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Getting ready for my Rt 66 trip across the US. Wondering what main tools everyone carries? Not looking to take the whole garage,
but would like to take aa good base set. I have tire patch kit/inflator, flashlight, sockets, various extensions/swivels, some wrenches,
couple screw drivers, hammer. Also zip ties, tape, and gloves. Any other recommendations much appreciated.
You never know when an unforeseen breakdown will have you stranded in a small town overnight. Always nice to have company., and this one doesn’t mind riding in the trunk.
Vette4fl...that sh*t was funny. If you havent watched the movie "Good Boys" get on that. You definitely want a companion like that in the trunk. They don't fair well in the passenger seat.
OP- On long road trips (NJ to NH/Maine) I always take a new oil pressure sensor, the appropriate sensor socket, 10mm socket, long and swivel extensions, ratchet, long needle nose, blue fuel line disconnect, wire hanger and about 2.5 inch of garden hose on long trips. (Garden hose piece fits plug end of sensor and makes hand tightening the new sensor a piece of cake)
The sensors can fail on the low end and cause chaos.
A good cell phone and towing insurance added on to your car insurance, or plenty of $$.
Small cooler with water, maybe freeze some bottles.
Had a breakdown end of September 2017 in middle of nowhere on way back from L.A. to Phoenix on I10, about 40-50 miles west of a town, I recently replaced both belts and all idler and tensioner pulled on the 1999, Dayco brand.
One of the idler pulleys came off with a bang and immediately pulled over and car dinged saying it was hot, shut off engine and rolled to stop.
Either it was my fault or a bad part, but it did start making a slight noise and while at my brother in laws house in California I thought of going to harbor freight and buy some tools automotive stethoscope to pinpoint the slight sound and maybe exchange the part at a Pep Boys under warranty, but I didn’t because we were in a hurry, and thought I would just fix it at home.
CHP pulled up because he saw my hood up, and since it was about 110 he checks on break downs, luckily I had frozen water bottles in my mini cooler, they were half melted and then we poured water from other bottles not frozen into the ones with ice, we were there almost 2 hours waiting on flatbed tow truck.
I walked on side of freeway looking for my pulley and bolt but didn’t see either and got back to car.
Got towed to Autozone in Blythe, CA and bought a bolt and big washer from the help section and a Tahoe pulley to make it home, they had no C5 pulley and said the Chevrolet dealer had lack of parts when I told Autozone guy we might get hotel and try there next morning, he said the dealer got lots of parts from them.
Even with my tow insurance I still owed about $190.00, CHP officer said if you don’t have towing insurance it’s $500.00-$700.00 on average to get towed into Blythe and people break down out in the area often.
I ordered a new AC Delco pulley and bolt and the special washer with a curve as a kit off Amazon after getting home.
For all I know it could have been a loose bolt on the pulley and that’s why I heard a faint rubbing jangle sound from under the hood at idle, I didn’t know where it was from but suspected it was one of the new parts I just replaced.
A few days later Pep Boys sent out an automated email wanting my review on the pulley that came off, not the other pulley and idler pulleys I also bought at same time, maybe there was a known issue with that part?
Getting ready for my Rt 66 trip across the US. Wondering what main tools everyone carries? Not looking to take the whole garage,
but would like to take aa good base set. I have tire patch kit/inflator, flashlight, sockets, various extensions/swivels, some wrenches,
couple screw drivers, hammer. Also zip ties, tape, and gloves. Any other recommendations much appreciated.
Spare Serpentine Belt
That Repair Tape you can use to fix a leaking coolant hose
I ditched the run flats, so I have a small air compressor, air gauge, and a can of sensor friendly fix a flat. That's it for tools- all that fits in the passenger side trunk compartment along with some micro-fiber cloths. In the driver's side trunk compartment, I keep detailing spray, a quart of Mobile 1, funnel, and a bottle of Techron and some microfiber cloths (they are handy and keep stuff from moving around).
Keep your car well maintained, and you need nothing more (at least I never have).
I see the tool list and items to help with recovery..then finally...someone a few posts ago mentioned parts...a spare serpentine belt.
Which leads my my point, you could carry a complete took box, filling the entire trunk, but without spare parts, I'm not sure if they'll do you much good.
Even with some parts, like the belt, how realistic is it do do any roadside repairs on a C8?
Just getting to the systems would be a chore.
Remember, this isn't a C2.
A tire repair kit won't be a lot of help with out the ability to de-mount the tire.
And without a service manual to go buy....(but a YouTube vide might be sufficient for some jobs) you won't know how to access or put things back together the correct way.
So, take your phone, belt, fuses, hose repair tape along with some basic tools..but past that,
I think you'd be okay.
Just make sure your roadside assistance policy is up to date and you have a lot of credit available on your card.
The side of the road is no place to work on a car. Get it home or to a shop. If it is a small thing call to get what you need. You see too many people get hit on the side of the road as it is.
The best thing is to do preventative up keep. It could even save your life.
You might want to put a small tarp or old blanket in there, I've fixed flats on the side of the road and having something to kneel on/lay on is a blessing. Have a good trip!
As someone else said, hand wipes or a rag or two with hand cleaner helps too.
Tool Kit
Have a good trip!
