Dipodomys
Observer
So here's the question: What's in your spare parts box? What parts have failed you, either out in the field or just driving around town? Any and all thoughts would be appreciated, with due consideration for cost and bulk. I once knew a guy who carried a spare ENGINE in the back of his VW bus. That's not what I'm looking for!
The "problem" with modern vehicles is that they are far more reliable than the vehicles of even a couple of decades ago. My Tacoma has 140,000 miles on it, and all I've replaced are typical wear and maintenance items like brake pads, plugs, etc. Absolutely nothing has ever broken or left me stranded. So I realized on a recent trip that I had grown complacent about the spares I carried. In the old days I had a big box full of stuff like ignition parts (remember condensers and points?), carb parts, hoses, gaskets, a fuel pump, spare axle half shafts (Series Land Rover, you needed them), oil seals and gaskets, wheel cylinders, a clutch slave cylinder, and the list went on and on. At one point or another, I used every one of those items for a field repair. Many of those items simply aren't present on a modern vehicle. Determining what spares are prudent to carry is now an unusual "problem" to have.
The most common cause of vehicle breakdowns these days are dead batteries and flat tires. I carry items to deal with those situations (dual battery system, Microstart jump battery, tire plugs/patches, tire irons, beadbreaker, compressor), but beyond that I find myself not carrying much, which is inevitably going to bite my butt. Thoughts, please.
The "problem" with modern vehicles is that they are far more reliable than the vehicles of even a couple of decades ago. My Tacoma has 140,000 miles on it, and all I've replaced are typical wear and maintenance items like brake pads, plugs, etc. Absolutely nothing has ever broken or left me stranded. So I realized on a recent trip that I had grown complacent about the spares I carried. In the old days I had a big box full of stuff like ignition parts (remember condensers and points?), carb parts, hoses, gaskets, a fuel pump, spare axle half shafts (Series Land Rover, you needed them), oil seals and gaskets, wheel cylinders, a clutch slave cylinder, and the list went on and on. At one point or another, I used every one of those items for a field repair. Many of those items simply aren't present on a modern vehicle. Determining what spares are prudent to carry is now an unusual "problem" to have.
The most common cause of vehicle breakdowns these days are dead batteries and flat tires. I carry items to deal with those situations (dual battery system, Microstart jump battery, tire plugs/patches, tire irons, beadbreaker, compressor), but beyond that I find myself not carrying much, which is inevitably going to bite my butt. Thoughts, please.