What Do You Carry for Parts and Spares?

[Captain Spalding]

In a recent thread, a poster asked what tools and parts should be carried in the car at all times. Chinarider stepped up to the plate and posted an exhaustive list of tools and parts. With only a few hand tools tied up in an oily rag under the hood of my Thing, I thought I'd better get serious and sort things out. I kept track of most of the tools I use for a tune-up and used that as a basis. The photos below are the results of my ruminations. Chinarider's kit still puts mine to shame, but hey, I had to leave something in the tool box! While my kit is more modest, it's well beyond minimal. I consider it to be the essentials, plus. It consists of a tool roll and a plastic container.

What do you think should be added or subtracted, and why?

The tool roll:
1. Channel Locks
2. Test light
3. Large flat-blade screwdriver
4. Pliers
5. Needle-nose pliers
6. Diagonal cutters
7. Rags (2)
8. Inspection mirror
9. Small flat-blade screwdriver
10. 6-way screwdriver
11. Telescoping magnetic pick-up
13. Tire pressure gauge
14. Screw starter
15. Flashlight
16. Stubby 4-way screwdriver (valve adjustment)
17. 10mm 3/8" drive socket (oil strainer removal)
18. Short 3/8" ratchet driver
19. Large and medium adjustable wrenches
20. Vise Grips
21. Latex gloves (3pr)
22. Spare belt
23. Long-handle swivel-head 3/8" ratchet driver
24. 3" extension
25. Spark plug socket
26. Small adjustable wrench
27. 19mm combo wrench, ratcheting (for turning over motor)
28. 13mm combo wrench (valve adjustment)
29. 10mm wrench (in case I lose the 10mm socket)
30. Hub cap removal tool
31. Feeler gauges (point gap, valve adjustment)
32. Spark plug gap tool

The spares box:
33. Short piece of hose (to help start spark plugs)
34. Scotch-Brite pad
35. Short length of fuel line
36. Emory cloth (fine)
37. Valve cover gaskets (2)
38. Oil sump gaskets/crush washers
39. Points and condenser
40. Hose clamps
41. Spark plugs
42. Fuses
43. Bulb, Sylvania #1895 (front side marker)
44. Bulb, Sylvania #67 (tail light)
45. Bulb, Sylvania #1157 (front turn signal)
46. Bulb, Sylvania #1156 (rear turn signal, brake light, back-up light)
47. Oil sump studs/nuts (2 each - ever misplace one? Such a bummer.)

Not pictured:
Jack, tire iron, wheel chock, jumper cables.
6mm allen socket (spindle nut lockbolt)


All closed up. Doesn't take up much room.

Thanks to K-mann for spec-ing all the bulbs in this post.

[bucko]

For real, you carry these with you? You must be readying for a trip to find the lost city of Atlantis!

Just ribbing you Captain. I suppose I'd want your cell phone number if we were riding to the same destination.

So there you have it. I'd suggest the Captain add a cell phone, and provide his number to us when we all travel out together.

I'm ashamed to say I cary a spare belt, one quart of oil, a dirty rag, a good spare tire, the jack VW gave me, and the modest tool kit they included.

And now I want your number.

[iltis74]

I carry a flat spare without an accompanying jack, my mothers prayers, and at least one quart of oil. But if you're going to do it all crazy like, why not throw in an accelerator cable and an 8mm?

[Captain Spalding]

[Towel Rail]

[WD-40]

That looks like an incredible kit! I applaud you for thinking forward- not just "having every tool", but having specific tools for specific needs.

I do see a few things you are missing though, that I think are important. I'll mention them here- pick and choose if you think they are valid for your outings.

#1 - Bailing Wire.
This has huge numbers of uses. You can tie a door shut if the latch breaks. You can wire a wheel if you need to hold a car and a parking brake cable broke. Lost the accelerator cable? Punch a hole through the rear firewall and run a new line - pull to go. There's hundreds of uses.

#2 - Rubber Bands.
I've used 'em to replace carb springs, and have even used one to replace a choke that died in the middle of winter. They can also be used to keep lines/wires out of the belts, and other misc purposes.

