Road Box Sundries / Consumables

[Dave455]

I’ve been reading a couple of threads lately, when the discussion of “consumables” has cropped up. I’m thinking here, of the bit’s and pieces other than tools, that you need to complete a job.

I’ve always got this stuff around at home, but I realised a while back, that when I’m away from base I need to carry it, either to complete a repair, or just so I don’t have to run to a shop.

Anyway, if it helps anyone, I’ve snapped a pic of what I currently carry in my road box. It looks a lot, but it packs into a small space, and everything together probably doesn’t cost more than a pair of pliers!

Some stuff I’ll point out -

Wire wool and abrasive paper - half the time when something doesn’t work it just needs cleaning.

Cable ties - sort loads of rattles. I love the stainless steel ones - very “real world” useful.

Tapes - the black tape back right is “self amalgamating” tape. Awesome for fixing leaky hoses. The orange roll is transparent “Gorilla” tape. I used this to make a “temporary” repair on a light cluster a month back, but it’s still holding!

Nuts / bolts / screws - generally invaluable, but cover you if you lose one.

Wire - the uninsulated copper wire is great for holding together various failed components. I also carry aircraft locking wire.

I don’t carry many crimp terminals any more. I used to, but you end up carrying a load, and then need crimpers too. I do carry lengths of wire with popular terminals pre crimped. These work fine if I just need to take 12v to a fuel shutoff relay or somesuch.

I also carry 1/4 and 5/16 hoses (not shown) and decent quality hose clips. One reason for carrying your own stuff is that you control the quality. Nothing worse than trying to fix a coolant leak at night and stripping the screw heads on the crappy hose clips the petrol station sells!

I’m currently replacing all my insulating tape with better quality. I’m going for 3M Temflex but welcome other suggestions.

All this stuff is, of course, based on my own experiences. Feel free to share your own, and any tips for small / inexpensive consumables to carry. Pictures are always welcome.

I‘ll be especially interested to hear from “off road” enthusiasts.

 

[KnurledNut]

Nice writeup!

+1 on the stainless ties.

I keep a tiny container of silicone grease and blue loctite.

The valve stem caps that have a core tool built in are handy and super compact.

A few different sizes rubber heater hose caps (and couplers) can be invaluable when needed and can be multipurpose with worm clamps.

I keep a little box of spare fuses.

A small piece of gasket material or small tube of RTV might be good to include.

It could be beneficial to keep a spare coin cell battery that fits the key fob of the vehicle.

Screw-in tire plugs are tiny and can temporarily save a leaking tire in a pinch, and take up less room than a plug kit.

 

[CJM8515]

i have a kit very much like that when i go ride my atv far from home. its come in handy many, many times.

i will add you should get a tube of rtv, preferably copper and a gray or black tube. also a can of the quick drying right stuff silicone too. carb cleaner, some small cleaning brushes and a cheap crimper for terminals. i also throw in a cheap multi meter and some very large zip ties (the kind that are 1/4" wide and like 2 feet long). all of that has come in handy many many times.

 

[BarrelRoll]

jb weld quick comes in handy

 

[nadogail]

I have fixed a lot of things with JB Weld products.

 

[Jonboy1974]

I keep 2 sided 3m tape, quick 2 part epoxy, Loctite and Gorilla tape in addition to the similar stuff in your pack.

 

[captain14]

Dave455

Do you keep the assortment in its own container in your road box?

 

[Dave455]

Nice writeup!

+1 on the stainless ties.

I keep a tiny container of silicone grease and blue loctite.

The valve stem caps that have a core tool built in are handy and super compact.

A few different sizes rubber heater hose caps (and couplers) can be invaluable when needed and can be multipurpose with worm clamps.

I keep a little box of spare fuses.

A small piece of gasket material or small tube of RTV might be good to include.

It could be beneficial to keep a spare coin cell battery that fits the key fob of the vehicle.

Screw-in tire plugs are tiny and can temporarily save a leaking tire in a pinch, and take up less room than a plug kit.

Good advice.

I actually carry a valve core tool, though I’ve recently seen that Hazet offer a valve core tool that fit’s a 1/4” bit driver. Seems like a good idea. Might make one.

