What do you all carry with you for tools and spare parts?

[Clayton]

I am just planning on what to take and was wondering what do you all carry with you for tools and spare parts?

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Essentials (in my opinion):

1: Fire extinguisher. It's just like a parachute - you hope you never need it, but when you do, nothing else will really do the job. And you need it *RIGHT NOW*.
2: Reflective triangles, which should have been in your bus when you bought it.
3: Spare fuses (if you don't have breakers).
4: Spare fan belt(s) and fuel filters. Appropriate tools to change both.
5: Extra oil and coolant. Sometimes a gallon or two of water will at least get you off the highway to a place you can get more.
6: Basic tools. Wrenches, screwdrivers, socket-set(s) (some belt tensioners have square holes to allow ratchets or breaker bars to release the tension).
7: Jumper cables.
8: A spare tire, jack(s) and tools to change it. This can be important if you don't have a common size tire or wheel. Some people will not change split-rim tires (if you have these).
9: Chains, straps, ropes, bungee cords and various other instruments of securement.
10: Cell phone, GPS, and other means of finding your way and communication. Charging methods for them, both 12V and wall-plugs. Solar, if appropriate.

This is not by any means a comprehensive list but it's a good start for some of the basics to keep on board.

[roach711]

Brad's list is a good one.

Make sure the wrenches and sockets you bring will fit your engine (some have both metric and "american" fasteners).

Check that you can actually remove lug nuts with the tools you have - you may need a piece of pipe to give more leverage than a standard breaker bar/lug wrench can give you.

Add some 4x4 wheel chocks and some leveling boards. You can drive the inner dually onto a couple of leveling boards and remove the outer dually without a jack.

[tobeamiss]

Great advice!

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[BigDavid]

I carry just about every tool I own both SAE & metric, spare old fan belts, 20 ton jack, spare tire/wheel, fluids & my Jeep. If I need anything else I'll just drive the Jeep to the parts store.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by BigDavid

I carry just about every tool I own both SAE & metric, spare old fan belts, 20 ton jack, spare tire/wheel, fluids & my Jeep. If I need anything else I'll just drive the Jeep to the parts store.

Having a towed vehicle is great if you have a breakdown, but not everyone will have that luxury. Besides, there are places that you wouldn't want to leave your vehicle unattended for any length of time, either due to being a bad area, or danger of being hit by passing traffic. Also, if you snap a fan belt late Sunday night, most parts places will be closed (and Big Box stores may not have the belt you need).

*NEVER* rely on some remote, distant mom-and-pop parts place having what you need "on the shelf". Sure, fuses and lights are pretty common, but your fan belt or fuel filter or tire size may not be. Have a spare, and replace that when you have the opportunity.

[ol trunt]

I'll get to the tool box in a minute. I carry both AAA and Good Sam "unlimited" towing cards and a fat credit card--I consider them travel tools. Just so the tow driver won't think I'm a total tool myself, I carry a Tupper Ware 9"x 12" covered "cake pan" with 1/4" and 3/8" ratchet wrenches, 1/4" to 3/4" sockets and their metric equivalent, similar size box/open end wrenches, pliers, side cutter. crimping tool, crimps (yellow blue and M/F spades), a small roll of ignition wire, multiple sets of fuses as used in my bus, Torx bit and socket set, small Allen wrench set, small and medium adjustable wrench, small and medium flat and Phillips screwdrivers, a medium size hammer cut to fit the box, a small multimeter with continuity tester, a FRESH roll of masking tape and of course a 9mm Beretta (in it's own lock box). Jack

[Clayton]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

I'll get to the tool box in a minute. I carry both AAA and Good Sam "unlimited" towing cards and a fat credit card--I consider them travel tools. Just so the tow driver won't think I'm a total tool myself, I carry a Tupper Ware 9"x 12" covered "cake pan" with 1/4" and 3/8" ratchet wrenches, 1/4" to 3/4" sockets and their metric equivalent, similar size box/open end wrenches, pliers, side cutter. crimping tool, crimps (yellow blue and M/F spades), a small roll of ignition wire, multiple sets of fuses as used in my bus, Torx bit and socket set, small Allen wrench set, small and medium adjustable wrench, small and medium flat and Phillips screwdrivers, a medium size hammer cut to fit the box, a small multimeter with continuity tester, a FRESH roll of masking tape and of course a 9mm Beretta (in it's own lock box). Jack

9mm Beretta, fantastic gun. Your my kind of people lol ;)

[roach711]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

and of course a 9mm Beretta (in it's own lock box). Jack

We have a short bus so I have to carry a .380 Ruger (the .380 is a scaled down 9mm)

When taking off a wheel lately I noticed that my 1/2" drive breaker bar had a LOT of flex when I stood on it to break the lug nuts loose. That led me to upgrade to a 3/4" drive breaker bar, extensions and socket for my lug nut removal. No worries about breaking that setup.

[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by roach711

When taking off a wheel lately I noticed that my 1/2" drive breaker bar had a LOT of flex when I stood on it to break the lug nuts loose. That led me to upgrade to a 3/4" drive breaker bar, extensions and socket for my lug nut removal. No worries about breaking that setup.

Take a look at Transcendence's recent video about his maiden/shakedown voyage and all the stuff that went wrong with his bus. He's using and recommending something I've seen in catalogs but never up close and personal. It's essentially a planetary gear set in a can that slips over one lug and has an arm that sits against the adjacent lug. His has 58-to-1 gear reduction, which is an equivalent amount of torque increase. Looks like it's just the thing to win any and all arguments with lug nuts.

