WOFT,

Not to worry, my gut feeling is that your english is MUCH, MUCH better than most of the rest of we forumites speaking your language. Thank you for participating on the forums, every now and then you come up with a term that has stumped me, thankfully, by the time I read it, another person has already asked about it, like today. I had no idea of what a "bakkie" might be, but guessed after reading your post that it related to a vehicle, was unsure if it meant a motorized scooter or what though.

The following is a very quick synopsis on trucks/vans/rigs. I suspect that other readers may have other descriptions and terms to share.

In the US, trucks come in several types that can be basically summed up in these very generic categories:

"Small" pickup trucks (like Mazda, Chevy S-10, Ford Ranger)

"Mid Size" trucks (like Ford F-150, F250)

"Full Size" trucks (like Ford F-350 & F-450) generally these will have 6 wheels which include dual rear wheels (2 on the back left and 2 on the back right, although I've seen some with only 4 wheels per vehicle.


Vans are basically boxes (with smoothed or rounded corners / edges) almost always have 4 wheels. I've seen (rarely) some that had tandem wheels on the rear (two wheels on the back left and back right, but instead of being side by side like on the big pick up trucks, they were one in front of the other.

These may be passenger vans with seating for 6 to maybe 12 or 14 people. Generally passenger vans have windows all the way around the vehicle. Typically these are used as mini school buses, taxis etc. Often seen at airports.

Cargo vans generally only have windows in the front, and on the driver and passenger doors, sometimes the two back doors may have them as well. These are very commonly used in construction / business / delivery work.


Then we get into what I think you called "Lorries"... my guess is that this would cover Grumman step vans and the like. (Big aluminum box bodies, one or two seats in the front, four or six wheels, tall enough to stand up in.) Commonly used for parcel delivery and some construction work.

Then there are the Tractor Trailers (slang names include: "Semi" or "Semis" as a contraction of "Semi Tractor Trailer" , and "Big Rigs")

These are your large commmercial carrier trucks, typically with 6 to 10 wheels on the tractor or "Cab" of the truck, and 8 or more wheels on the trailer portion. Do a websearch using the following manufacturers for photos. Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mac, White, GMC. There are others, these were the ones that quickly spring to mind.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Comanche7

It's even more confusing in the UK. We call a backie a pickup truck, and then there is a van, which is a covered 'box' purely for cargo, and then there is a truck or lorry which is a large freight vehicle.

Ahhh, I'm begginning to get the picture.

I was looking at what we (South Africans) sometimes call 'Americanisms' <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Pavement = sidewalk
taxi = cab
flat = apartment
tap = faucet

I'm not too sure how these different words come about, as technically we all speak 'English", but it makes for some really interesting interpretations at times!

BTW, If anyone doesn't quite understand what I post, don't feel shy to ask or point it out - As an international forum, we all undoubtedly get mixed up with 'Standered' and 'colloqueal' english.

Didn't G.B. Shaw say something to the effect that "England and America are two countries separated by a common language"? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Back to the original question, though: What's in my vehicle?

I drive a Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, with extended cab (a full bench back seat) & short bed (6.5 feet long). In the USA, that's a Full-size pickup truck. It comes equipped with a full-size spare tire (needed it only once) and a bottle-type jack & handles, secured in appropriate places.

Distributed about the interior (in door pockets, bags under the back seat or front seat, in the center console or dash/glove compartment, and generally, anywhere I can secure/stash things), and in no particular order or groupings, I currently have:

Sears/Craftsman 40 pc tool kit, augmented by additional pieces, with fuses & such stored in the storage area of the case
Wool blanket (OD green, Army surplus) in surplus helmet bag (which has blanket pins attached, plus pockets & a handle, if needed)
empty day pack
empty collapsible cooler
fire extinguisher
ice scraper (2)
jumper cables
tow strap & hitch
repair manual
first aid kit in mid-size Pelican dry box (bright orange)
leather work gloves
roll of mid size garbage bags
a bunch of individually wrapped plastic eating utensils (from fast food places)
napkins & drinking straws
bug repellent
GPS & accessories
Brunton solar AA battery charger, w/both NiCads & NiMh batteries
Brunton compass
SAK (Victorinox Tinker) w/neck lanyard
tire gauge
pens/pencils/paper/pads
BIC-type disposable lighter
box of wooden matches
carabiner
roll of double-sided Velcro
5-C cell MagLite
AA MinimagLite
Princeton Tec Matrix headlamp
Pelican Saberlight (3C)
home state & surrounding state road maps, in zippered bag
detailed city map book
vehicle registration & insurance information
mini-binoculars
ball cap w/ear flaps
assorted bungee cords & other lines & tie-downs
poncho (usually 2, but one's out right now)
small pry bar
several MSR Ground-Hog tent stakes
wooden cane
collapsible Leki trekking pole
fanny pack
pair of Motorola FRMS radios (my wife has a 3rd in her vehicle, so we can always communicate; I keep 2 in mine in case I need to loan one to someone)
spare heavy-duty folding lock-blade knife (Boker/Brend tactical)
spare neck knife (Livesay Woo)
small camera & film
driving gloves
E-Z-Lap model M diamond sharpener
Lansky triangle sharpener
a few odds & ends medications (Tylenol Sinus, for example, more easily accessible than in FAK)
lip balm (Dermatone SPF23)
fleece jacket (year-round)
Assorted music CDs
a PDW (personal defense weapon) & extra ammo
spare batteries
power cord for cell phone
large & small umbrellas
roll of toilet paper in zip-loc bag
child booster seat
couple of toy cars
anti-bacterial wipes/waterless hand sanitizer
small change for parking meters
sunglasses

