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carry tools?

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
Do you carry tools in your vehicle on a regular basis? Spare parts or fluids? There's less and less you can do to repair modern vehicles by the side of the road, but I still like to be prepared.

I've got a crate with oil, coolant, brake fluid, ATF (for the steering and manual trans [confused] ), jumper cables, spare serpentine belt and rad. hoses that I keep in the truck all the time, and carry a pretty complete tool set during the school year or on long trips (over 100 miles or so).

By pretty complete, I mean a socket set, standard and metric wrenches, screwdrivers, Torx tools, hammer, pliers, multimeter, hydraulic floor jack and two jack stands.

I've used almost all of them on my truck or friends vehicles, too.YelloThumbUp
 

6L PWR

Kansas Chapter member
I've got a crate with oil, coolant, brake fluid, ATF (for the steering and manual trans [confused] ), jumper cables, spare serpentine belt and rad. hoses that I keep in the truck all the time, and carry a pretty complete tool set during the school year or on long trips (over 100 miles or so).
About the same in mine. Oil, Coolant, Tranny Fluid, Spare Couplers for the Turbo, Spare Clamps, Jumper Cables, Full set of rachets and wrenches, Pliers, Butane Soldering Iron, Wire in various gauges, Solder, Fuses, DUCT TAPE, Hammers (now including a BFH thanks to Ryan), Vacuum Hoses, Spare LPOP gears (now), Extra Fuel Filters from Ford and for the FASS, Spare Oil Filters, 6.0L Diesel Manual and Vince's Home & Cell Numbers. :nana:
 
About the same in mine. Oil, Coolant, Tranny Fluid, Spare Couplers for the Turbo, Spare Clamps, Jumper Cables, Full set of rachets and wrenches, Pliers, Butane Soldering Iron, Wire in various gauges, Solder, Fuses, DUCT TAPE, Hammers (now including a BFH thanks to Ryan), Vacuum Hoses, Spare LPOP gears (now), Extra Fuel Filters from Ford and for the FASS, Spare Oil Filters, 6.0L Diesel Manual and Vince's Home & Cell Numbers. :nana:
But that wasn't always the case.....:rolling laugh:
 

O'Rattlecan

Redneck Prognosticator
26,687
797
Belton, MO
I don't carry quite as much, but would like to be a little more prepared.

I only carry a full set of wrenches and jacks. I should probably load up for fluids for a rainy day...

Ryan
 
yep.. i carry spares. oil, AF, brake fluid, 3clips of 9mm, 2 of .45cal, goose load(.#4) pig load,(30.06) , rattlecan load,(paint-thinner), no JD comeback yet.
 

1970Custom

They call me Spuds
14,107
447
Middleton, ID
I have my tool box in the bed of the truck w/ wrenches, screw drivers, couple hammers, wire, & a flashlight, I don't carry much in the way of torx stuff as every vehicle I own only uses them for aesthetic pieces. Only jack I have is usually the stocker unless I'm going to be off-road then I carry the high lift, always have the star bar though.

I also carry oil, brake fluid, and water jugs; if I've got a coolant leak I'd rather use water as its cheaper than a gallon of the green stuff.

Extra parts usually consist of plugs, spare bolts/nus just in case, hose clamps, hose, should get some extra belts although they get checked every couple weeks and a couple days before I go on a trip.
 
The explorer has jumper cables, my tow strap, and the factory jack stuff. That is about it.

Since I have not been driving the 56 that long (don't quite trust it yet), I have more stuff in it. Remember the picture from the Ozarks run? It has that blue rubbermaid tub in the back.

That has oil, gear lube, antifreeze, a jack, 4 way lug whench, jumper cables, mag lite, and some other stuff thrown in there.

I have a small tray under the seat that has screwdrivers, pliers, vice grips, assorted wrenches, and a small socket set.

The spare points and condenser are in the glove box as well as my craftsman multitester.

Most of that will leave the 56 once I trust it a little more.
 
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I don't carry quite as much, but would like to be a little more prepared.

I only carry a full set of wrenches and jacks. I should probably load up for fluids for a rainy day...

