AdventureTaco - turbodb's build and adventures

I also don't use a torque wrench on spark plugs. I snug them down and use my finely calibrated feel.

 

The more I look into building my own rack the more this design style has came up..

 

Same. 1/4 turn past snug. And I use anti squeeze too.

 

I didn't use any anti-seize on mine because the Denso's are made with a special compound that's suppossed to negate the need for it. Plus, when I pulled out the originals, there was none on them so I decided to give it a go. They're not very tightly torqued either, so I don't think it'll be a problem.

Thanks man, appreciate it!

My guess is that either will work just fine as long as you're careful.

 

It's a great style, I think. Happy to build you one if you decide you don't want to do it yourself.

 

we may need to talk about that option...

 

Ah yes, the Trailhead

 

By all means, PM if you're interested. I'll have to find a 3rd gen around here to fit, but I'm sure it's doable.

And in the background, unaware...



Thanks a lot for capturing all that. You bastard.

 

Glorious

 

Death Valley?

About 2 years ago I found a bag of dicks at Father Crowley Overlook. But there wasn't a bag. Looked like someone(s) had walked out to the point and tossed them down the hillside. Quite the variety of them. I put on some latex gloves and walked down there with a kitchen trash bag. There was enough weight I thought the bag was going to give out and I double bagged them. More than a dozen, maybe close to 20. Included a fist & forearm

It's really quite an odd feeling to drive out of Death Valley with literally a bag of dicks.

 

WTF!!! After that everything else would just be a hotdog down the hallway!

 

Man, come in here thinking maybe another vicarious wheeling/camping trip to enjoy and all I get is a bag of dicks.

 

I know how it is. Same thing happened to me in my own build thread.

 

Gear Roundup - What I Take With Me On Trips (2018 edition)
December 29, 2018.

I get asked by a lot of folks, some flavor of, "What do you pack when you go on a trip?" So, I thought it'd be a good time to run through what goes into the truck for an adventure. In fact, I think that a post once a year outlining the gear could be a great thing, so that's the plan. Oh, and taken with the Rig Reviews that I've started, it will give a good sense of what's working and what's not with the setup.

So, without further ado, let's dig into what's on and in the truck at the end of 2018!

The Truck Itself

Obviously we can't adventure without the actual vehicle. To see how it's outfitted, check out the Truck Details Build Page (2018) and the relevant links there to the various mods that were part of this year's configuration.

From previous years, the following were new or significantly changed:

1. Armor - new CBI Outback 1.0 rear bumper with dual swing-outs.
2. Wheels and Tires - new SCS Stealth6 wheels and Cooper ST Maxx 255/85 R16 tires.

In all, the truck performed admirably - doing nearly everything I asked of it. As of right now, there are only three things I really want to look at changing for 2019:

1. The suspension - I'll be stepping up to rebuildable suspension given the number of miles I put on the truck.
2. The wheels - I really don't like the amount of mud that gets thrown around now - I'll be on the hunt for wheels with more backspacing.
3. The battery - I'm finally at the point where I feel like I'm over-taxing the starting battery with the fridge on warm nights, and so I want to move to a two-battery system.

Sleeping Gear
Key to any longer trip is a good place to sleep. While I have some improvements that I think could be made to the CVT Mt. Shasta, in all it is a great tent and it's the foundation of my sleeping gear. In addition to the tent itself (with mattress and anti-condensation mat), the following come with me on every trip:

1. Two heavyweight down comforters, twin size. We like comforters for two reasons - first, they are so much more comfortable and cozy than a sleeping bag - great for a good night sleep. And second, they compress better when the tent is folded up. Two allow us to control temperatures easily.
2. One bottom sheet, fitted to the RTT mattress. With a sheet and comforters, it's like sleeping in a bed. Mostly.
3. Two full-size pillows. There's no better pillow than your home pillow, and we've put two of our older ones in the tent permanently.
4. Ear plugs. On windy nights, or if you're near the highway, soft foam (designed for sleeping) ear plugs can be a lifesaver. I always keep a few pair in one of the tent pockets.
5. A warm (polartec) cap. I like to sleep with the doors and windows open whenever I can - even when it's cold. A cap keeps the breeze off my head, and keeps me a lot toastier through those cold nights.

