What do you keep in your boot?
Discussion
Having just become the custodian of my first classic, a 1960 Vauxhall Victor F, I'm starting to learn what I need to keep with me just in case. On my second run out in it I managed to break down. Luckily it had the original tool kit so I managed to limp it home (just about!).
I'm looking for some advice from some seasoned owners, what do you usually keep in your boot? What are the necessaties for my future endeavours? So far I've now got an AF socket set, petrol can (gauge is dodgy) and a 5l bottle of coolant/water mix! Are there any standard apart parts I should be carrying to give me more of a fighting chance in a vehicle more than double my age? Not counting the most essential tool, a full RAC membership!
I'm looking for some advice from some seasoned owners, what do you usually keep in your boot? What are the necessaties for my future endeavours? So far I've now got an AF socket set, petrol can (gauge is dodgy) and a 5l bottle of coolant/water mix! Are there any standard apart parts I should be carrying to give me more of a fighting chance in a vehicle more than double my age? Not counting the most essential tool, a full RAC membership!
Off the top of my head this is a couple of items what I carry in my Cortina.
Halfords tool set in a box metric. Trolley jack and axle stand. Hoses, fan belt, cables clutch ect, dizzy cap leads plugs points condenser rotor arm coil, one wiper blade, bulbs, duct tape, cable ties, rags, gloves and one of those fancy little jump packs that fit in the glove box.
Halfords tool set in a box metric. Trolley jack and axle stand. Hoses, fan belt, cables clutch ect, dizzy cap leads plugs points condenser rotor arm coil, one wiper blade, bulbs, duct tape, cable ties, rags, gloves and one of those fancy little jump packs that fit in the glove box.
Edited by markymarkthree on Monday 30th April 10:32
You just have to balance out what you think you could reasonably change on the side of the road, what you'd be kicking yourself for not having because it's so cheap and so small to carry, against major stuff where the most useful thing you can have is a mobile phone and an RAC (or whichever) card.
Apart from the obvious like fluids and belts and a tool kit .
Electrical components are the most common failures followed by hydraulic seals or pipes .
If it's just local trips , take the basics , if it's further afield it's whatever you are capable of repairing in a layby or willing to get a local garage to fix .
Built up units like dizzy's, starters or charging units could be handy along with a full gasket sets and spare inlet and exhaust valves .
Whatever you take you would probably never use and conversely what you don't take , etc .
Electrical components are the most common failures followed by hydraulic seals or pipes .
If it's just local trips , take the basics , if it's further afield it's whatever you are capable of repairing in a layby or willing to get a local garage to fix .
Built up units like dizzy's, starters or charging units could be handy along with a full gasket sets and spare inlet and exhaust valves .
Whatever you take you would probably never use and conversely what you don't take , etc .
Apart from the tool kit that came with the car (and the first aid kit that never gets used), I always keep a spray bottle of Autoglyms fast glass, and a spray bottle of insect and tar remover - the latter is essential in the summer. Oh, and an emergency cagoule, and my lighter walking boots with socks.
I have a tool bag : -
Jump leads
Small ratchet set (the tiny Makita one)
Bunjee cords
Oil
Spare accelerator cable (it was cheap)
rags
ratchet screwdriver and various bits.
Small flat head screwdriver
Grease
Duct tape
Fuses
I don't actually need all of that for a journey but it's become a bit of a place to keep them (SAAB 900)
Jump leads
Small ratchet set (the tiny Makita one)
Bunjee cords
Oil
Spare accelerator cable (it was cheap)
rags
ratchet screwdriver and various bits.
Small flat head screwdriver
Grease
Duct tape
Fuses
I don't actually need all of that for a journey but it's become a bit of a place to keep them (SAAB 900)
In my Riley I have a tool roll containing a selection of screwdrivers, pliers, spanners and also in the boot are two cans of fuel, water, a roll of kitchen towel, glass cleaner, latex gloves, cable ties, a bottle jack, oil and a box containing assorted parts.
Most of which are pointless as with my arthritic hands, using hand tools is difficult and with my back problems I can't easily bend over and look under the bonnet - perhaps I should change hobbies?
Most of which are pointless as with my arthritic hands, using hand tools is difficult and with my back problems I can't easily bend over and look under the bonnet - perhaps I should change hobbies?
Why do people carry cans of fuel about with them? Danagerous and smelly.
Unless you're in the wilds of Scotland or Wales, filling stations are plentiful. Keep it topped up.
Same for any other fluid, including water! Carry an empty can for an emergency if you must.
But double plus good for Duct tape. Anything that can't be repaired with duct tape is well and truely £$^&*ed!
John
Unless you're in the wilds of Scotland or Wales, filling stations are plentiful. Keep it topped up.
Same for any other fluid, including water! Carry an empty can for an emergency if you must.
But double plus good for Duct tape. Anything that can't be repaired with duct tape is well and truely £$^&*ed!
John
IKEA Fixa Toolkit (£7.95) - Hammer, Pliers, Adjustable spanner, multi-head screwdriver. Not the best tools you'll find but at under £8 you can chuck it in teh boot and forget about it.
Small Socket set.
Variety of Cable ties, including stainless steel.
