Tools and stuff-what you must never leave home without

[EDPA]

I've been taking the LC out on a few off road trips and it got me thinking about what minimum tools, gear and stuff that one must never leave home without. I do more expedition style off roading in some remote places. I'm mechanically inclined but not a mechanic (I know, and can do the basics). My vehicle is NOT equipped with a winch. I thought I'd throw this question out to the pros. Are there any specific tools/parts/gear one MUST have? Are there any skills, in this esteemed forums opinion, that even a rookie MUST know how to do before they venture off into the boonies?

 

[Critter]

This is a list I made up a while back for some folks:

Duct Tape
Zip Ties
Fire Extinguisher
Flashlight with spare batteries
Metric socket set
Metric wrench set
Metric allen wrench set
Crescent wrench
Screw driver with multiple (interchangeable) heads
Gear oil
Motor oil and Filter
Premixed coolant
Grease gun w/ grease
WD-40
Brake fluid (if the container is opened its no good)
Jack (highlift preferably for offroad use)
Tow straps
Spare fuses
First aid kit – I am making my own, learn how to suture it can be invaluable
Good tire iron
Rags/Paper Towels
Knife
Gloves
Jumper cables
Fix-a-flat tire sealant
Blanket
Garbage bag
Water and dehydrated meals
CB (handheld atleast)
GPS

Someone can chime in with specific LC parts, I am fairly new to my LC as well.

 

[snowcruiser]

+++
trail saw to cut downed limbs, an 18 volt sawzall or a husqvarna 18" is even better
bolt cutters
small shovel (two in winter)
heater hose and clamps
handheld compass
fsm
obdII code reader
electrical tape or liquid electrical tape
blanket
water & food

+ additional parts from CDan the Landcruiser Parts MAN!

 

[Celicon]

good list, I think it's a good idea to have a gun if you're out in the wilderness (or the city), can't be too careful. I would think any survival gear would be essential: signal mirror, lighter/matches, hatchet, *maps*, compass, and the usual outdoors gear

I think you were goin for mainly cruiser repair/maintenance advice, but if you're goin out in the woods, you're better off having survival stuff just in case

 

[Critter]

I forgot two of the most important things:

BFH (big f'ing hammer)
The longest and thickest flat tip screw driver you can find (has many uses)

 

[97 FZJ80]

cell phone

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Parts

I bring a basically complete set of tools including the Cruiser specific items like a brass drift and hub socket. Some other good things to have are a breaker bar, and a TRE puller. I have a lot of old parts in the truck, like the wheel bearings and knuckle bearing that I replaced in a front axle overhaul. I also have a set of coolant hoses(especially the specific formed ones, fan belts etc. I am paranoid so I have coil/ignitor (except for the 80)and distributor/ignition parts plus a spare distributor. A spare set of spark plugs is good. For really remote trips like Dusy-Ershim I take a complete spare front axle, minus the housing and differential but including a set of brake soft lines, drain plugs, cone washers, knuckles, lockout hub and a spare hub/rotor. I keep both rear axle shafts on hand as well along with front and rear driveshafts with associated bolts. This summer I also took a tie rod/relay rod strapped on the front bumper of my 40. I have rebuild kits for the brake and clutch masters plus a spare clutch slave(Yes-I know this is the 80's section!)

Things I have actually used on my truck or a friend's:

Complete knuckle kit
Front short side axle shaft/birfield plus one other birfield
Rear short side axle shaft
2 "U" bolts
Caliper bolt (I've seen 3 back off and drop out, none on mine yet)
lug studs-given to 2 different people I didn't know
1 gallon of gear oil
coil to distributer high voltage wire (needed and didn't have-sucked!)
misc. wire to repair fire damage
Valve stems for tires-many
Diff cover cork gasket
rear axle seal
Several quarts of ATF for power steering for others, fortunately
Several tubs of grease
1 tube of blue RTV
Fuel filter (technically not mine, but I carry one now)
many fuses but mostly for other people's trucks
1-FJ40 steering arm
Brake fluid-I gave a full bottle to a dude in Moab and he didn't even say thanks, but then he was having a really bad day.

I don't carry coolant-water works fine in a pinch



I guess the point is, you really can't have too many parts/fluids on a long remote trip. My general approach is to do a repair and save all the usable old parts and throw them in my truck. The axle shafts have saved me once, and saved someone else once. Keep any routine service item like oil filters and fuel filters in the truck too. Field repairs are a pain, but having good tools and spares takes some of the hurt out of it. If you just do day trips from a central location you can cut way down on the spares you take along.

 

[PKP80]

CB Antenna Mount & Size

So,
I purchased the Cobra WSXT II and am going to buy the 4foot firestick "no Ground" antenna kit. My question are as follows:
1.) I want to mount the Antenna to my Stock bumper by replacing one of the stud bolts directly under the turning signal, Has anyone mounted at that location? If so Which Antenna mount did you use?
2.) Is the 4 foot long enough? Too long? I understand that adjusting the antenna freq. is height sensitive.

Thank you in Advance and pics and further recommendations are always welcome.

