Topic: What are your rally car essentials?
Jerky, navigation, beverages.....what on your rally car equipment and packing list?!?
The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Rally! → What are your rally car essentials?
Jerky, navigation, beverages.....what on your rally car equipment and packing list?!?
A copilot you can get along well with.
oh...and of course, bring a towel!
It seems like it should be Junk, but I've managed some legitimate roadside repairs with these puppies.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tool … 63248.html
Cheap Insurance especially if the car is on a one way trip.
A copilot you can get along well with.
oh...and of course, bring a towel!
... and a raincoat; because, you know, convertible
Jerky, navigation, beverages.....
I mean, that just about covers it...
Anyways, here's a condensed version of my checklist of things to pack from the RBR last year:
Pack & Purchase
Paper maps (purchased, amazon)
Passports (US/Canada border ban might end on 7/22, might be an opportunity for a side trip from Detroit to Canada?)
Cooler (what fits in the backseat and has enough space for a day’s worth of ice, drinks, food)
Pack a spares/parts/supplies box
Wire it (wire, crimps, fittings)
Clamp it (hose clamps, zip ties, tape, teflon)
Bust it (PB Blast, locktite)
Spare challenger parts (whatever fits)
Fill it (gear oil, coolant, brake fluid, oil)
Hoses (vacuum, fuel line, filler hose)
Clean it (gloves, towels, brakleen, fuel system cleaner)
Pack tool bag
Milwaukee kit (inflator, driver, drill & bits, batteries & charger)
Wrenches (metric kit, crescent, allen multitool, channel locks, torque, breaker bar)
Socket set (⅜” & ½” drivers, 8->17mm ⅜”, 12->24mm ½”, lug nut breaker)
Hand Tools: Screwdriver, multitool, utility knife, crimp tool
Multimeter, electronic qtesters
Jack stand & scissor jack (test for clearance)
Funnel & fluid pump
Window cleaner, rags, gloves, towels, trash bags, febreze
Bribes
Pack other stuff
Phone charger(s)
First aid kit & sunscreen
Personal duffel (clothes, meds, swimsuit & towel in case of water challenges)
Rally log (written book)
Gas can (1gallon)
Haynes guide
2-way radios
Coins and cash for tolls & parking
hotel booking hardcopies
Registration sheet pre-fill / print & insurance
I overpacked a tool bag with essentials for the Rocky Mtn Breakdown, but I had to take a daily driver vs. something hooptie-ish so I didn't really plan on taking that much initially. Aside from shallow and deep-well sockets, a few extensions (including a torque stick for the wheels), ratchet handles, Milwaukee ugga-duggas and power ratchet, assorted other favorite tools, tire pressure gauge, gloves, and zip ties. Lots of zip ties. I need to add some sort of tire inflator.
Usually for the Food & Beverage Department, it's caffeinated drinks, Smartwater (although I'm still no smarter--refund, please?), and a few assorted snacks low in carbs since I don't want to fall asleep at the wheel. Given the number of road trips we're taking this year, and my better half needing to take a few health-related items, we're looking into a portable 12V refrigerator chest to avoid dealing with ice. (It's an actual refrigerator, not one of those coolers with limited cooling capacity.) For the drinks, I'll buy them in Ohio so I don't have to worry about returnable bottles bouncing around the car.
Tactical gear isn't much. Sunglasses, Radenso DS1, two phones (one of which lives in the console to feed Android Auto to the head unit), Beano, spare USB charging cords, a 120 volt inverter (to charge camera and ugga-dugga batteries if needed), and if I remember to pack the right batteries this time, the DSLR for better pics. I also carry a Surface Go and a WiFi hotspot (given my line of work, sometimes I need to handle remote emergencies). I get all the free paper maps I want from AAA, so I'm well stocked there. For the rally, a Stupid Car Tray for the passenger seat really helped. (I rally solo, for now.)
In essence, not much different from any other road trip, beyond carrying extra tools.
It seems like it should be Junk, but I've managed some legitimate roadside repairs with these puppies.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tool … 63248.htmlCheap Insurance especially if the car is on a one way trip.
I have that exact tool kit in my camper! I'll add it to the escort!
questforlemons wrote:Jerky, navigation, beverages.....
I mean, that just about covers it...
Anyways, here's a condensed version of my checklist of things to pack from the RBR last year:
Pack & Purchase
Paper maps (purchased, amazon)
Passports (US/Canada border ban might end on 7/22, might be an opportunity for a side trip from Detroit to Canada?)