​

Clothing and Footwear
Clothing varies a bit each trip, but is more consistent than one might think. There are likely a couple reasons for this - first, the weather is unpredictable, so I always like to have both long-and-short pieces of clothing; second, I never end up changing clothes all that often on a trip - getting dirty is just part of the adventure. So, that said, here's what I bring:

1. A clean pair of underwear for every day.
2. A clean pair of socks for every day. I'll tend bring a 75/25 combo of crew/ankle socks depending on what I expect my pants/shorts situation to be, since I much prefer taller socks with pants and shorter socks with shorts.
3. A pair of running sneakers - my primary shoe in dry conditions.
4. A pair of Keen waterproof hiking boots - my primary shoe in wet conditions.
5. One pair of pants per week of trip, plus one extra.
6. One pair of shorts per week of trip, plus one extra.
7. Two short-sleeve shirts per week of trip, plus one extra.
8. Two long-sleeve shirts per week of trip, plus one extra.
9. Two sweatshirts (with hoods).
10. One pair of sweatpants - usually only used to layer if it gets cold, or to wear in bed at night if it's freezing.
11. One waterproof, hooded, rain jacket.
12. Weather dependent: One pair of goretex ski gloves.
13. Sunglasses.
14. A baseball hat.
15. A fabric (not leather) belt - this turns out to be important, as you're often bending over and because I always tend to lose weight on longer trips.
16. Two reusable grocery bags - one of which I use for dirty clothes, and the other to store my shoes in when I go in the tent.

With everything above, it's easy to adapt to the weather in almost any conditions. There are enough warm clothes to layer up when it gets cold. For me, everything except the footwear fits in a single large backpack or small duffel, and doesn't take up too much room in the truck.

​

Toiletries
Not much to say here - this stuff doesn't take up much room and I just slip most of it into my clothes bag.

1. Toothbrush and toothpaste
2. Toilet paper - 2 rolls. I've found that a single roll is enough for all but the longest trips, but this is something you want to have a backup of, in case you lose the first roll, or it gets wet...
3. Baby wipes. Go for unscented, and make sure they are resealable. I like to take two packs per trip - one to keep in the cab, and the other in the kitchen box. Use them sparingly for washing hands and "showering" the spots that get stinky.
4. Deodorant
5. Electric shaver (two-week trips only) - while I probably only end up using this once per two-week trip, it's amazing how nice it can feel to get a week's worth of itchy facial hair growth trimmed down.

​

Food on trips
No trip has exactly the same food - but I do follow a pattern, so it makes sense to explain that pattern and then I'll share some sample food items.

Generally, I plan to eat out (fast food) any meals that are on the way to the location of the trip; I eat out of the truck for the "on-trail" adventure; on the way home, I plan to eat out again. So, if I have an 8 hour freeway drive before hitting the trail, I might eat a single fast food meal each direction . If I've got 24-hours of "getting there," I could end up eating three meals before breaking into any of the food I packed, and then stopping for fast food three more times on the way home.

Using this methodology, I can generally expect two weeks of on-trail food (for one person; one weeks for 2 people, etc.). The real limiting factor is that you don't want to have food longer than a couple weeks without freezing, and fresh food (veggies, etc.) don't last longer than a couple weeks without rotting.

Eating Out of the Truck
When I'm eating out of the truck, I separate food into two classes: cooled and un-cooled. Cooled food must all fit in the ARB 50qt fridge, which I keep at 33-35ºF during the day (truck running) and 37-39ºF when in camp with the truck off; un-cooled food goes into a small-size military medical case.

​

As far as meals go, I like to pre-prepare as much as possible at home - largely to reduce prep and cleanup when on-trail. My goal, generally, is to have - at most - a single plate and single pan to clean after dinner, a single bowl at breakfast, and perhaps a knife at lunch!

