Jeep Gear (stuff to carry for your Jeep)
1. Radiator hose repair kit, with the correct size tube for the upper and lower radiator hose as well as the heater hoses
2. Spare accessory drivebelt(s)
3. Coolant
4. Rain-X (in case of wiper failure - won't help once they put down salt or sand though)
5. Extra windshield-washer fluid, either in a spray bottle or a gallon bottle
6. Rags
7. Fire extinguisher
8. Road flares or emergency triangles
9. Duct tape
10. Tire chains or studs, if they are legal where you live.
11. Fix-a-flat tire inflator/sealer - the tire shop will hate you for it, but it beats having to change the tire in a blizzard
12. Spare tire, jack, and lug wrench (just in case the fix-a-flat doesn't work)
13. Shovel. A collapsible entrenching tool doesn't work well in the snow, don't ask us how we know. Get the biggest shovel you can fit in your Jeep, and if it's a snow shovel, make sure it's really heavy-duty
14. Strap, D-ring shackles, winch controller, whatever you'd bring normally on the trail to get unstuck, bring it out in the snow, even if you are just driving to work
People Gear (to carry in the Jeep for you)
1. Survival gear. That means sleeping bags, space blankets, warm jackets, gloves, hats, dry socks, and a change of pants. Get in the habit of storing at least a heavy jacket or polar fleece in the Jeep as well as a wool hat and warm gloves. Take the other stuff for longer trips.
2. Water. Yeah, it'll be tough keeping it warm once the Jeep dies, but keep it in smaller containers or bring smaller containers and keep it close to your body under your heavy outerwear. Dehydration danger is very real in the winter because really cold air is often really dry air, and you don't notice thirst like this when it's hot. Digging out your Jeep while stranded in the middle of nowhere means you'll need water.
3. Iodine tablets or water filter. For those long trips into nowhere, these don't take up any space and will give you potable water wherever you can find it thawed enough to drink.
4. Flashlight with extra batteries. Even better, an LED flashlight with extra batteries. The light will always die on you when you need it. Have fresh batteries with you.
5. Navigational tool. Whether it's a state-of-the art GPS unit or a simple map and compass, learn how to use whatever you bring before you go. If it's a GPS, you guessed it, bring extra batteries.
6. Something to make fire with. Lighters are good because they can light so many more fires than matches. Trouble is, you never know when it's going to die. The flint could go at any time, as could the remaining fluid. Matches, you always know how many you've got, but they are more susceptible to moisture than a lighter is. Our choice, a Zippo lighter. Keep two extra flints in the bottom between the first and second layer of cotton and carry extra fuel. Even on short trips, this is something you should have.
7. Food. Granola bars, oatmeal, or just about any non-chocolate energy bar are easy to store in a Jeep. Throw them in, and forget them for the winter.
8. Communication device. Ham radio, CB, and/or cellular phone, are all decent choices. The battery rule applies here too, if its not hard-wired into the Jeep.
Advice from Willie Worthy
Willie made a very good point that we forgot: Tell someone where you are going and when you'll be back. As dependent as we are on our technology, it's easy to forget this time-honored technique.