Posted 2008-02-02 6:49 PM (#75898) Subject: What's in your toolbox?
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
I finally have a horse trailer with a mid-tack. I'm no longer doing the BP trailer and truck camper deal. Now I have more room to bring along convenient roadside assistance gear. What do you consider to be the most important things in your toolbox? Are those jiffy jacks worth a hoot for changing a tire? Should I get an air compressor? What else won't you leave home without?
Posted 2008-02-02 7:02 PM (#75900 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Jiffy Jacks are great! Strongly recommend those. I keep a small compressor behind the truck seat. To inflat a low tire or put air in my Air bags on the truck, or blow up an air matress.
I keep a 4 star wrench (fits both the trailer and the truck), leather gloves, a crescent wrench and water pump pliers ( incase you ever have to adjust your GN coupler) and couple of screwdrivers. A roll of duct tape and a hand full of larger Zip Ties. Flashlight or two and batteries. Several wood blocks to put under the jack or to place under the wheels to level the trailer.
Posted 2008-02-02 7:11 PM (#75902 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
I don't have one yet but I'm going to add some flat tire repair tools and supplies to the trailer tool kit. I also want to get a good portable 12v compressor so I have some kind of on board air. What are some good ones currently on the market?
Posted 2008-02-03 5:18 AM (#75923 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
Have you ever actually used US rider's services? Have they come through for you? I have AAA trailer package, but only because I'm insured through AAA and it gives me a discount. I don't really know if it's worth it to change over or not. How do you like them?
Posted 2008-02-03 9:02 AM (#75929 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
I believe AAA won't tow a dually and doesn't care about your horses, USRIDER main concern is about your horses. Also after seeing a post yesterday, I am going to buy a safety vest and add it to my truck.
Posted 2008-02-03 9:21 AM (#75930 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
AAA, who we used to have, does not have ANYTHING to do with livestock trailers, period. They don't do dual wheels. Good Sams will do dual wheels but nothing to do with the livestock trailers. That just did not make sense for us to have, with all that. We have U S Rider now.
Jiffy Jack is great, wooden blocks for chocking. Spare fuses for everything. One spare trailer taillight. A 12v test light, the trailer plug wiring diagram, and the truck plug diagram, both laminated. Heat shrink tubing, tiny flat and phillips screwdrivers. 4 way lug wrench with significant cheater pipe. A large flat screwdriver to pry off hubcaps etc. Zip cable ties, duct tape, and black electricians tape. Trailer plug adapters to go 4 to 6, and 6 to 7 as well. Many times I have not needed this, but used it to help my friends.
Posted 2008-02-03 10:38 AM (#75935 - in reply to #75923) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
>> Have you ever actually used US rider's services? Have they come through for you?
They are the BEST!! Have used them...many times.
>>have AAA trailer package
You really need to contact them to ask if they will haul your loaded horse trailer ..should you need that. And get that in writing!
Coming back from ND...AAA left me stranded on Hay 94 with two horses in my trailer. I have on the shoulder for 5 hours. They would tow my truck, but not my trailer. They told me to drop the trailer and hand walk the horses off the freeway!
The next exit was six miles down a very busy Hwy 94...with traffic moving past me at 75 mph!!
I finally had to call another tow truck to haul my horse trailer. AAA paid for the truck to be haul and I had to pay $150.00 for the other tow truck to haul my horse trailer six miles to the next exit. Where they dumped me in a car dealer's lot. Then I had to call my friends to see who could come to pick me up and haul my trailer..200 miles home. What a nightmare that was.
I canceled AAA the next morning and got USRider. They have never let me down.
Posted 2008-02-03 4:06 PM (#75955 - in reply to #75902) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-02-02 8:11 PM
I don't have one yet but I'm going to add some flat tire repair tools and supplies to the trailer tool kit. I also want to get a good portable 12v compressor so I have some kind of on board air. What are some good ones currently on the market?
Towfoo
You might want to post a question to the forum's membership, to see how many people had a salvageable tire, after encountering the blow out of a trailer tire. It's been my experience that they are usually destroyed beyond repair. The spaghetti string can be used on a puncture if it flattens while static, but if it is run flat, you won't have much left of which you can repair.
Posted 2008-02-03 4:33 PM (#75958 - in reply to #75928) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Location: Brighton, Colorado
Originally written by hconley on 2008-02-03 8:10 AM
First aid kits, one for people and one for horses
I also have 2 first aid kits, 5-15 minute road flairs, 4way lug wrench, 25' jumpercables, bottlejack, wrench sets , socket sets, screwdriver sets, electrical supplies, tire chains (3pair), tow chains, binders, ratchet tiedown straps, starting fluid, diesel anti-gel, 1 gal of 15w 40 oil, 1 qt gear oil, 12v air compressor, wood blocks, 2 flashlights with extra batteries, extra drinking water, old winter jacket, gloves, overboots and an old blanket in the winter time.
I know there is some over kill, but cell service in colorado mountains is horrible at best. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I have all 3 of my vehicles equiped about this well.
