One thing I would add is the specific hub nut socket for your vehicle. Not to many people lug around the super common 41mm socket for a ram 2500 front axle.

Hi Scott - I bring a 12 ton bottle jack - 2 stage.

Bryan - nice write up - what type of hydraulic jack do you bring along ? floor jack or a larger bottle jack ?

Thanks

Scott

Bryan that helps a ton.

Is anyone brining battery powered impact tools? If so any suggestions on what ones you have found worked or didn't work well.

Great topic! Every vehicle is different so it's important to know where issues will likely arise so you can be prepared. A lot will depend on the type of travel you're planning, and who you are traveling with.

For tools, I keep track of the tools I use when doing repairs so I know which to throw in my kit for a trip. I don't bring a lot of tools - just the ones I'm likely to use. I bring a selection of metric and standard wrenches, 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4 drive and the socket sizes I normally use. A couple of screw drivers (flat and philips), needle nose pliers and medium channel locks. I always pack my fluke meter and soldering kit as well. I pack a 2lb maul and a punch just in case I need to do something with a bearing. I also have a spare pair of reading glasses, flashlight, nitrile gloves and a knife of some kind.

Spares will be even more vehicle specific. On the general side, I keep a full oil and filter change along with 2 qts of ATF and a quart gear oil. I have RTV silicone, duct tape, a funnel and mixed bag of "goodies" on hand as well. The bag of goodies I make from the coffee cans of cast off parts I have in the shop - it includes hose clamps (variety of sizes), nuts, bolts, washers, wire, cut off pieces of angle steel, etc. This bag of random stuff is seriously the most important part of my spares - it's saved my bacon more times than I can count.

The more specific spares I carry address the weaknesses my truck was born with. I carry a spare fuel pump and filter, throttle position sensor, mass air flow meter, stepper motor, thermostat and gasket, coolant temp sensor, accessory drive belts, diff gaskets, and hub gaskets. I have wire of varous gauges and connectors, a selection of fuses, and spare bulbs for brake, tail, signal and one headlamp. On long trips I throw in spare rear half shafts

For recovery gear I have my winch controller, rain gear, tree strap, 5 shackles, snatch block, recovery strap, 50 ft 12mm amsteel rope, air compressor, tire repair kit and gloves. I carry a large hydraulic jack along with a shovel and axe. (pulaski during fire season).

For safety I carry a large (10") ABC fire extinguisher (tastefully appointed in red). I have a large first aid kit with bandages for serious injuries - no ouchy boo boo stuff (it just gets pilfered and then you don't know what you have)

The most important thing to have on any trip is other people. If a problem arises, you need to stay calm and work together. I sometimes take two or three in case we lose one :)