I also repeat meals and ingredients (across meals to reduce the number of different packs of things to buy/pack). Breakfast and lunch may be identical every day or alternate between two options. Dinners repeat every 3-4 days.

With that background, here are some sample meals. Ingredients are coded as such: (PP) - pre-prepped | (O) - optional, may have a limited supply if on-trail for an extended time | Cooled | Un-cooled.

Breakfast

• Breakfast cereal - Cheerios, milk, strawberries (O), blueberries (O). Note: fruit lasts up to 1 week.
• Breakfast sandwich - outdoor roll, spicy sausage, 2 eggs, butter. Note: butter is to cook eggs.

​

Lunch

• Lunch 1 - sliced sandwich bread, peanut butter, jelly, apple, chips, cookies.
• Lunch 2 - sliced sandwich bread, deli meat, lettuce (PP), avocado, mayo (O), mustard (O), apple, chips, cookies. Note: mayo and mustard from packets.

​

Dinner

• Tacos - ground beef with taco seasoning (PP - cooked), flour tortillas, sliced cheddar cheese, cabbage (PP), avocado.
• Cheeseburger - elongated ground beef patty (PP - raw), outdoor roll, sliced cheddar cheese, lettuce (PP), avocado, mayo (O), mustard (O), pickle, chips. Note: mayo and mustard from packets; try to eat raw meat in first 5 days.
• Steak - marinated skirt steak (PP - raw), mashed potatoes (PP - cooked), cauliflower; try to eat raw meat in first 5 days.
• Pasta - tomato or pesto pasta sauce, cheese ravioli, cauliflower.
• Hot dogs - spicy sausage, outdoor roll, ketchup (O), mustard (O), chips (O). Note: ketchup and mustard from packets.
• Hobo meal - spicy sausage, potato, cabbage (O), onion (O),bell pepper (O), zucchini (O), cauliflower (O). Note: A hobo meal is cutting up all these ingredients and placing them in double-wrapped aluminum foil. Then, cook on the camp fire coals for ~40 minutes.

Dessert and Snacks

• Homemade chocolate chip cookies (PP)
• Hershey's Nuggets
• Granola Bars
• Chips

​

Kitchen Gear
All the kitchen gear is stored in a single, aluminum, medium-size, military medical case. This makes it relatively easy to get to, and of course protects it from the elements. The case contains:

1. A propane Coleman Camp Stove/Grill. This makes it equally easy to heat up a pan or grill a burger, and folds down relatively small. The only think I don't really like about it is that the burners are either on or off - though they look adjustable, they aren't really.
2. Two 1lb cylinders of propane. This seems to be enough to last for a couple weeks, and having a backup means that when one runs out, I can start looking for another if I think I'll run out before the end of the trip.
3. A plastic cutting board. I generally don't use this all that much (I opt to cut on a disposable paper plate), but it's nice to have just in case.
4. Plastic bowls - one per person, but a minimum of two. Used for breakfast cereal or scrambled eggs.
5. Plastic plates - one per person, but a minimum of two. I sometimes use these for cutting items, but more often I use them for simply supporting a paper plate that I eat off of.
6. Paper plates - usually about 50 of the cheapest ones I can find. We have a stack at home and I make sure there are a bunch in the case before a trip - these are my primary prep/eating surface since clean-up is easy (fire or trash).
7. One stainless steel mixing bowl. Used primarily for doing dishes, when there are dishes to do.
8. Utensils stored in a plastic container:
   1. Two (one per person, min of two) - forks, spoons
   2. One (only) - butter knife, spatula, serving spoon, small tongs, small sharp kitchen knife (love this knife, it's always sharp)
9. Paper towels - one roll per week.
10. Baby wipes. Go for unscented, and make sure they are resealable. Use them sparingly for washing hands.
11. Aluminum foil - a full box, which you can use to make hobo meals (meals you cook in the camp fire, by double wrapping them with foil).
12. A small container of dish soap and a sponge for washing dishes. Stored in a small watertight lock-and-lock box so that everything doesn't get wet and soapy. (Note: these lock-and-locks are great - we use the other sizes for storing food in the fridge.)
13. Fire starting implements - at least one box of wooden matches and a cheap lighter.
14. 10 quart-size Ziplock plastic freezer bags. A box of sandwich bags.
15. A bit of clothesline rope. Never used, but good to have just in case we need to hang or tie something.