#3 - Electrical and/or Duct Tape.
Works great for its intended purposes, but can also be used for all kinds of fastening tasks. You can tape up vacuum ports if you lose a line or a plug. You can seal things from the elements.

#4 - Wire.
You never know what kinds of electrical problems you might have. A small spool of wire might be handy.

#5 - Spade Lugs, Wire Nuts, & Electrical Connectors.
For the above wire.

#6 - Small Crimp Tool.
For the above connectors.

#7 - Fuel Filter.
Hate to let a clogged filter keep you from going anywhere...

#8 - First Aid Kit!
Pretty much essential, IMHO.

#9 - Fire Extinguisher.
Also essential, IMHO.

#10 - Brake Fluid.
If you have a line failure, such as a flex line burst, you can always crimp the hard line and keep going on three brakes. But if the fluid all drains out of that circuit, you're down to two wheels only. It wouldn't take a large amount to get you going (or rather, stopping) again.

#11 - Spare Lug Bolts/Nuts.
Stock hubcaps do a good job catching them if they work their way out, but with aftermarket wheels, you might not be so lucky. Just a few spare lugs and a socket to fit might come in handy.

Hope this helps!
- David

[Captain Spalding]

[Towel Rail]

I did a quick scan of the other forums, and none have a sticky for "Stuff to Bring on a Long (or Short) Trip", even the Baywindow Forum! Therefore, I think it would make a good sticky, either in the General forum, or the Shows/Events/Camping forum.

Thoughts? Ev, Brian, Keifer?

[bljones]

I will sticky it here, and further contributions are welcome. great idea, capt.


To add to the spares list:
rotor,
distributor cap.
You can even keep your rotor, condensor, and spare points all in the dizzy cap and store the whole works in a peanut can.



Remember Murphy's Law- the part that will fail will be the one you think you didn't need.
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Author of Original Rant #1
"It stingd itself to dead... now that is control on you"

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[Ferretkona]

Great list

I also carry a AAA premium card. But it is useless on unmarked roads.

[bucko]

Was a flashlight mentioned? I remember sending some of you one of those clip type lamps that plug into the Thing accesory socket. It contained about 10 feet of cord to allow light at each of the four wheels.

Flashlight to light up the engine compartment at night.

[Captain Spalding]

[Towel Rail]

[bmwloco]

I've travled far and wide on two wheels. Very minimalist contiental cruising.

Two things are critical:

A Tooth Brush
A credit card

On one California to NC run, I duct taped both to the gas tank of my bike.

[FreakCitySF]

I use my car as a daily driver but its usually less than 5 miles in the city daily to and from school.

AAA card is all I need.

I do have a spare in the trunk, but was thinking of getting a small donut tire, the ones that come with modern cars. Could fit all the glass windows in there then. Possibly taking out the heater, it doesnt work anyhow and it never really gets cold in SF.

The front end damge sustained by the PO knocked the jack stands off the back of the apron, the jack is still in the bottom of the trunk.

[Spanky]

_________________
1959 Renault Caravelle
1973 Citroen Maseratti SM
1974 Chevy Malibu Wagon
1979 Vespa Scooters (2), 1981 BMW R65
'73 Thingy.

[GPthing]

For those who are looking for the roll tool case here is where you can find it. http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/department/tool...Product_13

[Captain Spalding]

[Adriel Rowley]

Captain Spalding, that is nice organization. Where did you get the compartment box? I have not seen those, but maybe I am not looking in the right places. Also, especially for off road vehicles, why not a folding shovel? I found that you can get them at military surplus stores, and the measure about 8" by 9" folded. I carry one no matter what the auto, and could be used for multiple things, including breaking out of an auto, digging the auto out, and building a fire pit.

[GSD_Master]

Last month I was out thingin' by the river with my girlfriend. We saw this 10 foot tall sand embankment and for some reason I decided that it would be fun to drive over it. I guess I was a little overzealous and let my senses get a hold of me. To make a long story short, I drove off the dirt road, drove for about 40 ft. in the sand and was stuck for almost two hours. It isn't fun trying to did yourself out with your hands. I bought my folding shovel after this, but I don't plan on ever having to use it.
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