Are you prepared?
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,024
Likes: 1,519
From: Maine, Virginia
Tom, this was a really great thread. Thanks for posting.
Many of us are still under warranty to varying degrees so roadside assistance is still available. I haven't had much luck with Ford's roadside assistance program so I've schooled my family on how to change a tire, or just call dad or a friend.
Someone mentioned dropping the spare down periodically to keep things moving, a fantastic idea. And while it's down, check the pressure and air it up if needed.
In my truck, I keep a tow chain and heavy winter gloves in a bucket. In a tool duffle, I keep a truck / suv rated tire inflator, cables, LED flashlight, tire gauge and a bottle jack.
In the cab, I keep extra gloves, cell phone charger, extra eye glasses, extra coat and a blanket.
Great job Tom! Glad you're safe and sound.
Many of us are still under warranty to varying degrees so roadside assistance is still available. I haven't had much luck with Ford's roadside assistance program so I've schooled my family on how to change a tire, or just call dad or a friend.
Someone mentioned dropping the spare down periodically to keep things moving, a fantastic idea. And while it's down, check the pressure and air it up if needed.
In my truck, I keep a tow chain and heavy winter gloves in a bucket. In a tool duffle, I keep a truck / suv rated tire inflator, cables, LED flashlight, tire gauge and a bottle jack.
In the cab, I keep extra gloves, cell phone charger, extra eye glasses, extra coat and a blanket.
Great job Tom! Glad you're safe and sound.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
Great thread Tom.
I do most of my towing in the winter, hauling my snowmobiles around. I'm always in these situations you speak of. I'm on these extreme rural roads in sub-zero temps, with nothing or nobody in sight for miles. I always carry a floor jack in the trailer with extra tools for a quicker tire change. Never even looked at the factory jack setup on my truck..
I do most of my towing in the winter, hauling my snowmobiles around. I'm always in these situations you speak of. I'm on these extreme rural roads in sub-zero temps, with nothing or nobody in sight for miles. I always carry a floor jack in the trailer with extra tools for a quicker tire change. Never even looked at the factory jack setup on my truck..
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
You definitely were not prepared. And you definitely need to carry more things with you.
If you're cold in 2F weather then you need a clothing upgrade. I carry a duffle bag in my truck with insulated body suit, waterproof insulated boots, heavy ski gloves, heavy ski hat with ear covers, full face mask, and goggles. This gives me 100% coverage of all skin. I can stand outside in -30F wind chill for hours and not be bothered at all. I also have a blanket, extra water, and 2 days food (granola bars).
I keep a flashlight and multi-tool, mainly for the pliers and insanely sharp knife. I also have large channel lock pliers, a large claw hammer, folding shovel, a couple screw drivers, and two crescent wrenches. I have a bit of electrical wire, ring terminals and butt splices, fuses, and a crimper/wire stripper, and 100 feet of para cord. I have a fire extinguisher year round under the back seat. And I keep tire chains and Bubba Rope for pulling or being pulled, and a jump start battery pack with integral air compressor. Although, to be fair I have not replaced the jump battery since last time the battery stopped taking a charge so I don't travel with it right now.
The other benefit of the jump battery is you never have to risk damage to your vehicle if somebody else needs a jump. I've never used it for myself but I've probably used it 7 times for other people. The tire chains are illegal to use in my state but who gives a **** if you actually need them.
If you're cold in 2F weather then you need a clothing upgrade. I carry a duffle bag in my truck with insulated body suit, waterproof insulated boots, heavy ski gloves, heavy ski hat with ear covers, full face mask, and goggles. This gives me 100% coverage of all skin. I can stand outside in -30F wind chill for hours and not be bothered at all. I also have a blanket, extra water, and 2 days food (granola bars).
I keep a flashlight and multi-tool, mainly for the pliers and insanely sharp knife. I also have large channel lock pliers, a large claw hammer, folding shovel, a couple screw drivers, and two crescent wrenches. I have a bit of electrical wire, ring terminals and butt splices, fuses, and a crimper/wire stripper, and 100 feet of para cord. I have a fire extinguisher year round under the back seat. And I keep tire chains and Bubba Rope for pulling or being pulled, and a jump start battery pack with integral air compressor. Although, to be fair I have not replaced the jump battery since last time the battery stopped taking a charge so I don't travel with it right now.
The other benefit of the jump battery is you never have to risk damage to your vehicle if somebody else needs a jump. I've never used it for myself but I've probably used it 7 times for other people. The tire chains are illegal to use in my state but who gives a **** if you actually need them.
Holy chit!
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,061
Likes: 39
From: Laramie, WY
I carry all that kind of stuff and two sleeping bags along with a cook kit. It all got hauled around for 7 years without anything more than the jumper cables getting used. Then one night on a mountain outside of Steamboat a couple of cars wrecked and closed the road. We were stuck there for 7 hours. The wife and I pulled out the sleeping bags and the canned ravioli and found that the cooking pans were missing. I still tried to heat up the ravioli in the can but burned the bottom. I made sure to put them back in the kit when I got home.
