I get the whole “keep a list of local services” thing, but honestly, I’m still not sure how much I trust any of them when I’m out in the middle of nowhere. I just bought my first insurance policy with roadside assistance, and I’m already second-guessing if it’s even worth it after reading about those two-hour waits.
“mine seemed unnecessary until I actually needed the reflective vest during a snowstorm”
That’s exactly the kind of thing I used to roll my eyes at, but now I’m thinking I should probably toss one in my trunk. Guess you don’t really get it until you’re stuck on the side of the road, freezing, and wishing you’d packed better.
I just bought my first insurance policy with roadside assistance, and I’m already second-guessing if it’s even worth it after reading about those two-hour waits.
Honestly, I get the hesitation about trusting roadside assistance out here. Two-hour waits aren’t uncommon, especially in remote stretches. But I’d argue it’s still better than nothing—at least someone’s eventually coming. As for the reflective vest, I used to think it was overkill too, but after getting caught in a whiteout near McCall, I was glad I had it. Still, I’d say the real game-changer is prepping your own emergency kit—vest, flares, thermal blanket, even a basic tool roll. Relying solely on insurance or local services feels risky when you’re miles from anywhere.
That’s a fair point about not relying too heavily on insurance or local services. I’ve had my share of “luxury” roadside assistance that turned out to be just as slow as the standard kind.
Couldn’t agree more. I keep a compact jump starter and tire inflator in the trunk—saved me more than once when cell service was spotty. Even with a high-end policy, you’re still basically on your own for a while if you’re out in the middle of nowhere.“prepping your own emergency kit—vest, flares, thermal blanket, even a basic tool roll.”
Can totally relate to the “luxury” roadside assistance being a bit of a letdown. I’ve had to wait almost two hours once, and that was just outside Boise. The compact jump starter is a game changer—I keep one plus a can of Fix-a-Flat just in case. One thing I’d add: a headlamp or small flashlight. Fumbling around in the dark with just your phone light is a pain, trust me. And snacks… you never think you’ll need them until you do.
What to do when you’re stranded on Idaho highways: my step-by-step plan
Waiting for “luxury” roadside assistance is like watching paint dry, but colder and with more tumbleweeds. I swear by the jump starter too, but I’d add a cheap reflective vest—nothing says “I’m stranded but stylish” like glowing in the headlights. Headlamp is clutch, but I learned the hard way that batteries die at the worst times. Toss in a backup set. And yeah, snacks are key… just don’t leave chocolate in the car midsummer unless you want a gooey science experiment.
