[T2] 3rd annual father son trip

[david raistrick]

On Thu, Jul 6, 2017 at 6:02 PM, Bob Pratt <ka1dza at verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather in the Northeast.
> My son and I are departing Massachusetts and traveling to Georgia stopping at various points of interest along the way.
> I have checked, replaced, and repaired everything on "Myles."
> My question is what tools should I carry with me? I'm a bit nervous taking the bus for the first time, but it's on my bucket list.  I know it will be fun as long as nothing goes wrong.
> I do have a fire extinguisher and a AAA card!
> TIA!!!
>

the most important these days:

spare cell phone power. :)  (portable battery pack)


things I like to take on out of town trips:

jumper cables (for me or them) - these days I tend to grab my jump
box, instead, so I can jump myself...  it can even ride on the spare
battery tray.

tow strap (slid into a ditch more times than I want to remember in
snow or wet shoulders)

spare fan belt x2 (and make sure it's the right one.  I like to put a
new one on before I go, and add the just-removed belt to the spares so
I KNOW it fit...)

spare oil.  how much depends on your leak/burn rate, of course.
refill the spares on the road!   I usually dont travel with spare GL4
gear oil since a major gear oil leak is more than a road side
fix-and-limp IME.  and most NAPAs have it (or used to)

spare brake fluid.

spare water.  the drinking kind.   I like to keep a separate stash
with the emergency supplies (refreshed for a trip) away from my normal
trip supplies in case I drink the normal supply.   nothing like being
stuck in the heat without it.

the spare tire.  with air in it.   A compact air pump, tire plug kit
(and/or slime), and a jack and lug wrench you're comfortable using.
A few spare lug bolts tucked away don't hurt either...     and tire
pressure gauge.

the jack:  I travel with an alum floor jack that I know has enough
lift to get my tires off.  I hate the space it kills, but I haven't
found anything better that's more compact.   (I've been looking
lately, though).   I guess I could fall back on my stock jack since my
jack points are solid.  but if they're not, you need something that
can lift at the torsion beams..    I usually use my jack at least once
on any trip, though usually for another bus along the way, not mine.


the usual hand tools assortment.   a basic metric socket and combo
wrench set (or at minimum a deep 1/4 drive 10mm socket for the distr,
a 13mm combo for the carb, an 8mm combo (the 8/13 stock tools are good
here) for the accel and heater cables, and whatever your battery
clamps need.  probably a 13mm socket for the battery hold down).   a
small assortment of the usual screwdrivers.   tools to adjust valves
(unless you're hydraulic), tools to adjust brakes.     and of course
that lug wrench.  that's usually a 19mm deep socket and breaker bar.
 whatever you need to get your hub caps off, if you run them.   a
basic slip joint plier, and maybe a diag cutter. a hammer.  elec tape.
  how far this kit goes is up to you... :)   Depends on your level of
road side repair skills/desire.  You can always tool-up at the auto
parts store that you find whatever you need to fix whatever is broken
as an alternative.