Date:         Wed, 8 Sep 2010 05:51:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: A minimal tool kit?
In-Reply-To:  <214E126A-F9DD-4099-8A5D-42FEA3CCF18D@ocotillofield.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 7:11 PM, Mark Hineline <hineline@ocotillofield.net>wrote:

> Interpreting "minimal" to be roughly equivalent to seeing how far you
> can drive on empty I would say this is the ultimate minimal kit:
>
> * Standard leatherman
> * 10 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm sockets and a ratchet
> * 10 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm box/open wrenches
> * Adjustable wrench
> * Mallet (rubber)
>
> To this I would add, as a luxury, one phillips and one flathead
> screwdriver. On an aircooled, its nice if the flathead is sized to the
> cheesehead screws on the tin
>
> This kit is sufficient to handle about 50% of the repairs you're
> likely to make on the road.
>
> Mark
> Peregrine fille (1982)
> San Diego, CA
>
>
> On Sep 7, 2010, at 6:25 PM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>
>> Just the standard sizes of wrenches and sockets for bolts and nuts
>> found
>> on the Vanagon, useful screwdriver sizes, and other useful items like
>> pliers.
>>
>> --
>> Rocky J Squirrel
>> '84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>> '74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
>> Bend, OR
>> KG6RCR
>>
>
  Every Emgcy-tool kit should probably have a few more items.  I've
traveled, on some extended trips, too, with all my tools contained in a
small toolbox, like a fishing tackle box. (about 16"x8"x8")  Also with my
Vanagon I also carry some Vanagon-specific spare parts under the bench/bed.
  I woud add to the basic minimum above:  A channel lock plier.  A Vice-grip
plier.  A small coil of steel wire, like tie-wire or baling wire. Some
Rescue Tape (or equivalent)  A 'test wire'..just a section of electrical
wire with alligator clips to bridge suspected shorts or temporarily 'repair'
a faulty wire or connection. Some spare fuses and bulbs.

  With the above as a start, I kept adding to my "tackle box" tool kit as I
found a need.. I have some odd stuff in there now, stuff that's got me going
again, from Glacier Park to La Paz, BCS... Now I  usually have that box
handy in any vehicle I drive (if I remember to grab it and put it in before
I take off for somewhere) but it "lives" in my Vanagon.  It's also kinda
handy around the house and shop to just have a small kit, with a handle and
your basic tools, to just grab and use without digging into the Main Tool
Box...

  Don Hanson