Spare Parts and Tools Feedback

Hi Justin,
Depends how mechanically minded you are mate, I always have a set of sockets and my toolbox(assorted tools: spanners pliers scredrivers, fuses, tape) and I also keep a new set of hoses, hose clamps, radiator cap, fuel filter and oil filter, and 10l of oil. Its probably a little overkill but I know that I can fix most small things that can ruin a trip away. Also a haynes/gregorys vechicle gudie is mighty handy. Hope this helps
Matt

Take another vehicle.

Seriously - as well as all the basic bits and pieces, find someone to go with you.

The more you travel the more you'll work it out. What you start with will change as your repair and maintenance needs change.

There is no short cut to getting the way of the force.

Thigs that I keep in my Pajero for easy trips
Snatch Strap with 2 dee shackles under drivers seat
Spare Fuses in packet in Glovebox
Megapoxy 2 pack ribbon from Bearing place-can be cut and rolled to form a putty that sets in a hr - buy the underwater one - used to fix holes in radiator etc - kept in glovebox
Pliers,10mm socket set,shifter,10/12/14mm spanners,side cutters,screwdrivers wrapped in rag and taped kept under seat.
Tie Wire - soft -I carry roll from steelfixers concreters-kept with tools
Electrical wire - small roll in glovebox
Racers tape/Electrical tape in centre console
Wooden Block for under Jack
Folding Shovel,Pruning saw rolled up in old blanket in back of Car
Blanket is for getting under Car or incase of emergency.
Fire Exstinguisher fastened in Car
Can of WD Forty small and kept in Bubble wrap in console
First Aid Kit - small but with extra items Mossy repelant,fly spray,sun block,salt for leaches,burn cream,pain killers.

I always carry a turfor but you could consider a 2 tonne Hand Puller from Repco or similar.It will get you out of a place where you are not stuck to the axles.
As said above - when I go somewhere out of the way - I go with a friend and another vehicle.

What to take as a minimum?? Very open ended question that one. We have just come back from a 3 week tag-along tour (plus 2 weeks getting to start point and home from finish point) We were given a list of "must-haves" buy the tour operator, included basics such as fuel hose, heater hose, oil, brake fluid etc plus much more. The one and only thing that went wrong with our car while on the trip was all the o-rings and collars on the fuel injectors went dry and hard due to the Opal fuel we used (apparently a very common prob for petrol cars if injector seals etc are old). We had to be left behind in Yulara for a day and a night until we could get spares sent from Alice. All up cost $57, we fixed ourselves in the caravan park, but wish we had had them so we didn't have to miss any of the trip, it was very stressful.

So I guess it doesnt matter what you take chances are you'll never have what you need when you need it. We are just damn lucky the seals waited until we were in civilization before they packed it in.

This issue perplexed me when we did the trip last year. My vehicle was only 18mths old, regularly serviced and prior to the trip I took it to a very reputable 4wd specialty auto mechanics asked them based on my car what should I need. Fan belts were not on the list.Mine takes 4 and you would damn near have to strip half the front end out just to fit one. Wose than a Chinese puzzle. Hoses were an other thing he said takem if you want but you won't need them.
Yes I still took all the usual stuff but in the end all I used was some gaffa tape.
Take all the stuff if you have the room, consider where you are going how rough will the tracks be, will you be out of civilisation etc. Get the car really checked over and not by the bloke down the road, but a specialist.