I am looking at the bag of tools and parts (misc hose pieces, brake line, small amounts of fluid, wire, duct tape...) that I carried in the old vehicle in event of a road side WTF. Being old, it occasionally got acutely sick at inopportune moments, even with regular inspections. The vehicle was also a mix of metric and SAE.
So, now I am wondering what to pack away in the HL in addition to the usual set of hand tools, breaker bar, spare bulbs, wire, coat hanger, duct tape, adding a small DMM... Does anyone know the minimal socket set needed to do basic repairs, any special tools/pullers? Experiences on what you wish you were carrying that day? I am thinking for the vehicle, not the shop. Granted, it is a computer on wheels, so you have a high chance of needing to flatbed the HL, but still mechanical and basic electrical things go south.
Since I go off-road and often deep back country tens of miles from the nearest road, I carry pretty much everything. Some things you might want to include that perhaps you might not think of would be a small section of 2X4 wood (for placing under the jack on soft shoulders of the road), a reliable air compressor like Interdynamics' TruckAir along with a tire plug kit, an emergency fan belt replacement, Gorilla tape instead of duct tape or electrical tape, zip ties of various lengths, a small container of rubbing alcohol (the universal temporary lubricant), a small spool of wire, and rubber gloves. Those are just a few things off the top of my head that I think should be in anyone's vehicle for making on-the-spot repairs while on the road.
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2008 Highlander Base 4WD
2002 Avalon XL
1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4 - Treading where no Jeep can follow....
I keep a few pieces of wood in for chocking things in the back and tire wedging. I did switch to gorilla tape--gotta love it. Lot of alcohol in the first aid kit, along with suture kits (that's where the 2x4 is also useful ). Misc zip ties, including some huge ones (30") from an HVAC supply. I used to have heavy metal zip ties that could be used as a hose clamp in an emergency, but I cant find them any more. A 20" breaker bar is great for wheels, as a pry bar, hammer, and, if necessary, a deterrent. One thing I might suggest is silicon tape--sticks largely only to itself, water tight, really flexible, takes high heat and many chemicals. A layer of that, then heavy tape then optionally wire fixes a lot of leaks in both the vehicle and the driver. Comes away cleanly on temporary wiring repairs, too.
I'll look at the inflator you mentioned. I've never been confident in the reliability of the various units I've owned.
besides your typical - screw drivers, socket wrench set, rubber gloves, etc. I also added high visibility reflective vest, small LED flashlight, emergency flare, pressure gauge, towing cable.
I'll look at the inflator you mentioned. I've never been confident in the reliability of the various units I've owned.
I swear by them. 120 degrees outside and you have to run the unit for twenty minutes straight, and it'll run like a champ with no overheating. More than any item I've owned for my vehicles, I swear by the TruckAir the most.
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2008 Highlander Base 4WD
2002 Avalon XL
1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4 - Treading where no Jeep can follow....
My basic tool kit is my cell phone, AAA card and American Express card...
Now that I got that out of my system... To add to the electrical spares list:
Spare fuses in all the amperages and physical sizes (Mini ATA, ATA, Large ATA, etc) and types required. The couple of spares Toyota includes may not be enough to troubleshoot a problem... Also, a lot of accessories like cell phone chargers, Radar detectors, etc use the old Bussman glass tube type fuses not the newer plug-in ATA style.
I carry a spare SilverStar Ultra headlight bulb but not the smaller bulbs in my HL. I can't reach / change half the damn bulbs anyway...
A small multimeter / DDM or at least a voltage check light / probe is a very good idea. You can get a decent basic analog multi-meter for under $20.
Other "Stuff" I carry:
Quality, heavy duty, jumper cables that are at least 10 to 12 feet long.
A good full size mutli-function Leatherman tool.
Both AA and a 2 or 3 D Cell Maglites. I also have a head band for the AA and the rubber lens protectors on both. PS: Don't forget spare batteries for them...
As far as a minimal socket set Sears offers some nice Craftsman 3/8 inch drive socket sets in zip up "note book" style cases that are handy. I carry one of those in my 80 Corvette and it has saved my butt more than once....
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). Misc zip ties, including some huge ones (30") from an HVAC supply. I used to have heavy metal zip ties that could be used as a hose clamp in an emergency, but I cant find them any more. A 20" breaker bar is great for wheels, as a pry bar, hammer, and, if necessary, a deterrent. One thing I might suggest is silicon tape--sticks largely only to itself, water tight, really flexible, takes high heat and many chemicals. A layer of that, then heavy tape then optionally wire fixes a lot of leaks in both the vehicle and the driver. Comes away cleanly on temporary wiring repairs, too.
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