Tools

[Craig Fuller]

During the EarthRoamer Rally this year, we had an excellent presentation on tools to carry.  An article from Exploring Overland offers a very good description of what might be useful...

From the article:

Those of us who venture off the beaten track, away from AAA and perhaps even out of cell-phone range, must assume more self-sufficiency than our pavement-bound friends. There are dozens of things that can go wrong on an overland vehicle, and fixing any of them, from easy repairs such as a broken fan or serpentine belt, a split radiator hose, or dirty battery terminals—even just tightening bolts on a roof rack—up to major events such as replacing a broken CV joint or birfield, is going to require tools.

I stress to my class attendees who plan to travel that even if they have no mechanical ability whatsoever, it's still important to carry a set of tools. You'll make a lot of points with any good Samaritan who stops to help if he doesn't have to dig out his tools to use on your vehicle. And if the choice is between an attempt at a repair, or walking out, it's surprising how many total mechanical rookies have successfully muddled through quite elaborate procedures using nothing but common sense.

Link to the story:

http://bit.ly/Tools101Part1

[Loup407]

This is a great link. If anyone is considering a trip to Overland Expo this coming May, Jonathan Hanson's class on tool kits is a "must-do". He has sorted out which tools you need, and which you don't. He is a tool snob, and will warn you against cheap Chinese tools. A warning I ignored until I broke a 15mm socket while replacing shock absorbers on my FJ. Riding my bike to buy a new socket gave me time to reflect on the idea of "You get what you pay for".