Had the morning off, and just asked a question (Thread ID: 82906) about the need to carry a
HF radio, and it got me thinking I would ask here what others carry as spares and tools.
We tour in a short wheel base 07 Jeep Wrangler with the rear seats removed, cupboards and fridge on a slide in the back and we tow a Camprite off road trailer.
When we purchased the Jeep we had our mechanic put her up on the hoist and help us make up a tool kit wrap with every tool that suits the vehicle specifically as it saves carrying full kits with
tools not needed. We then purchased the normal set of hoses, belts and filters. We packed half a litre of brake fluid, ATF and steering box oil, one litre of diff and transfer box oil, five litres of engine oil and bars leak for the radiator. We also found room to carry one of each different shock absorber, (including for the trailer) The trailer and Jeep use the same wheels and tyres so we have in effect two spares (one on the back door of the Jeep and one under the Camprite) We have a tyre repair kit, a spare tube, a windscreen repair kit, Selleys Knead it and a box of various nuts, bolts, fuses and electrical fittings.
That’s about it for what we started out with!
Event 1. Blew a starter battery up (yes it exploded) it was a factory fitted yellow top Optima. The Jeep was four months old. (Jeep said it was not covered under warranty because the Jeep was heavily modified with lots of not factory
accessories connected to the battery -
UHF radio and spotties) we had to borrow and cut up some jump starter leads to jury rig the house/aux batteries under the Jeep to the starter battery position to get her going.
Add one set of heavy duty battery jump leads.
Event 2. Blew a hole in the turbo hose (Jeep factory standard hoses are known for this – now) wrapped it with tape and limped into the nearest town. When we got
home we purchased a aftermarket set of stainless steel hoses with silicone ends and special clamps.
Add one section of silicone hose and two spare clamps.
Event 3. Holed a sump (
rock caught between front axle/diff assembly and sump when it was all going up when going through a severe
creek crossing). Camped the night at the
creek crossing to let her cool down and in the morning, used Selleys Kneed it to repair the hole and used the 5 litres of engine oil to refill.
Add 5 more tubes of Selleys kneed it (they have one for every different material).
Event 4. Major Fire, under the bonnet and eventually under the floor (aux battery compartment). It took five 1 kilo fire extinguishers and a 20ltr jerry of water to extinguish. Aux batteries destroyed, brake reservoir melted, extensive
wiring burnt out, no wire for fridge, UHF, no headlights, blinkers, brake lights, Basically all vehicle
wiring destroyed except the engine and transmission computers. So, after releasing the burnt on handbrake cable by cutting it loose from where it melted to the underside of the floor, we could start and drive the Jeep, slowly with no brakes at all. We found a
camp site at and set up for a few days repairs. Used all the rolls of wire and electrical clips to rig what we needed to get us going (still with no brakes) to
Birdsville where we purchased more wire and rewired the rest, incl patching the brakes temporarily.
Now carry 4 1kilo fire extinguishers, lots more electrical bitts and pieces and two big rolls of wire.
3 years and 76,000klms around Oz (the most interesting way we can find) in an American made 4x4 - some will say we are mad -but it has / continues to be fun. we just need to make sure we take the correct spares and tools.
Steve and Carol