What's in your vehicle spares kit?

[Root Moose]

I've started thinking about how to lay out the rear storage in the XJ. As a result I'm creating a list of stuff to take as spares and tools for the Jeep itself.

I'd like to make this list as small as possible but be enough gear to deal with issues if they occur.

The list below is kinda nuts - too much stuff. Unfortunately I've been in situations where I could have used this stuff - but thankfully not all at once. Chalk it up to the joys of wheeling a 15 year salt belt truck.

Most of the bulky stuff may end up somewhere in the tent trailer.

Here's the list so far; what would you add/remove?

- misc hand tools (SAE and metric - AMC couldn't pick one, damn)
- FSM on netbook/iPhone/carputer/whatever
- hard copy of Lubrication/Maintenance section of FSM (fluids, amounts, etc.)
- u-joint press
- EFI tools
- OBD-II scanner (hand held separate from carputer setup)
- alternator
- starter
- coil rail
- spark plugs
- wheel bearings
- u-joints
- 2 or 3 spare fuel injectors
- serpentine belt
- spare oil pan plug(s) (don't laugh - lost one for ~6hours once when flooded engine required fluid change - had to spend extra overnight by the time we found it)
- brake lines (the rubber part )
- filters (gas, oil and air)
- oil for diffs (1 change each diff)
- oil for engine (1 change)
- oil for trans and t-case (1 change)
- bearing grease
- brake fluid
- JB weld
- anti-seize
- penetrating oil
- dielectric grease
- fuses
- rudimentary electric repair tools (crimp, test light, multimeter)
- arc welding rods
- "shop towels"
- "kitty litter"
- spare fluids container
- catch pan for fluids
- hazard markers
- tarp/rope
- coveralls
- eye protection
- gloves (mechanic and nitrile)
- hand cleaner and "wet wipes"


What parts of the XJ fuel injection system fail "hard" with no warning? We've been been lucky so far but are due for some parts to go.

Axle shafts were intentionally left out . With locking hubs and a full float rear a broken shaft can be worked around.

That's got to be at least 200 lbs of stuff. Thankfully most of the parts (used) are already inhabiting my workshop.

What's the best way to store rubber stuff like the belts and hosts so that UV doesn't break it down as fast?

Recovery gear, emergency food stuffs, first aid, etc. was intentionally left out to focus on the vehicle spares.

Is this overkill for touring North America?

 

[JeepN95YJ]

As far as failing "hard", I'd carry a TPS (throttle position sensor) and a CPS (crankshaft position sensor). I've seen both fail after giving warning and also without warning.

 

[BKCowGod]

If I'm gonna be out in the boonies in my vintage Jeep for more than a day, I carry some duct tape and a hammer. If I'm gonna be doing something truly extreme, I toss the spare tire on the roof.

If I have space, I'll toss in my small mechanic's tool kit, even though I have only ever wanted it once (when I broke a shock mount, though the duct tape held fine for 1/2 day of trails before I got to camp).

I choose instead to stress out before the trip - test all hoses and vac lines, check all 12 fuses and look for loose wires, change the oil and check tension on all heavily stressed bolts, grease all hinges, adjust and bleed brakes.

I will admit that I rarely go solo, and I would rethink if I were going for more than a week. But honestly the Heep is so simple that it is difficult to break anything so extremely that you can't limp home.

 

[Chris85xlt]

2009 Jeep rubicon....1 spare gas cap

 

[Booner]

Just returned home from a big woods camping trip in the Allegheny National Forest in my Jeep ZJ. We managed to lose a left front axle seal and had to limp it home for close to 100 miles with the seal leaking. I stopped periodically to refill till I ran out of gear oil (synthetic). I am in the process of tearing it down, and things don't look bad (so far). Wouldn't want to try this job along the trail...

 

[craig333]

Always a few tools. If I'm going to something more hardcore I have a tote that has a starter, carburetor, hoses, belts and assorted stuff I throw in. If its really hard core I toss in spare driveshafts.

 

[getlost4x4]

spare tire, jack, lug wrench, air compressor, food, water, hand tools.

i've never broken anything on my commander.

 

[Tanto]

Thats a lot of stuff. You basically carry everything I do and a few more like the welding tools, scanner, fuel system components, and injectors. I don't carry those. I do carry a compressor.

