View Full Version : The things I carry in my truck - just in case ...
It's a 73 Datsun PU so when you open the hood
there's an engine that you can see. You can also
see everything attached to it. Not only see, you
can actually get to them without having to remove
half a ton of crap. As long as I do my part she keeps
running just as she has for the past 17 years.
But you never know, so I carry a whole bunch of tools,
a 12 v tyre inflator, jumper cables, a power jumper,
and the usual stuff for changing a wheel.
If you carry all that things won't go wrong, but if you
don't they will. I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law.
I have a power jumper (Noco) and let me tell you those things are great. You do have to remember to recharge them once a year but I've used it on my vehicle and somebody else's and it works as advertised. I also have all the tire changing stuff, para cord, a tarp, an entrenching tool, utility machete, a knife set, and some basic tools. In the driver's compartment are flashlights, including a headlamp and extra batteries.
I've helped a few people over the years.In each case I found that
I had to use my jumper cables. No one bothers to prepare for an
emergency. Maybe they know you can't fix new cars as what
has gone wrong is most likely a computer, but they could at least
carry a set of cables in case their battery goes flat. If they can't be
bothered to help themselves, why should I bother to help them ?
The last ones I helped didn't even know which side the battery was on.
I had to do all the connections.
My tolerance for useless people is approaching it's limit.
One other thing about a jumper like the Noco. You don't have to have another car to hook up to which means if you're a woman, especially and you have a dead battery after dark there's no depending on some possibly shady character for help. No need for a call to the auto club either. They also have a flashlight and cell phone charging jacks.
The military now has these with juice appropriate to the job in all their vehicles.
Don't forget a small tire repair kit (plugs) and a can of tire stop leak. You never know when you will run over a nail.
I have a Stanley rechargeable flashlight that recharges ac or dc. As long as your truck battery has power your flashlight will have power.
My F-150 has those cell phone jacks (usb) all over and even an ac outlet (150 watts or so).
By Plugs you mean the skinny rubber plugs with the needle ?
That has to done from the inside of the tire -you push the needle
through then attach the plug, pull it back in and cut excess.
How can you do it from outside ?
A Datsun wow! What? 300,000 miles or more? My buddy's girlfriend got one about 1972 and I was among the haters. Not the Japanese but the silly little door handle you could only get three fingers on. I remember the bumper stickers. I'd eat... but, it was the Japanese that put a prod to the American car manufacturers. I'm not sure Ford is on board anymore.
I keep an array of tools in the truck (machete included) and at least jumpers and aired up spare in the car. I hear cars today don't even have spares. You call triple A.
By Plugs you mean the skinny rubber plugs with the needle ?
That has to done from the inside of the tire -you push the needle
through then attach the plug, pull it back in and cut excess.
How can you do it from outside ?
No. They are only done from the outside. You're thinking of a "boot" or patch that is done only from the inside and impossible to do on the go.
I never used the liquid "slime" but it probably works better with it. These kits are available at WM. You would need to carry a pair of needle nose pliers too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eF4EjdYZ7k
I did use slime and I regret it. I bought an ATV and it came with it's OEM tires (whatever that stands for). It stands for junk. I probably had a half dozen holes in them and kept pouring slime in. When I finally woke up and ordered new heavy duty tires the guy at the shop told me, we hate slime, it's a mess to clean up.
If you buy a new vehicle, especially a travel trailer or such, drive on the OEM's about three times and then get better tires. I know it's hard to believe but the dealers don't care what happens after it leaves the lot. That's why the first ten pages of the owners manual is about tires. There is some important stuff there, but there is- We told you.
The tires I patched were on the bicycle and on the inside and some stuff outside involving the tube. My dad showed me how. I remember he would put glue on the inner tube and then light it on fire with his Zippo and then blew it out. Patch goes on. You left the cellophane on until it was time to install or if you were un-decided you left it on.
OEM = Original equipment manufacturer.
What your vehicle or whatever was equipped with when new. How it came from the factory.
Major Tom
09-08-2023, 06:18
My cars are too new for me to 'work' on them. The only thing I carry in my cars is my cell phone ( to call a garage to pick up my car and a S&W 45 (concealed on me).
My cars are too new for me to 'work' on them. The only thing I carry in my cars is my cell phone ( to call a garage to pick up my car and a S&W 45 (concealed on me).
If your car quits - shoot it. That'll teach it.
Most importantly, if you own a car make sure it is equipped with a trunk monkey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qtG82HJB2I
I don't like Monkeys, so I certainly don't want one in my trunk.
I did use slime and I regret it. I bought an ATV and it came with it's OEM tires (whatever that stands for). It stands for junk. I probably had a half dozen holes in them and kept pouring slime in. When I finally woke up and ordered new heavy duty tires the guy at the shop told me, we hate slime, it's a mess to clean up.
If you buy a new vehicle, especially a travel trailer or such, drive on the OEM's about three times and then get better tires. I know it's hard to believe but the dealers don't care what happens after it leaves the lot. That's why the first ten pages of the owners manual is about tires. There is some important stuff there, but there is- We told you.
The tires I patched were on the bicycle and on the inside and some stuff outside involving the tube. My dad showed me how. I remember he would put glue on the inner tube and then light it on fire with his Zippo and then blew it out. Patch goes on. You left the cellophane on until it was time to install or if you were un-decided you left it on.
