What's your basic Tool Kit in the Trunk Emergency Road Kit

[mobiledynamics]

I've done quite a bit of long distance runs in my younger days...
I'm more a fly type of guy these days.

Need to make a run with a trailer in tow from NYC to FL and back....
Triple AAA is my best friend.....
Just short of my 315 tires that are loves picking up nails - aside from a compressor, plug kit, bottle of oil and hell , some *magic hose tape* and some antifreeze, anything else to add to my small crash kit.

 

[metaleltr]

1/2 drive sockets to fit the lug on your truck and trailer, plus your axle nut on the trailer and nut on your trailer ball.
1/2 breaker bar
3/8 drive socket set standard and metric if the trailer has standard fasteners.
Set of combination wrenches
screwdrivers
pliers-slip joint, channelock, side cutters, needle nose
Jack capable of lifting your truck or your trailer
blocking or jack stand
2.5lb sledge hammer
Spare bearings, races, and seals plus grease for trailer
wire strippers/crimpers and electrical connectors for trailer lighting repairs

Pretty much the minimum we take when pulling anything across state lines. I figure with those tools I can do just about anything but rebuild major assemblies on the roadside.

 

[ryaninmichigan]

When we go to remote areas I pack enough to do everything short of rebuild the engine

 

[Neuswede]

spare light bulbs, flash light(s), zip ties, first aid kit. My road kit also includes a test light and a test meter. On the trailer, I keep duplicates of everything, such as cotter pins or linch pins or spare bolts. I also keep a couple extra lengths of safety chain, chain quick links, a box with various ratchet straps (various lengths), axles straps and extra ratchet binders. It also depends on what you are hauling on the trailer. Cars are easier. If hauling equipment or scooters then I have multiples of various sizes of smaller ratchet straps, too. I also have various lengths of blocking (2x4 or 2x6) that I keep on hand, depending on the intended load.

For emergency use, a disabled vehicle kit, flares, and triangles are good to have too.

 

[paullie]

Cell phone, cash and credit card

 

[Burtonrider10022]

I have a Sterilite hinged top "File Box" plastic tote that I keep in my cargo area. Like THIS that I keep some things in. Current list is:

5.11 Tactical "Light for Life" - No batteries (uses 3 small capacitors), takes 60 SECONDS to charge and then has 1 hour useable light (then just another 60 sec.) Can be hard-wired in to vehicle as no batteries means no over-charging (the instructions actually recommend it be kept ON the charger 24/7 when not in use) - Strobe feature works wonders for attracting attention or warning others - Great, great purchase IMO - THIS ONE

12V Air Compressor - THIS ONE

Jumper Cables (I took a bathroom type travel bag and put it in there for neatness)

Craftsman 1/2" Breaker Bar

Harbor Freight 37 pc. Impact Set - THIS ONE - I got it for only $25 and it's well worth that, quality is far from USA made but also pretty far from the usual HF ****, highly recommended for a car kit, comes with a fairly sturdy case as well.

Hats and gloves in the winter - Good quality, warm, gloves.

Work Gloves - Currently MIA, I need to replace them ASAP

200/400 watt power inverter - Enercell brand, it was cheap but it's held up quite well.

1 gallon gas can - empty, but if I ever run out, I can avoid paying $13 for one at 7-11

Roll of paper towels - cuz changing tires can get messy and I keep my car clean

30' Tow Strap w/ hooks

2" Reciever mounted 'D Ring' Tow hook - THIS ONE - May be an HF special, but I only need it to save me from calling a tow truck once and it's paid for itself ten-fold

Reflective Safety Vest - Can often be found for free, and why not?

Bottle of Washer Fluid - Has come in handy more than once.

Hand Sanitizer - I just always have a bottle or two of this around.

Zip Ties - A dozen 10" cable ties are cheap, compact, and can save your ***.



To clarify, the impact set, fluid, and air pump are stored under my passenger seat. Overkill? Not IMO. I've had it happen more than once that I've wanted/needed an item like this but it's been in the garage.


On my list to add: 12V jump box (which I will probably replace the cables with, IDK though, cables are quite compact...) and a set of the little orange disks with the LED's in them that act as warning triangles/flares.

 

[benchracer]

Great list!
I'd like to add, a small propane torch with the ignitor built in. Thaw out frozen locks, free rusted bolts and whatever else. Saved my **** on a snowmobile trip once. Also, a piece of carpet or cardboard to lay on if you need to crawl under your vehicle.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Great list!
I'd like to add, a small propane torch with the ignitor built in. Thaw out frozen locks, free rusted bolts and whatever else. Saved my **** on a snowmobile trip once. Also, a piece of carpet or cardboard to lay on if you need to crawl under your vehicle.