Gaffer tape
Small can of WD40
RadWeld - Saved my bacon when the radiator sprang a leak on the eve of a trip to Le Mans in 2016, only just having the rad replaced now.
Rain-X - Windscreen water repelant, will get you home in the event of wiper failure.
Sticky string puncture repair kit. Frowned upon in the UK but commonly used elsewhere, it cost a couple of quid on ebay, takes up a tiny amount of room and if there's no alternative, I might just use it.
Silicone self fusing tape - Amazing stuff, supposedly good enought for a temporary repair on a rad hose
Insulating tape.
Selection of electrical cable, choc block connectors, switches and fuses.
Spare Bulbs.
Selection of Jubilee clips and hose connectors.
Oil, water, ATF
For longer trips:
Throttle cable, ignition switch, cooling fan, belts.
Small Socket set.
Variety of Cable ties, including stainless steel.
Gaffer tape
Small can of WD40
RadWeld - Saved my bacon when the radiator sprang a leak on the eve of a trip to Le Mans in 2016, only just having the rad replaced now.
Rain-X - Windscreen water repelant, will get you home in the event of wiper failure.
Sticky string puncture repair kit. Frowned upon in the UK but commonly used elsewhere, it cost a couple of quid on ebay, takes up a tiny amount of room and if there's no alternative, I might just use it.
Silicone self fusing tape - Amazing stuff, supposedly good enought for a temporary repair on a rad hose
Insulating tape.
Selection of electrical cable, choc block connectors, switches and fuses.
Spare Bulbs.
Selection of Jubilee clips and hose connectors.
Oil, water, ATF
For longer trips:
Throttle cable, ignition switch, cooling fan, belts.
I used to keep a cardboard box full of spanners and some long and short screwdrivers, a Stanley blade, spare wiring and terminals, water dispersant spray, spare points and rotor and HT leads. Have an LED light so you can see when you break down and a roll of gasket paper or spare carburettor gaskets might not go amiss.
A dynamo belt might be useful to have.
Being a Vauxhall, a massive umbrella to stop it dissolving in the rain.
A dynamo belt might be useful to have.
Being a Vauxhall, a massive umbrella to stop it dissolving in the rain.
Vintage Racer said:
my foot! 
very good!I've certainly got a few more things to think about adding. I'm gathering a tool roll to add to my stuff and I think a can of Radweld may go in too, just in case. This is all good information, quite different to what I keep in my landy! Keep the advice coming! Some things I wouldn't of ever thought of being mentioned here!
grumpy52 said:
Apart from the obvious like fluids and belts and a tool kit .
Electrical components are the most common failures followed by hydraulic seals or pipes .
If it's just local trips , take the basics , if it's further afield it's whatever you are capable of repairing in a layby or willing to get a local garage to fix .
Built up units like dizzy's, starters or charging units could be handy along with a full gasket sets and spare inlet and exhaust valves .
Whatever you take you would probably never use and conversely what you don't take , etc .
Full gasket sets,inlet and exhaust valves are a good idea as suggested, but I'd add a spare crown wheel and pinion, a crankshaft and a number plate light bulb to be on the safe side.Electrical components are the most common failures followed by hydraulic seals or pipes .
If it's just local trips , take the basics , if it's further afield it's whatever you are capable of repairing in a layby or willing to get a local garage to fix .
Built up units like dizzy's, starters or charging units could be handy along with a full gasket sets and spare inlet and exhaust valves .
Whatever you take you would probably never use and conversely what you don't take , etc .
tapkaJohnD said:
Why do people carry cans of fuel about with them? Danagerous and smelly.
Unless you're in the wilds of Scotland or Wales, filling stations are plentiful. Keep it topped up.
Same for any other fluid, including water! Carry an empty can for an emergency if you must.
But double plus good for Duct tape. Anything that can't be repaired with duct tape is well and truely £$^&*ed!
John
Fuel cans dangerous? Where I carry my two they're better protected than the fuel tank. As for smelly, I've never, ever smelt petrol in the car, if I did I'd be buying new cans PDQ.Unless you're in the wilds of Scotland or Wales, filling stations are plentiful. Keep it topped up.
Same for any other fluid, including water! Carry an empty can for an emergency if you must.
But double plus good for Duct tape. Anything that can't be repaired with duct tape is well and truely £$^&*ed!
John
You're right though, there are plenty of places in the UK where a car with a small tank and high thirst might run out of fuel, especially if it drinks 99RON Super Unleaded.
Ammo case with :
Socket set, spanner set, chisel & punch set, plier set inc circlip pliers, breaker bar, hammer, impact socket for wheel nuts, impact socket for drop arm nut, spare wheel bearing kit, tow strop and shackles plus the usual fuses, hose clips, gaffer tape etc along with gloves and baby wipes.
I also carry a small high capacity compressor.
Takes up a surprisingly small space.
Basic Defender toolkit really.
Socket set, spanner set, chisel & punch set, plier set inc circlip pliers, breaker bar, hammer, impact socket for wheel nuts, impact socket for drop arm nut, spare wheel bearing kit, tow strop and shackles plus the usual fuses, hose clips, gaffer tape etc along with gloves and baby wipes.
I also carry a small high capacity compressor.
Takes up a surprisingly small space.
Basic Defender toolkit really.
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