Cooler (what fits in the backseat and has enough space for a day’s worth of ice, drinks, food)
Pack a spares/parts/supplies box
Wire it (wire, crimps, fittings)
Clamp it (hose clamps, zip ties, tape, teflon)
Bust it (PB Blast, locktite)
Spare challenger parts (whatever fits)
Fill it (gear oil, coolant, brake fluid, oil)
Hoses (vacuum, fuel line, filler hose)
Clean it (gloves, towels, brakleen, fuel system cleaner)
Pack tool bag
Milwaukee kit (inflator, driver, drill & bits, batteries & charger)
Wrenches (metric kit, crescent, allen multitool, channel locks, torque, breaker bar)
Socket set (⅜” & ½” drivers, 8->17mm ⅜”, 12->24mm ½”, lug nut breaker)
Hand Tools: Screwdriver, multitool, utility knife, crimp tool
Multimeter, electronic qtesters
Jack stand & scissor jack (test for clearance)
Funnel & fluid pump
Window cleaner, rags, gloves, towels, trash bags, febreze
Bribes
Pack other stuff
Phone charger(s)
First aid kit & sunscreen
Personal duffel (clothes, meds, swimsuit & towel in case of water challenges)
Rally log (written book)
Gas can (1gallon)
Haynes guide
2-way radios
Coins and cash for tolls & parking
hotel booking hardcopies
Registration sheet pre-fill / print & insurance
Well crap, I don't think this escort is going to be big enough!
I have to fly out of Buffalo Sunday night for a 3 day work trip, so I need to bring those necessities too!
Lmfao this is actually a great list, and I'd thought of a few of these things. I hadn't thought of the jack stand and a better jack. I think I need to start a rally tote!
Someone mentioned portable radios. What's the overall affinity for cb radios amongst rally participants?
I almost bought a cheap CB radio but saw no real use for it. I've had no need to contact anyone else in the rally, outside of meeting up with them at the checkpoints, although it might be fun if traveling in a group. There was a recommended phone app for CB-like conversation but I can't be fumbling with a phone while driving. For emergencies, there's as good a chance we'd be within CB range of a fellow rally participant as we'd be in range of a cell tower.
I also considered a metric tool kit from Horrible Freight (don't need SAE), but I already own the tools and it only takes me about ten minutes to transfer what I need to the tool bag. I bought a rugged Carhartt tool bag recently that has a solid, molded rubber bottom.
I realized I should be bringing the socket for the axle nuts, and a 1/2" breaker bar...
CB has been kind of useless when we've tried it in the past, but that was with old junk that didn't work anyways. Besides, we're always too far away from other cars to use it, eh? Instagram seems to work most of the time.
The long list...yeah, I've brought too much, but also never had just what I needed, that's how it works. With the MG TD I had to travel light, all the tools fit in the built in tool box under the hood, plus a small tote in back with a gallon of oil, gallon of water, and a few other sundry items. Scissor jack from autozone (or from a junkyard or your DD if you're clever) is handy. That tool kit from hf should be able to do a lot of what you need, be sure to bring baling wire, and some hose clamps, fuel line, screws, washers, etc in car sizes.
Spare fuel pump and fan belt are good ideas. I've only had to replace alternators on two rallys, so make sure that if it's not one they stock at parts stores, consider where you'll get one. The alt I put in the MG to replace the dead Lucas dynamo is the Chevy 10SI that they stock everywhere.
We never really heard anything on ours at Texas 2019. If you stick to a pack it may be useful, But most of the installs are maybe 2 mile range or less.
If someone plans on running in a pack, there's no harm in exchanging phone numbers for calls or texting. I'm certainly open to it if asked. Also, didn't we have a group text on the Rocky Mtn Breakdown, or was that from the Silver Saddle Motel (asking us when we'd be arriving)?
For at least 4 rallies we used an app called Roadstr that had a group messaging feature, though you had to check it to see if anyone had posted a new message. That, along with everything else I was doing in terms of Navigation, got to be cumbersome. It went completely Tits-up during Retreat From Moscow and I don't think we use it anymore. I think Jeff mentioned another app for RMB, though I haven't looked into it yet. Mostly I was just using Facebook and Instagram.
