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I'll also add that making sure your vehicle is up to the task isn't just for you, but for the rest of the people in your group.

Nothing worse then having to stop and work on people's ill-prepared truck while on vacation. So many times I've had to help wrench on the stupidest of shit that wouldn't have passed the simplest/quickest of inspections in the driveway prior to departure.

 

You must be mechanically inclined. This shit drives my brother up the wall. All his so called friends he wheels with know he has the ability to fix anything and as soon as something is wrong as simple as a clunking from a loose bolt they look at him to come to the rescue. Its gotten to the point where he had to abandon that whole group and find others to wheel with because it became nothing but work for him. Meanwhile his truck never breaks down do to simple maintenance. It drives me up the wall that people think it's his job to fix there shit. Rant over... but you know what I'm saying.

 

I run and manage a Toyota Specialty shop. Haha. Kinda goes hand in hand with knowing how to work on stuff and also a big believer in preventive maintenance.

Thankfully everyone in our "main" group is good with repairs and upkeep or has a newer vehicle so it's not a problem for us.

We do "prep" days at my shop before a major outing.

 

That's a great post and should be stickied.

I know the feeling of being the person who has to fix everyones stuff. Most of the time I don't mind but it does get old sometimes.

 

I'd bring anything you've already broken twice. Otherwise, like others have said, just the basics.

 

A spare key is another item I carry.

 

Probably the most important thing to keep from looking like an idiot . Anyone can get stuck or break something, but locking yourself out when you're in the middle of nowhere? Ouch.

 

Do you keep the spare key locked in the glove box ?

 

When it comes to tire plug kits are there any out there that y'all feel are better than others or ones to avoid? I see there's wide range in pricing. I was looking at this one (pictured) but didn't know if the metal tip was really helpful or just more of a gimmick.

 

No way. I don't think that would be a good thing to do...

I have a really good camp fire story about lost keys... Had to hot wire my car once to get home. lol

 

That would suck... But even worse is lost keys probably the worst case scenario. Especially with chipped key transponder system. With older vehicles, easy to bypass ignition lock in emergency...

 

Never seen that one before. Looks nice and interesting. I don't know what all the different tips are for... Most I've seen and used have a reamer, and plug applicator.

I cobbled together a nice home made kit from a bunch of pieces and stuffed it into and old shotgun cleaning kit case.

I like the ARB and trail gear kits. One day I may get one of those...

 

I also take a spare key. But I'm not gonna tell you where I keep it...

 

In your butt?

 

A friend of mine closed the door with her dog in the car and the dog stepped on the door lock button when she walked away.. $250 later after a she had to break a window to get in I now keep a hide a key locked away on the outside of the truck.

 

There are variants of these in the motorcycle world. They work pretty well when the hole fits the parameters of the plug. Too small is taken care of with the tool. But too large a hole and you're kinda screwed. You push it into the hole and the barb prevents it from coming out-which is why it doesn't always work with a hole that's too big. If you carry something like this, it can be handy to have a traditional tire plug kit as well. With a large hole, you just stuff more "rope" in the hole.

 

That's all part of the fun though, isn't it?

In reality, your trips just a day earlier!

 

I'll add to the preventative maintenance goes a long way to safe and successful trips.

Stay on top of all checks and changes. I change all fluids more frequently than "suggested".

Remember, it is much easier to work on your truck in your garage on a Saturday morning than on the side of the trail, at midnight on Saturday, in the rain...

 

I have this one linked below. After doing a bunch of research on what was the best value it was what I decided on.

$50 Safety Seal Auto and Light Truck Deluxe Tire Repair Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0080IJYVK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've never seen one like the one you have pictured. Not sure what the purpose of individual tips would be.

 

Thanks for the link. The tips are supposed to guide the plug. That model was one that was on the higher end of the price scale. http://www.dynaplug.com