I keep pieces of Flexoid (that might be a British make - but basically gasket material) in different thicknesses at base, and just tend to bring it when needed.

I like those tyre plugs. Currently just switched from run flats to regular on my daily driver (vastly better ride) but flats are a concern as I don’t really have room for a spare.

 

[Dave455]

i have a kit very much like that when i go ride my atv far from home. its come in handy many, many times.

i will add you should get a tube of rtv, preferably copper and a gray or black tube. also a can of the quick drying right stuff silicone too. carb cleaner, some small cleaning brushes and a cheap crimper for terminals. i also throw in a cheap multi meter and some very large zip ties (the kind that are 1/4" wide and like 2 feet long). all of that has come in handy many many times.

Yes, I was thinking rtv might be useful. I have some, but need to get a smaller tube to carry.

I tend to bring a multi meter when needed, but I’ve always been reluctant to carry one around as I’m not sure that any of them are that rugged.

Although, I was gifted a cheapo ($10) Chinese one recently, which I thought I’d use for crappy jobs till it stopped working, but so far it hasn’t! I’m pleasantly surprised.

You’re right about the very large zip ties - I’ve got a couple of pack’s I picked up surplus, so I’ll add a couple.

 

[Dave455]

Dave455

Do you keep the assortment in its own container in your road box?

Yes. The term “road box” is perhaps a bit fancy, as it’s simply a plastic crate. In it I have an ex army .50” ammunition box that I keep tools in. All the consumables (less the big rolls of tape) fit in the smaller 7.62mm ammunition box. These boxes are not perfect, but they’re rugged, and they have an effective rubber seal.

Also in the crate are my Facom 3/8 drive set, and another metal box containing a first aid kit (School of life…)! This crate lives on a rack by my door so I can just grab it and go, without having to think too much or waste time packing stuff.

I have a second crate with jump leads, tow rope, hoses and bottles of oil and coolant, which I can also grab. I do some machine servicing so I’ve got things like SAE35 machine oil in there too, and of course a big hammer and pry bar.

I don’t generally leave all this stuff in a vehicle, there wouldn’t be any room for anything else! My vehicles each have a few tools (quantity varying with the age / reliability of the vehicle) and a few spares specific to the vehicle, generally in one box or bag.

 

[rockinacummins]

My road box consumables are similar:

JB weld
Black silicone gasket maker
Super glue
Thread sealer
Tire plugs
Tire patches
Vulcanizing cement
Anti-seize
Electrical **** splices
Zip ties
Black electrical tape
Gorilla tape
Penetrating oil
Starting fluid
Brake cleaner
Spray grease
Paint pens
Permanent markers

 

[KnurledNut]

Yes. The term “road box” is perhaps a bit fancy, as it’s simply a plastic crate. In it I have an ex army .50” ammunition box that I keep tools in. All the consumables (less the big rolls of tape) fit in the smaller 7.62mm ammunition box. These boxes are not perfect, but they’re rugged, and they have an effective rubber seal.

Also in the crate are my Facom 3/8 drive set, and another metal box containing a first aid kit (School of life…)! This crate lives on a rack by my door so I can just grab it and go, without having to think too much or waste time packing stuff.

I have a second crate with jump leads, tow rope, hoses and bottles of oil and coolant, which I can also grab. I do some machine servicing so I’ve got things like SAE35 machine oil in there too, and of course a big hammer and pry bar.

I don’t generally leave all this stuff in a vehicle, there wouldn’t be any room for anything else! My vehicles each have a few tools (quantity varying with the age / reliability of the vehicle) and a few spares specific to the vehicle, generally in one box or bag.

Nice!
Got any pics of your ammo can toolbox setup?
I use one on a regular basis.

 

[Dave455]

Nice!
Got any pics of your ammo can toolbox setup?
I use one on a regular basis.

Basically this.

Old pic and I‘ve made a few changes since then - I have added 3/8 drive hex and torx bits now, and a couple of bigger wrenches. There was also a punch set not shown, and a couple of small oddments. Box is maxed out now, which stops me adding any more!

