brush & Ice Scraper
Rated the best all-round snow brush in hands-on testing. A long brush and a tough scraper that come apart to fit behind the seat. A stocking stuffer he will use every winter morning.
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AstroAIL7 Cordless Tire Inflator
Instead of a $100+ inflatorAstroAIL7 Cordless Tire Inflator
Our value pick, and the one to buy. Tested head to head against cordless inflators costing up to $130, it tops off his tires for a fraction of the price. Set the pressure, press go, and it stops on its own. It's loud, like most of them.
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BlueDriverBluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner
The one to beatBlueDriverBluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner
Here the big name earns it. When the check engine light comes on, this plugs in under the dash and tells him what is wrong on his phone, with repair reports and no subscription. Cheap code readers only read engine codes; this also covers ABS, airbag and tire-pressure warnings.
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Boulder ToolsCompact Tire Plug Kit
Instead of a pro Safety Seal kitBoulder ToolsCompact Tire Plug Kit
Our value pick, and the one to buy. Rated the best compact kit in hands-on testing. Plugs a nail hole in minutes and gets him home instead of waiting on a tow, in a small pouch that lives under the seat.
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Drop StopCar Seat Gap Filler, 2-Pack
The one to beatDrop StopCar Seat Gap Filler, 2-Pack
The original seat gap filler. It closes the gap between the seat and the console, so his phone, keys and fries stop vanishing down there. Goes in about a minute and fits most cars and trucks. A stocking stuffer he'll use every day.
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JackeryExplorer 300 Power Station
JackeryExplorer 300 Power Station
A small power station that rides behind the seat: real wall plugs and USB ports to run a fan, lights or a laptop and charge phones at the job site or the campsite. Jackery's small power station came out on top in head-to-head testing. Comes with a carry bag.
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JACOElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
The one to beatJACOElitePro Digital Tire Pressure Gauge
The most accurate gauge in a head-to-head test of 17 brands: across 10 readings, its misses added up to less than 1 PSI. A small gift he'll use every time he checks his tires.
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My MedicMyFAK Standard First Aid Kit
The one to beatMy MedicMyFAK Standard First Aid Kit
The serious kit for the truck. Built in the USA, real trauma gear including a tourniquet, and organized so he can find things fast. The toughest kit in hands-on testing.
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NOCOBoost GB40 Jump Starter
The one to beatNOCOBoost GB40 Jump Starter
Here the big name earns it. NOCO's bigger Boost X came out on top in a recent head-to-head test of 14 jump starters, while several cheap ones fell far short of the power they claimed. This compact NOCO starts a dead car or truck battery without another car, and it's spark-proof, so it's safe for anyone to use.
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PowerbuiltHeavy-Duty Tire Step
PowerbuiltHeavy-Duty Tire Step
It hooks over the tire so he can stand up and reach the bed, the roof rack or the engine of a tall truck. Holds 300 lb, has a non-slip platform and folds flat to ride behind the seat.
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Rhino USARecovery Tow Strap
Instead of ARB or WarnRhino USARecovery Tow Strap
Our value pick, and the one to buy. A heavy-duty strap for a steady pull out of the ditch or the mud, for far less than the big off-road brands. It is a tow strap, not a stretchy snatch strap, so it's for pulling, not yanking.
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StrapinnoRetractable Ratchet Straps, 2-Pack (2 in x 12 ft)
The one to beatStrapinnoRetractable Ratchet Straps, 2-Pack (2 in x 12 ft)
Here we paid up for the winner. In a head-to-head test of 12 brands of retractable ratchet straps, this one came out on top for build quality and holding strength. The strap winds itself back in, so no more tangled mess behind the seat.
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SurvivewareSmall First Aid Kit
The value first aid kitSurvivewareSmall First Aid Kit
Our value pick. Rated the best all-round first aid kit in hands-on testing: well organized, labeled pockets and quality supplies, not a box of filler.
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VIOFOA119M Pro 4K Mini Dash Cam
Instead of a $300+ Thinkware or 70maiVIOFOA119M Pro 4K Mini Dash Cam
Our value pick, and the one to buy. It won a head-to-head test of 11 dash cams, best of all at night, reading signs and plates as well as cameras that cost twice as much. Small and front-facing, it tucks out of sight behind the mirror.
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