This really depends on where you will be. Most of the stuff I do is in the Midwest where all you need to do is get the vehicle moving to get it somewhere to work on. If you are dealing with completely disabled vehicle, nothing is more than 100 miles away and can always be towed by another in the group. In that case make sure you wheel with good people that won't leave you to fend for yourself.

 

[2drx4]

This is my plan, based on what I did before.

Electrical: (Renix)

-CPS (a must)
-TPS (a must)
-IAC (nice, PITA when jeep won't idle)
-CTS (have it because it's small, I probably wouldn't change it anyways)
-O2 (have because it's small)
-Coil (needed sometimes)
-Computer (smallish, light, have a spare. Rarely, very rarely, does a renix one fail...)
-2 spark plugs
-Alternator (long trips only)
-Misc fuses
-Couple bosch relays
-Winch solenoid

Didn't think about an injector or two... They're small, and I have plenty.

Other parts:

-Spare 1410 and 1350 u-joints
-Spare manual hub
-U-bolts (for axle yokes)
-1 1.25" shanked jonney joint and jamb nut
-Hose clamps, small assortment
-Serpentine belt
-Misc small hardware
-Oil filter

Tools:

-Spindle sockets for front and rear
-Allan key for hubs (only need one)
-Misc SAE tools (working on having ONLY what is on the jeep)
-Misc Metric tools (see above)
-Misc screwdrivers, pliers, etc
-Gerbenschloben, AKA Knipex adjustable wrenchs, medium and large size
-Big hammer
-Big brass drift

Consumables:

-5 minute epoxy
-Grease
-6 quarts engine oil
-4 quarts gear oil
-1 quart PS fluid
-Brake fluid
-2 quarts ATF
-Silicone sealant
-Pro-seal (PRC)
-Brake clean
-Shop rags (small box)
-Rubber gloves
-Zip ties
-Scotchbrite
-Popsicle sticks
-Green and red loctite
-Lockwire, .032 and .041
-Electrical ends, etc
-20' of 16ga wire
-Duct tape (can't forget that)

I think thats it

 

[Root Moose]

...make sure you wheel with good people that won't leave you to fend for yourself.

I once fragged a transmission in a little boulder field just outside of camp at a remote location.

My good buddy hopped into his machine and drove about five hours home (one way) to haul a transmission out of his shed and bring it back to where we were camped and had the transmission pulled.

Can't beat good friends like that.

You guys with the newer vehicles - do you have enough materials/parts on hand to recover from filling your engine with water? Sure, it looks and tested as a shallow crossing but...

 

[Tanto]

You guys with the newer vehicles - do you have enough materials/parts on hand to recover from filling your engine with water? Sure, it looks and tested as a shallow crossing but...

Good point. You can't carry enough parts to plan for everything.

 

[getlost4x4]

home made under-hood snorkle.:snorkel:

if my motor gets water in it, it'll pop before i have a chance to get the water out.

these newer motors are not as forgiving as older motors.:Wow1:

 

[Chris85xlt]

You guys with the newer vehicles - do you have enough materials/parts on hand to recover from filling your engine with water? Sure, it looks and tested as a shallow crossing but...

i had everything but the kitchen sink in my old 85 Bronco. i had extra sensors, ECU, fuilds, axle parts, tools etc.
In my new 2009 Jeep Rubicon i just carry some basic hand tools and a small compressor. when i go wheeling i toss in a bin with more tools with recovery gear. As for spare parts and fuilds...i have none. i dont even have spare 5w-20 motor oil at the shop lol.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero:Well, I don't generally go out without my trailer, but

In the JK I have HiLift,Mobil 1, brakes-steering fluid- metric tools, bailing wire, duct tape, fuses, extra ign key, lights, spare OPTIMA battery and necessities

The trailer has a recovery box, kept inside, brgs,bolts/nuts/connecters/fuses-etc

I don't carry any extra parts either !!

:costumed-smiley-007:safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[Root Moose]

these newer motors are not as forgiving as older motors.:Wow1:

I've often wondered about that.

I've never swamped a Jeep 4.0 (doesn't really classify as a newer engine).

Swamped a few Suzukis. Pretty resilient little beasts. Too bad the half life wasn't longer.