Self Reliance on the Road... What do you bring?
 

What emergency roadside service & repair parts and tools might be the most useful to have on hand to be self reliant on long trips in a 99-03 7.3L?

NOTE: Editing this list is currently in progress to incorporate your suggestions and to reorganizing into subject categories.


SAFETY & PERSONAL PROTECTION (Listed in order of perceived priority, feel free to add your suggestions)

- First Aid Kit
- Safety Goggles
- Fire Extinguisher
- Emergency Triangles Box of 3
- Known Good Flashlight
- Spare batteries for Flashlight
- Flares
- Potoble Water
- Blinking Beacon
- Blanket
- Wheel Chocks (Four)
- Jack Stand
- Nitrile Gloves
- Durable Work Gloves
- Paper Towels
- Toilet Paper
- Feminine Napkins
- Garbage Bags Small and large sized
- Magic Carpet A 3' x 4' rubber backed carpeted commercial entry mat to serve as a "creeper" on dirt
- Jacket, Beanie Cap
- Tent or Portable Canopy
- Personal GPS Tracking Beacon


7.3L SPECIFIC REPAIR PARTS (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Camshaft Position Sensor
- Fuse for PCM (And while we're at it, a variety of spare fuses}
- Accessory Drive Belt Ford F8TZ-8620-GC or Motorcraft JK8-1381 (for Dual Alternators, with early 2000 model belt tensioner.)
- HPOP Oring Service Kit Ford 2C3Z-9G804-AB - Includes 3 O-rings, 1 for removable rear plug and 1 for each HP oil line, and a vial of Loctite 680 Retaining Compound.
- Fuel Bowl Oring Kit
- Turbo Oring Set Ford F81Z-9C436-AA Large Oring (one), Ford F4TZ-6N653-A Tiny Orings (two), Ford F4TZ-6N653-B Medium Orings (two).
- IPR Regulator
- ICP Sensor
- UVCH Shims
- UVCH Harness
- DeGas Bottle Cap
- HPOP Lines
- Fuel Injector
- Electric Fuel Pump
- Idler Pulley


7.3L SPECIFIC CONSUMABLE SUPPLIES (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Fuel Additive Stanadyne Performance Formula or Motorcraft PM-22 Cetane Booster or Motorcraft PM-23 AntiGel
- Fuel Filter Ford F81Z-9N184-AA or Motorcraft FD4596 or Racor PFF4596
- Engine Oil
- Engine Oil Filter Motorcraft FL1995
- Crankcase Ventilation Filter Racor CCV55304-08 (This item is only relevant if you have the Racor CCV3550-FRD-02 Crankcase Filtration system)
- Engine Coolant Motorcraft Premium Specification VC-4-A, (the green stuff) pre-mixed 50/50 with Distilled Water AND 4 oz of FW16 additive
- Coolant Additive Motorcraft Heavy Duty FW16 Specification ESN-M99B169-A in original 1 pint container.
- Coolant Test Strips Fleetguard CC2602A 3-Way (Molybdate, Nitrate, Freezepoint)


7.3L SPECIFIC SPECIAL TOOLS (What specific tools do you use?)

- ScanTool with Enhanced Ford Diagnostics Capability
- Fuel Filter Lid Wrench KD Tools 3526, also sold under the Napa Professional brand. Requires 3/8" drive ratchet.
- Oil Filter Wrench OEM 25372
- Tools to change CPS
- HPOP Line Tool
- Breaker Bar to change Drive Belt - 25" long, 1/2" drive
- Fuel Fitting Line Tool
- IPR Removal Tool A deep well 1.125" socket, or set of "shower sockets" from a home improvement store
- Tools to R&R Turbocharger to repair O ring seal
- PC/ED Manual, Workshop Manual & Wiring Diagrams (Digital version with small form factor device to read quickly by search commands)


CHASSIS CONSUMABLE SUPPLIES (Listed in order of perceived priority, feel free to debate)

- External Inline Transmission Filter It has been found these can get restricted suddenly. Have an extra, or a straight tube to eliminate it.
- Automatic Transmission Fluid Mobile One Synthetic ATF meeting Mercon V Specs one (1) quart
- Brake Fluid Motorcraft High Performance DOT 3 Specification ESA-M6C25A in original sealed 12 oz. container.
- Wiper Blades Ford YFTZ-17528-AB or Motorcraft WW-2023 (Part numbers for original 20" rubber blades themselves ONLY, not the entire quick change blade carrier.