Ryan

You carry your hammer...ummm...errr...trailer hitch? :rofl:
 

6L PWR

Kansas Chapter member
The explorer has jumper cables, my tow strap, and the factory jack stuff. That is about it.
I like the fact that us Ford Truck guys always think about the other trucks out there like the Toyotas, Chevies and Dodges. We're such nice guys!:nana:

On Edit: I forgot I got one too, wish I didn't need it for my truck though. :D
 

Fellro

Moderator
Staff member
I don't carry a lot for the truck, just spare fuel filters and power steering fluid, and oil, (the 6.9 is thirsty by nature...) I should carry a spare alternator belt after my last long trip... and 4 tires...:headbang: I limped it 40 miles on the A/C belt alone, no alternator at all, and the belt squealed trying to turn the water pump with that minimal of contact area...I was lucky it survived, since all 3 went at once. Trailer used more tires than the truck...
But anyway, my standard carry items are more for what I haul than the truck itself, chains, binders, tie straps, jack, the tool box gets thrown in for longer trips, when I have to deal with a simple belt issue, or fuel filter, or blown tire taking out a brake line, it sure is handy having the tools along.Spare tire (or tires) is a necessary thing to me, just dumb to run without one just because road hazards are out there, and they will take a tire. Also, had what seemed to be good tires go to crap on me too. The trailer has ditched what I thought were 3 good tires, had plenty of tread, no cracking, nothing, but all ended up with broken belts. I have one of that group left. Freaking General tires...:spank:
 
Well...if we are counting spare tires. The explorer has a new one 255/70/16 under it. Never been on the road.

The 56 has the correct wheel (spare) on the bedside. The incorrect one is still laying in the bed. It fits the truck, just the cap (which I do not have yet) won't fit the wheel.
 
I like the fact that us Ford Truck guys always think about the other trucks out there like the Toyotas, Chevies and Dodges. We're such nice guys!:nana:

On Edit: I forgot I got one too, wish I didn't need it for my truck though. :D


yes...it is to pull other trucks/cars out. I have never been towed with it (so far). YelloThumbUp
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
I do carry a spare tire, that will fit my pickup and one side of my trailer (don't ask). The tire is good, but the rim is pretty rotten. I really need to replace it. Also a 4-way lug wrench (with one arm spray painted blue so I know which one to use on the pickup- done in a fit of rage, but a really good idea).

I need to get a tow strap. Even with studded snow tires, a low-slung 2wd pickup can get hung up on snow in Maine pretty easily. One day, I'm gonna need a tow.
 

Fellro

Moderator
Staff member
Sad thing is, AAA is getting hard to get use out here, they aren't paying well enough for the tow services to come out anymore, many tow services won't accept it any more. OnStar is nice, when you have signal... but I don't have to pay a monthly fee to carry my own tools and equipment...
 
I do carry a cell phone, but only use it for text messages. I guess I could text my parents and have them call someone.

I have towing insurance on both my vehicles. If it breaks down somewhere, I have to pay for the repairs, then the insurance company reimburses me. If I need a jump or a flat changed, its is covered. I had the a belt break on the ranger once and they covered every penny of the repair. The guy drove out and replaced all 3 belts. I didn't have to pay for the belts even. :rofl:

Well worth the $8 a year on each vehicle.
 

john112deere

caffeine junkie
Staff member
10,807
405
central Vermont
I've got AAA, but I refuse to carry a cell phone. I can't afford a vehicle new enough to have Onstar, and I don't like Chevies, but putting that aside, I'd cut the damn thing out the first day I owned the car. Some corporation being able to locate my car any time they damn well please scares the crap outta me.
 

polarbear

just growing older not up
12,878
607
Boring, Oregon
Sad thing is, AAA is getting hard to get use out here, they aren't paying well enough for the tow services to come out anymore, many tow services won't accept it any more. OnStar is nice, when you have signal... but I don't have to pay a monthly fee to carry my own tools and equipment...

Free for the first 12 months... and it works off of a satellite. Barring being upside down, you'll have signal. I do know, for fact, though, that the antenna pointing into the dirt will guarantee no signal. :rofl:
 

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