and oh, yeah, a wintergreen Altoids tin—with Altoids in it!

This is just the stuff currently in the passenger compartment of the truck. In the bed, under a tonneau cover, I usually carry:

5-gal bucket & lid, containing oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze, rags, funnel, 12volt air compressor, & more bungee cords/tiedowns

A large Rubbermaid box containing:
sleeping pad
Hammer
Hatchet/small axe
Change of clothes (full)
Spare sneakers
Day pack w/food & water & serious “stuck on the highway & gotta stay a while” kit (to round out other items already in truck, or to walk on if need be)

I’m sure there’s more—heck, I know there is—especially trip or weather specific items that don’t stay in there all the time.

Sorry this is so long, but you asked…

Thanks, too, for prompting me to take stock of exactly what I do have in there.

David

All those things you listed are the same as in England.

Hi Paul810,


Since I first began driving, I have kept a gallon of drinking water, a flashlight, jumper cables & a blanket in the trunk of my car. Nowadays, I make sure the blanket is wool and there are more than one flashlight, one of them a large Maglight. I added an EMS bag when I joined a Medical Response Team at work, and have kept that stocked ever since. I also now carry some odds and ends like a few misc tools, eye goggles and leather gloves, a roll of hose tape, a couple of hose clamps, a Leatherman Crunch, a water bag for carrying radiator water, a "Call Police" sign, a fire extinguisher & a disposable gas can.


I now drive a 2000 Jeep Wrangler. Lack of a trunk led me to get creative about repacking to get in all the stuff I wanted to carry. The first time I went offroading, I quickly realized I now had the ability to easily drive well out beyond where the the Police Car, Fire Truck, Tow Truck or Ambulance could reach. In other words, I might well be on my own if I screwed something up.

So, in addition to some extraction gear like a Hi-Lift Jack, some tow straps, et. al. I added two backpacks that hang behind the front seats.

They are sold by Mopar as accessories made just for Wranglers. In other words, they look nice, fit well and work just fine for what they are (storage), but aren't particularly rugged and the straps are thin webbing not really suited for any long (or even medium) term use.

I reinforced with heavy duty thread and some webbing inside the pack where the straps join the fabric of the backpack, because they're not really made for carrying a lot of heavy stuff (and I pack them quite tightly full!). I get the feeling they were intended just for picnics & such, but I put medical supplies in one and survival gear in the other.


Here are the current contents of the medical pack. Be aware that some of this stuff I keep in it as legacy gear from my EMS days and may not be needed or advisable for first aid kits.

Bandages:
arm sling
SAM splint
finger splints
knuckle bandages
abdominal padding
triangular bandages
2" adhesive bandages
adhesive shear spots
wound closure strips
10"x30" trauma dressing
disposable sterile sheet
disposable rescue blanket
adhesive tape 5 yards (1")
adhesive tape 5 yards (1/2")
assorted sanitary gauze pads
assorted sanitary gauze rolls
Water Gel® burn dressings (4x4)
4x4, 3x3 and 2x2 sterile dressings
Bloodstopper and Trau-Medic bandages
compressed purified cotton rolls/balls

Protective Gear:
eye shields
Laerdal® Pocket Mask
CPR Barrier MicroShield®
nitrile examination gloves
disposeable forearm sleeves
infectious waste disposal kit

Misc. Equipment:
forceps
eye wash
tweezers
stethoscope
oral airway kit
mini-flashlight
sterile eye pad
Sawyer Extractor
constricting band
"EMS Field Guide"
instant cold packs
Fisher "Bullet Pen"
Leatherman Sideclip
EMT shears/scissors
digital thermometer
blood pressure cuff
1st responder holster
disposable thermometers
assorted safety pins
accident report form pad
Meyerco Rescue One folding knife
green "Extreme" 180° "Krill" lamp
dehydrated/compressed pop-up style sponges
Fox 40 International "Mini Fox 40" whistle
detailed waterproof list of kit contents w/ their locations and uses

Salves/Ointments:
After Bite
alcohol wipes
cleaning wipes
petroleum jelly
first aid cream
medicaine swabs
calamine lotion
hydrogen peroxide
merthiolate vials
lubricating jelly
antibacterial soap
antibiotic ointment
Betadine/iodine vial
Betadine/iodine wipes
antiseptic swabsticks
antiseptic towelettes
PAWS antimicrobial wipes
gelled alcohol hand sanitizer
a can of additive-free shaving cream

Nutrition/Drugs:
glucose wafers
Aqua-Blox water boxes


Here are the contents of the survival pack. Keep in mind that I have not reviewed these contents in quite a while, and need to completely review what I'm carrying.

