The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Spare parts and tools

Hey Everybody,

I'm just about ready to start driving the grayghost (project journal name the basketcase). My question to everyone is: what (if any) spare parts and tools do you always keep in your truck? I'm guessing that some minor repairs can be done on the roadside, if I had the right tool and/or part. I'm wide open to suggestions.

Thanks!

A small basic Tool roll will always come in handy. Screwdrivers, both standard and Phillips, SAE wrenches, 3/8" - 5/8" is usually enough. A 8" or 10" adjustable wrench. A couple pairs of pliers, slip joint and needle nose. A pair of wire terminal pliers might come in handy too. You could add a cheap multimeter, along with a roll of electrical tape.

As for parts, a set of points and a spare condenser would be smart. A fuel filter ?? . For longer trips a roadside kit with additional parts like a fuel pump, a fan belt, a small grease gun, a can of WD40, and wire terminal kit are just some of what I carry.

Of course tools to change a flat is just a given..

I keep all of the things Craig mentioned, plus about a foot long section of fuel line hose, small hose clamps for those and a couple of larger hose clamps, just because. Add to that a few spare marker/turn-signal/brake light bulbs.

One other items is a ziplock bag of a few various sized zip-ties. I've used them to tie something up out of the way like a wire that decided to drop down unexpectedly from under the dash, right in the path of my foot going to the brake pedal - yikes!

A small canvas tool bag loaded with wrenches, zip ties, etc. Another small bag tucked in the passenger rear cab corner pocket with extra points, condenser, plugs, blah blah & blah. Under the seat is a bottle jack, lug wrench and appropriate parts. Driver side rear cab corner is a bottle of engine oil.

In addition I have a couple of magnetic mount triangle flashers that I would stick on the back of my truck bed if I broke down at night. They stick to the side of the seat base when not in use. Harbor Freight had them pretty cheap.

Thanks, Everyone! These are great ideas!

Sweet's number in your phone contacts would be good, too -- especially when out and about in the wilds of Spotsyltucky

But seriously ... I used to carry a tool kit with me in the '49. Never used it once and I was always worried about someone taking it. I do carry an extra fuel filter, a little bit of fuel hose, extra points. Never needed any of that, either. I carry a spare tire more for looks -- never needed a spare tire. So yeah, all the recommendations above are good. Personally, I've never needed any of it. In fact, if I carry it with me, I'll not need it. So now, I rely more on Hagerty's Roadside Assistance than a tool kit

There *is* one thing/tool/whatever I did need once, and I needed it very badly. I did not have one. Fortunately for me, Mike Roache did and produced it -- a fire extinguisher. Now, I never go anywhere without one.

Regarding the fire extinguisher. They are totally worthless in a real fire. Unless you can put the entire fire out in under 20 seconds, you might end up having to stand by and watch your truck burn.

By all means keep the fire extinguisher but get a fire blanket in addition to that and regard it as the primary means of extinguishing a fire.

They fold up into small squares. An unfold easily and can be used to smother a fire.

I've had two under hood fires in my life one did relatively minor damage because I was able to run to the barn and grab a quilt and throw it on the flames and extinguish it before it got large. The other was a small underhood fire that I attempted to extinguish with a fire extinguisher like the one in your picture.

After a very short amount of time before the fire extinguisher runs out, the fire was still going and immediately got bigger and my car became a total loss.

If I had a fire blanket I could have saved the vehicle

Be careful of ... blanket ... statements, Otto. I was there and saw firsthand Mike Roache save my truck by using a hand held fire extinguisher to put out a gasoline-fueled fire in my engine compartment. Not disputing fire blankets -- great things. Just don't say fire bottles are worthless in a real fire. I *had* a real fire that was about to destroy my freshly painted fire truck (and if you think painting a pickup is expensive, try a fire truck) and a "worthless" fire extinguisher saved the day and the truck.

And to further drive home my point ... I was also there the day in Quantico, VA when a thunderstorm ripped the wings off a Cessna and it impacted the ground about 30 yards from me. I got on the phone to Crash Crew while my classmate and fellow Marine Jimmy Tadlock ran to his truck, grabbed his fire extinguisher and ran back to the wreckage to put out the fire before it consumed any evidence the investigators needed to figure out what was, actually, pretty obvious. Sure, he didn't save any lives (nothing could have saved the three guys in that airplane) but Lt Tadlock and his trusty fire bottle preserved the crash scene.

Maybe worthless was a little strong.

If you can't get the fire out before the charge in the typical small extinguisher is expended, though, you're out of luck without a backup plan B.

I still have all the extinguishers in the back seats of my cars but now also keep fire blankets as well.

Once you decide what you want to carry with you, you have to decide where to put the stuff. Some time ago I made the largest box that I could out of 1 piece of 3 /4" plywood (sloped lid). Here's my box with stuff.

Wally -- That approach can get out of control quickly. Where does it end -- driving around in a semi with a 53-ft van??

Otto -- the fire extinguisher *is* my plan B. Plan A is to not have the fire in the first place....

But Wally has jumper cables!

Thor has a side box.

The jumper cables have been used a couple times jump starting other cars. The yellow tow-strap was used to pull a Model A F**d back to its home. These tickled me.

I have bunches of 2.5 lb fire extinguishers. When we build O'Reilly stores they often put 2.5 lb fire extinguishers in them for some reason. O'Reilly supplies and installs the extinguishers. Before the final fire inspection I have to go to Lowes and buy 5 lb extinguishers and take them down and get them tagged and replace the 2.5 lb ones. They tell me to take the 2.5 lb ones back to the shop and they will get them later. In 10 years they have never picked anything up. I have 8 of them in my BMW trunk right now. I have them everywhere. It's kind of funny.

These triangle magnetic light/flashers are what I am talking about.