CHASSIS SPARE PARTS (Listed in order of perceived priority, feel free to debate)

- Caliper Slide Pins
- U-Joints


REPAIR SPECIFIC TOOLS (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- 12" Emory Cloth
- Tools to fix brakes
- Flint & Steel


GENERAL HAND TOOLS (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Basic Tool Kit
- Hammer
- Knife
- Beater Flat Head Screwdriver
- Vise Grips
- Tape Measure
- Step Stool


GENERAL DIAGNOSTICS TOOLS (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Digital Multi Meter
- Non Contact Infrared Thermometer Useful for checking brakes, trailer brakes, exhaust manifolds, etc


GENERAL POWER TOOLS (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Air Compressor
- Inverter
- Converter (Battery Charger)
- Battery Powered Tool Kit Might include a hammer drill, a recipro saw, and a flash light.
- Ready Welder


GENERAL SUPPLIES (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Silicon Self-Fusing Tape X-Treme Tape
- Wire Splicing Sets Wago 221 Series Lever Nuts, or 3M ScotchLoK IDC connectors filled with sealant
- Length of flat four trailer wiring To extend wire harnesses. Split as needed.


VEHICLE PROTECTION (Listed in order of perceived priority, feel free to debate)

- Sunshield
- Fender Apron Ford Racing Motorsports
- Inlet Caps (To cover air inlet and CAC inlets during service.)
- Seat Wipes


TIRE & WHEEL SERVICE (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Tire Inflation Tools Inflators, locking air chucks, 25' air hose, gauges, hubcap removal tool
- Tire Changing Tools (To mount a spare tire/wheel assembly) Ford 6 Ton Hydraulic Jack, Ford tire tools, wooden block for jack.
- Lug Nuts
- Wheel Changing Tools (To break tires down off of rim, and remount new tires onto rim, like a tire machine, only by hand) KenTool 33199 Tire Bars (two), KenTool 317101 Brass Bead Holder for Steel Wheels (one), KenTool 33196 Steel Bead Holder for Aluminum Wheels (one), KenTool 31810 Leather Wheel Protector, KenTool 35310 BFRM (one - Big-ahem-Rubber Mallet). I also have found I need to use my receiver hitch stinger to help seat the last bit of the bead. (Tire wheel assemblies are balanced via Centramatics.)


SELF RECOVERY EQUIPMENT (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Recovery Straps (Two 20' length 3" webbing)
- Recovery Shackles (Four)
- Recovery Hooks (Four)
- Receiver Mounted Anchors Hook, Loop, and Shackle mount
- Snatch Blocks Warn 15640 (three)
- Foldable Shovel
- Line Dampener
- Snow Chains
- Lopers (to trim branches)
- Hand Saw


CARGO TIE DOWN EQUIPMENT (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Ratcheting Straps Various lengths
- Lifting Straps (two, for moving heavy items)
- Bungie Cords, Rope, Spiderweb Bed Net
- Red Flags (for long items extending past tail gate)
- Zip Ties


FUELING AIDS (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Fuel Additive Injection Tool Turkey Baster
- Fuel Containers
- Fuel Funnel Racor RF-15CC Dual Element High Flow AquaBlock filter funnel


TRAILERING EQUIPMENT (Listed in order of perceived priority)

- Trailer Towing Equipment, Weight Distributing Trunnion head, different rated spring bars, alternate height tow bars, pintle plate and hook, portable tongue weight scale, teflon lubricant, spare emergency trailer brake pull pin and cable, spare trailer chains, snap up bracket leverage bar, front stingers.
- D.O.T. Chain (various lengths)



Did I forget anything? Seriously. Sometimes, during the course of dotting every i and crossing every t, one doesn't notice the glaring obvious: the entire word is misspelled.