[chev49]

one would think that all with air brake system would also carry 3/4 air hose and one inch impact wrench for changing tires, etc. last trip i had a flat on lf steer on freeway n used mine.

[Rusty]

1) Credit Card
2) Credit Card with higher limit

I have air brakes, so I make sure to have a connection hose to reach my tires, run a small power tool, etc.Make sure you place you hookup secondary air- read-up on protection valves also.

Wheel chocks I leave on my stairs so I trip-over them out the door and have to toss them by the back wheel.

Windex and rags to clean mirrors/windows

I picked-up a Craftsman 200 piece socket/open/hex kits. Yes, China, but if I go easy, I can make a repair and it was $80/delivered fleabay. The case is the cat's pajamas.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

Take a look at Transcendence's recent video about his maiden/shakedown voyage and all the stuff that went wrong with his bus. He's using and recommending something I've seen in catalogs but never up close and personal. It's essentially a planetary gear set in a can that slips over one lug and has an arm that sits against the adjacent lug. His has 58-to-1 gear reduction, which is an equivalent amount of torque increase. Looks like it's just the thing to win any and all arguments with lug nuts.

Its a sort of torque multiplier. They used to sell one for VW flywheels. They put those suckers on at 250+ ft/lbs! I've seen guys use a four foot cheater bar on those damn things.

[Carytowncat]

I am fortunate to have 7 feet of shop space at the rear of the bus, and lots of tools and a few jacks and gloves and a yoga mat to protect my back when crawling under the bus. Sometimes i am at peace under the bus and just lay there gazing up at the beautiful machine above me.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Clayton

9mm Beretta, fantastic gun. Your my kind of people lol ;)

You kids better stay out of MD. I don't know if RVs are exempt but guns and vehicles don't mix in this commie state. You are allowed to carry in the car if you are going to/from the range. By the letter of the law, if you stop for gas or a soda, you can be busted. I dunno if anyone ever has or not but the law is there for it.

That said, I haven't felt the need to carry (don't have a lock box {yet} anyway) but if I were to carry, it would either be the FN57 or the FN45. I like the feel of my Springfield 9mm but I prefer the FN57. If I need bigger holes in things, I prefer the FN45.

Originally Posted by roach711

When taking off a wheel lately I noticed that my 1/2" drive breaker bar had a LOT of flex when I stood on it to break the lug nuts loose. That led me to upgrade to a 3/4" drive breaker bar, extensions and socket for my lug nut removal. No worries about breaking that setup.

Until you start using impact guns. These tools also come in 1 inch drive too. FYI, I bought the 3/4" as I felt it was enough for doing it by hand.

Originally Posted by Rusty

I picked-up a Craftsman 200 piece socket/open/hex kits. Yes, China, but if I go easy, I can make a repair and it was $80/delivered fleabay. The case is the cat's pajamas.

I have no problem with Craftman. There's a Sear and/or Kmart everywhere so replacing broken pieces is easy enough.

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Its a sort of torque multiplier. They used to sell one for VW flywheels. They put those suckers on at 250+ ft/lbs! I've seen guys use a four foot cheater bar on those damn things.

250fl/lbs is nothing. The 2 1/4" nut holding a rotary engine is 400 ft/lbs.

The specs for the lugs is 400~600 ft/lbs. Hell of a tolerance on the spec.

I need to get one of the mutliplers yet.

Originally Posted by Carytowncat

and a yoga mat to protect my back when crawling under the bus. Sometimes i am at peace under the bus and just lay there gazing up at the beautiful machine above me.

Note to self: Buy second creeper and stuff in storage locker of bus.

P.S. Can't reach anything from the ground that's attached to the frame rail. Engine and tranny sure. I can sit upright under my bus between the frame rails.

[CaptSquid]

Brewerbob, you say that Maryland is a commie state? Try Rhode Island. I'm told that if you suffer a mechanical breakdown on the side of the road, the state troopers will remove your license plates and demand that you get the vehicle towed. After you get it fixed, they have to re-inspect it.

Out here in Montana, no problem with firearms in your car.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by CaptSquid

Brewerbob, you say that Maryland is a commie state? Try Rhode Island. I'm told that if you suffer a mechanical breakdown on the side of the road, the state troopers will remove your license plates and demand that you get the vehicle towed. After you get it fixed, they have to re-inspect it.

Out here in Montana, no problem with firearms in your car.

I can't say whether that is true or not. But...

With the size of RI, if you have 3 cars parked on the side of the road no one else would be able to get in. When it comes to gun stuff; Cali leads the way, NY does it's best to keep up, and MD stares longingly at its two big brothers and wants to be just like them.

Baltimore is yet another fine example of gun control working. On course for one murder per day average yet again. When I first moved here 12 yrs ago there was a 30 second radio spot that said there had been "only 150" murders so far in the year. The lowest since 1976. And how great everything was. I heard the news blurb in April/May. Do the math.


What surprised me most was how proud the government was about it.

Montana is on the cold side for winter. Little warm in the summer too. I hear WA is ok with guns. I need to find a place that likes guns, cars, and beer. I don't need my guns outlawed, car inspected, or my beer illegal on Sundays.

[EastCoastCB]

Don't leave out Illinois.
Draconian laws only put in place to keep honest people in fear.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Don't leave out Illinois.
Draconian laws only put in place to keep honest people in fear.

No chance of me moving to the middle of the country so no worries there. East coast, west coast, or Rockies. You can keep everything between the Rockies and the Appalachians.

[Tango]

"This year will go down in history! For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!"

Adolph Hitler, 1935