Preparedness. This is a big one, guys!
I’m a huge stickler on this, not just regarding vehicles but in every way. Life has caught me lacking in this area too many times and for every instance of it, I’ve added something else to my bag so it won’t happen again.
What emergency tools/supplies do you carry with you? I’d love to know as I’m sure I’m missing a few things and am a firm believer that we can never really be too prepared. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it, right?
Here’s what I personally have in my vehicle at any given time:
Spare tires. Yep, I carry 2 just in case.
Tire kit. Plugs, patches, glue, reaming tools etc.
Air pressure gauges
DC plugin air compressor
Bike pump in case DC compressor fails
Gas air compressor if you don’t want to pump the bike pump like a child, for all to see.
Lug wrenches
1/2 & 3/4, 1 inch. Etc. pull bars. Sometimes the lug wrenches just won’t get it, nor will a 1/2 in. Pull bar.
“Cheater” pipe, a short 1 1/2 foot one & 4foot one for bitch lugs and otherwise.
Regular socket sets, standard & metric
Deep-well socket sets
Spare battery
Power pack to jump with in case spare won’t do it, aim for at least 800 cca (cold cranking amps) with these!
Jumper cables
Hammer, never know when your fuel pump might go out.
Gas container with gas ofc. Sometimes your fuel gauge can lie to you!
Bailing/regular wire, never know when you have to wire something up to get home, whether a jumper or just using the bailing wire to keep your old fuel pump from shutting down due to lack of power there’s a story or two behind this. If anyone would like to know.
Oil
Power steering fluid
Transmission fluid
Antifreeze/water in case of radiator leak
Radiator sealant in case of above. Ya know, in a super bind you can use self rising (iirc?) Flour to stop a radiator leak? Don’t do it unless you’re ready to trash the radiator, but it can get you home. Story behind that as well ofc, I pissed in a radiator once!
Spare tail light/headlight bulbs when applicable
Flares/road light kit in case of a wreck
Water, for thirst. I also carry some Gatorade mix, potassium etc. In case I’m getting dehydrated.
Portable umbrella & stand. Nice to have if you’re stuck on the side of the road working on something. Also works for fields!
A couple jacks. I’d at LEAST recommend a few portable jacks but really a small shop jack imo makes it so much easier. Personally I also carry a few hydraulic jacks that can be worked by hand or via air compressor
Blocks. Few 6’s, 4’s,2’s and 1’s. They’re for work but really come in handy and I use them in lieu of ramps as well.
Cooler, because it’s always nice to have a cold beverage handy.
That’s basically it for the somewhat bare necessities (imo) though I’m sure I’ve probably missed a few.
That’s it for necessities, since this is Mechanic’s Advice, if anyone would be interested in a “Mechanic’s edition” including the necessities for most small jobs,
I’d be glad to share what I bring and would love to hear what some of you have in stock as well!
This is it for today’s JTT, anything I’m missing? What do you carry or deem essential? Doesn’t have to be life saving, just something you bring for emergencies, even small ones?
Anyway, until next time. Remember:
You are beautiful, no matter what they say and words can’t bring you down - Christina Aguilera
And,
Kudos!
Unless you are overlanding or something, your list is excessive for road travel anywhere in the developed world. Do you have any space left to carry passengers or cargo?
I carry a plug kit which comes with an inflator, my car’s factory spare tire, and a cross lug wrench because the OEM lug wrench sucks. I have some basic first aid stuff in that otherwise useless pocket on the back of the passenger seat: A box of band aids, an Ace wrap, and a satchel of Bleed Stop. That sort of thing. Since my main ride is a Subaru, I have one quart of oil each in both of the rear door cup holders, which otherwise go unused. There’s always a flashlight or two and probably an old Leatherman tool kicking around in my center console somewhere. I have a socket wrench and a couple of sockets in the glove box that fit all the common stuff on the car, and I have that goofy OEM Torx screwdriver for the screws on the roof rails. That’s it.
I’ve been meaning to buy one of those little lithium battery jump starter packs, but I haven’t bothered to shell out for it. I actually don’t even have a set of jumper cables in my car, but I do have a pair sloshing around behind the seat in my truck someplace, I’m sure. My car is a manual, so I can always bump start the stupid thing if I really have to. Once I stopped driving a piece of shit about a decade and a half ago, I haven’t had to…
All that’s enough to keep me going in any situation I’d care to mess with in the field. I’m not going to be plugging a radiator or swapping batteries or fuel pumps or any of that shit on the side of the road. Fuck all that noise. If I can’t bodge it with what I have on me plus a Leatherman, I’m either calling a tow truck or calling someone to come get me, so I can come back with parts and proper tools. Lugging all shit around is going to cost me more in lost gas mileage than one tow truck ride every couple of decades.
Awesome, your gear is concise and I absolutely get why you’d want to go minimal! Also, thanks for mentioning the first aid stuff because I am lacking in that area!
The lithium ion battery backs are great, I’ve seen some wonderful ones and some shit ones, just don’t skimp out, I’ve been left stranded with some crappy ones.
Regarding my list, to clarify I’m a mobile mechanic if that explains anything. I need this stuff, often lol. Yes, I do have room for 4 more passengers and plenty of space left in the bed and toolbox. Great on gas too 12mpg on average