OEM = Original equipment manufacturer.
What your vehicle or whatever was equipped with when new. How it came from the factory.
my 2007 dodge caliber came with Firestone OEM tires. i put 88k miles on them before needing to replace them and it wasnt because the tires were junk, its because i was working almost every single day of the years i had them and IF i had a day or two off, i certainly had other things to do around the house and family that took precedents over rotating the tires...
my 2007 dodge caliber came with Firestone OEM tires. i put 88k miles on them before needing to replace them and it wasnt because the tires were junk, its because i was working almost every single day of the years i had them and IF i had a day or two off, i certainly had other things to do around the house and family that took precedents over rotating the tires...
You should only change front to rear on same side.
Going to opposite side means it rotates in the opposite direction
and shortens life of steel belted tires.
my 2007 dodge caliber came with Firestone OEM tires. i put 88k miles on them before needing to replace them and it wasnt because the tires were junk, its because i was working almost every single day of the years i had them and IF i had a day or two off, i certainly had other things to do around the house and family that took precedents over rotating the tires...
my 93 Saturn SL2 came with Firestone Firehawk GTA's and they sucked, , as in sucked horribly,
got more road noise and flats with that set of tires than any other brand on any other vehicle,
I replaced them with Falkens, quiet, sticky, and no more flats
Back in the 70's Firestone made some really dangerous tires (Firestone 500's). I had all 4 come apart within a couple of months.
Firestone has made some really good tires too. I bought a used car and the dealer had just put on a new set of Firestones. I remember thinking "oh great". They turned out to be some of the best tires I ever had so from then on I bought that specific make from Firestone until they stopped making them.
The way I drive now (25 miles a week) anything round will do.
All tire manf's have made good and bad tires. I remember when Sears first started selling radial tires. They were made by Michelin. You could drive by any Sears automotive store and see piles of exploded tires showing wads of steel. These were customer "complaints". I wouldn't buy Michelin for many years. Now, they are OK.
Michelin did make some crappy tires. I remember going to a tire shop run by a guy I sort of knew. He had Michelins on sale. He acted like he was doing me a special favor. "Their Michelins!" Like they were Marilyn Monroe or something. Didn't last anytime at all. The name doesn't matter, it's the ply and a couple other things that are stamped on the sidewall that matter. Yup, in the old days you crisscrossed the tires when rotating. Radials you don't.
Well, since we're on the subject; I used to by BF Goodrich. I remember when they were $50/ tire. But, I only put about 10K miles on the truck a year. They never wore out, but the AZ sun would bake them til they cracked all over and basically were petrified. They they rode hard and made an awful racket. Now I buy cheap tires (less than $200 per these days) that I will toss away before they turn to rock.
BF Goodrich does make good tires and you're right, they dryrot soon. The rubber compound tends to be soft which is good for traction but not good for long life.
My F-150 4x4 currently has a set. They will dryrot before wearing out even though the truck stays out of the sun under a carport. I will replace them with the same brand because they ride really smooth and don't make the racket that so many mud grip tires produce when driving on asphalt. They have become rather costly though.
That's only when they are fresh. Like you say, when they dryrot they become hard and cracked to the point they won't hold air even though the tread life may be good.
My farm truck, an old 1990 silverado with < 150K miles, I don't drive much so I will buy the "off brand" tires for it.
My wife's car has Michelins. It came with them new and she insist sticking with what works. Personally I don't like them. Perhaps to make a smoother ride the sidewalls are thin. This makes the tires sag a little and appear to be low on air but aren't. Otherwise it doesn't matter much. The car only leaves the yard about 3 times a month to make very short trips.
the tire to 'have' was the Radial T\A's on a sporty car when I was young,
my Coopers all ran Continental Run Flats, (was lucky to have them last 18 months, but I drove those cars hard)
my Civic came with Conti's on it that I replaced with Goodyear Assurance , good quiet running tire,
I have run nothing but Dunlaps on my Tundra and T100, w\o issues
How Datsun got its name:
A Japanese car maker went to a well known German advertising company for marketing their automobile. The stipulation was they had to have the name in 24 hours. The German head of marketing replied "Dat sun eh...." Thus was born a new Japanese auto.
In 1975 in Tacoma WA, a local Toyota dealer was offering a $100 for a new motto for Toyota.
I offered "Brought to you by the same people that brought you the second world war". Not only didn't win but got a nasty gram back. Full disclosure, I have had 3 Toyotas and am now driving a 2023 Toyota and all have been outstanding cars.
I worked at a Phillip66 Station while in college. Tubeless tires had come about in 1955 or so and we had a tool that would fix flats on tubeless cars from the outside. It would be hooked to a strong compressor and inject a plug into the tire that opened up like a umbrella and seal from the air pressure inside the tire. Worked good on nails and screws.
I also did brakes and tune ups. I received top pay $1.27/hour.
In 1993, I was selling auto repair equipment. One of my favorite money makers were Aamco 4,000 brake lathes. Making a long story short, they weighed over 400 lbs. I was loading one for delivery when a wheel fell off the dolly and landed on my foot. I have been hospitalized for this over the past 30 years and came close to losing my leg!
Sh:t happens!
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