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About a year ago, Kyle Smith posted an article in Hagerty's magazine that was pretty thoughtful about deciding what tools to pack in your car to save you (and others) from a dilemma on the side of the road.  This dovetails nicely with my annual early spring look at all my on-the-road tools and spare parts to replace those needing replacing, dropping things I'll never use (like my old 009 distributor parts to be replaced by Magna-Spark versions) and adding new things that look promising, like a large HD trash bag that can have many uses (Thanks, Jack Crosby)!  

I no longer carry enough stuff to do an engine rebuild (don't laugh) and I've become more realistic about what could actually get done on the side of the road and have been adding things that I think are more useful to me and others.  Kyle's hip flask particularly caught my eye - That'll be added, for sure, but I won't be putting 2-stroke oil in it.     You never know when it's gonna be a long wait.

So here's the Hagerty article from a year ago, with hopes that it will help others to decide on what they need to bring, based on their individual mechanical ability beyond their insurance company's roadside assistance number:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/...ng-a-custom-toolkit/

This was followed this year by another road tools article from Brandan Gillogy, although their OBD tool might only be of interest to the Suby guys:

https://www.hagerty.com/media/...nt=Saturday_RoadTrip

Last edited by Gordon Nichols
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@Blasco posted:

Just call AAA roadside assistance.  keep it simple.

Inasmuch as I pay $119/yr. for my AAA Premier card, I certainly agree with you and the "KISS"* principle. That said, though, just in case it's gonna be a long wait before AAA can show up, I'll make sure my Roadside Emergency Kit includes not just a "hip flask"....but at least a "1-pint" hip flask. After all, if my SHPEEDY is towed, I'll be riding Shotgun in the AAA truck.

* Keep It Simple, Stupid

Last edited by Napa Paul

In looking at what others recommend, it's really easy to go overboard and haul along all sorts of stuff.  I used to be that way.  Maybe that's why Pearl weighed exactly 2,000 pounds on Danny P's 4-wheel scales.    

Since those fatter days, I have cut back a lot but have a couple of small tool bags and a tool roll-up that, between them, hold a number of "multi-tools" and a select assortment that'll be handy off on the side of the road.  Honestly, I've used my road tools on other people's cars a LOT more than on mine, but that's why I bring them.

On @Jack Crosby's trash bag idea, he carries it to put the road tire in when using his spare tire/wheel.  The road wheel won't fit under the hood and putting it in the trash bag keeps Alice from getting all grubby when it's riding on her lap to a garage.  

And, of course, I have my Hagerty roadside assistance number on speed-dial.

Last edited by Gordon Nichols

Well most of my trip supplies came from the wonderful lists that Gordon published back in the day.  They were classic and maybe are still in the resources section.  About everything I ever took from the trip supplies went to others.  All ever used for myself in 13 trips to Carlisle was that big thumbscrew that was for adjusting the clutch travel--my shitty Chinese one just self destructed at the county club as we left after dinner---(in a driving rain).  Russ scooted under the car like a monkey and replaced it with a stainless steel one.  I saw an idea here where someone keeps two of them on the threads of the clutch cable---good idea I thought.  That same trip he also installed a starter we bought at an auto parts store there. I sorta like traveling with Russ and Sean----a lot. I did get an oil pressure sender from Cory---I never knew that there was a difference between a Type I and a Type 4 one. I have seen some fantastic repairs done at the various Carliles by out uber talented members.  That would make an interesting thread, I think.

The cell phone and AAA membership isn't a bad first option, but out here in the Pacific Northwest some amazing roads with not-to-be-missed curves and scenery are in areas with no cell service.  You could easily find yourself a half day walk from a landline, too.  So pack your choice of tools, spares, and water.  Plan your gas stops and let someone know roughly where you're going (I know, we like to just go with no plan...guilty).  Also remember this, the real first line of defense against breakdowns is maintenance.

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