SvenDriver Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 Anyone have any thoughts on what would make a sensible spares/toolkit for a long tour. I'm thinking: Accelerator & Clutch cables Bulbs Fuses Tyre repair fluid Tyre pressure guage Molegrips and wrench (emergencies only) Fluids - Oil, Brake, Coolant Roof Optimax 😬 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 RAC card...... (Looking on the bright side 😬) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 I usually carry a small container of Radweld to use as a 'Get you home measure'. Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Plant Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 Minno trailer. Tow car boot full of tools. Martin www.caterhamblackbird.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 In mine I have nothing except fuses and spray because I have no spare wheel Of course I have a mobile, some money and a visa card I have a friend with a boot full of tools : he is always in trouble with his 7 eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 I forget to say that I have mine for 5 years now and mre than 30 K miles and no break down ....until now eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 Screwdriver/spanners so you can change the accelarator/clutch cables, plus rear exhaust mount bobin. Mark D Su77on Se7ens Avoiding the Kerbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miraz Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 a few more for the list... alternator belt + suitable ratchet spanner for tensioner, and locking nuts radiator thermo switch - small, cheap, easy to swap and pita if it goes wrong oil pressure sender - these always seem to fail on longer trips A small selection of ratchet spanners with adaptors for hex keys and common sockets will allow most problems to be sorted without needing to invoke the recovery services. Small length of rubber hose for bleeding brakes Duct tape 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 Cable ties, 5l fuel jerry can, I would take a spare tyre rather than tyre foam if it was a long trip to somewhere remote, like Scottish highlands, as it may be difficult to get a new tyre to replace one filled with tyre foam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 31, 2016 Member Share Posted May 31, 2016 Thread resurrection because I can't now find any of those helpful big lists.The bits that surprised me were the cables, but I get the point.Tool tubes and fitted bags Bulk Buy.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Deacon Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Just back from Pau and took the following.Clutch cable, Throttle cable (not the real one as they are expensive but a bowden cable with end nipples), fuses, spare wire, tie wraps, tape, tools, fuel pump (2nd hand spare), plugs, ignition leads, Idle control valve, Throttle position sensor, Alternator (heavy spare but essential if one fails) (No starter as you can always push start), bulbs, tyre repair foam and spare tyre. Various nuts and bolts, gasket sealant etc.The only thing that failed in a 1600 mile trip was the indicator flasher unit, and I did not have one of those! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 31, 2016 Member Share Posted May 31, 2016 The only thing that failed in a 1600 mile trip was the indicator flasher unit, and I did not have one of those! What's the French for Sod's Law?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnockoff Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Perhaps it's just me, but filling, what is laughingly described as a boot in our little cars, with everything but the kitchen sink is ridiculous. In addition to the obligatory items, bulbs and warning triangle, a small bag of tools, cable ties, throttle and clutch cables and exhaust bobbin is about the limit in my view.I usually have my car serviced and Mot a couple of months before we usually go abroad in August and in six years of touring in Europe including half way down in Italy have only had to replace the bobbin and that was back at the place we were staying, using the cable ties as a 'get you home' in the first instance. Anything major, RAC or equivalent. Ps. I will accept tyre gloop if you haven't got a spare.Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Deacon Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 All down to luck rather than servicing. In the last few years I have changed various items on either my cars ( MGB, Cat 7 and MR2) or cars traveling in company in Europe. Have changed fuel pump, Dynomo /alternator, tightened various things and even stripped a brake master cylinder to fit a new seals kit. Have also been told stories of people having their trip canceled with very simply faults , i.e. alternator, water pump and fuel pump (Su type on an MG which probably just needed a clout to persuade it back into life for a while). Surprising what you can get into a 7 "boot" and footwell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Deacon Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Sods Law........ Motte de loi (at least I think it is!