Truck Essentials

Where I live in about 30mins drive I can be on 4 wheeling trails during the summer....I guess more of a weekend off roader/ daily driver....if that makes sense...lol.

 

You only need 3 things.

Cell phone, to summon help
Credit card, to buy what you need
Gun, to take what you can't buy or to coerce help when you can't call

Everything else is just fluff.

 

In Alaska if you have to get there, chains for all four corners, plus snowshoes with ski poles for when that isn't enough. Don't get the telescoping poles, those suck. Something warm to pull on over your clothes if you end up in a ditch, hat and gloves. Exposed flesh freezes close enough to immediately starting around -50dF. I think the real "instantly" number is -70dF, but at -50dF you don't have a heck of a lot of time to get your face mask on.

Jumper cables, window scraper.

A set of four ratchet straps will be handy right regular, thirty bucks at Wally World or Cabellas. Ear protection for the shooting range stays in the truck, good phones for you and throwaway cheapies for guests. GPS with reasonable local topo. Beverages.

Now your ready for daily driving.

 

Top of my list is an air compressor (not the cigarette lighter type, the type that hooks up to the battery), plug kit, jumper cables, ratchet straps, and flashlight. That's not just for a truck though. Any vehicle I spend a lot of time in will have those tools.

It's surprising how many people don't even know how to plug a tire or jumpstart a car. If you plug a tire quickly, and have an air compressor, that just saved you massive amounts of time either changing a tire, or calling for help.

 

Tow straps, rope, ratchet straps, jumper cables, gloves, first aid kit, flashlight, and music in no particular order. Sure I'm forgetting something.

 

Hookers and cocaine

 

Fleshlight.

 

Behind/under the back seats: Tow strap, OBDII scanner, various hand tools, tow chain, jumper cables, hitch/ball and 7-4 pin converter, OEM jack/wrench, maglite, scraper/snow brush, two spare windshield wipers (I had one snap a clip and fly off in the middle of nowhere at night once--now I have a backup plan!)

Bed compartments: Rags, bunjee cords, ratchet straps

Glove box: Sets of keys for work, relatives houses, etc. that I rarely use, manual, registration & duplicate license, some simple first aid stuff, gloves, old AT&T cell phone (I figure if mine fails and I need to I can plug it in and make an emergency call)

Center console/other front compartments: spare fuses, life savers (the candy), microfiber cloths, second wallet of store cards that I never use, USB battery pack that's always on charge (for charging phone/GPS/etc. on the go), ring of work keys that I actually use regularly, a few pens, phone charger, sunglasses



I want to carry a small air compressor and a more comprehensive set of sockets/wrenches since I'm limited to pliers, vice grips, screw drivers, and a hammer now. Not sure where to put them so they're out of sight yet secure though.

 

I have this little set I got from working at Hyundai- they don't have spare tires anymore- and it's a small compressor that plugs into the cig lighter and a canister of fix a flat that pops onto it. You can use it without the goop but the entire thing is about 8" across and 6" tall, 3" wide and fits under my rear access cab seat nicely.

Ratchet straps, jumper cables- nice heavy duty ones, Mechanix gloves, scraper, hand towel, handi wipes and travel tissue packs, flashlights, leatherman, screw drivers, bungee cords, a wool blanket (MANY uses), first aid kit, duct tape, spare bulbs and fuses, phone charger, pocket change- a couple bucks, tire gauge, extending magnet.

 

Get a toolbox. Moar room for stuffs that way

 

My parents have a tiny one that runs off 120v too. I've used it with the TRD inverter before and it works fine. I think it was only about $20 from Home Depot. Maybe I'll grab one for myself.

Unfortunately, then I lose use of my Tonneau cover. I like having the ability to keep the bed dry and I especially like to be able to keep snow out.

 

I shouldn't respond. I know I carry way too much BS

 

Cell phone? Hope there is service.
CC? Better to have cash.
Your reasons for the gun are suspect also.

 

I have a waterproof tote in the bed under the tonneau. If you move it to the front of the bed and secure it, it's unlikely anyone will get to it before you notice them removing the entire tonneau. I secure my jumper cables, WD40, some washer fluid, some antifreeze and stuff like that in there. I'd really only miss the cables, but again- unlikely they'd go through all of that to get to it. And you can even get locking containers too.

 

Yah. Just a suggestion from a fellow gun owner- never joke about that kind of stuff. Say you had to defend yourself, and found yourself in the middle of a homicide investigation. Cops find that post and it could sway a prosecutor.

 

Hate to admit it but I don't know how to plug a tire Luckily I have never needed to but now that I have a 4x4 Taco and I plan to take it wheeling (once the snow melts) I better learn. Time to hit up youtube!

On my motorcycles I've never wanted to ride on a plugged tire so I just buy new ones. Is it fine to continue to drive or would you replace the tire once you got to wherever you we're going?

 

... also getting back on topic:

I always carry my toolbox with a full set of tools. A basic emergency kit. I'm installing an air compressor to power my new lockers and air up my tires (incl. motorcycles). Plus what everyone else said except for the Fleshlight

 

I use tire plugs all the time , good kits aren't cheap but worth the money . Don't carry a spare yet on the Cruiser , but instead carry a repair kit . Safety Seal is what I have and seems to work excellent even on large holes . Just be aware that any radial will rust it's belts once punctured and will need to be replaced early .
Sarge

 

Jumper cables, tow/recovery strap, d-ring, air compressor (Viair), fire extinguisher, ratchet straps, 550 paracord, utility rope, flashlight, multi-tool, window breaker/seat belt cutter, small roll of TP, small block of wood (to put under the jack off road), 1 bottle of water

I cant stress how awesome and tiny the Viair air compressor is. They cost about $50.
http://www.viaircorp.com/portables.html

Just wait for sales to build your collection. Sears runs their craftsman jumper cables 50% off several times a year. You can get a tarp for free at Harbor freight. Costco has the fire extinguishers cheap. I got the tow strap from a $50 gift card I got from 4-Wheel parts. Multi tool was a gift from the NRA.

 

jumper cables, flash light, 12V light, air gauge, tie down straps, (winter) sno-broom,
foam clown nose.