What do you actually carry in your boot for breakdowns?
Discussion
Had a proper nightmare breakdown on the motorway last year — middle of nowhere, dark, and my "emergency kit" was completely useless for anything beyond a puncture.
Got me thinking about what a genuinely useful roadside tool kit would look like. Not a hi-vis vest and a warning triangle — actual tools that let you diagnose and fix common problems on the spot.
What do you carry? And has anyone found anything actually worth having?
(Working on something around this problem — curious what real drivers think before going further with it)
Got me thinking about what a genuinely useful roadside tool kit would look like. Not a hi-vis vest and a warning triangle — actual tools that let you diagnose and fix common problems on the spot.
What do you carry? And has anyone found anything actually worth having?
(Working on something around this problem — curious what real drivers think before going further with it)
Depends on what car you've got and how far you're going. Generally I don't carry much, but some have some oil or coolant or a couple of small tools. When going abroad I try and take a toolbox for the older cars with stuff that might come in handy, from clamps, clips, plugs, hose etc.
If it's a modern car then either nothing, or an OBD reader possibly, but will it get you out of trouble? Not sure.
If it's a modern car then either nothing, or an OBD reader possibly, but will it get you out of trouble? Not sure.
On my motorbike, the bike specific tool kit that can do pretty much every nut/bolt/screw on it, a puncture repair kit and CO2 canisters, spare fuses cable ties and gaffer tape.
In my car some tyre goo, a compressor, jump leads and the phone number of a recovery company. There's bugger all I'm likely to be able to do to fix a modern car despite years of working on older cars and bikes.
In my car some tyre goo, a compressor, jump leads and the phone number of a recovery company. There's bugger all I'm likely to be able to do to fix a modern car despite years of working on older cars and bikes.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 21st May 13:41
Car: always a spare tyre of some kind just to get me home, and all the things to let me change it ( jack wheel brace etc etc).
12v compressor.
Slime repair fluid
head torch + normal torch, disposable nitrile gloves, hi viz vest, mini jump pack.
Breakdown cover
I've never needed any of it for my car but have used the jump pack and 12v compressor to assist a couple of times.
I'd rather have it and not need it than need and not have, also some of the drives I do involve remote roads where the RAC / AA would take a long time to get to me.
Motorbike: small battery tyre pump ( can be recharged from the bike) tyre plugs mini jump pack.
12v compressor.
Slime repair fluid
head torch + normal torch, disposable nitrile gloves, hi viz vest, mini jump pack.
Breakdown cover
I've never needed any of it for my car but have used the jump pack and 12v compressor to assist a couple of times.
I'd rather have it and not need it than need and not have, also some of the drives I do involve remote roads where the RAC / AA would take a long time to get to me.
Motorbike: small battery tyre pump ( can be recharged from the bike) tyre plugs mini jump pack.
RizzoTheRat said:
On my motorbike, the bike specific tool kit that can do pretty much every nut/bolt/screw on it, a puncture repair kit and CO2 canisters, spare fuses cable ties and gaffer tape.
In my car some tyre goo, a compressor, and the phone number of a recovery company. There's bugger all I'm likely to be able to do to fix a modern cars despite years of working on older cars and bikes.
I used to carry the co2 canisters but found that a small bike battery operated compressor whilst taking up slightly more space was more practical as it had multiple uses topping up a slow leak In my car some tyre goo, a compressor, and the phone number of a recovery company. There's bugger all I'm likely to be able to do to fix a modern cars despite years of working on older cars and bikes.
I've got a toll roll with screwdriver bits and adaptor, socket set, and a selection of spanners, pliers, duct tape, cable ties, a couple of spare fuses, foot pump and pressure gauge in both the van and Polestar. Jump leads and towing strap in the van. Plus whatever the manufacturer has supplier for punctures.
The tools are more often used when needed while out and about than actually on the car!
The tools are more often used when needed while out and about than actually on the car!
Lexus : boot mat.
X5 : tyre kit and valet kit.
TVRs I had : ignition amp, rotor arm (genuine Lucas), two plug leads, dizzy cap, brake fluid, clutch fluid, engine oil, 2 litres of water, jack, wheelbrace, tools, fuses, cable ties, diagnostic tool, springy elastic bungy thing, gaffa tape, and the f*&^ing roof.
X5 : tyre kit and valet kit.
TVRs I had : ignition amp, rotor arm (genuine Lucas), two plug leads, dizzy cap, brake fluid, clutch fluid, engine oil, 2 litres of water, jack, wheelbrace, tools, fuses, cable ties, diagnostic tool, springy elastic bungy thing, gaffa tape, and the f*&^ing roof.
mobile chicane22 said:
RizzoTheRat said:
On my motorbike, the bike specific tool kit that can do pretty much every nut/bolt/screw on it, a puncture repair kit and CO2 canisters, spare fuses cable ties and gaffer tape.
In my car some tyre goo, a compressor, and the phone number of a recovery company. There's bugger all I'm likely to be able to do to fix a modern cars despite years of working on older cars and bikes.
I used to carry the co2 canisters but found that a small bike battery operated compressor whilst taking up slightly more space was more practical as it had multiple uses topping up a slow leak In my car some tyre goo, a compressor, and the phone number of a recovery company. There's bugger all I'm likely to be able to do to fix a modern cars despite years of working on older cars and bikes.
WH16 said:
Is this one of those threads which starts with a reasonable list of useful items and escalates into a home mechanic/prepper wet dream display of one-upmanship?
I never leave home without my 4-post lift on a trailer. Just in case.
Do you include a winch to get it on the lift? How do you manoeuvre a dead 2 tonne vehicle?I never leave home without my 4-post lift on a trailer. Just in case.
Pica-Pica said:
WH16 said:
Is this one of those threads which starts with a reasonable list of useful items and escalates into a home mechanic/prepper wet dream display of one-upmanship?
I never leave home without my 4-post lift on a trailer. Just in case.
Do you include a winch to get it on the lift? How do you manoeuvre a dead 2 tonne vehicle?I never leave home without my 4-post lift on a trailer. Just in case.
I bought a space saver, jack and tyre wrench for our EV earlier this week. My wife had a puncture which was letting air out as fast as my tyre inflator could put it in. I've kept the factory supplied goo & inflator in the boot too.
I've temporarily mended the puncture using a cheapo kit which is now stored in the boot - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083V2R3L6
I also have a battery booster/LED light in the boot as I believe 12V batteries in an EV can fail without much warning - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BBV7KC7Z
I've temporarily mended the puncture using a cheapo kit which is now stored in the boot - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083V2R3L6
I also have a battery booster/LED light in the boot as I believe 12V batteries in an EV can fail without much warning - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BBV7KC7Z
In the moderns, nothing more than the factory supplied compressor and can of gunge, with the details of my recovery service saved on my phone.
In the 99 year old Alvis, a comprehensive kit of spanners, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, grips, cable ties, jack, wheel brace, oil and water.
In the 99 year old Alvis, a comprehensive kit of spanners, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, grips, cable ties, jack, wheel brace, oil and water.
Pica-Pica said:
Jader1973 said:
Whatever it left the factory with.
And my mobile phone and roadside assist phone number.
Yup. Whatever anyone puts in the boot will probably never resolve the failure.And my mobile phone and roadside assist phone number.
Chris Type R said:
I also have a battery booster/LED light in the boot as I believe 12V batteries in an EV can fail without much warning - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BBV7KC7Z
Timely thread - my new EV6 left me stranded so I now have one of these in the boot. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff