Hmmmmmm....... . Wouldn't it be better to find that a new hose or whatever is defective before getting out some extended distance from home and needing it? Someone else said to replace, and then carry spares. I agree that that is an approach that should make one a little safer than only replacing or only carrying spares. But with the hoses -- which ones to carry?

I followed Larry's advice on Roadhaus, and replaced all the hoses on my van. I also replaced all the fuel lines. That was two years ago. Not being an expert mechanic (not even being an inexpert mechanic), and not having prescience, I have no idea what individual hose is going to fail unexpectedly. so, i want reasonably good ones in place before I strike out to somewhere where I might be stuck.

But this business of carrying spares for things can go on ad infinitum.

mcneely ---- craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > I sincerely disagree with the idea of replacing massive amounts of parts > right before a trip. I'd much rather carry the new ones with me and run on > the old ones. > Reliability is EARNED, not purchased. > > I've seen far to many parts come defective from new, or be installed with a > simple mistake such as forgetting to tighten the hose clamp which results in > serious problems. I would definitely carry an assortment of hose clamps up > to 10'' (Ever have a muffler fall off?) as well as various pieces of regular > hose and splices. I've more than once fixed a coolant issue with pieces I > had on hand and filled up with whatever was available. > I've run my WBX on Gatorade, River Water, and Green Tea before. > As well as pieces of copper pipe, vaccuum cleaner hose, and self fusing > tape. > > Be weary of "FIXING" something right before you leave. > > -Craig > > > On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 12:33 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 8:45 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Hmmm. Wouldn't it be better to replace them in the driveway and not have > > to > > > think about it at all? > > > > > > Jim > > > > > > Statistically significant is the number of times I have 'fixed' > > something before it broke only to have my "fix" cause me problems that I > > didn't have before I fixed it. > > > > I am not a sloppy mechanic...I usually take my time and try to do > > everything correctly. However, over the years, I have come to believe > > (within reason) that 'leave well enough alone' or "if it ain't broke, don't > > fix it" those old sayings have merit. > > Sure, if you look at all the hoses in your vanagon and see bad looking > > cracks, bubbles, splits, etc and rusty clamps hanging....you may be better > > off doing some pre-emptive replacement at home in the comfort of your own > > area....Then again, you might break a plastic pipe, miss-install a clamp or > > something.....and that sucks if it was working, however bad it looked.... > > > > I have a cool T-shirt..."I do not intend to tip-toe carefully through > > Life, only to arrive safely at Death" > > > > I go for it, with a big bag of parts...and sometimes I don't have the > > right ones when something lets go, but so what? I make do... > >

-- David McNeely