Additional Vehicle BOB Suggestions

I've done a significant amount of work over the last few years to assure myself that my home, office, and vehicle have the necessary gear for likely contingencies. One area in which I am uncertain about is the vehicle. I've gone through Doug's vehicle list and incorporated a number of items. Somethng seems missing. I would like to add some 20-liter fuel cans, towing strap, etc., but before doing so I would like to hear from all of you on the sorts of things you would include if you thought you might include if you thought you might have to travel by vehicle suddently and some distance from your home.

Check out the video Vehicle Survival by Ron Hood at Hoods Woods. He goes into vehicle kits as well as other important tips to keep you on the road.

In the video Ron also suggests the book Desert Survival Skills by David Alloway. This is a great book about desert survival with a great section "Expedient Vehicle Repairs and Uses"

We might be able to find what you missed if you give us a list of what you have. Also, search the forums, there have been several great discussions on this in the past.


Robert

I carry a ton of gear in a backback in my truck and also carry straps, chains, extra rope, jumper cables, fire extinguisher, and a whole lot more in the truck outside of the backpack. One thing (maybe the only thing <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) I don't carry is extra fuel. Just seems to be more dangerous than it's worth. At least that was my thinking when I drove a car. In a truck, in the bed, properly secured, I might consider it, however, at this point I carry no extra fuel. What I do carry is a hand-pumped syphon hose though.

Syphon
Bolt Cutters

Enter_Name:

Boy!, you must have a fantastic set of lungs! I could never syphon bolt cutters <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That would really suck.

I'm glad to see ya brought your sense of humor back with you... between you and goatrider, I'm getting visions of Martin & Lewis.
Thanks guys, and keep it up, laughter is good for what ails ya!

Troy

Goatrider:

No, actually, he would have to really suck. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wildcard,

A sense of humor is required equipment to survive this sort of punnishment.

OK, the topic was Vehicle BOB, not BOBBING in the vehicle. . .

Putting aside the levity, which was enjoyable, the suggestions are very good. . . .

I am, unfortunately, unable to find the prior posts on this subject.

Hi atty_guy

I have to ask what situation are you in, in respect to your vehicle? Are urban or rural?

When I was equipping my truck for the Paris-Dakar there's loads of stuff that you need to take with you. My truck included an hydraulic 17T winch at the front and an 13T electric at the rear, plus a ton of jacks, sand mats, spare tyres it was equipped for a particular event with "known" terrain.

My town car lacks the same level of preparedness, yet I'm confident that should something go wrong during my 35km commute to work then I've got most things I need to get me going again. I regularly service my vehicle plus my father is from the old school, and never lets his fuel tank go below half full and the idea has stuck with me too. That way you know there's fuel in when you need it.

I should be so wise. Thanks for reminding me that I also should be this way (since I usually wait until I'm on the very last drop of fuel before filling back up). These little reminders are one of the great things about being active on this board. Sometimes the simplest things are the most important... and the easiest to forget. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Gas prices have been fluctuating so much lately that I've been trying to buy low. Usually it follows a weekly wave- up on thursday sometime, down on monday. But this week it popped up on monday, not sure why. It also seems to have something to do with how many Arabs we've killed recently.

Stokie:

Sorry, I've been away from the site for awhile. I'm in an urban area, Washington, DC. There is the possibility, in a BOB situation, to go rural and off-road. Nothing as intense as you described, but it's possible. Vehicle is an F-150 4x4. The obvious things come to mind: fluids, oil, replacement belts, shovel, water, food, fak, etc. Not sure I'm satisfied with the OEM tire jack.

atty_guy

I've been meaning to ask you about Doug's vehicle list, I've not been able to find reference to it on the site. Can you provide me with the link.

The Ford 150 4X4 was at one time on my wish list, I liked the double cab and double axle arrangement. My old trucker mates in the UK define a double axle as when you have two tyres face to face (four tyres) on one axle.

I know what you mean about OEM standard jacks they never seem "beefy" enough for the job. I still get from time to time LRO or Land Rover Owner international, you can find more jacks, lifts and tackle in there than you can shake a stick at. I'm sure there are 4X4 magazines which can give you good reviews on jacks and lifts. A good hi-lift jack can come in useful even in a urban situation.

Here is Doug's vehicle kit. I think that is what you are looking for. I agree with you about the OEM jacks. I used my Honda Civic's jack on a friend's car once. The handle on that jack is pure crap. I decided to get a hydraulic bottle jack, but because my car rides so close to the ground I can't get the bottle jack under my car. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Oh well.


