dhackney
Expedition Leader
I've been corresponding with Mike Woods, who is building a Fuso based rig.
I sent him an email last week with some sketchy thoughts on what we carry on the rig in the way of tools, spares, etc. I thought it would be a good idea to post up this quick stab at a list so others could add some thoughts to it.
The concept here is to build a pack list of what you actually use when living full time or for extended periods in an expedition rig. The purpose is NOT to create a huge dream list of every possible thing you might need to fight off left handed aliens with 14 fingers in a night battle in the rain, just what you actually have experience using with your rig.
I know from personal experience how big these lists can get. The pack list for unsupported travel in developing countries on our BMW GS1150 Adventure was 1,406 items. My wife currently has a pack list for her areas of responsibility on our rig that is 570 items. But, I thought that this could get things rolling for those considering what they actually need to bring.
Here's the short start at a tools and spares pack list I banged out for Mike off the top of my head at an internet cafe:
Winches
If I had it to over again I’d probably leave the winches off and just put a European tow bar and European truck hitches front and rear. With our setup we could use the bikes to go find help. YMMV.
Blocking
You will want to bring blocking for leveling your rig, repairs, jacking, etc. You need enough to block 3 corners. I carry 2” and 4” thick material. You need lengths long enough to reach across the rear dualies.
LP/Propane
If you are using LP you will need a variety of ways to fill it. So far, POL has worked at all the plants. POL is the left hand thread down the inside of a standard US ACME connector used on RVs, grills, etc. You will also want to make up a POL to POL jumper hose so you can fill from another POL tank. Argentina uses POL for all tanks. Chile uses a special consumer fitting on small tanks. You can buy the connector and hose to make a jumper at any of the big Lowes type home centers down here. The large Chilean tanks use POL.
Outside of the big cities there are NO fill stations for Propane. All the tanks are filled at the main plants in the big cities then trucked out to the market towns and rural villages. They are sold from independent retailers on an exchange basis. In a few places you can get your tank filled from a large tank at those facilities (Puerto Natales for instance). Elsewhere you’ll need to buy a small tank, hook up your POL jumper hose, elevate it, invert it, and warm the upper (source) tank and/or cool the lower (receiving) tank, then return the empty source tank for your deposit.
If you have a large fixed tank with a fill manifold, get a variety of fill connections for it. At a minimum include the large USA ACME and a POL fitting for fill. Either one will require a mobile propane delivery truck for the fill.
So, it would be a good idea to carry things to make up new input hoses, jumper fill hoses, etc.:
Tools
I posted our repair log on our web site. It is below our route map here: http://www.hackneys.com/travel/index-routemap.htm (scroll down). Scan through it and get an idea of the tools you will probably want to bring along.
Minimums:
Spares
This will be dependent on your final configuration for all the camper stuff, but in general, here are the things you should not leave without:
I sent him an email last week with some sketchy thoughts on what we carry on the rig in the way of tools, spares, etc. I thought it would be a good idea to post up this quick stab at a list so others could add some thoughts to it.
The concept here is to build a pack list of what you actually use when living full time or for extended periods in an expedition rig. The purpose is NOT to create a huge dream list of every possible thing you might need to fight off left handed aliens with 14 fingers in a night battle in the rain, just what you actually have experience using with your rig.
I know from personal experience how big these lists can get. The pack list for unsupported travel in developing countries on our BMW GS1150 Adventure was 1,406 items. My wife currently has a pack list for her areas of responsibility on our rig that is 570 items. But, I thought that this could get things rolling for those considering what they actually need to bring.
Here's the short start at a tools and spares pack list I banged out for Mike off the top of my head at an internet cafe:
Winches
If I had it to over again I’d probably leave the winches off and just put a European tow bar and European truck hitches front and rear. With our setup we could use the bikes to go find help. YMMV.
Blocking
You will want to bring blocking for leveling your rig, repairs, jacking, etc. You need enough to block 3 corners. I carry 2” and 4” thick material. You need lengths long enough to reach across the rear dualies.
LP/Propane
If you are using LP you will need a variety of ways to fill it. So far, POL has worked at all the plants. POL is the left hand thread down the inside of a standard US ACME connector used on RVs, grills, etc. You will also want to make up a POL to POL jumper hose so you can fill from another POL tank. Argentina uses POL for all tanks. Chile uses a special consumer fitting on small tanks. You can buy the connector and hose to make a jumper at any of the big Lowes type home centers down here. The large Chilean tanks use POL.
Outside of the big cities there are NO fill stations for Propane. All the tanks are filled at the main plants in the big cities then trucked out to the market towns and rural villages. They are sold from independent retailers on an exchange basis. In a few places you can get your tank filled from a large tank at those facilities (Puerto Natales for instance). Elsewhere you’ll need to buy a small tank, hook up your POL jumper hose, elevate it, invert it, and warm the upper (source) tank and/or cool the lower (receiving) tank, then return the empty source tank for your deposit.
If you have a large fixed tank with a fill manifold, get a variety of fill connections for it. At a minimum include the large USA ACME and a POL fitting for fill. Either one will require a mobile propane delivery truck for the fill.