I keep an o-ring assortment, spare CPS, spare fuel filter, spare fuel pump after some unexpected fuel pump failures, small floor jack, tow strap, spare serpentine belt, road flares, and a bunch of tools. For long trips I take extra oil (most of the time).

But sometimes I'm lazy and figure, my truck only has 475,000 miles on it, I don't need to waste the time loading up extra oil. I'm only driving 8 hours from home.

I pack according to where I am going and how far off the main highway I might find myself. About the only long drive I do anymore is southern California to Wyoming to see the parents or southern California to Washington State. As they are both main highway drives all the way, I don't take some of the things you do but then again, it also depends on the time of year.

1. I carry a set of HPOP lines in case one of them decides to rupture. While I change them out at certain intervals, I keep the latest changed ones as spares until I change them again.

2. I don't use emergency triangles but I do have a set of flares.

3. Don't forget a small but complete first aid kit so you can repair yourself

4. I carry one 12 ton jack stand that I use as soon as the truck is lifted as I don't like big rigs flying past and the whole truck shifts about like its going to fall.

5. I use an OEM fuel filter cap but I just hand tighten it so I don't carry a wrench for it. In a pinch I could use by oil filter wrench if I have issues.

6. I don't carry extra wiper blades. I put a new set on every fall as the desert heat out here kills them every year so I just go with whats on the truck.

7. While I also carry a CPS, I actually keep 3 of them on the truck in case I run into someone who needs one.

Other than that I carry similar stuff as you.

Well it's a 7.3, not a 2 stroke Detroit, after all :)

Caliper slide pins... A hammer and a crap flat head or equivalent. Emry cloth 12" long piece or so.

I would ditch the chain, if you can't use a strap you probably shouldn't be doing it. And if it comes to recovery ALWAYS put something on the center of the strap so if it snaps it will drop to the ground and not fly up and hit someone or your truck.

If money permits having a pump and air tank onboard is an awesome thing to have when it cones to getting a flat with no where to turn to. Plus as an added bonus if you have air tools with you you can use those to do most of yhe work and get you back on the road a little quicker and every second counts while cars are doing 80 mph 10 feet from you. Make sure your spare tire is full of air.

If you've done the hutch and harpoon mod don't forget inline filters also.

Like you said ICP but you can get by by unplugging it. IPR for sure and the deepest 1-1/8" iirc socket you can find to make it a quick job.

Maybe if you have room a step stool if you've got to get under the hood.

A gallon of water, blanket, pillow and a change of clothes.

And if you haven't upgraded your hpop lines/ swapped them out GET ON IT! That's just one thing that will strand you and there's nothing you can do about it but use that cc and cell phone. Change them and forget about them but keep your old ones as spares.

Wow. I feel like I need to hook up my tool trailer to keep up with you guys. I got a spare cps and a hpop line tool.

"Mechanics oring kit"
Spare injector
Spare fuel pump
Cps
Icp sensor
Injector wiring harness
Fuel filter
Ps gray bottle
A bottle of stanadyne (thank you again Razzi!)
A couple quarts of mercon v
A gallon of t6
Toolkit (AE included)
Toilet paper
1911 in the .45 flavor
Shovel
Flint&steel
P38

We were in Yellowstone a few weeks ago and I saw steam from under the Excursion. I pulled over and somehow the degas tank lid came off-??? Lucky I found it near the battery tray but I was glad I had some water jugs in the truck. Still had to put maybe 4-5 gallons in, but it never got hot. So a degas lid might go on my list haha (and h2o)

One of those floats around in the cab too... but only because i just i just put in a new degas bottle. Old cap was fine so i couldnt see tossing it in case someone needed it.