As far as CB's go, I had one in the car for both last year's RBR and RFM. We didn't use it on RBR at all (because nobody responded when we attempted to use it the first time, so we figured it wasn't transmitting and abandoned it), and on RFM I only used it on Thursday evening to chat with the Bavarians and Mooseknuckle when I was running behind them to get to the day's finish. Other than that, it just sat there and I needed the 12v socket to keep my phone charged (and the 12v splitter I bought didn't work). I'll be bringing it again, since they are fun to use, but I don't know how much I'll actually be using it. If you want a radio with some distance, you actually want a shortwave or a ham radio, and not only do some of them require a license to use, but nobody's running them in the rallies.\
As much as I like to run with other participants, I like to get early starts every day (which is a good idea if you're solo, so you keep as much of the pack behind you as possible in case something bad happens). So I'll chat with you if we're running together between two check points, but I don't hold it against anybody if we don't stay together. We'll see each other again eventually.
For at least 4 rallies we used an app called Roadstr that had a group messaging feature, though you had to check it to see if anyone had posted a new message. That, along with everything else I was doing in terms of Navigation, got to be cumbersome. It went completely Tits-up during Retreat From Moscow and I don't think we use it anymore. I think Jeff mentioned another app for RMB, though I haven't looked into it yet. Mostly I was just using Facebook and Instagram.
As far as CB's go, I had one in the car for both last year's RBR and RFM. We didn't use it on RBR at all (because nobody responded when we attempted to use it the first time, so we figured it wasn't transmitting and abandoned it), and on RFM I only used it on Thursday evening to chat with the Bavarians and Mooseknuckle when I was running behind them to get to the day's finish. Other than that, it just sat there and I needed the 12v socket to keep my phone charged (and the 12v splitter I bought didn't work). I'll be bringing it again, since they are fun to use, but I don't know how much I'll actually be using it. If you want a radio with some distance, you actually want a shortwave or a ham radio, and not only do some of them require a license to use, but nobody's running them in the rallies.\
As much as I like to run with other participants, I like to get early starts every day (which is a good idea if you're solo, so you keep as much of the pack behind you as possible in case something bad happens). So I'll chat with you if we're running together between two check points, but I don't hold it against anybody if we don't stay together. We'll see each other again eventually.
Makes sense! I'll bring it (if I can find it in the garage) and see how it goes!
I really appreciate everyone's input. I'm running solo, so I'll probably have to do the same, and leave early to buy some time! Great point!
No need to leave early, unless your'e driving something slow, or something that is likely to break. Which means, if you're doing it right, you need to leave real early!
I kept early hours, but RMB made it easy since my internal clock was still on eastern time. But to be honest, I enjoyed the last day more when I ran into the others along the way, vs. leaving very early and attempting to hit every single checkpoint (which was nearly impossible on day 3 of this year's RMB due to a road closure/$35 detour, on top of losing an hour due to a time zone change).
Here are a few "push-to-talk" walkie talkie phone apps, although we'd all need to have the same one obviously, and exchange a group code so we're all on the same channel.
Zello: 30 day trial, $8/month afterward. This one was mentioned in the RMB 2022 booklet.
Push-To-Talk (by NuovoTeam): As above, but $5/month.
Voxer: Has a free tier for personal use (no subscription), and can also save messages to listen to later (which is good if we miss some of the conversation).
Edit: I installed Voxer to see how it works.
I typically left the motels at 10am on RT-66! Because I'm a sleepy boy.
Local radio station (Detroit), does a bit called "Three Kings". Basically, what tops your list for three related subjects. Last week was Three Kings: Road Trip. Snack - Beverage - Song
Mine: Gardetto's Garlic Rye Chips / Diet Mt Dew / Highway Star - Deep Purple
GO!
By the by, are we supposed to make a playlist for Jeff?
Local radio station (Detroit), does a bit called "Three Kings". Basically, what tops your list for three related subjects. Last week was Three Kings: Road Trip. Snack - Beverage - Song
Mine: Gardetto's Garlic Rye Chips / Diet Mt Dew / Highway Star - Deep Purple
GO!
By the by, are we supposed to make a playlist for Jeff?
I'll see your Deep Purple and raise you one "Child in Time", the song of choice when you're Phiip Seymour Hoffman and you're chasing tornadoes. Also, Grandma Utz chips and Guers Tea.
I'd make Jeff a playlist that includes as much Polka music as possible.
Did I miss a notice?!? Playlist for Jeff?
I hope I don't have to make a playlist. I doubt anyone has ever heard what I listen to. All I can cobble together for polkas is Frankie Yankovic's Greatest Hits.
P.S. Who stole the kieshka?
The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Rally! → What are your rally car essentials?