I’d like bigger hammers but that’s one of the limitations of ammo boxes. I have a big old 3lb ball pein that rides loose in one of the crates.

I don’t have any fitted trays like I do in some of my other boxes. I should make some, but these road boxes are constantly evolving. I wrap everything in rag to prevent rattling / damage, and that gives me a supply of rags at the job!

The ammo box isn’t perfect but works for me.

 

[silkman]

Guys, there is no limit to what you can add to a "mobile" kit; but it has to stay mobile

To the OP: Excellent set of consumables, I'd only add some good double sided tape to the lot.
Tesa 55732 is the best I've come across. I'm in EU so availability may vary.

 

[captain14]

The big issue is when you keep adding items, it gets to heavy to carry easily. I have a second bag with other tools that I bring out when I need more.

I like the crate “theme” with enough to get started.

 

[KnurledNut]

Basically this.

Old pic and I‘ve made a few changes since then - I have added 3/8 drive hex and torx bits now, and a couple of bigger wrenches. There was also a punch set not shown, and a couple of small oddments. Box is maxed out now, which stops me adding any more!

I’d like bigger hammers but that’s one of the limitations of ammo boxes. I have a big old 3lb ball pein that rides loose in one of the crates.

I don’t have any fitted trays like I do in some of my other boxes. I should make some, but these road boxes are constantly evolving. I wrap everything in rag to prevent rattling / damage, and that gives me a supply of rags at the job!

The ammo box isn’t perfect but works for me.

Love it.
Useful selection of tools.
Ive been evolving mine for a long time, as it gets used frequently, not just for emergencies.
Ive enjoyed the challenge of working with a limited footprint.
Ill see if I can get some pics.

 

[Dave455]

Guys, there is no limit to what you can add to a "mobile" kit; but it has to stay mobile

To the OP: Excellent set of consumables, I'd only add some good double sided tape to the lot.
Tesa 55732 is the best I've come across. I'm in EU so availability may vary.

Ahh yes, I’ve seen Tesa tapes around but don’t know much about them. I’m in the U.K. so we tend to get Euro brands (and U.S.) as well as domestic, so sometimes get lost among all the choices. I notice they offer a wide selection of types, including some unique ones.

 

[Dave455]

The big issue is when you keep adding items, it gets to heavy to carry easily. I have a second bag with other tools that I bring out when I need more.

I like the crate “theme” with enough to get started.

This is exactly the problem. The box gets too big, so you just grab a screwdriver and pliers for a job, then find out you just need one more tool that would have been in the small box anyway.

Having the separate boxes I can chuck the crate in a vehicle, or just the loose boxes if I’m getting a lift in a Fiat 500…!

 

[Dave455]

Love it.
Useful selection of tools.
Ive been evolving mine for a long time, as it gets used frequently, not just for emergencies.
Ive enjoyed the challenge of working with a limited footprint.
Ill see if I can get some pics.

Yes, this is where I am too. This box probably evolved over ten years plus, and that’s exactly how I use mine too.

There’s always stuff I’m tempted to add - a decent 1/4” set with all the bits, a 1/2” drive set, wrenches up to say 30mm and 1 1/4”, not to mention a pair of 10” Knipex Cobra’s. But… all that would probably double the bulk and weight, which would wreck the utility for me.

As things stand I always grab at least this box for any job, then add other stuff as required - typically socket sets appropriate to the job. I have a little Hazet 3/8 drive set with SAE and Whit sockets that’s perfect if I’m setting up a machine tool.

 

[KnurledNut]

Yes, this is where I am too. This box probably evolved over ten years plus, and that’s exactly how I use mine too.

There’s always stuff I’m tempted to add - a decent 1/4” set with all the bits, a 1/2” drive set, wrenches up to say 30mm and 1 1/4”, not to mention a pair of 10” Knipex Cobra’s. But… all that would probably double the bulk and weight, which would wreck the utility for me.

As things stand I always grab at least this box for any job, then add other stuff as required - typically socket sets appropriate to the job. I have a little Hazet 3/8 drive set with SAE and Whit sockets that’s perfect if I’m setting up a machine tool.

I feel ya. Mine is heavy, but so compact and handy.