Robert

Rbruce:

I have a compact jack which looks and works like a mechanics floor jack which I bought when I once owned a low slung Honda Civic. If you can't get this thing under your car, you had better check to see if your wheels are missing. It has a good lift height and is easier to pump than OEM jacks.

They sell them at a lot of auto parts stores and they even have some with a carrying handle for easy carrying.

Just be sure to have a piece of 3/4" plywood in the trunk for those times that you may have to lift on soft surfaces.

Bountyhunter

I'll second the Hi-Lift jack nomination - we have one for every major vehicle and they have been extremely useful in all sorts of situations. My wife even used the one in her full size van to neatly extricate herself from an entangled accident - she jacked the van up high and pushed it sideways off the jack, neatly clearing the accident by 3 feet. There are lots of useful accessories for Hi-Lift Jacks as well. If you carry the jack externally, learn how to operate the pawl pins manually - rusty, cruddy, dry pins won't walk out automatically. (My jacks are approaching 30 years old - I keep them clean and stored out of the crud nowadays, but there were times...)

Much more expensive but: A winch. I have an ancient Warn 8,000 lbs winch - still the fastest electric winch on the market after over 50 years (heavier than later models, but still the speed champ). Dual batteries and a battery isolator are a must, of course. I use a marine/RV battery that can both deep cycle AND deliver the "starting" amps that the winch draws under load. If I was WORKING with a winch, I would go with a PTO or hydraulic winch, but for purely extraction work and occasional work around the property, an electric is the way to go. If you can't justify the winch, get 2-4 come-alongs, two stout chains with grab hooks, and some cable (for more reach). Slower, but they work well also, IME.

A set of tire chains - good ones - give you a heck of a lot more mobility in difficult situations. Put them on the front tires if you have a 4x4. Stay off the pavement and they DO tear up the ground.

Endless lists... these are just a few tried-and-proven items I've carried/continue to carry.

For the lower-to-the-ground vehicles: Relatively robust scissors jacks are available at automobile junkyards for near scrap-metal prices. They can get you high enough to slip a bottle jack underneath. But carry some PS fluid with you - bottle jacks have a nasty habit of leaking some fluid out if they have been stored in their side for years in a trunk... it's too late to top-off when you need the jack if you don't have some PS fluid with you...

HTH,

Tom

I probably carry too much but I think Murphy's law applies something like "you will need the one thing you didn't bring, so the more you bring the less your chance of needing something" I have all this:
1. Better jack.
2. A matching spare tire as a lot of vehicles come with compact ones and even when they don't people only buy 4 new tires when it comes time.
3. Better lug wrench. I have a piece of pipe that will slide over the stock one and a 1/2" breaker bar and socket that fit as well.
4. Spare belt. Some engines you can swap with your hands, others need a ratchet or breaker bar or wrench to pull the tensioner pulley.
5. Spare bulbs and fuses and any tools needed to change them. "No need for a ticker officer, I'll fix that right now"
6. When you change your spark plugs and wires, radiator cap, thermostat and radiator hoses as preventative maintenance the old ones still can be used as spares, they can be stuffed in corners under the hood and held in place with plastic tie wraps.
7. Plastic tie wraps, bungie cords, rope, etc. Never know when you might need to strap the bumper on <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> a roll of wire if useful to hold hot exhaust parts on that you drug off when you took that wrong turn down an old road.
8. Small Air compressor and tire patch kit.
9. Flashlights and batteries
10. Change of clothes, boots, jacket/coat and gloves for when you have to change a tire in a rainstorm
11. tow chain and tire chains
12. tarp
13. small blanket
14. tool kit. I found what is called a "wrench roll" a piece of heavy fabric with a bunch of long thin pockets you slide wrenches in and roll it up into small package, roller it up and tucked it under a seat.
15. first aid kit.
16. call phone charger and clips to connect it direct to the car battery. Only non American car I ever owned burned every fuse the week after I bought it and I had an old car phone which didn't have its own battery so I couldn't even call for a tow.
17. jumper cables
18. secondary battery and isolator to keep it charged. Nice for long trips to plug in a small 12v cooler and have it keep running without worrying about running the battery dead. Can jump start myself if I ever need to also.
I have all this tucked away in various spaces of a small truck (s10) and I only have used a small corner of the bed where I have a milk crate sized box for some of the bigger stuff, everything else fits under the hood or seats without taking away from my normal space. Everything is organized and inventoried. I also have a couple extra gauges (voltage for the second battery and trans temp sensor) for better monitoring, a couple extra 12v plugs in the doors so I can plug in things like the compressor easier, a locking rear end for more traction and an cap on the back to keep my cargo dry. Sounds like a lot of $ also but I've bought a little at a time over several years and over half has transferred from an old truck to my new one and them I've added more to it so I haven't had to spend a lot at a time.

