roadside repairs
- Thread starter southpier
- Start date
Scout Driver
Well-known member
They could save your life, your car, or the life or car of another motorist. Commercial trucks are required to carry them for good reason. They are very effective at herding motorists away from your stranded car and you as you work on it.
If I remember correctly, there are 3 in a set.
Scott
If I remember correctly, there are 3 in a set.
Scott
nehog
Well-known member
Uh, in a bigger truck, over 10K GVRW? Yes, DOT regulations. Smaller vehicles, cars and vans etc? Maybe a good idea.
december45
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2009
- Messages
- 1,580
carry them when i tow anything... and especially when i tow the Travel Trailer
You need a little extra something to be seen in the dark.
I've got some cheap blinking LED ones.
HOTFR8
Banned
It is law here to carry them when your vehicle is over a certain size.
4StarCstms
Well-known member
Its a good idea to carry em, if you dont want triangles, get some flares ...
We carried flares on the ambulances,they do not alway light easily. They only last 20 minutes, tops. We did not seem to have time to keep an eye on the flares, so sometimes they burned out. Or if we put out more, we left the flares burning for no reason. If we sent a bystander to put out more flares, they often did not do as they were told, then the flares did not ignite. And I always worried about flammable liquids.
I carry the triangles in my service vans.
I carry the triangles in my service vans.
dolfans
Well-known member
I have seen a Audi have some mounted on the trunk lid inside
Mike in Ohio
Well-known member
Quick story about those. I was coming out of Indianapolis with a heavy load of Gatorade. I got off of rt. 70 to go to a truck stop to check my axle placement. The truck stalled in the left turn lane of the on ramp and wouldn't restart. I put out my triangles and walk across the street to the shop at the truck stop to get them to send their service truck over. When I get back to the truck no triangles in sight but an Indiana state trooper is behind the truck with his lights flashing. I walk up to the car and he grins and says I know you had the triangles out I saw the mess from them getting run over.
They are a good idea but might not last long when you put them out.
They are a good idea but might not last long when you put them out.
ddawg16
Well-known member
If you have space for them....worth the time to carry....
But I would like to point out that it 'could' create one problem....drunk drivers.....
Here in 'sunny' California, you will typically see the CHP NOT using the rotators when they pull someone over....they 'think' that rotating lights tend to attract drunks....
Since they have stopped using the rotators, I believe the number of CHP units rear ended by drunks has gone down....Ray CA....confirm?
In the grand scheme of things...some reflectors is better than no reflectors.....
But....it there is anyway you can make it to an exit and get totally off the fwy.....do it....but I also realize that sometimes you can't....hence, toss out the reflectors.....
BTW....how many of you have shown your spouse what to do in case of a breakdown? You would not belive how many women I come across with a disabled car, just stitting there....no blinkers...hood NOT up....on the cell phone calling for help.....
The universal sign in the US that you have car trouble is to raise the hood....second...turn on the emergency flashers.....
One last thing.....if you are in an accident.....and it is on the fwy or a real busy road....unless your car will not move...drive it to the side of the road out of traffic.....especially in todays world of cell phones and texting.....GET THAT CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC.....
But I would like to point out that it 'could' create one problem....drunk drivers.....
Here in 'sunny' California, you will typically see the CHP NOT using the rotators when they pull someone over....they 'think' that rotating lights tend to attract drunks....
Since they have stopped using the rotators, I believe the number of CHP units rear ended by drunks has gone down....Ray CA....confirm?
In the grand scheme of things...some reflectors is better than no reflectors.....
But....it there is anyway you can make it to an exit and get totally off the fwy.....do it....but I also realize that sometimes you can't....hence, toss out the reflectors.....
BTW....how many of you have shown your spouse what to do in case of a breakdown? You would not belive how many women I come across with a disabled car, just stitting there....no blinkers...hood NOT up....on the cell phone calling for help.....
The universal sign in the US that you have car trouble is to raise the hood....second...turn on the emergency flashers.....
One last thing.....if you are in an accident.....and it is on the fwy or a real busy road....unless your car will not move...drive it to the side of the road out of traffic.....especially in todays world of cell phones and texting.....GET THAT CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC.....
