What should be in my new emergency bag (thanks 928OC!!!)
#32
Don't forget the key for the wheel locks...
Bring along a few of those red or blue shop rags. They are handy to have, and even if you don't need them they can keep the rattling of the rest of the stuff to a minimum.
Bring along a few of those red or blue shop rags. They are handy to have, and even if you don't need them they can keep the rattling of the rest of the stuff to a minimum.
#33
#39
One thing in my emergency kit that I failed to mention was silicone tape.
I had a upper radiator hose with a 3" split just aft of the upper clamp on the road to 3rd Coast this past weekend.
I removed the hose at the engine, wiped down the split end as well as I could then put two wraps of silicone tape, overlaping each wrap by 1/2, over the split. Because silicone tape fuses to itself, no adhesive is necessary, but the specs say it needs 24 hours to completly fuse. Therefore I put one wrap of duct tape over the silicone tape. Then, mostly because I'm paranoid, I put two hose clamps equally spaced over the spit. 48 hours later I went to install the new upper radiator hose. Inspecting the old hose with the clamps off I couldn't even open up the split from the inside. That hose was most likely good for another 10,000 miles.
I will never travel without a small roll of silicone tape again.
I had a upper radiator hose with a 3" split just aft of the upper clamp on the road to 3rd Coast this past weekend.
I removed the hose at the engine, wiped down the split end as well as I could then put two wraps of silicone tape, overlaping each wrap by 1/2, over the split. Because silicone tape fuses to itself, no adhesive is necessary, but the specs say it needs 24 hours to completly fuse. Therefore I put one wrap of duct tape over the silicone tape. Then, mostly because I'm paranoid, I put two hose clamps equally spaced over the spit. 48 hours later I went to install the new upper radiator hose. Inspecting the old hose with the clamps off I couldn't even open up the split from the inside. That hose was most likely good for another 10,000 miles.
I will never travel without a small roll of silicone tape again.
#40
Get the right silicone tape though. I still don't know what that is. Any tips? The roll I bought for an emergency repair in Oregon is complete crap, doesn't stick to itself at all, even when well-stretched.
#43
Chronic Tool Dropper
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From: Bend, Oregon
Nicole--
My travel kit includes a handy small toolkit that I found at Home Depot a few years ago. Little folding kit with sockets, ratchet, short extension, screwdrivers. To suplement the factory tool collection. I made a set of small jumper cables with battery-charger clamps and ten feet of 10-ga speaker wire. Good for a boost-charge but too lite to actually jump a stone-dead battery. There's a well-worn terry kitchen towel, a few microfiber towels, window cleaner, spray bottle of instant detailer. I also ended up with a roll of black cloth repair tape similar to duct tape.
Permanently in the spare well are a few large trash bags. One is an emergency rain suit, another to kneel on in case of roadside repair need, and a third to put a wheel in if I have to use the spare. There's a stripped-down Wal-Mart air compressor instead of the stored-away original, a set of cotton and a set of leather gloves, plus a few pairs of nitrile throw-aways. I used to carry a quart of oil, but reality is that the car doesn't use oil between changes, a leak big enough to get my attention with low level isn't going to get solved with one quart, and you can buy oil darn near anywhere. Why risk the mess... A tire string-patch kit for small punctures.
There's a tire gauge in the glovebox, along with a long thin screwdriver that's safer there than anywhere else. A few spare fuses. A really short spade jumper.
There's a big Mag-Lite flashlight in the door compartment. Handy if you need to show someone the bright lights in a pinch.
If I was worried enough about spare LH, EZK, FP, etc, relays I'd just buy new ones and install them now in the comfort of the garage, and throw the old ones away.
I have the in-car stuff in a handy black canvas toolbag that isn't the one that came from the OC. I'm saving the OC bag for something yet to be determined I guess.
My travel kit includes a handy small toolkit that I found at Home Depot a few years ago. Little folding kit with sockets, ratchet, short extension, screwdrivers. To suplement the factory tool collection. I made a set of small jumper cables with battery-charger clamps and ten feet of 10-ga speaker wire. Good for a boost-charge but too lite to actually jump a stone-dead battery. There's a well-worn terry kitchen towel, a few microfiber towels, window cleaner, spray bottle of instant detailer. I also ended up with a roll of black cloth repair tape similar to duct tape.
Permanently in the spare well are a few large trash bags. One is an emergency rain suit, another to kneel on in case of roadside repair need, and a third to put a wheel in if I have to use the spare. There's a stripped-down Wal-Mart air compressor instead of the stored-away original, a set of cotton and a set of leather gloves, plus a few pairs of nitrile throw-aways. I used to carry a quart of oil, but reality is that the car doesn't use oil between changes, a leak big enough to get my attention with low level isn't going to get solved with one quart, and you can buy oil darn near anywhere. Why risk the mess... A tire string-patch kit for small punctures.
There's a tire gauge in the glovebox, along with a long thin screwdriver that's safer there than anywhere else. A few spare fuses. A really short spade jumper.
There's a big Mag-Lite flashlight in the door compartment. Handy if you need to show someone the bright lights in a pinch.
If I was worried enough about spare LH, EZK, FP, etc, relays I'd just buy new ones and install them now in the comfort of the garage, and throw the old ones away.
I have the in-car stuff in a handy black canvas toolbag that isn't the one that came from the OC. I'm saving the OC bag for something yet to be determined I guess.
#44
In some Sears stores, you may find a circular canvas bag that fits just inside of the spare and holds enormous amounts of "stuff", including a tire pump and all my sockets, extensions, ratchet handle, small hand tools, and wire/connectors/crimping tool, and gloves. I also carry a small spotlight that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket and has a looooong cord to reach under the car. And of course, coveralls so I can wrench in my suit and still arrive at the symphony in style and not greasy. I think Sharkskin posted a photo of the bag but you may need to order it from Sears; I found it on the web and ordered two.