So, it would be a good idea to carry things to make up new input hoses, jumper fill hoses, etc.:
- Several nipple to thread connectors for your regulator
- Several POL to nipple connectors
- 3 to 4 meters of gas rated hose
- Plenty of stainless steel radiator clamps of appropriate sizes
Tools
I posted our repair log on our web site. It is below our route map here: http://www.hackneys.com/travel/index-routemap.htm (scroll down). Scan through it and get an idea of the tools you will probably want to bring along.
Minimums:
- Vice grips large and small
- ½” and 3/8” drive sockets metric and inch
- Full sets of combination (open and box end) wrenches metric and inch
- Full set of allen wrenches, metric and inch
- Full set of nut drivers, metric and inch (Sears sells a nice Craftsman set in a zip case)
- 2 lb. hammer
- Very large channel locks
- 10” channel locks
- Very large crescent wrench
- 10” and 6” crescent wrench
- Full set of Phillips and flat blade screwdrivers
- Special connector drivers, i.e. square drive
- Voltmeter
- alligator clip lead assortment (Radio shack sells them, clips on each end, various colors)
- 12VDC circuit test light
- 110VAC test light/polarity tester
- needle nose pliers
- wire cutters
- jewelers screwdriver set (small Phillips and flat blade)
- craft knife / utility knife / razor knife
- wire crimper, wire stripper
- caulk gun
- ¾ or 1” very long handle ratchet for tire changes
- Budd impact socket for rear studs and lug nuts
- 6” ¾ or 1” impact extension
- Leatherman tool
- A funnel or two
- Bottle jack twice as big as you need to lift your rig
- Oil filter wrench
- OBD II code reader and code book (use with vehicle service connector to read trouble codes)
- Special tools required for your systems, i.e. water filter wrench, network testers, systems diagnostics
- 3/8” cordless drill and charger
- Full set of best quality drill bits. Spray the entire set with WD40 to protect them from water and put them in a zip lock.
- Spring punch (to center punch a marker hole for drilling)
- Tap oil (to lubricate the metal while you drill - keep your drill speed low and keep the bit cool by keeping it lubed with oil and you can drill through anything, be patient)
- Files (flat, half round, rat tail)
- Drift, at least 8”, 12” is better
- Extendable handle window squeegee
- Four step ladder (don’t leave home without this)
- Water bandit – definitely don’t leave home without this, you can’t take on water down here without one
- Service manual for your vehicle on CD
Spares
This will be dependent on your final configuration for all the camper stuff, but in general, here are the things you should not leave without:
- 3M 5200 Marine adhesive (fast cure) small tubes and caulking gun size – bring lots of this miracle substance
- Water repair tape/miracle tape (you can find this at boat shows or marine supply centers;
- 3M top quality electrical tape – not the cheap stuff;
- Ancor marine grade electrical crimp connectors – all sizes from 22 to 10 – unions, terminals, etc.;
- spare marine grade wire – some #18, #14, #12, #10 – you don’t need ton, just enough for a bush repair
- The best quality duct tape you can find – a couple of rolls;
- 2 or 3 best quality ratchet straps;
- 2 to 4 best quality tie downs – no cheapos on these straps and tie downs, your life may depend on them
- 4”, 14” and 14” heavy duty 150 lb rating wire ties – lots, don’t scrimp on these or on their quality;
- Heavy stainless steel safety wire – you can get this at any quality motorcycle dealer – one can;
- assortment of hardware (nuts, bolts, screws, etc. – stainless steel and grade 8, metric and inch, this will be heavy, don’t scrimp on it and don’t forget an assortment of washers for each size, i.e. lock, flat, fender, etc.
- LockTite medium and full strength
- Crazy Glue, Goo and other adhesives
- Graphite lube for locks
- WD40, several cans
- Brake and parts cleaner, several cans
- Auto wash soap
- Vehicle Oil filters
- Vehicle air filters
- Vehicle fuel filters
- Vehicle fan belts
- Vehicle wheel studs and lug nuts (front and rear) , at least one each for each side (note that on Fusos the driver’s side is left hand thread)
- LED, incandescent and headlight bulbs (I forgot to bring headlight bulbs), especially for aftermarket lights, keep in mind the trucks down here are mostly 24 volt
- Filter sets for any other motors you have, i.e. genset, motorcycle, etc.
- Tire repair kit
- Keys. We have four sets. I carry two at all times, Steph has a set and we have one in reserve.
- Documents. Passport, driver’s license (intl and US), inoculation record, vehicle title, vehicle registration, vehicle insurance, etc. We have about 10 sets. Never give original docs, always color copies.
- Water filters for your water system
- Full set, at least 10 each of Vehicle fuses (mini type)
- Full set, at least 10 each of auto blade fuses if you use them in any of your systems
- Spare breaker, one each size, for your DC/AC distribution panel(s)
- Spare high amperage fuses (200 or 400 amp) for your house batteries (you did include a high amp fuse in that system, right? 8^) )
- Stainless steel hose clamps, good assortment, including any very large sizes you need for your sewer or other large diameter hoses
- Spare water hose or plastic pipe used in your water distribution system; if you used plastic pipe, then spare connectors, i.e. unions for repair, clamp end to thread connection, etc.
- Water hose washers
- O rings