​

First Aid
I've been super lucky and never had to use my first aid kits for anything except minor cuts and scrapes, but I always take two kits with me - one for minor stuff, and one that can help in a more serious event. Of course, they both contain some of the basic items, since one kit or the other may be quicker to grab at any given time. The kit's contain the following:

Minor stuff; kit kept in kitchen container:

• assortment of band-aids (sizes and shapes)
• burn cream
• sterile eye pads
• sterile gauze (different sizes and shapes)
• medical tape
• scissors
• CPR mouth shield
• two ice packs
• IB Profin (Advil)
• UTI pills (cranberry concentrate)

Trauma kit, kept in cab of truck:

• flexible splint
• clothing scissors
• large sterile pads (various large sizes and shapes)
• non-latex rubber gloves
• idoine cleaning pads
• medical tape
• band-aids (various sizes and shapes)
• tourniquet

​

​

​

Basic Tools
These are tools that I think should go on every trip, no matter how short. Of course, a break down may mean the adventure is "over", but with them, you can get yourself out of a lot of situations, and back to civilization.

• Tire related
  • 20-foot compressed air hose with ARB tire inflator - I've added a longer hose to the ARB inflator for convenience.
  • Full size spare tire (255/85 R16 Cooper ST Maxx) on matching wheel (16" SCS Stealth6) - Having a total replacement for a wheel/tire is good practice when in remote areas. Of course, along with tires, I also use the following on every trip:
  • Tire pressure gauge - get the cheapest you can IMO. It's just checking pressure and you mostly want to make sure all tires are the same and around a certain PSI.
  • Tire deflators - these things are cheap and work way better than the tools that unscrew the valve stem. You can even install them and then air down while driving.
  • Tire plug kit, to fit many small punctures. I didn't use the plug kit this year, but I've used it several times over the years. All the kits are basically the same as long as you get the tools. So get the cheapest one you can.
• 48" Hi-Lift Jack - with a lifted truck, the stock bottle jack is no longer tall enough, so I now carry a Hi-Lift. No point in bringing a spare tire, if you don't have a jack that allows you to change it!
• Fuel
  • 10 gallons extra fuel - in 5-gallon Scepter (military issue, plastic) jerry cans. I've only ever needed 5 gallons for myself, but it's nice to have extra and I've definitely shared with others who had thirstier trucks.
  • Cap opening wrench - necessary to open the Scepter jerry cans at a different altitude than they were previously closed.
  • To transfer fuel from the jerry cans to the tank, I bring and use a fuel siphon. Make sure to get a 10' siphon, so you can leave the fuel cans in the bed or on your rear bumper when you transfer fuel.
• Small Fiskars hatchet - useful for splitting smaller firewood, clearing small down-fall, and as a hammer.
• 20' of 3/8" rope - something I carry in the truck at all times, and always have.
• A folding 10" Japanese pull saw - this is way more convenient for cutting small trees out of the way than the hatchet or chainsaw. I've used it well over 100 times and it's still as sharp as ever.
• Two small (500lb) ratchet straps - these straps can be used for securing loads and for temporary repairs, holding pieces of your vehicle in place so you can limp to repair.
• A pair of rubberized gloves - I get mine at Harbor Freight, but any gloves will do and they look cheaper on amazon if you buy several pair. These are a necessity when changing tires, working on the truck, chopping wood, or using the chainsaw - allowing for better grip than bare hands.

