Spare parts I carry-extra fuel filters (one each), engine oil filter, hydraulic transmission oil filter, air compressor filter. Spare air compressor governor, 9 gallons 40wt oil, 2 gallons 15W-40 oil, 2 gallons anti-freeze, 2 gallons trans fluid. Other than that, I rely on getting that part as it breaks.
You have to consider-how much do you carry with you and sacrifice weight carrying and fuel? Good Luck, TomC
I carry a pair of linear actuators for the pop up, a small electric air compressor for the door and Toad brakes and a cake size Tupperware box of hand tools. Oh yea, and my Good Sam Club tow card.
Jack
The best solution is to find a bus the same year and model as yours and tow it behind. You never know what part you may need. ;D
While I haven't gone anywhere in a while, there is a toolbox mounted in the LF bay with all types of light bulbs and a spare relay for every one in the coach.
I carry spare fuel, oil, trans filters, fuel pump, starter motor (mine is left hand turn), one injector, one front and one rear air bag, a tin of the sensors for the DDEC, one of each of the small drives on the engine, and the test equipment for the DDEC and ATEC. Not a lot of weight but you just never know.
Found this in the Tech Archives a few days ago:
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=3238.0
Seemed like a little bit of overkill to me but not everybody wants to drop the toad and run to the nearest town or wait a few days for shipping if they need parts.
Credit card and a tow vehicle. ;D
Aside from all the tools and usual bits and pieces that most carry, we also bring along a front & rear air bag, front & rear leveling valve, and other parts that may leave us stranded waiting for parts and which may not be readily available in remote areas. Also carry a few spares for house systems such as a spare 12v battery charger and house water pump - things that would permit us to continue on a trip without having to hunt down an RV supply house while on the road.
In addition to a mounted spare, we also carry a few wheel studs and lug nuts for both sides.
Complete set of manuals for the bus and all the gear I've got installed.
Quote from: muldoonman on April 10, 2019, 04:09:12 PM
Credit card and a tow vehicle. ;D
And a cell phone !
Good preventive maintenance saves lots of issues on the road . . . . . If you wait until a part completely fails, you don't get to choose when it is replaced.
And a cellphone antenna, for areas with no reception.
Whatever & where ever you can fit it...
Murphys law states... "no matter how much spare parts supplies you carry, you'll need something you don't have."
It seems if the bus is current on regular maintenance such as changed filters, then one would not need them onboard for a given trip. All fluids make sense for top offs. Other spares seems specific to the bus. Spare air bag makes sense if you have some old ones still in place but not if all the bags have been replaced. Same with starter motor, not sure why carry a spare if it was replaced recently. etc. etc.
It seems most useful would be a variety of tools and repair materials such as clamps, tape, wire, stuff to make emergency repairs to get far enough to sort out the real issue. Anything to slow/stop a leak, secure a part, etc.
"The one 12 point socket, that you left on the bench in the garage... is the one that fits the now dead starter..."
A warm day one winter in Yellowknife, it was only -20C/ -2F...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
I never carried any spare parts, of course not everyone gets to plan a "STAYCATION" within a 250 mile radius from Clifford's house. :P :P
Because those of us with fleet experience know that brand new stuff fails prematurely way more than you'd like to know, just as old stuff fails from lack of maintenance.
The parts you think you can trust are the ones that will let you down.
All depends whether you need to be at your destination on time, or can afford what it costs to be at the mercy of vultures away from home.
Pick your poison?
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Quote from: windtrader on April 11, 2019, 12:31:57 PM
It seems if the bus is current on regular maintenance such as changed filters, then one would not need them onboard for a given trip. All fluids make sense for top offs. Other spares seems specific to the bus. Spare air bag makes sense if you have some old ones still in place but not if all the bags have been replaced. Same with starter motor, not sure why carry a spare if it was replaced recently. etc. etc.
It seems most useful would be a variety of tools and repair materials such as clamps, tape, wire, stuff to make emergency repairs to get far enough to sort out the real issue. Anything to slow/stop a leak, secure a part, etc.
"depends whether you need to be at your destination on time"
If reliability is the concern, then buy a new bus. The vast majority of the ones we ride are "antiques" - not known for being so reliable or troublefree. LOL
I started off with no spare parts but have started to accumulate a few odds and ends. I have an assortment of coolant hose sizes and clamps, an extra squirrel cage belt, starter motor, bunch of elec bulbs and wiring. Extra fluids, spare tire. I also tow a car so figure theres so many things that could go wrong, I can go get it if needed. I usually have some time up my sleeve if stranded. Not sure that there is a right or wrong to this, it comes down to your level of comfortability with things going wrong and which tasks you may be able to undertake reasonably on the side of the road. Craig.
Oh, yeah, belts. Gotta put that on the list.
Not strictly speaking a spare part, but related nonetheless.
We have a CB radio in the bus. I figure that according to Murphy a breakdown will occur in the least convenient place it could. That might mean in an area with no cell phone reception.
Since the most useful item in my spare parts bin is being able to call roadside assistance for major issues, having the CB provides me with one more method of calling for help when needed. I know that CB isn't used like it once was, but at least it gives me another way of trying to get help without hiking down the road. For good measure, I also carry a ham radio handheld, but that's even more of a long-shot in more remote areas.
Not only do you need spare parts but an adequate toolbox to carry the tools you will need to change out the parts. Might I suggest this model? ;D
For good measure, I also carry a ham radio handheld, but that's even more of a long-shot in more remote areas.
You mean talking to some random dude in a fire lookout station in Honduras can't call for help to get you unstuck? :-\
I don't carry many parts just a gallon jug of delo 40 I figure I can pick up ATF & coolant locally any where as well as 10-40 PS fluid , my bus has no belts, I guess I am guilty of taking way too many tools ! John.
Quote from: windtrader on April 11, 2019, 12:31:57 PM
It seems if the bus is current on regular maintenance such as changed filters, then one would not need them onboard for a given trip.
I somewhat agree except for fuel filter. Driving a semi 150,000 a year I always carried a spare fuel filter. It seems that they can and will fail at the least expected times in the worst weather imaginable.
Quote from: richard5933 on April 13, 2019, 05:54:42 AM
Not strictly speaking a spare part, but related nonetheless.
We have a CB radio in the bus. I figure that according to Murphy a breakdown will occur in the least convenient place it could. That might mean in an area with no cell phone reception.
Since the most useful item in my spare parts bin is being able to call roadside assistance for major issues, having the CB provides me with one more method of calling for help when needed. I know that CB isn't used like it once was, but at least it gives me another way of trying to get help without hiking down the road. For good measure, I also carry a ham radio handheld, but that's even more of a long-shot in more remote areas.
I like what Richard says about the CB radio. We've been stuck a few times out on long stretches of highways with traffic backed up 'forever', nowhere near a cell signal, and thus no Internet, no cell & not able to look up ham radio frequencies/repeaters. But lots of trucks. It seems like a reasonable item to carry for that reason. Any thoughts on this?
Kind regards, Phil
We carry the spare parts in the photo for if a fridge fails. In our case repairs are being made & should be ready noon Monday then we can continue our 2nd AK journey. Currently held up in Shipshewana IN. 8)
Quote from: dtcerrato on April 28, 2019, 06:38:12 AMWe carry the spare parts in the photo for if a fridge fails. In our case repairs are being made & should be ready noon Monday then we can continue our 2nd AK journey. Currently held up in Shipshewana IN. 8)
I hate it when that happens, Dan. Good luck for the rest of your journey!
We have a CB. Upgraded from the old one that was in the coach when we bought it. Currently a Cobra 29gtl.