Posted 2008-02-03 5:35 PM (#75966 - in reply to #75958) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
Originally written by osue077 on 2008-02-03 4:33 PM
Originally written by hconley on 2008-02-03 8:10 AM First aid kits, one for people and one for horses
I also have 2 first aid kits, 5-15 minute road flairs, 4way lug wrench, 25' jumpercables, bottlejack, wrench sets , socket sets, screwdriver sets, electrical supplies, tire chains (3pair), tow chains, binders, ratchet tiedown straps, starting fluid, diesel anti-gel, 1 gal of 15w 40 oil, 1 qt gear oil, 12v air compressor, wood blocks, 2 flashlights with extra batteries, extra drinking water, old winter jacket, gloves, overboots and an old blanket in the winter time. I know there is some over kill, but cell service in colorado mountains is horrible at best. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I have all 3 of my vehicles equiped about this well.
You about have it covered, I also carry a gallon of windshield fluid, rope, bungie straps, a warm hat that covers the ears, and some wire.
Posted 2008-02-03 7:04 PM (#75971 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Location: Brighton, Colorado
I just bought a cheap one from Napa for 25 bucks. It is just for an emergency. Usually I double check all my tires before I even leave home. I forgot that I also keep windshield fluid in there too.
Posted 2008-02-03 7:11 PM (#75972 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Idaho
I am selling a horse trailer with a mid-tack only because its more than I need. A 2000 Silverado 3h 8'LQ. Your going to love your mid-tack. I keep all my gear in it and husband got the rear tack. We had room for horse blankets, extra coats & hats. The dog could stay in mid-tack.
I like the air compressor thing, maybe fix a flat too. I made my own medicine kit for us and one for horses....its a must! I would probably put in a set a drawers with supplies. Mine is lined with hooks for coats, plus a cabinet.
Posted 2008-02-03 8:15 PM (#75978 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
I already do love my mid tack....i think I'll use it as a mudroom. I've always wanted a place to take off my yucky boots and coat before going into my camper that I always try to keep so clean. This midtack has so much room under the mangers, which is where I plan to put my tool kit, plus it has a 3 tier saddle rack and so many hooks that I might just have to buy a bunch more bridles to hang on them....or perhaps I should get the air compressor instead...
I've worked my way up from a stinkin' tent, to a free truck camper that was in horrid shape, to a 40 year old truck camper in decent shape, to an older horse trailer with LQ that's in excellent shape. I just couldn't bite the bullet for a completely new unit that I'd be paying on for 15 years. I looked on ebay daily for at least 7 months before finding my perfect trailer. I'm happy with my choice, and I don't think I could ever have such a thing as too much trailer....that's why I bought too much truck, so I could have an excuse for a monster trailer someday.
Posted 2008-02-03 9:32 PM (#75984 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Veteran
Posts: 171 Location: Henderson, TN 38340
I've read through all of the list and no one suggested a good working Fire Extinguisher. I have one in the truck and one in the trailer.
A few years back I bought a Campell Hausfield (sp?) which has a light and a preset pressure setting. THis way I can pump up the tire and when it reaches the correct pressure, it shuts itself off. I've found this to be real handy as it takes a long time for these little compressors to pump up a tire.
Posted 2008-02-04 10:40 AM (#76025 - in reply to #75968) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Haslet Tx
I asked that very Question when I renewed my AAA. They said you can use 2 tows one for truck , one for trailer. They will send another truck to tow trailer. I went with the Premier member. just for the fact you get one 2oo. mile tow and 3 100 mile tows. Last year had to have truck towed 40 miles and it cost 250.00 (I did not have trailer) with there standard membership. Don't know about the dually thing my truck isn't one. Going to call AAA to get it in writing and find out about the horse in trailer thing.
Posted 2008-02-04 12:03 PM (#76041 - in reply to #75955) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by gard on 2008-02-03 5:06 PM
Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-02-02 8:11 PM
I don't have one yet but I'm going to add some flat tire repair tools and supplies to the trailer tool kit. I also want to get a good portable 12v compressor so I have some kind of on board air. What are some good ones currently on the market?
Towfoo
You might want to post a question to the forum's membership, to see how many people had a salvageable tire, after encountering the blow out of a trailer tire. It's been my experience that they are usually destroyed beyond repair. The spaghetti string can be used on a puncture if it flattens while static, but if it is run flat, you won't have much left of which you can repair.
BOL Gard
I carry the tire plugs. I can count on one hand how many blow outs Ive had..........getting back to the trailer after a day on the trails and finding a nail and such in a flat tire is a whole other story.
Posted 2008-02-04 12:39 PM (#76043 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Not knocking the AAA or others, but what they may mean is an empty trailer, not one with animals in it. Last thing that I received in writing from them, and then had to call em on it, was the signature person was not an underwriter, and not authorized to guarantee service in writing or otherwise! We had the top tier service package, but no go on the trailer containing animals, or the dual wheels....perhaps they have changed...
Posted 2008-02-05 12:05 AM (#76096 - in reply to #76081) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Forget the air compressor, because MOST of those little units will NOT generate the 110 psi for G614 RSTs...
My little one will, if you leave it on the tire long enough. Had a guy out with a backhoe and he had a low tire and pulled out a compressor just like mine and it put 95lbs in the tire. Took a while, but it did it.
Posted 2008-02-05 1:10 AM (#76101 - in reply to #75898) Subject: RE: What's in your toolbox?
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
I looked up AAA and if you have the RV coverage plan they will change a tire on a dually and haul your trailer. I called them to ask about horses and horse trailers they said they'd call me back....never did hear from them...so perhaps I'll take that as a NO I'm not covered. Anyhow, I subscribed to US rider. Now I will be sure to never have a breakdown. After all, as soon as you pay for something like that you will never need to use it.
It stinks that AAA never even called me back with a yes or no.
What's in your toolbox?
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