Spare Parts And Tools You Should Carry In Your Truck

Gladhands & air line

Obtained through shop: Fuses Gladhand seals Headlight bulbs Turn signals Trailer light bulbs Loosen-it spray lubricant Mud flap Fluids Wiper blades Tire thumper

Obtained on my own: Tool kit from AutoZone Star head bit set (can't think of the actual name) Pry bar Ball pin hammer Fifth wheel puller 50 ft airline Bolt cutters Tin snips 2 flash lights Tire gauge Pocket knife Leather work gloves Gorilla tape Two sided gorilla tape Wire stripper

Vice grips for those old trailer tandem release arms that won't stay out. Saved my life numerous times.

Wire snippers for those thin metal seals. Instead of yanking and yanking, just crimp it and pull. Comes off like a plastic seal. Also works for those thin wire seals that general mills likes to use.

A pair of work gloves and a pair of fueling gloves. Work gloves for coupling/uncoupling and general work. Fueling gloves for..... fueling?

Menards has a set of "mini bolt cutters" for 7$ and as compared to my 50-60$ tin snips they win hands down when cutting small cable seals.

Get an extra in cabin air filter from the shop. When the one in truck get full of hair or dirt just change it out. You live in the truck so keep the air clean.

PB blaster... it cures almost anything. Pins stuck? PB blaster, trailer doors hard to open? PB blaster. Are the latches on your hose ends hard to close when off loading product from your tank? (Only the outside of the fittings) pb blaster. Old lady wont.... well you the idea... PB Blaster.

The aerosol can of window cleaner found in most truckstops... the stuff works great on almost anything. Cleans windows, dashs,mirrors, hoses and even the shifter boot that has somehow turned brown.

Alcohol... nope not the kind your trailer is full of while sitting at Anhieser Bush or Budweiser but the rubbing veriaity... When you wake up and it's freezing cold out and your trailer brakes won't disengage remember this post. And also that everyone has mentioned a hammer...

If you end up in a bind and pinch an air line...

If you have a pen and duct tape. Youll make it to the next stop to get the parts to repair it safely.

Tale the pen apart stick the tube in one side then stick the other side on the pen. but it up as close as you can, the pen being equal length inside both sides of the pinch. Tape the crap out of it. But try to do a nice job. Being hasteful may not get you to a safe place, or out of the way...

I hope that makes sense.

It depends on the air lines too. Id hate to see you pinch an airline and block the world if you have tape and a pen.

BUMP

BUMP

PackRat has mentioned this recently, but we both carry a cordless grinder. Did you padlock your trailer and lose the key? Cordless tools are perfect for the truck. Most tools receive only occasional use, so no need to buy top brands. Harbor Freight tools will do just fine for most tools at discount prices.

And, of course, every trucker needs to carry at least one backscratcher.

For locks with pricing of above $60, I've never lost a key or a lock. I do carry a variety of at least five locks on the truck, though.

The primary reason for the grinder is removing corroded mud flap bolts that are permanently seized tight in place from winter road treatment chemicals. I got tired of bloody knuckles and wasting time.

A bucket of 5th wheel grease, grabbed a 4 lb tub 1 time as 1 small can only lasts 1-2 uses. Dry 5th wheel plates ain't fun, can make a trailer ride goofy....Dunno WHY now days the landing gearboxes say NO lube ! Ran into a few the gears were worn out, made hell cranking em down.

Used to have grease fittings for them back in the day....Them legs need some grease too, drop n raise easier as well hmmmm

For locks with pricing of above $60, I've never lost a key or a lock. I do carry a variety of at least five locks on the truck, though.

The primary reason for the grinder is removing corroded mud flap bolts that are permanently seized tight in place from winter road treatment chemicals. I got tired of bloody knuckles and wasting time.

Haven't had to use the cordless grinder for this yet, but it would work great. If a previous driver nailed down securement to the oak trailer floor, the nails may be almost impossible to remove, especially if they used screw shank or ring shank nails. Just cut them off at floor level with the grinder.