Oh... spare fuel bowl orings if its not already on the list
2 quarters pre-ground for the 50 cent mod for those who havent got to taking off the covers yet. If you already have them in the tool/parts box it might make for less of a scramble when all of a sudden your cruising along on your trip to Jellystone and she starts bucking and spitting...
Not a bad idea to have a ujoint handy.
Lug nuts. Because when 3 of your 8 get kicked into a muddy ditch on the side of the road next to a creepy "children of the corn" cornfield and really dont need this right now lol.

Oh... and at least 2 extra 8rounders for the 1911.

Good grief, if I felt the need to take all that with me when I left the house I'd get rid of the truck. That's no way to travel guys.

I have a roll of X-Treme Tape, a good Mag Lite, a variety of glow sticks, basic hand tools, and some WD-40.

There are those that don't stray far from home, or they stay on the interstate/main highways when they do travel. AAA and a charged cell can take care of the bulk of issues that would arise - leaving the driver at the mercy of the local 7.3L support system. If you've ever visited multiple mechanics with a 7.3L... you'd know that is a scary prospect. There are certified mechanics that were still braking their voice when the 7.3L was produced.

Getting all "Rambo'd up" with expedition gear is a personal choice... maybe even control-freakish - but I say that as the biggest control freak here. Pikers! You're all tip-toein' around. :-drink

First... after all that heralding of the Racor RF-15CC Dual Element High Flow AquaBlock filter funnel, I don't think you need the turkey baster. When I funnel-fill, I put the fuel additive in the funnel, then rinse thoroughly with gallons of diesel. Most of the additives I've dealt with have the measure indicator on the side of the jug, or I use an old Sta-Bil bottle for my fuel additive (clearly marked). Oh... and Riffraff Diesel has the HPOP tool.

I have enough tools on board to do a brake job, replace any sensor on the truck, or swap an injector... including the on-board 9th injector and a portable canopy for protection from the elements while I work. Like I said, biggest control freak here. That covers what's under the seat and what's in the "7.3L" box in the bed (this is where a locking bed cover is handy).

Now... the 1911 clearly does nothing to aid in getting the truck going, so we're delving into Zombie Apocalypse territory. Before we get into that, a very-well stocked first aid kit is way the hell up there on my must-have for each and every vehicle I own (including the motorcycle). "Well-stocked" doesn't mean enough bandages to cover 100 fingers - it means antacid, anti-diarrhea tablets, Anbesol (for a tooth ache), feminine napkins (very absorbent), Benadryl (for allergic reactions to things like bee stings), glucose pills, extra medicine for a condition that a person may have... you get the idea.

I don't care if you go across the street or across a continent, a survival knife is the foundation of any "kit". The first Rambo movie made survival knives look all nasty and full of goodies - they're not. A "survival knife" is a very sturdy, simple, and easy-to-sharpen knife that you can count on for survival. I carry silicone mending strap - it fixed a radiator hose leak 50 miles from home... which involved cutting the excess tape with a knife. If you get a knife, learn how to use it - because it's more harm than good without that knowledge.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...2&d=1331389363

I have a portable floating EPIRB. It is registered with the rescue authorities, and it works anywhere in the world. This is not something you use for a flat tire - you can get fined for that. This is an OMG tool - like something's on fire or somebody's hurt (or is in peril), and there's no cell service. There is maintenance and there are rules associated with this tool, but... short of Zombie Apocalypse, there's a warm and fuzzy feeling for anyone near this thing.

http://newcontent.westmarine.com/con...e/13381207.jpg

Road flares and traffic accidents - not always the best combination (spilled fuel)... and they have a very short life span. I have triangles, and a FRED (Flashing Roadside Emergency Disc). It charges from the cigarette lighter, you just have to remember to keep it charged:


I don't carry mixed antifreeze - distilled water is readily available anywhere - but our antifreeze isn't. Carrying one gallon of unmixed is carrying two gallons of what we would use.