​

• This tool roll, which conveniently holds 95% of the tools I need to fix anything that breaks on the trail in an organized fashion. I've tried other rolls, and they just don't have the right set of pockets, where this one does. Into the tool roll, put:
  • Several 3/8" sockets in the following sizes: 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, 24mm
  • 3/8" Spark plug socket (5/8" or 16mm)
  • 3/8” socket extensions - 3-, 6-, 10-inch lengths
  • 3/8" ratchet - do yourself a favor that I didn't , and get a flex head for access to more bolts.
  • Several crescent + box end wrenches in the following sizes: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm
  • Set of metric Allen/hex key's ranging up to 10mm
  • 10mm flare nut wrench for working with brake lines
  • Wire cutters
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Channellock pliers
  • Adjustable wrenches - 4.5-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch. I've found these to be quite valuable for holding a nut when tightening a bolt, or for hex head sizes I don't have a dedicated wrench/socket for (usually aftermarket parts).
  • Several screw drivers: Flat screw driver, Philips screw driver, Long flat screw driver.
  • A retractable razor utility knife
  • Reusable zip ties
  • Some wire
  • Some electrical tape

​

​

​

Basic Recovery Gear
Much of the equipment in the basic tool set and OSK can be used as part of a recovery - but in addition to those items, I always have the following with me in the truck. Every one of these items has been used on one trip or another, though none of them are used very often. I'd bring all of these things, even if I wasn't bringing the full OSK.

• Full-size, long fiberglass handle digging shovel - I feel like this is something often overlooked, or where people decide that a little folding shovel will be good enough. I however prefer a tool that is comfortable to use and moves a good amount of material. This year alone, I used it in mud, snow, and sand.
• 30-foot tow strap, rated at 30,000 lbs.
• 8-foot tree saver, rated at 30,000 lbs.
• Smittybuilt snatch block
• 4, 7/8-inch pin shackles - 2 rated at 4.75 ton, and 2 rated at 6.5 ton

I of course also have a Warn M8000-S winch hidden in the front bumper of the truck, but it's usually the last tool I turn to - I've found that most situations don't require a winch to escape.

​

OSK (Oh Shit Kit) - More Tools and Spare Parts

​

My OSK is still a work in progress. I essentially started only basic tools at the beginning of the year, but longer and more remote trips - as well as prodding from others with more experience - have gotten me to start building out this kit. It's definitely still evolving and I don't suggest that it's the complete set of stuff you should have on the trail. Even for me, it'll be interesting to see how it morphs over time.

The OSK containers I use are a 5 gallon bucket (for fluids) and an aluminum, medium-size, military medical case.

Fluids

• 5 qt Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic engine oil - this isn't enough for a full oil change, but it is enough to refill a lot of lost oil, and is likely enough to limp back to town for more oil.
• 1 qt Lucas 80W-90 gear oil - similar to the motor oil, this is enough to refill a leak, but not fully fill a diff. Use it to limp back.
• WD-40 PTFE Dry Lube - This is the WD-40 that I now use as my go-to variant since it's a dry lube and so doesn't attract the dust and dirt so common on the trail.
• MAF cleaner - I've had problems with my MAF a couple of times, so this is now a staple in my kit.
• Throttle Body cleaner - I've never (that I know) had a specific problem with the TB, but this is a good all-purpose cleaner as well, so it is part of the kit.
• Brake fluid - brakes are a key component of a working rig. If a leak happens somewhere, I want to be able to refill any lost fluid - at least enough to limp back to civilization.

​

Parts

• 1 Spare CV axle - I personally carry an aftermarket CV that I was loaned by a buddy, but you can also carry an OEM one as well, if you don't want to perform a second replacement upon your return from a trip.
• Spare Lower Ball Joints - one Left w/bolts (43340-39585), one Right w/bolts (43330-39815) - I carry and use only OEM lower ball joints, as they are known to be of higher quality than any available aftermarket joints.
• Spare AC idler pulley (88440-04040) - these seem to go out all the time, and having a trail spare will relieve you of the dreadful squealing.
• Spare rear u-joint (04371-60070)
• Spare center bearing (37230-35130), often incorrectly called carrier bearing.
• Assortment of spare fuses.

