Do you guys carry supplies or rough it? Just wondering what you guys carry in the trunk when cruising in case of break down. I'm not talking about your cream puffs or track cars-just your street drivers. Given the age of our cars and the old technology, I was thinking that I should have the following in a little box in the trunk: Parts: alt and fan belt thermostat radiator cap replaced but still usable radiator hoses. Tools: ratchet with 3-4 most common size 3-4 common size flare wrenches 2 sizes of flathead 2 sizes of phillips head flashlight (of course) small hammer Fluids: 1 qt. motor oil
Small floor jack, four way, jumper cables, a socket set and bag of common tools (all the things I’ve needed to fix little problems or pull parts from junked cars in a carry bag). Water, oil, few rags, paper towels, jacket. Patrick
Back in the day I would'nt go anywhere without a complete tool set and some basic parts. Now days theres nothing in the trunk except the factory spare tire, jack and lug wrench. With the advent of cell phones and towing services inc with the basic insurance theres no need to go out packing or maybe I just got old and lazy.
I was considering making such a toolbox for street cruising, at least longer distances, then the wife says just use the insurance, free towing. She then goes on to say , even if you run outta gas., call for the free tow, specify a flatbed, cuz they are gonna bend you over if you have them bring you fuel. She's been in both the insurance business and then the auto business for ever, so I go along, and it keeps my trunk tidy. It's funny cuz my work van has enough tools in it to change an engine roadside. I do carry fuses ! Jim
...like above, I've come around. Cell phone. Bring car home, where you can safely fix it...in general, roadside work has become possibly deadly...
Besides the common simple tools and oils that many have mentioned above, there is one main important thing in all of my vehicles. A Blanket is important to keep. Not needed during the summer but the winter does get very cold in IL. Plus i have helped people during car accidents with a blanket during the winter time.
I used to carry just about everything mentioned above, all the time. Now I have simplified it. Around town, local cruise-in's, car shows, etc. - chair & cooler is about all I take. Going to BG for the Nationals I still carry everything...
I have a toolbox for road trips, but for every day driving, there's a spare tire and jumper cables. Having AAA takes a lot of the pressure off. It's paid for itself several times over. -Josh
I don't even carry a spare tire in the green car.....haha. The only thing consistently in it's trunk is a nitrous bottle. Like a few others stated, a cell phone and maybe a cooler depending on where I'm going. American Modern Insurance includes roadside assistance (which I unfortunately had to use once). The green car doesn't take many road trips outside of 30-40 minutes away. The white car will go further, I have a spare in it at least. If I'm road tripping I'll have tools/fluids/etc in it. Now when I brought the green car to BG (trailered), the back of my truck had probably 600 pounds of tools (and 100 pounds of loaded cooler ) with everything up to and including an air compressor and generator. But that was anticipating track Carnage (which unfortunately happened )
I have been stranded too many times to go out unprepared. I have AAA but would only call them for the family cars--wouldn't use it on my Buick if the problem can fixed by me on the road or in a parking lot--I don't trust a tow truck driver to tow it without damaging something. In addition to the other good suggestions for what to have in trunk, I'd include a hose clamp, electrical tape, some fuel hose, fire extinguisher, can of fix-a-flat, and a Dollar-store table cloth to lay on when you're on the ground checking or fixing something. Plus a thick piece of carpet or similar to kneel on, to spare your knees. Kneeling on gravel-covered asphalt hurts! Plus, a 1st Aid kid for the cuts or scrapes you are likely to incur when a wrench slips or the fan blade cuts your hand, you get burned by a header, or whatever other Murphy's Law injury inevitably happens.
Jack and spare only (and a cell phone). I won't drive a vehicle unless it is reliable...I'm getting too old for highway breakdowns. Leave the Roadkill thing to the youngsters.
When I bought our Buick the trunk had the factory spare tire. two spare belts for the alt and air pump, 2 wiper blades. a pair of old jeans and old shirt along wiht a old blanket to lay on if need be. A quart of engine oil and a filter, trans fluid and a bottle of washer fluid. Assorted tools. Today there is a 2 gallon plastic pail wit a few tools most some kind of multa tool Pliers and channel locks. A 5 gallon plastic pail with Windex, Two bottles of Lucas Slick Mist detailer. Another bottle of Lucas Slick mist tire black Not used much any longer I use lemon Pledge now doesn't run on the white walls. I also have a bottle of chrome polish, some past wax for under hood polishing. and some intgerior wipes, a pack of terry towels and pack micro fibers cloths. I also carry my easel whit the story board to shows along with our sun shade canpoy a pair of bag chairs and a cooler of water and snaks. Al
You forgot a couple things... At least a quart of every fluid the car takes, a gallon or 2 of antifreeze. Big hammer. No cel phone either. If'n yah break down, you walk to the closest farmhouse and ask if you can use their phone, just like we used to do. You never know, you might just get a slice of fresh strawberry-rhubarb pie.
Ha! That reminded me of something... When I was a kid still living at home with the folks in rural Michigan I was driving a 65 Chevy flat nose van with a 327 in it. Got shitty millage and we lived way out there. There was a farm about 1/2 way that I was forced to knock on the door several times. After the second time they just started leaving me a gas can full outside the barn door. Take it when I needed and and return full for the next time on my way home. Good old country folks right there!
A scissor Jack because there's no way the bumper Jack is coming out to ruin my bumpers. Duct tape Insulting tape 8' Okie A couple of old wire coat hangers A couple of screwdrivers Hammer Ciggy papers Plug socket Tyre gauge Wally can full of gas Fluids. With all I hear about modern aftermarket ignition I'd have a points dizzy ready to drop in as a just in case & dizzy wrench - I can get initial timing within a degree or two with a ciggy paper. Cellphones are all good if you have coverage - some remote parts of New Zealand still don't and sods law says that's where your gonna break down. The old farmhouse to use the phone has saved me in the past but sadly these days 1 in 10 odds you might be walking into a meth lab
I have a basic ratchet kit, cheap wrench set and a couple screwdrivers . Some clamps, zip ties and a spool of wire. Worst case scenario i can jump the headlights or coil. Cell service in vt is sketchy.
My friend Billy used to keep an entire 4-speed muncie, clutch, pressure plate, floor jack, and all the tools to put them in, in the trunk of his Chevelle. They were there for years. He had so much weight in the trunk that he crushed the body mounts between the trunk and the frame. We had to pull off the rear bumper and jack the body up off the frame a little so I could weld a set in that I took off another car. The only way I told him I would do this is if he promised to un-load the trunk, because I refused to do it again. That reduced his trunk to only a tool box and other paraphernalia. Duane
Yeah, in the Ozark Mountains the odds of knocking at the door of a meth house are pretty high (I use the word "house" loosely as they are mostly trailers in various stages of decay held together with pallets and worn out refrigerators). Plus, everyone has pit bulls to keep the meth heads from stealing their stuff. Once you get off the main highways, no cell service. Best thing to carry would be a dirt bike to drive back to town when the car breaks down.
Talk about adding weight to the trunk for better traction off the line! Most guys just move the battery back there....