I have a full-on survival kit in every vehicle - to keep the first-aid kit company. Anybody who backpacks knows you can get it done without taking up a lot of space or adding a lot of weight. Case in point - I even have a survival kit in the motorcycle. While it may not have a tent, it has a tarp, paracord (I love that stuff), and a knife... so I have the makings of a tent.

Armaments - I appreciated the absolute simplicity of the Glock. I can field-clean that one easier than the 1911. That's not to say I don't like the 1911, but I carry a Glock - flavor #.40. When I run out of the loud parts, see the first photo.

Some cash, a box of condoms, the phone number of a good lawyer, and a bottle of Jim Beam.

Any trouble that won't get you out of ain't worth getting into.

Yup, I agree!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...10e0a9a3e4.jpg


I do carry a few tools in my travel trailer.

Ah... the Buck$Zooka-in-the-back gambit.

I carry a CPS and a deck of cards.

(AAA and Visa)

I particularity like the leaf rake.

Never leave home without one myself.:-X22

Amen to that. Skip all the rest of that crap. Can't be afraid to leave home.

I only :D carry 7 gallons of Delo 100 in my bulk-oiler for the 8V92...never had to add any on my last trip (2600 miles).

...for those that spend more time near home. I spend the bulk of my time far from home. It's not a fear thing, it's a Boy Scout thing.

Justify it however you please....

I prefer to not own something that I have to bring that much crap to support it.

I try to do my maintenance at home so I don't have to do it on the road. I carry basic hand tools and maybe a fuel filter and of course a cps.
What I don't carry is typically anything that is available at a gas station or a wal-mart.

I mean, a gas can, really? What a waste of space. My pickup came with a 20+ gallon one installed at the factory, with a gauge to tell me the status of fuel in it. Now I can see how your fuel range could be significantly decreased from hauling all that crap around, but jeez.............if you feel the need to be so prepared that you're hauling around everything including the kitchen sink, but forget to fill up, you got bigger problems.

Amen to that! Couldn't have said it better myself!

The only way to travel is with a privately owned Gulfstream 5, piloted by a freshly retired Naval Officer with over 15,000 hours and 3,000 carrier landings under his wings, and a private limo waiting on the tarmac at every landing. ;)

However, in this life, I'm working with a 15 year old truck that will be 35 years old before it can retire. Using a deck of cards means gambling... with the stakes being big bills from random repair shops and towing companies. And more importantly to me, it means abdicating the first two words of the title to this thread: Self Reliance.

All the time we read these horror stories of trips gone awry... people stuck in unknown towns for several days waiting on parts and service. Just recently a guy posted about his $2,500.00 towing bill to get him and his trailer back home.

One cannot prepare for every eventuality, but there is enough history behind us on these trucks to know that some things are more likely to fail than others. And we know that some seemingly catastrophic failures are very simple and easy to fix. So the nexus is, what are the highest probability failures that are the simplest and easiest to fix? I want to make sure I have those parts and the tools to change them with me.

Boy scouts only take what they need with them; not excessive equipment to start Shanty Town.
What indication did I or anyone else give that suggests we stay near home?
You have just as much chance of a ujoint breaking as all that other stuff, sans the CPS. Are you going bring a spare truck with you?
For the record I had a nice 7.3 truck. I let people convince me I need a bedful of spare parts and one day I realized I let people make me scared to go anywhere without all this stuff. So I got rid of all the spares.
In my new truck, I now carry a very basic set of tools in a case, a tow strap, and my ball mounts in the bed. Yes a 7.3 truck should have a CPS, although those dont go out as often as some will over-exaggerate. I carry a credit card and towing through USAA (cheaper than AAA). I will never let anyone make me so worried to travel that I need all that crap. If it breaks down, so be it. I will get home eventually.

A real boy scout knows that if you have a spare gallon of oil in your 7.3, you also have a gallon of emergency fuel, an emergency gallon fuel container, and with his boyscout knife to cut the bottom out, an emergency disposable funnel, so he doesn't need to carry every single one of those things. Otherwise, his backpack would weigh 900 pounds.