Sam

 

[e9999]

I bring a basically complete set of tools including the Cruiser specific items like a brass drift and hub socket. Some other good things to have are a breaker bar, and a TRE puller. I have a lot of old parts in the truck, like the wheel bearings and knuckle bearing that I replaced in a front axle overhaul. I also have a set of coolant hoses(especially the specific formed ones, fan belts etc. I am paranoid so I have coil/ignitor (except for the 80)and distributor/ignition parts plus a spare distributor. A spare set of spark plugs is good. For really remote trips like Dusy-Ershim I take a complete spare front axle, minus the housing and differential but including a set of brake soft lines, drain plugs, cone washers, knuckles, lockout hub and a spare hub/rotor. I keep both rear axle shafts on hand as well along with front and rear driveshafts with associated bolts. This summer I also took a tie rod/relay rod strapped on the front bumper of my 40. I have rebuild kits for the brake and clutch masters plus a spare clutch slave(Yes-I know this is the 80's section!)

Things I have actually used on my truck or a friend's:

Complete knuckle kit
Front short side axle shaft/birfield plus one other birfield
Rear short side axle shaft
2 "U" bolts
Caliper bolt (I've seen 3 back off and drop out, none on mine yet)
lug studs-given to 2 different people I didn't know
1 gallon of gear oil
coil to distributer high voltage wire (needed and didn't have-sucked!)
misc. wire to repair fire damage
Valve stems for tires-many
Diff cover cork gasket
rear axle seal
Several quarts of ATF for power steering for others, fortunately
Several tubs of grease
1 tube of blue RTV
Fuel filter (technically not mine, but I carry one now)
many fuses but mostly for other people's trucks
1-FJ40 steering arm
Brake fluid-I gave a full bottle to a dude in Moab and he didn't even say thanks, but then he was having a really bad day.

I don't carry coolant-water works fine in a pinch



I guess the point is, you really can't have too many parts/fluids on a long remote trip. My general approach is to do a repair and save all the usable old parts and throw them in my truck. The axle shafts have saved me once, and saved someone else once. Keep any routine service item like oil filters and fuel filters in the truck too. Field repairs are a pain, but having good tools and spares takes some of the hurt out of it. If you just do day trips from a central location you can cut way down on the spares you take along.

does this even all fit in a trailer?

E

 

[wileetoyote]

The other lists are pretty comprehensive and should cover even the most adventurous outback safaris. Two other simple must haves I didn't see on the others' lists are:
1) bailing wire

2) backyard mechanic welding kit. This should consist of just a few welding sticks, welding glasses/goggles, welding gloves, weld pick/hammer, and for material... a 2' section of angle iron (or that 'good tire iron' Critter mentioned).

Now this will only work if your not alone on this trip. If you break something and need to temporarily weld it back together (ie. steering linkage, steering arm, misc. brackets, etc.) you'll need 3 car batteries and 2 sets of jumper cables. By hooking them up in series (+ to -, + to-, and + to -, that'll get you 36 volts which is high enough to get an arc going. You'll also have plenty of amperage for keeping the weld going. Clip the first jumper cable to your work piece, the last jumper cable to the weld stick, and voila'... the cleanest, purest dc welder you'll ever use.

Caution! You'll still have to re-use the batteries to re-start your vehicles so don't over do it. its best if one or both battery loaner vehicles keep themselves idling after removing/donating their batteries for the trail fix. ALSO, as an added precaution, you should throw a cloth or heavy blanket over the batteries in case one decides to blow-up for some strange reason.

btw- use of this advice is at your own risk. I'll deny it all if you or your vehicle gets hurt. This is a desparate measure for desparate times (but has been successfully used in the past).

Happy trails!

 

[lurker]

cell phone

 

[stayalert]

coat hanger

 

[Cruiserdrew]

does this even all fit in a trailer?

E

Actually, it fits in 2 Confer tool boxes by the wheelwells in my FJ40. The axles and driveshafts sort of all nest together, and the rest of it is pretty small. You will be suprised what you see people break out in the middle of nowhere. When I broke a rear axle last August on the Rubicon, I was happy to have what I needed.

In an ideal world, everyone in your group has the same truck, so the spare parts can be a group effort.

 

[usmcruiser]

2.) Is the 4 foot long enough? Too long? I understand that adjusting the antenna freq. is height sensitive.

Thank you in Advance and pics and further recommendations are always welcome.

Sam

Quick hijack,

It is height sensitive. But only for transmitting. You can have any size of antenna for receving. Hell the bigger the better. But if you want to be able to talk back to someone you have to have the propper length of antenna. I used to know the mathmatical equation but it has been a while since I looked at my "field radio opperator" manual.

 

[dclee]

Actually, it fits in 2 Confer tool boxes by the wheelwells in my FJ40. The axles and driveshafts sort of all nest together, and the rest of it is pretty small. You will be suprised what you see people break out in the middle of nowhere. When I broke a rear axle last August on the Rubicon, I was happy to have what I needed.

In an ideal world, everyone in your group has the same truck, so the spare parts can be a group effort.

Yeah, but you should see his rear end sag under all that weight...

 

[Beowulf]

Adding a few items that pop to mind.

1. Some means to reinflate a tyre. A small 12v compressor is slow but it works.
2. Various sizes of turnbuckles. I've seen these used for ingenious repairs. Saved a friend during a multi-day trip in Colorado.
3. Various sizes and lengths (<2') of chain. These are also handy for repairs.

-Mike-

 

[reffug]

AND SOME MORE

 

[reffug]

And a fridge to keep it cold.

 

[poseidon]

I noticed there is one Very important thing that is missing from ALL of the above lists:




A roll of TP!


E

 

[PJHunter]

never mind all of the equipment above, if you're a hollywood celebrity you just invite two mates, take two bikes and ride around the world with 2 support crews to carry all of the above equipment in 2 4x4 vehicles.... it's so much easier if you have mates to go with... or you're a hollywood celebrity. Then again, I'm just insanely jealous!