tools and spares to carry

Post by **Gareth** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 6:32 pm

Carry nothing which you cannot fit on your own, at the roadside... probably in the dark!

I've got a fan belt, a bypass hose (which I wouldn't know how to fit... ahem) some bulbs, spare plugs, points, condensor, rotor arm, distributor cap, a reel of wire, some rags, platic seat covers (for lying on, and protecting the seats afterwards), and lamentably virtually no tools... All this fits neatly into an old biscuit tin.

Oh, and an AA card and mobile phone. ;)

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:38 pm

You can tell that you used to have a Moggie before Juliet judging from the essentials on your list, but also dont forget throttle and clutch springs especially thottle as when that goes it all seems to dissapear.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:43 pm

especially thottle as when that goes it all seems to dissapear.

You have a spare throttle spring for emergencies - it's called the choke spring ;-)

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 10:32 pm

I just have: spare fanbelt (one of those funny red emergency ones); multitool, torch, firstaid kit, jack and uh, some penetrating oil. Oh, and a spare coil (largely because the AA guy fitted the wrong coil to get me home once, and I kept it as a spare). Oh, also some spare fuses.

And most importantly, my AA card and mobile phone

Post by **VikingMinor** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:38 am

This may be the wrong place to ask-if it is I am sorry- but you guys all seem to be in the AA.
I was in the AA when I was younger (and driving old bangers) just joined the RAC when I got Molly because of the Club deal. Any reason why you all have AA membership?

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:44 am

Any reason why you all have AA membership?

Not me I am with the RAC so you are not alone and more of the I know owners with breakdown are with the RAC than the AA

Post by **Rasputin** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:10 pm

I joined the AA as I believe the RAC didn`t accept cars older than ten years.

Post by **Multiphonikks** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:18 pm

The boot space where the spare wheel goes (or adjacent to it on top of the fuel tank) is a great place to store spare tools - I put all of mine in an old seed potato sack.

That's all fine and dandy until you realise that the fuel gague sender is being short-circuited out by a metal tool touching the terminals. (Took me a long while to find out why my fuel gauge kept switching between reporting the fuel correctly and lying that it had a full tank

)

As to the tools I carry:

Large Hallogen lamp which I can attach to the battery with croc. clips, my spare wheel and jack - a pair of my late dad's overalls (I have ones of my own but his old ones let me wear a coat underneath so I don't get cold in the winter!!!), a few spare bulbs and fuses, my insurance breakdown cover card (only needed it twice and both because I'd done something silly :/) a very VERY large hammer, duck tape, a big adjustable spanner and a pair of mole grips (the latter being great for fixing most things or at least venting some of your anger!)

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:31 pm

The space by the tank will also take a couple of 2 litre water bottles of the square type but they need to be unopened as used ones seem to leak unless somone has found a better type.

Post by **Cam** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 1:17 pm

Rasputin wrote:I joined the AA as I believe the RAC didn`t accept cars older than ten years.

Yes, I heard that too......... plus I have had lots of sarcasm from the RAC before now when I have broken down and a mate with an RAC card has been in the car.

Post by **VikingMinor** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 1:26 pm

Funny about the RAC and the Club having a discount to join, when people have think that they don't take cars over 10 years old.

On my RAC card it even says Morris Minor Owners Club! The youngest Minor must be about 33!

Post by **57traveller** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:50 pm

RAC personal membership covers the individual irrespective of the vehicle they are either driving or a passenger. I've never seen any reference to vehicle age limits in my membership details.
However there is a cheaper vehicle specific membership which may be different and only cover up to a certain age.
I've sent the RAC an e-mail requesting a definitive answer to the above.
I know some years ago I used the forerunner of what is now Greenflag and they wanted an extra £5/annum for my then car after it reached 7 yrs old in spite of never having called them out in the five years of membership. Told them to get lost and went elsewhere!

Post by **57traveller** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 3:07 pm

After reading all the recommendations for what to carry in the way of spares and tools, in this and other similar threads, I've come to the inevitable conclusion that there is only one ultimate solution.
Tow a donor car with it's interior modified to include a fully equipped workshop.

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:08 pm

Tow a donor car with it's interior modified to include a fully equipped workshop.

I like the theory behind that

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:50 pm

Tow a donor car with it's interior modified to include a fully equipped workshop.

It'd have to be an LCV or a Traveller. Hrm.

And of course, it'd not have to meet MOT requirements, being a 'trailer'. Right, now, I just need a tow-bar and spare car....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:08 pm

Never been with the RAC myself, but have been in my sis's moggy when she broke down on the M6 and the AA were very good.

I was with direct line until I had to use them and I can't publish what I think of them as it would probably be removed. I spent over one hour on hold! They were laughing when they answered the phone "oh were having a lot of problems tonight". Then they passed the wrong instructions to the driver. When the driver finally found me they had no interest to fix the car and it was the middle of the night so my 10 miles tow to nearest gareage wasn't useful [The car would have been fixed by the AA as I've known them do the same job for other ppl]. They made a lot of money out of taking me home the long route but dropping me off part way as they had another call (I spent another 90 minutes at a depot)! So after breaking down at 9:00pm and arriving home at 2:30am they refused to drop my car off the lorry for another 30 minutes until somebody authorised them to accept a cheque.
I would have been better off not having been a member of direct line as I would have phhoned talking pages, found a breakdown company and made the 28 mile journey home probably about 3 or 4 hours quicker AND saved money.

I've been with the AA ever since then.

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:15 pm

I was with direct line until I had to use them and I can't publish what I think of them as it would probably be removed. I spent over one hour on hold!

I had a similar experience with them; I got to listen to 7 entire renditions of their hold music, the elderly care home which had kindly let me use their phone were starting to think I was some nutcase as I sat there humming whatever awful tune it was they had on. When they arrived they had completely ignored the information about the fault I'd given them, and the 'recovery' was to a garage in the middle of no where at 10pm on a Saturday Night. It took me about 10 minutes to persuade the recovery driver to at least drop me in the nearest *town* (as opposed to a village with a garage, no hotels, and no bus/train/taxi service).

To describe me as 'unimpressed' rather understates it.

Post by **d_harris** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:54 pm

On my RAC card it even says Morris Minor Owners Club! The youngest Minor must be about 33!

Mine says member since July 1985 - I was born June 84 - a 1yr1mth old driving!!!
Ps. I've always found the RAC to be very good - I've had to call them out twice in my driving career

Post by **Cam** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:29 pm

I was born June 84 - a 1yr1mth old driving!!!

You were always a quick learner though

Post by **aupickup** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:36 pm

hi

well of course if you have a van, then no problem with carrying spares, although touch wood my van has never let me down in 2 1/2 years.
and it is used virtually all the time.

i am with footman james insurance and at no extra cost i get the same as AA or RAC cover.