I'll do ya one better for frozen locks (I also have this in my kit, I forgot to add it) is a bottle of hand sanitizer. The alcohol in the sanitizer works GREAT as an ice melt. I use it on padlocks all the time. (I more frequently oil them as well, just in case the sanitizer isn't good for them)

 

[metaleltr]

spare light bulbs, flash light(s), zip ties, first aid kit. My road kit also includes a test light and a test meter. On the trailer, I keep duplicates of everything, such as cotter pins or linch pins or spare bolts. I also keep a couple extra lengths of safety chain, chain quick links, a box with various ratchet straps (various lengths), axles straps and extra ratchet binders. It also depends on what you are hauling on the trailer. Cars are easier. If hauling equipment or scooters then I have multiples of various sizes of smaller ratchet straps, too. I also have various lengths of blocking (2x4 or 2x6) that I keep on hand, depending on the intended load.

For emergency use, a disabled vehicle kit, flares, and triangles are good to have too.

Somehow I forgot zip ties and cotter pins.

 

[goodspeed]

Here's my tool bag. There's some stuff in it that isn't pictured, like a flashlight, scantool, and some other junk.

That's where it goes in the vehicle. Behind it is a basic Stanley 3/8" socket set that's a lot easier to grab than pawing through the bag for something easy.

Those THULE bags under the rifle have been replaced with milspec molle attachment bags for the military's ILBE system. They fit much better, and currently hold a towel, funnel, small rag for checking oil, etc.

Under the carpet is another compartment that has a pair of my snowboard pants, gloves, a fleece jacket, rain coat (which can be used in conjunction with the fleece for a waterproof jacket), pair of shoes/socks/underwear. If you've ever had to fix your car in the rain in the winter, having all that stuff to, if nothing else, change into when you're done makes the job much more bearable.

There's also a fire extinguisher. jumper cables, first aid kit, etc, on the cage thing on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Hope that helps.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

The AR-15 it's a nice touch lol

 

[goodspeed]

Haha, well, when I built the racks, I had more rifles than bags, so I figured that it'd be nice to have a place to hold one when going to the range. Works pretty well for being made out of scrap steel.

The rifle isn't there all the time, though. I should add that before someone tries to "borrow" it. Lol.

 

[bigbubba]

What kind of mount is the AR in?

 

[goodspeed]

Handmade out of huge nails I had laying around the garage.

These are the hooks for the rifle. I split some fuel line down the center so I could slip it over the steel, then ziptied it on. it sits perfectly against the headliner. So much so that the barrel points about 4 or 5" over my (6ft 1 or so) head. Wouldn't keep it loaded, anyway, but still helps.

Since the roof is a little taller than the window, it actually sits above where you'd be able to see it in the window. I usually just keep a youth model 22 in there and a box of 22lr, just in case a rabid animal wonders up or something.

That's the opposite side. My windows are tinted pretty dark in the back, so it's hard to look in and tell that all the stuff is there, plus I live in a pretty small town, so a breakin has never been an issue.

 

[Angelfire]

Hand tools, air tools, jumper cables, fluids, u-joints, axles, flashlight(s), blanket, extra jacket, water, inverter, grease, CO2, welder, and a bunch of other things I'm forgetting about. It's a jeep thing!

 

[c4cruiser]

You didn't say how big the trailer is or the number of axles, but take at least one mounted spare tire. For a dual axle trailer, take two spares. There are drive-on trailer ramps for changing a tire and they work much better than trying to get a hydraulic jack under the trailer.

Get a jumper pack with an air compressor. That way there is no need for jumper cables and you can air up a tire if it goes flat. Most of these jumper packs can be recharged by using a cigarette lighter or 12 power plug in the car. They come with a cable with 12v plugs on both ends. Many will have a decent light for a work area.

Another nice thing to carry is a battery-operated 1/2" drive impact wrench. Some offer up to 500 ft-lbs of torque and they beat trying to use a factory wrench or even a "star" wrench.

 

[bigbubba]

Thanks Good Speed!! That is a pretty slick cage

 

[Tarheelgarage]

No emergecny tool kit is complete unless it includes a few mini bottles of your favorite whiskey......

 

[KPSquared]

What ever you do, make sure EVERYTHING is secured. Goodspeed's setup is sweet, but that big wrench and chuck of square tubing are gonna punch a large hole in your head, even in a low speed wreck.

Strap it down, screw it down, tape it down, I don't care, as long as it can't move under any circumstance. The only thing that should move in a crash are your floor mats. . .everything else is shrapnel.

 

[goodspeed]

What ever you do, make sure EVERYTHING is secured. Goodspeed's setup is sweet, but that big wrench and chuck of square tubing are gonna punch a large hole in your head, even in a low speed wreck.

Strap it down, screw it down, tape it down, I don't care, as long as it can't move under any circumstance. The only thing that should move in a crash are your floor mats. . .everything else is shrapnel.

I agree. I should mention that the big wrench and piece of square tubing were used to bend the rifle rack into the perfect position and were removed as I was cleaning up after the photos. I specifically built the cages to at least be able to hook a carabiner onto so it can't go careening through the car.