Tools

• ½" drive, 10-150 ft-lb torque wrench
• SAE & metric, 6-point, deep & shallow, 3/8" and 1/2" drive impact socket set - most of these sockets duplicate what's in my basic tool kit size-wise, but having deep sockets in a more complete kit is a lifesaver for certain applications. I find myself using this kit more than I imagined.
• 24" long, ½" drive, breaker bar
• 35mm socket - for removal of the CV axle nut.
• Socket adapter and reducer set (1/2->3/8; 3/8->1/4; 3/8->1/2; 1/4->3/8)
• Pry bars - useful when changing a CV axle.
• 3lb deadblow mallet
• Multimeter - electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose even with a meter, but they are impossible to figure out without one.
• Assortment of bolts, washers, and nuts ranging from M6 to M14, varying lengths
• Blue (242) Loctite
• Bailing wire

​

Water
I bring 5 gallons in a Scepter (military issue, plastic) jerry can. I generally expect to use ½-1 gallon/day per person. Fill up in town (fuel stations) when running low.

Though water is stored in the jerry can, that's not a convenient way to drink it, or use it for washing. For those activities, we use

• Two Camelback water bottles - these are useful for drinking out of, and stay sealed up when driving.
• Camelback Rogue Hydration Pack - this can store enough water for a longer hike and is also useful for washing dishes - water flow can be started by suction and then continues via siphon at a high enough rate to wash, but low enough rate to not waste too much water.

​

Miscellaneous
There are a few things that don't fit well in other categories, so I'll list them here:

• A Trasharoo for all our garbage. We don't generally make much trash on a trip, but any we do (and any we find in camp from previous adventurers) goes into the bag and is forgotten until we get home.
• Low camp chair - I like this model of chair because it's a more reclined position which is comfortable for me when lounging around the fire or reading. I should note that it's not better when eating.
• Several 18-inch long 2x6 boards - for leveling the truck in camp.
• A 2' x 3' astroturf rug/door mat - for the bottom of the RTT ladder, to keep from getting muddy on those rainy nights. And, for laying on if I have to work on the truck while on the dusty trail. Get whatever old mat you can find for free - that's how I got mine!

​

Only on Some Trips
There isn't much that I only bring on certain trips, since a bed that isn't full means that things have a tendency to slide around. But, there are a few things that only come along when I think I'll need them.

Chainsaw

• Chainsaw - I decided that if I need a chainsaw, I want it to work, so I purchased a Stihl MS-261 professional saw with a 20" bar. This wasn't a cheap purchase, but it's never let me down...and I know other saws that can't say the same.
• Chainsaw fuel - 1 gallon of pre-mixed fuel/oil mix in a fuel rotopax. This seems to be more than I ever need on a single trip.
• Chainsaw bar oil - 1 qt of Stihl bar oil. Like the fuel, if I need more than this, I should likely find another route around the dead-fall.

​

And that's what I've got. I think I've managed to list pretty much everything, but I'm sure there are things that you may feel that I'm missing. I'd love to hear any feedback or suggestions!

 

Great list! I carry much of the same, but you reminded me of some simple things I should probably have with me: 1) tire plug kit and 2) something to air up with.

I got a set of tools to keep in the truck, but I'm at a loss as to what the most likely spare parts to fail would be. So, not sure how useful the tools actually are! I did a week through Colorado and Utah with much less as far as tools and recovery gear, which was my longest excursion so far, but have seen others with issues so have upped my tool game. I mostly just head to the Ozarks for an overnighter or two. You remind me that I really need to be better organized, though, if I want to do something longer and more remote.

I use 2 of the big Rubbermaid Action Packers in the bed, with smaller containers inside for organizing cooking stuff, but I feel like I always have more than I really need and should be using that space more efficiently. They are lockable, protect from the elements, and can be used as a camp table or bench.