Signaling Gear:
"Call Police" sign
compressed air horn
emergency road flares
orange reflector triangle
bright orange bandannas
Skyblazer LoudMouth horn
Ultimate Survival, Inc. "Jet Scream" whistle
Cyalume "SafetyGlow" light stick (2hr orange)
Cyalume "SafetyGlow" light stick (2hr yellow)
Kriana Corp "Krill" yellow "Extreme" 360° lamp
Kriana Corp "Krill" yellow "Standard" 360° lamp
Cyalume standard light stick (8hr white) w/ lanyard
Cyalume standard light stick (12hr orange) w/ lanyard
Cyalume "High Intensity" light stick (30min yellow) w/ lanyard
Cyalume "Ultra High Intensity" light stick (5min orange) w/ lanyard
(All lightsticks except the SafetyGlows are kept in toothbrush holders to protect them.)
reflective aluminized blanket (to wrap around the tailgate & tire if I must abandon the vehicle on the side of the road)

Emergency Devices Group:
Brunton 15mm compass
Leatherman Super-Tool
one-sided razor blade
heavy-duty aluminum foil
reflective emergency vest
emergency gasoline substitute
temporary emergency engine belts
NATO Lifeboat matches and striker
full size disposable butane lighter
Pelican "MityLite Magnum" flashlight
Four Seasons Survival "Spark-Lite" kit
Cyalume standard light stick (12hr yellow)
Cyalume standard light stick (12hr yellow)
insect repellent citronella candle in a can
BURNFREE Hydrogel Survival Fire/Trauma Blanket
spare lithium battery sets f/ all electronic devices

Shelter and Personal Protection Gear:
zinc oxide
2 sun hats
insect repellent
floppy brim sun hat
waterproof disposable camera
extra compact folding umbrella
2pr thick synthetic hiking socks
2 reflective aluminized emergency bags

Personal Supplies:
(These items are the ones placed where they are the most accessible.)
mouthwash
sunglasses
toilet paper
tissue packs
foil packed wipes
disposable toilet seat covers
Pure Touch Skin Care "Tush Wipes"
waterless anti-bacterial hand cleaner
"#1 Travel John" "Disposable Relief Bags"

Miscellaneous Gear:
Fisher "Bullet Pen"
waterproof playing cards
all plastic deck of cards
magnetic "travel chess" set
heavy-duty industrial duct tape
assorted stainless steel safety pins
3M Scotch brand "Super 33+" electrical tape
550# mil-spec parachute cord w/ internal strands
"Rite in the Rain" and "Nalgene" waterproof paper
assorted size 4mil zipper lock style plastic bags
lightweight thin flat plastic fresnel style magnifying glass

Water and Food:
Survivor Industries "Mainstay" survival rations
Survivor Industries "Mainstay" emergency water bags


It took a while to pack the bags, and they're so fully and carefully packed that I don't like to get into them, but that just keeps m from using up my stocks in non-emergencies. If I ever have to make my Jeep a shelter or abandon it and walk out, I can just grab the survival gear bag and go. If there's someone with me, they can grab the medical bag in case it's needed.

FWIW, I have used the medical bag to good effect when I have encountered traffic accidents. Offroad, I feel better just knowing it's there.


Stay safe,
J.T.

It`s called a ute ( utility) here in Australia.

Just to add some more confusion, the first picture looks like a roadster, the second looks like an ordinary truck, and the third like a truck with a cap, or an SUV, sport utility vehicle. I'm stumped. Originally by your description I was thinking hot rod, or coup or convertable.

In other words it's a pick up truck. Great all around but rear cab gets cold in the winter.

Not much! I keep a folding military shovel, a set of jumper cables, some general handtools in a soft bag, spare tire and jack of course and spare fuses and bulbs. Since it is so hot here, I do not store water, food or anything that will melt, like duct tape! I keep a quart of oil, trans fluid also. When I am going out in the wilderness with it, I carry a 5 gal container of water, not especially for drinking and a tow strap. I have 4wheel drive and don't exactly go in really rough terrain, just bad roads occasionally. I always have my cell phone with me and if I am going away from cell coverage I carry an external antennae with my HAM amatuer radio and a repeater guidebook. In town I always have the cell and usually a quart of water if on the freeways, sometimes hard to get off of if having a problem in heavy traffic. If I was adding one more thing it would be what we call a come-a-long. It is a hand operated winch type thing, lever and ratchet with a cable to help winch the vehicle out of a bad spot. Anytime I am off in the wild areas I have general camping or backpacking gear, so that covers most non-vehicle emergencies.