Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 21:30:28 CDT
Reply-To: Joel Walker <JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Joel Walker <JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU>
Subject: Traveling Tips ...
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Emergency Repair Kits - Things you should never leave home without
by Garrett lai
Sport Compact Car, July 1998 issue. p. 130
Being stranded is never fun. It can be humiliating and frustrating, and
it's neer convenient. If you drive your car a lot ... especially if your
car is more than five years old ... count on having a roadside emergency
There's no escaping the dreded flat tire or overheated engine. Nothing,
not even the most fastidious maintenance schedule can guarantee that
will not happen. But having a well-prepared emergency repair kit in your
car and using good judgement can mean the differenece between being
stranded and making it to your destination on time. We can help you
prepare the emergency road kit; the good judgement part is up to you.
Your Roadside Emergency Kit Checklist
<comments by Unca Joel>
* Auto club card: This is as good as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card,
should you need a tow.
* Flares/trianglar reflector: Especially useful in heavy fog to warn
people of your location, or help them find you.
* Fire extinguisher: an inexpensive over-the-counter extinguisher can
control most electrical fires that a motorist would encounter.
<yeah, but ... a cheap extinguisher ain't gonna help much with a
fuel leak or serious electrical fire. go down to the Fire Dept.
and see what they recommend. then get something TWICE that size!>
* Flashlight: remember to check the batteries frequently. Make it a part
of your regular maintenance program.
<i recommend the army-style flashlights. they use common D-cell
batteries, and can be put on the ground facing up while you crawl
around under the bus, or can be hooked in your shirt pocket to
point the light where you are facing>
* Motor oil: carry an extra quart for topping off.
<HA! carry a case of oil around with you!! you might need to
"top off" every 30 miles or so to get to Civilization! and if your
bus has an oil filter, carry a couple of spares. you never know
when you'll need to do an oil change>
* Rags: old T-shirts work great for spills, and other clean-up.
<better yet: get some Baby-Butt-Wipes in those little pop-up cans.
these are great for cleaning your hands and fingers after messing
with the engine or eating barbecue. and it wouldn't hurt to carry
a small squirt can of Fast Orange or some other hand cleaner.
and some paper towels <see above>>
* Repair Manual: even a condensed paperbound repair guide from Chilton,
Haynes, or Clymer will do.
<Haynes, ok. Clymer, forget it ... it's worthless for VWs>
* Spare Key (in key holder): tuck it somewhere out of sight, or if it
makes you nervous, hide one in the interior.
<also carry another spare key in your wallet, so you can get into
the bus without busting a window>
* Spare Change: wrap a few dollars worth of change in a small bag, and
seal it. Great for telephone calls and emergency munchies.
* Tools: be sure to pack an adjustable wrench, pliers, assorted
screwdrivers, ratchet set and a soft mallet.
* Belts: these don't have to be new, just save the old ones when they
get replaced. At the very least, carry spares for the water pump
and alternator.
* Duct Tape: handy for leaks, especially when backed up by a good hose
clamp.
* First Aid Kit: be sure it contains enough products for a family
of four.
* Fuses: you can get small repair kits with a few assorted sizes;
be sure they're the right types for your car!
* Hose Clamps: carry an assortment, small enough for heater hoses,
large enough for radiator hoses.
* Jack/lug wrench/spare tire: check them regularly, and remember
to check the air in the spare.
* Jumper Cables: you never know when you'll need these, or when your
friends will need to borrow them.
* Wire: a roll of generic stainless stell or galvanized steel wire is
perfectly adequate for a variety of uses and is available at
hardware stores.
<also carry some electrical wire and some connectors. at least
25 feet of 12-gauge insulated wire. you just never know>
* Zip Ties: quite possibly more useful than duct tape.
* Water: at least a gallon for topping off after coolant leaks. Buy a
purpose-made bottle, or reuse a screw-top plastic gallon jug like
the ones that come for fruit juice. Wait until the engine cools
before you fill an overheated radiator, so you won't risk cracking
the block.
<and it wouldn't hurt to have some drinking water. especially if
you are traveling in the south or southwest, when/where it's hot>
* Toolbox: it sounds basic, but a sturdy, compact toolbox is essential.
You don't want to wrap up all your tools and equipment in an old
gym towel; using a toolbox allows you to carry your tools in an
organized fashion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Unca Joel's Extras for Tripping the Light Fantastic. :)
* Toilet Paper: you can NEVER have too much TP. :) especially if you
are or have women/females traveling with you.
* Paper Towels: useful for cleaning windshields and headlights and
brake lights (you DO want folks to be able to see past all that
mud and dirt, right?). also useful as TP. :)
* Windex or similar window cleaner: to use with the paper towels to
clean the dirt and bugguts off the windshield and clean the dirt
of the headlights, taillights, and brake lights.
* Baseball cap: one that fits. to shade eyes and keep bald spot from
getting sunburned while you sit forlornly on the side of the road.
* Sunglasses: presciption if you need 'em.
* Work Gloves: helps keep from burning your hands on the hot engine
or exhaust parts.
* Flattened Cardboard Box: like U-Haul sells. this is so you can lay
on the box and not burn your side/back/butt on the hot asphalt
while you fix your bus. it will also keep you out of the dirt/mud.
and if Push REALLY comes to Shove, you can use it to start a fire.
and lots of other stuff. trick is, you have to decide just how much
Emergency you want to try to handle yourself, and how much weight you
can afford to haul around on the trip. :)
joel
| 