 

@turbodb, with the Trasharoo, do you line it with a plastic trash bag or not?

I love the military medical cases. I haven't found any aluminum ones like you have but have a plastic Hardigg case right now that I use for dry food and kitchen gear. Planning on getting at least a couple more for tools and other supplies as needed. Perfect size for my needs, about the same as one of the plastic folding tables. Measurements are about 23" x 23" x 12".

 

Thanks!

The tire plug kit, as I noted, is really my most-used piece of "repair kit" that I've used. Definitely a good thing to have around IMO. As far as spare parts go - My OSK so far has things that I've heard of others needing, or that I just happen to have a spare of laying around (so might as well take it). Hopefully they get me through in a pinch. Actually, after a recent trip to DV, I'm also considering an alternator - since having that go out can stop you in your tracks.

One important thing to remember though - if you're going places where you'll see other people during the day, I think it's OK to take less - since you can get help. That's always on my mind wherever I go - if I'm within 50 miles or so of "finding another person," I don't worry as much. It might be expensive to get the truck out, but it's doable and I'm not going to be stranded .

Trasharoo - yep, lined with a plastic trash bag.

Nice Hardigg! Those military cases are pretty cool. Actually got the idea from Monte @Blackdawg who had them on a trip and was able to source a few for me. Then, on a recent trip to DV (same one as I mentioned above), we stumbled upon a military surplus place outside of Beatty, NV. They had literally tons of all different sizes of military cases, and trailers, etc. for what seemed like reasonable prices. I picked up another case that is tall enough for fluid bottles - will give it a try on future trips!

I do wish they were a bit lighter - @mrs.turbodb has a bit of trouble lifting them in/out of the truck herself, which wasn't as much of an issue with the rubbermaid tubs we used previously - but I love the durability and weatherproofness.

 

I've had two opportunities to use my tire plug kit and neither were a success. I don't really remember the first very well, but the second was fairly recently. I was able to ream the hole out with the file piece, but was never able to get the plug actually into the tire. It felt like it was hitting a steel belt. I even had my cousin try, who has done several plugs, and he couldn't get it in either. I was somewhat relieved because I thought I was just being a wimp.

One thing he mentioned in regards to my tire plug kit is that it is just a handle and the rod that holds the plug. Pretty sure this is the one I have (

$10 Slime 1034-A Tire Repair Reamer Plug Kit, Medium Heavy Duty Strings, T Handle Type and Glue, 8 Piece Set

https://www.amazon.com/Slime-1034-T...tire+plug+kit&qid=1550695734&s=gateway&sr=8-8).

Anyway, he made the comment that I should upgrade to one that has a stopper on the plug handle. Otherwise, when it breaks loose and you get it in there, you won't bruise your knuckles by punching the tire. I think he was talking about one like this:

Offroad Boar 52Pc Tire Plug Kit Set for Motorcycle, ATV, Jeep, Truck, Tractor Flat Tire Puncture Repair,Black

https://www.amazon.com/OFFROAD-BOAR...ire+plug+kit&qid=1550695734&s=gateway&sr=8-18

Both times, I tucked my tail between my legs and had the tire patched professionally.

 

Lol, this is truly hilarious to me! Of all the wrenching on vehicles/maint. stuff this ranks slightly above changing the air filter to me-something I do quick after lunch once I've familiarized myself with where everything is at and I've got my parts ready to go. But the stuff you've done?! Now THAT would terrify me into a complete state of "Not even gonna try!" hahaha Like you said, amazing what you can build up in your head about things. Saw a link to this thread in another thread and have been through every page (took about 2 weeks and the only time I've ever done something like that, lol)--very much enjoyed it and thank you for taking the time to post all that you've done. Both for entertainment and information! Inspirational!

 

Your tool / parts / fluid list looks pretty good. You may want to consider adding a JB Weld Steel Stick to seal any puncture holes that would cause you to continue to leak fluid.