Car/truck everyday supplies

[hurley842002]

I will say that I am always amazed the number of people that think that 4X4 sticker means four wheel drive.

X2 and most find out otherwise, the first time they decide they want to actually use that "4x4" for what it was meant for. I was only a week or so into my 16th birthday when I found out that 4x4 wasn't really four wheel drive. It is truly amazing what you can do in 2 wheel drive with a locker, throw it in 4 wheel drive, and it's night and day, add a front locker, and you are entering a whole new ball game. I won't own a rig that see's any amount of trail time, without throwing at least a rear locker in it.

[jerrymrc]

Besides the hand warmers I also carry one more thing. The military used to have a chemical heating pad that was good for 8 uses. It does get hot (143 tested today) and it lasts for 8 hours each application.

I did a little searching and they are not available as a set but you can still buy the refill surplus here http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/...g-pad-3749.cfm

These are not a toy but having one could be a lifesaver in the winter. Since they are activated by water you need to store it in a waterproof bag. The ones I have are from 83-88. My cheap tip for my friends.

[thecatsfan]

I have had ARB air lockers in several vehicles. Had front and rears in my Wrangler TJ. That Jeep was a beast. RE long arm kit with 35" Pro Comps, 12K winch, roller bumpers, aircraft lights, and on and on. Wife hated it so it is long gone.

Richmond doesn't make a lock-rite for my truck and I have never owned one. I only know what I have seen from other owners. I have heard other wheelers we used to run with complain that the axle will sometimes bind and remain locked when it should differentiate freeley. I definitely would not want a ratcheting locker in a front axle. A selectable locker like an Ox Locker or ARB would be my preference. If a front axle locks when you don't want it, you will almost certainly lose steering control of the vehicle.

Lockers are great equipment, but I would suggest a manual locker for the front axle - and somecareful practice. Honestly, if you don't have experience with them, front lockers can be dangerous. More than a few Rubicons have been wrecked by first time 4 wheelers thinking lockers made their $25K Wranglers invincible. I also got to watch a Grand Cherokee with lockers rollover backwards down the quarry at Moody Hill because the vehicle had all the traction in the world and the driver again felt invincible. Traction is not always your friend, especially if you start rolling backwards.

Like many tools, lockers are great, but can be used incorrectly and have equally negative effects.

[Colorado Pete]

Not to divert the thread any more, but what do you guys think of limited slips? I was thinking Detroit True-Trac (gear drive LS) for my pickup rear end.

[Mick-Boy]

One thing you might think about adding to a car/truck kit is a high visibility jacket or vest in case you have to change a tire on the side of the road when visability is limited (Ask me how I know. )

[ldmaster]

I always overpack on trips. But I've learned a few tricks to help if things go south . . .

I once saw a tow truck driver change a flat in about 4 minutes. He used a rechargeable DeWalt 18v impact wrench. (Note, NOT an impact driver which has a hammer action) He'd used a scissors jack with a hex bolt, the wrench pushed the car up in about 10 seconds, the lug nuts didn't take more than 20 seconds. The new tire was on and tightened pretty quick.

so I bought a used DeWalt 18v impact wrench, I keep an inverter in my car and found a scissors jack that was the same size as my lugs on my truck.

A "jump start" kit. It's basically a sealed motorcycle battery. My kit, bought at Costco, has a rudimentary air compressor (works for air mattresses too) and a 12v and 110v output option.

I switched to an Optima AGM type battery too. I've shaken a battery once too often when I'm driving ON the road and had it fail due to internal shorts, the AGM (absorbed glass mat) type batteries are very very sturdy in this regard, they can also be fully discharged without risking killing the battery (deep cycle I think people call it). In our harsh weather having a battery fail after two years is just nuts (and common). Generally the AGM batteries last from 5 to 10 years, mine is at 6.

If you're going to have a chain to pull things out, have a tow strap also. A chain is great, but it has no "give" and you can damage your vehicle if you use it exclusively to pull yourself or others out.

I never, ever use the spare tires that are the space saver kind. Go down to your wrecker and buy a spare rim and tire. A full size spare is essential. The space saver spare is like putting a patch on a condom, sure it works in THEORY, but when your life is at stake!

I try to carry two spare tires on long trips, but I have a bumper mount for a spare and a front bumper mount for the second one.

[Irving]

Road flares are pretty cheap as well.

[KevDen2005]

Road flares are pretty cheap as well.

That is one thing I am seriously lacking. Dumb question, maybe because I have never actually looked to buy road flares, but where does one buy such things?

[Irving]

Army Surplus store. Leave your gun at home when you go though. I don't want you to kill yourself when you find out how cheap a 3 pack is.

[KevDen2005]

Army Surplus store. Leave your gun at home when you go though. I don't want you to kill yourself when you find out how cheap a 3 pack is.

Oh Stuart....you kill me....ZINGGGGG