I'm not a doomsday prepper...but it was much nicer to be warm.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
This is a good idea. They hide that stuff behind panels these days best to familiarize the procedure at home in good weather. Spare was down to 20 pounds when I checked my Ranger, it would have been useless had I needed it.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 103
From: FL
Yes sir, I have seen many of those cable get bound up/seized, then when you need them, you are SOL. Regular operation will keep things moving. Not sure if there are any lube points, but hitting it with some grease probably wouldn't hurt anything. I also throw a quick coat of wax on the spare while I have it down., not at all needed but keeps it looking a little better longer and won't turn into a rust bucket as quickly.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
I carry all that kind of stuff and two sleeping bags along with a cook kit. It all got hauled around for 7 years without anything more than the jumper cables getting used. Then one night on a mountain outside of Steamboat a couple of cars wrecked and closed the road. We were stuck there for 7 hours. The wife and I pulled out the sleeping bags and the canned ravioli and found that the cooking pans were missing. I still tried to heat up the ravioli in the can but burned the bottom. I made sure to put them back in the kit when I got home.
I'm not a doomsday prepper...but it was much nicer to be warm.
I'm not a doomsday prepper...but it was much nicer to be warm.
You ate a can of 7yr old ravioli..? lol
Nothing wrong with being over prepared.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Falls
i think id go the route of the other guy though and just use granola bars, jar of peanut butter, box of crackers. bottled water is an issue because it can't be safely left in the vehicle in certain conditions. id at the minimum put in one of those outdoor water bottles with a charcoal filter built in. melted snow should work fine.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 103
From: FL
Although most of the time, I would attempt to resolve any roadside issues myself, there are times this is not feasible or safe to do, Worth mentioning... a AAA gold card. I've been a member since I was 16 and have used the 100 mile free towing on 2 occasions (essentially paying for the membership vs. paying for the tows). Just having a safety vehicle with strobe lights might save you from being injured when roadside.
This also covers ANY vehicle you happen to be traveling in. So if you have a friend/family member who has an issue, if you are in the car you can use the membership. Many places also offer discounts for having AAA (My auto/home ins....)
I understand this would not be an option for those in extremely rural areas.
This also covers ANY vehicle you happen to be traveling in. So if you have a friend/family member who has an issue, if you are in the car you can use the membership. Many places also offer discounts for having AAA (My auto/home ins....)
I understand this would not be an option for those in extremely rural areas.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Although most of the time, I would attempt to resolve any roadside issues myself, there are times this is not feasible or safe to do, Worth mentioning... a AAA gold card. I've been a member since I was 16 and have used the 100 mile free towing on 2 occasions (essentially paying for the membership vs. paying for the tows). Just having a safety vehicle with strobe lights might save you from being injured when roadside.
This also covers ANY vehicle you happen to be traveling in. So if you have a friend/family member who has an issue, if you are in the car you can use the membership. Many places also offer discounts for having AAA (My auto/home ins....)
I understand this would not be an option for those in extremely rural areas.
This also covers ANY vehicle you happen to be traveling in. So if you have a friend/family member who has an issue, if you are in the car you can use the membership. Many places also offer discounts for having AAA (My auto/home ins....)
I understand this would not be an option for those in extremely rural areas.
I've even used that to save money on tires for my wife's van. It came with run-flats which are expen$ive to say the least and they don't last very long. So I said to hell with it when it was time for new tires and bought regular Firestones. My wife isn't one I'd trust to change a tire, so AAA would be coming out anyway. Knowing they'd tow her to a tire shop permitted me to get some much better wearing tires and save a bunch in the process.
I HIGHLY recommend AAA. If I didn't have a hat and gloves I would have called them and had them change the tire. Of course they would have probably came from Worcester or Springfield, and I would have been waiting awhile!
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Well that sucks. Not repairable.
That's a gash through the tread over an inch long. $257.26 later I'm having a new one put on. They're swapping my brand new spare with the worn tire on the other side so I have a brand new set on the back.
That's a gash through the tread over an inch long. $257.26 later I'm having a new one put on. They're swapping my brand new spare with the worn tire on the other side so I have a brand new set on the back.
Elder User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 551
Likes: 4
Tom, the problem is that it is a Goodyear
. The set that came on my truck had six flats before I hit 4k miles. It got so bad that I kept two air tanks filled up in the bed and a plug kit. I could plug it and be back on the road in under 5 min. Finally the cord in the sidewall in the front let go at 17k miles and I put a set of BFG ATR's on it and never looked back. I contacted goodyear about it before I bought the BFG's and they would not warrenty them at all. That was my first set of Goodyears that I have had, pretty sure there will not be a second.
. The set that came on my truck had six flats before I hit 4k miles. It got so bad that I kept two air tanks filled up in the bed and a plug kit. I could plug it and be back on the road in under 5 min. Finally the cord in the sidewall in the front let go at 17k miles and I put a set of BFG ATR's on it and never looked back. I contacted goodyear about it before I bought the BFG's and they would not warrenty them at all. That was my first set of Goodyears that I have had, pretty sure there will not be a second.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Tom, the problem is that it is a Goodyear. The set that came on my truck had six flats before I hit 4k miles. It got so bad that I kept two air tanks filled up in the bed and a plug kit. I could plug it and be back on the road in under 5 min. Finally the cord in the sidewall in the front let go at 17k miles and I put a set of BFG ATR's on it and never looked back. I contacted goodyear about it before I bought the BFG's and they would not warrenty them at all. That was my first set of Goodyears that I have had, pretty sure there will not be a second.
. The set that came on my truck had six flats before I hit 4k miles. It got so bad that I kept two air tanks filled up in the bed and a plug kit. I could plug it and be back on the road in under 5 min. Finally the cord in the sidewall in the front let go at 17k miles and I put a set of BFG ATR's on it and never looked back. I contacted goodyear about it before I bought the BFG's and they would not warrenty them at all. That was my first set of Goodyears that I have had, pretty sure there will not be a second.