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted May 31, 2016 Member Share Posted May 31, 2016 Motte de loi:-), and you avoided the gazon trap.Loi de l'Emmerdement MaximumJonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I'm with the other Brian.Done quite a few long distance trips, and use the car a lot otherwise, and other than the AA/RAC card, spare bulbs, just jammed some tools in the jack bag (adjustable, allen keys, screwdrivers, 10mm,13mm ring spanner, some cable ties, a length of wire), shoved a spare clutch and accelerator cable behind the heater lip under the bonnet and stuffed a spare fan belt around the heater inlet, that's it. Working on the theory if I need to, or even if I need someone else to work on it, I've got the sensible bits, anything else I can be recovered somewhere and it fixed.In 15 yrs of abuse, I've changed one headlight bulb (under a garage canopy, in a rain storm, somewhere by a glacier in Austria), adjusted one front wheel bearing (in a warm car park somewhere in southern France), ty-wrapped the speedo sensor in place in Germany (still there 12 yrs later - the sensor on the car that is!) and that's it.Gave a spare exhaust bobbin to someone else once.A good going over before a trip and replacing the worn, about to break, looks dodgy bits seems to have worked, and generally keeping it in good nick anyway.Would you take all that exra crap in the tin-top? I never used to on regular working commutes from Yorkshire to Aachen in a Lancia integrale, and still wouldn't.Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Deacon Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 "Extra crap" seems to be the alternator and the fuel pump? Fuel pump fits in your pocket and alternator is no bigger than my wash bag so not sure why taking them is an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Davey Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 All that 'gazon' crap is priceless.Remember; the French adore a bit of direct action; mow your lawn at the wrong time for the commune and suddenly the autoroutes of La Belle France are blocked by tonnes ( metric) of dumped farmers manure (interestingly 'fumier' in French) No amount of 7 spares can prepare you for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 In the above tool box I'm able to fit the following:Throttle cable innerAlternator belt, fan & strapSpark plugsOil/water senderFuses & relaysBulbsThermostatFan switchExhaust & radiator bobbinsSump plugWheel nutsBattery master switch & keyCable ties (all sizes)Jubilee clipsDuct tapeMiscellaneous fixings, wire & connectorsInsulating tapeVelcro pads & rollQuicksteelAluminium tapeSolderless nipplesWD40 (small can)Spanner roll (metric)Mini spannersHalfords Pro toolkits x 2Allen keys (metric)Tool roll (see below for contents)Small multimeterTowing strapTorchLeatherman/Gerber tool Under the front of the passenger seat a tool roll is strapped containing:Stub-nosed, long-nosed & water pump pliersMole gripsAdjustable spanners (standard & extra wide)Ratchet handle & extensions18mm, 19mm, ¾” & spark plug socketsSide cuttersStubby screwdrivers (flat & cross head) and finally a spare clutch cable lies in the boot, so I'm hardly wasting valuable storage space...In 17 years or touring I must confess to not having to use much of the above myself but I would say that approx. 50% of the above spares have been used to helps others out....... I'm definitely in the 'if you've got it you won't need it' camp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacken Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 One thing people always seem to forget is a spare pair of wiper blades (if your car has a windscreen of course). A few years ago, we drove up the M40 at night in a horrendous rainstorm. One of the wipers sheared in half where the rivet is attached and the arm carved an arc in the glass. Unbelievably, we were unable to buy a replacement at Stoneleigh......a kitcar show! Thankfully, a club member had a spare which got us home. The moral of the story is to carry a spare wiper blade!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacken Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 One thing people always seem to forget is a spare pair of wiper blades (if your car has a windscreen of course). A few years ago, we drove up the M40 at night in a horrendous rainstorm. One of the wipers sheared in half where the rivet is attached and the arm carved an arc in the glass. Unbelievably, we were unable to buy a replacement at Stoneleigh......a kitcar show! Thankfully, a club member had a spare which got us home. The moral of the story is to carry a spare wiper blade!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john aston Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Some (sensible) crimes against Colin Chapman's Add Lightness ,mantra.here. ACBC would have taken the smallest and lightest of phones and nothing else apart from his genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ. Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Self amalgating tape is good for repairing hoses. The AA got my brother's Esprit home using it and is no heavier than a roll of electrical tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 1, 2016 Member Share Posted June 1, 2016 Hadn't noticed the Soft Bits for Sevens tool bag before:http://www.softbitsshop.co.uk/ekmps/shops/juddltd/images/tool-bag-1033-p%5Bekm%5D300x168%5Bekm%5D.jpgAnyone got one?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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