The previous owner of my coach carried a lot of stuff with him.
He had a brand new spare tire (circa 2002) mounted on a nice looking wheel. I tossed the tire, and will probably try to sell the wheel once I figure out what a reasonable value is. It took up 2/3 of one of the Joey beds.
The other spares took up at least 1/2 of the other side.
There is a perfect looking Firestone air bag in a bucket with some packing peanuts.
A full set of brake pads.
A brand new water pump.
Several new filters I will have to ID.
An alternator that looks to be used. I will have it checked out by a local guy that rebuilds them.
3 Different hoses I will need to ID.
A bunch of belts that all look to be new. Each of those has the application written on them.
There is a box full of switches, and other stuff I have no idea about. It is going to take some time to figure out what it all goes to.
3 full gallons of the Pink Aqua Hot fluid
A bunch of adapters for the sewer hose as well as what looks like an extra guillotine valve.
A big water filter that looks like it is set up to filter the campground water as well as extra cartridges and tools for it. There is another one like it mounted in the wet bay.
I see value in having spares but...........
My best spare is my cell phone. I do carry a few mundane things I feel I might need and tools but that is all. Nothing like you have just mentioned.
Anything that can't be replaced on the road or can be worked around until home, stays home on mine. You don't have to even have the alternator to keep a belt on with your engine same with the A/C compressor. Keep the water pump onboard if you dry camp. Your year coach used the same coolant in the AH as the engine, not sure what you have. Belts and hoses stay aboard also. Brake pads don't take up much space keep them onboard also. Leave the alternator at home would be my opinion as it won't stop a trip. I carry fuses and switches, filters, belts, hoses and even a spare Thomas air compressor. There was a post earlier about what to carry see if you can find it and make your own personal choices as only you know what you can do on the road.
Verizon has the best coverage but their domestic map is grossly optimistic. Get off the interstate and lots of secondary roads are cell free. At over half of the campgrounds we travel to here in the west have zero cell service. No service here at home either. It can come as a rude shock to someone from other parts.
Pierce
Being prepared is one thing, But hauling a spare coach in parts might be a bit much.
I carry Basic tools, Multimeter, Soldering iron, Belts, Air hose. All can be put in one of the two drawers in the top the main bay. Otherwise. Coach net and a cell phone are your good friends.
Coach net.
Credit Card
Patience
All other items "nice to have"
+1 on Coach Net and phone.
Other items we carry now:
- bottle of RainX type stuff
- wiper arm knurled adapter (wipers are useless if this breaks. They are inexpensive and small.)
- wiper blades
- extra wiper arm
- spare air pressure regulator
- length of PEX pipe
- Sharkbite press on pipe end stop
- Sharkbite press on ball valve
- Sharkbite press on pipe coupling
- PEX pipe cutter
Chris
Matt,
This is kind of a loaded question. What you need to carry will depend on your skill set. An example is, Do you have the knowledge and the other tools needed to install those brake shoes? If not will the shop you are broke down at install out of shop parts? If you are a tinkering kind of person you will need more tools than a credit card and cell phone. Nothing wrong with the people that use this method for repair but only you can decide what will suit your style. If you full time you won't have the same freedom to do your own work at a campground as someone that has a home base.
I am a tinkering kind of person. But I leave the brake shoes at home and do service on them when at home base. If I was going to make a trip to Alaska then I would throw them in along with several other special items that might be needed for a trip like that. Do to my background we carry a larger set of tools along with various repair parts than the average person. I've been known to rebuild an alternator at a pick-nick-table with the tools and parts that are on board our rig.
This brings us back to where I started in that it depends on your skill set, destination, and travel status. I would recommend that you carry a D-2 governor (this is one thing you haven't mentioned that you found), tools needed to change it, and learn how to change it.
Pamela & Mike
Great question and following. Coming from a sailing background, I way over did it at first. Then the Coach Net, credit card phone begins to set in. We are starting to purge again. Right now I have a rope for the throttle, adding spring for throttle, belts, filters, fuses, small electrical kit with relay and solonoid, small air kit with by pass, governor, thread sealant, valve for air dryer. Tools are now being closely examined for both the coach and towed. Can I actually perform that task? Harbor Freight for me means fewer someday may might need one tools loaded for repairs I can not or should not perform.
We are full time and do a lot of boon docking. With that said all I carry for parts are belts and tensioner, and a primary fuel filter for the Cummins. Repair parts for the wh, frig, and toilet ( use thesemore than any other parts) and a spare water pump. Additionaly small fittings for the fresh water system and misc electrical parts. Way too many tools drills saws and hand tools.
The best tool I've gotten since buying the bus....This Forum!
It has gotten me out of more pickles than a basement full of spare parts would have.
Len
When we decided to go full time I sold/gave away most of my tools. Then I got going with Laborers For Christ, so I've had to buy back most of those tools (plus a few more). The PO had a drawer full of spare filters and belts, none of which were marked in any way.