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Enough said.
eldirector
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2008
- Messages
- 608
I've never used the triangles, but I have used flares. I keep a couple in the truck. I've also used some old traffic cones I keep around the garage. I'll throw them in the truck when I get a call for help from family. If I'll be more than a couple of minutes on the side of the road, (like changing a tire), I'll set out the cones.
LocoCoco
Well-known member
I specifically instruct my spouse to NOT open the hood if she breaks down on the side of the road. Reason being is I don't want her advertising that she's stranded and left vulnerable. The right creep would be less likely to act if it looks like she's just pulled over to talk on her cell and can drive away at any time. If she's alone I tell her to pull over with the blinker on, keep the car running and lights on if she can then call me. If someone does pull over to offer assistance, stay in the car, doors locked, window down only a few inches, then call someone and keep them on the phone while you talk with the stranger. It may sound paranoid, but horrific events do sometimes begin just like this.
On the flip-side, I've stopped to offer assistance to stranded vehicles. To ease the tensions of a stranded woman by herself I pull over in front of her car instead of behind, walk to her door but stop at a fair distance and not be insulted if she only opens her window a crack. I'll offer whatever and if she tells me she doesn't need my help I won't push and I'll accept her answer and be on my way.
That all said, I think putting reflectors out could be both good and bad depending on the situation.
LC.
Honestly, you can't fix stupid. (I believe that's been said before) The triangles should help with your visiblity. If somebody is going to hit them or you, something is going to get hit.
We were filling grass trucks up from a hydrant. The engine was at the side street, with emergency lights on. The grass trucks had their lights on. An orange traffic cone with a LZ strobe was placed in the road, it got run over.
We were filling grass trucks up from a hydrant. The engine was at the side street, with emergency lights on. The grass trucks had their lights on. An orange traffic cone with a LZ strobe was placed in the road, it got run over.
This made me laugh. Sad, but probably true.
saturdaymechanic
Well-known member
I bought my wife a self jump start battery in the event she would need one. No reason for her to wait for AAA in the dark or ask some dude for a jump.
I also wouldn't want her advertising she is stuck with the hood up. I like what LocoCoco said, and I'll tell my wife to call me and then Geico or AAA. She also carries a small canister of Mace in the glove box. Never can tell these days.
I have a small junkyard set in the back of her car, but that is when I am driving (she has the Murano aka the family car, I drive the Altima).
I'm thinking about getting a set of reflectors now.
I also wouldn't want her advertising she is stuck with the hood up. I like what LocoCoco said, and I'll tell my wife to call me and then Geico or AAA. She also carries a small canister of Mace in the glove box. Never can tell these days.
I have a small junkyard set in the back of her car, but that is when I am driving (she has the Murano aka the family car, I drive the Altima).
I'm thinking about getting a set of reflectors now.
the reflectors came today.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CCDG34/?tag=atomicindus08-20
anybody know how to work these? i got the triangle put together, and turned it 90 degrees so it stands up, but there's a wire which extends the length of the base (hollow & filled with sand).
Q: what does the wire do?
thanks
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CCDG34/?tag=atomicindus08-20
anybody know how to work these? i got the triangle put together, and turned it 90 degrees so it stands up, but there's a wire which extends the length of the base (hollow & filled with sand).
Q: what does the wire do?
thanks
NJHandyGuy
Well-known member
Oh Yeah
My buddy Mike and i were driving about a year ago he got a flat coming over a hill and pulled over as he was setting up the reflctors a lady in a sebring came over the hill and smached into the back of his colorado totalling it. there are place where sight is everything whe oyur not in one refectors can save your life
My buddy Mike and i were driving about a year ago he got a flat coming over a hill and pulled over as he was setting up the reflctors a lady in a sebring came over the hill and smached into the back of his colorado totalling it. there are place where sight is everything whe oyur not in one refectors can save your life
nflfreak43
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2011
- Messages
- 164
another good thing to have is a reflective neon green or orange vest... makes it easier for drivers to see you... along with the Triangles...
Drew_flux
Well-known member
ive got a set of flashing ones in the back of the car, i think it's better to look like a **** puting them out,than getting runover whilst changing a flat.