Hey Bounty,

I found two jacks that might be what you're talking about. First this one from Harbor Freight. However the minimum lift height is 5", that doesn't seem lower than most other floor jacks. I also found this one at Jeg's, which has a minimum height of 3-1/2", but it is expensive. Are either of these what you are talking about or is there something smaller, and cheaper?

Mine is much like the one from Harbor Freight minus the handle. I don't know what the minimum height is, but it was low enough to get under that Honda Civic. I have it somewhere in my automotive junk pile but haven't used it in years.

I first found out about and fell in love with Harbor Freight when they sent me a catalog out of the clear blue years ago. While purusing the catalog, I found a 2 1/2 ton capacity floor jack that lifts 31 5/8", their model no. 42820-5VGA. Being on the heavy side, the clearance was a god send for me. I bought (4) 6 ton jack stands because they were capable of being raised to 29" to hold my cars way up there when I have to work underneath them.

Bountyhunter

Hehehehe you should see whats in my truck as of late. I try to get together and current inventory soon.

I carry a bunch in my truck too. One thing I always keep in there is a spare poncho, a blanket and other "stuff" like that. My camping stove is in there, a roll of TP, chains for all 4 corners, a come a long, pot, 2 gals of water, a hot seat (and a bucket to sit on), plastic bags, fork and spoon, large FAK, large fire extinguisher, flares, orange contruction site tape, Gaffers tape, a dual band J pole antenna and shor mast, with coax for my ham rig (gets out a lot better than the truck's antenna) - Heck, until last week, I even had a spare ham rig in the truck - but I figured between the dual bander, a 2m mobile for APRS, 3 HTs (dual bander, 2m and 440Mhz rigs) with spare batteries - I probably had enough radios. I've got food, wire ties, AND lacing cord, a spool of 550 cord, 30 feet of 1.5" flat line, some steel carabiners (heavy, but are stronger and more corrosion proof) - I could go on, but

The joke? It's a "city slicker" truck - I add MORE when leaving the city

Bounty,
If it's not too much trouble, can you dig up that old jack and find out what brand it is? Thank you.


Robert

Somewhat off the subject, BUT if you ever let your tank get below 25% or so, if you are equipped with electric fuel pump in the tank, you can overheat or even burn up your fuel pump.(the fuel keeps it cool) I have had that happen in a car once (it was a lemon, just one of the bugs wrong with it) and a school bus as well.
If it happens, best thing to do is let it cool for an hour and try again. It acts like vapor lock on carbureted engines.

I'll try, but with my gadget and stuff filing system, don't hold your breath. If I do find it and if it does have a brand name on it, I can't remember what auto supply or hardware outlet I bought it from.

Why do you have a vehicle with less than 5 1/2" clearance under it in the first place?

Bountyhunter

Haven't you ever heard of a "low rider"?

I have not lowered the car since I bought it. However, I'm not sure what the clearance of my car is, and I would think it would be even lower near a flat tire.


Robert

Robert, i have one of these aluminum floor jacks,

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47246

it fits under the front of my Miata without any problem. If you are looking for smaller and lighter this one would work,

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91039

But if your car has been lowered you might have a problem, my little brothers Miata has been lowered about an inch and has a slightly larger front air dam than mine and he has to drive up on a couple of two by tens laid flat on the ground if i want to jack the the front end off of the ground. And that is only to clear the air dam. I don't think that you would have a problem with a Civic just jacking up one tire even if it had a flat. The handles on these also break down into two pieces, so you can store it easier.

Whatever jack you decide to use be sure you test it, a friend of mine had his brand new floor jack break when he lifted the front of his car. This also reenforces the idea of using jack stands before crawling under your vehicle.

Rbruce:

Found the jack, but the metal plate that covers the pump area is missing, so I can not tell you the brand.

It doesn't really matter as the it has a minimum saddle height is 5 1/2" which means it is higher than the Harbor Freight $19.99 model. If you don't have the clearance for the jack, rather than spending a lot of money for one with 3" clearance, buy the Harbor Freight model and carry (2) 4" thick x 10" wide by 2 foot long planks in the trunk of your vehicle with one of the ends cut with a ramp end and drive up onto it for flat tires.

The ramp option is not much good if the car does not run, in which case a scissors or other low clearance jack is going to be necessary.

I would stay away from hydraulic bottle jacks. They have a lot of power, but not much lift.

Bountyhunter

Thanks Bountyhunter.


Robert