OTOH, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher are the two things that you'll really wish you had, if you don't and really need them. All other emergencies are minor IMO.

At some point, preparedness crosses the line and becomes paranoia.

Where is this supposed tow bill you are talking about?

Sent from my Telegraph using IB AutoGroup

Perfectly stated.

I agree with you guys this is hands down overkill BUT lets answer the man's question without judging and let him decide on what he wants to do with the information.

Y2K... I have an IPR, it's yours just pm me an address. It's used, I got it from another brother and I have no use for it now.

Thank you John!

(Now, if only you had finished that top of dash gauge project before leaving the fold! That's a torch I'm going to have to keep lit now)

Guys, I get the criticism of the comprehensiveness of the list. I get it.

At the same time, even if you disagree with the idea of carrying items along, I would still like to also hear your experience and observation on what components fail most often, and of those failures, which are the simplest to fix self reliantly on the side of the road.

I still have it sitting in my garage. I have friends with plenty of Ford's...

Reaching out to touch a Brother....

One thing not mentioned yet is a list of contact information for members of the Roadside Help Network... and each of you who is not yet a member should join. Even if it is only a telephone conversation to guide you through an issue without being able to be there... the buddy system is a great thing, but ONLY if you can reach out and make contact when necessary!

http://www.roadsidehelpnetwork.org/index.htm

HPOP hoses(I just have the originals from when I proactively replaced them).

Tugly, I tried to rep you for the very good points you made in your first post on this thread... ie, the coolant concentrate, the knife, and the ability to do a brake job on the road. I got burned on that one once. The front pad slipped out of the caliper on a Ford sedan while I was driving miles from home to a remote job. Had to limp into the nearest brake shop, leave the car for the entire week I would be gone, get a rental car on the spot, and continue the journey to the job. If I had the tools with me, I could have saved over $1,200.00 that week.

On a trip to Michigan, my starter stuck in the flywheel during cranking (and while running), at the 'World's Largest Truck Stop' on I-80 in Iowa, and I used the hammer I brought to whack it and disengage it. I later got reamed at a Ford dealer in Illinois on a new starter, and nursed the truck to our destination and changed the starter. I needed my breaker bar to bust loose the starter bolts, and the nut drivers and 1/4" ratchet to go after the wiring. I brought a mat to lie on, which was good, since the ground was soggy everywhere. I also brought 14 mil heavy duty latex gloves.

I didn't bring every tool under the sun, but a hammer, ratchet handles, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive sockets, and metric and SAE combination wrenches. My father would obsess about bringing too much weight along on a trip, but in a Super Duty, I think 75 lbs. of tools and fluids won't change the world much.

It was very nice to be fully stocked with tools to replace my starter on my own.

Your father was probably right about the older pickups with less net carrying capacity, but like you say, with the higher capacities of some Super Duties, 75 lbs won't change the world. It certainly won't change my world much, as far as weight, or space...


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7f9ff30ebc.jpg

The only consistent failures I've had have been the autozone parts i put on.

A couple years ago I broke down about 4 hours away from home on my way up to WVa. Had the wife(who was conveniently PMSing), both kids, and both dogs, just pulled off the interstate for a quick stop to find my power steering fading and no power brakes. It was the night before Thanksgiving, and kid and wife stuff replaced all my tools. The hot side CAC tube rubbed through one of the power steering lines. If i had just some basic hand tools and my previously mentioned X-Treme Tape, it would have saved me 3 nights in a hotel, tow truck, and repair bills. Don't remember what the total damage was, but it was too much.

Thanksgiving at Golden Corral... That's one I won't soon forget.

I carry much more stuff than I could ever need and I think that is part of the point. After spending decades in the medical field, law enforcement, and seach and rescue teams, I have a tendency to carry not only what I need but what I may need to help others. Usually when I travel with my truck it is by myself and I have just about every space filled up with something.

Trust me, even if you did, somebody would remind you...