How many trips to the store does it take to install some lights?

[belfert]

Argh!  I am now leaving on my third trip to store today installing my rear LED lights.  The bad part is changing into clean clothes for every trip so I don't get the car dirty.

I swear I've wasted 2 1/2 hours or more going to the store today even though the furtherest store is 15 minutes each way.

[Busted Knuckle]

Depends on how many times you forget to get what ya went after! Or how many lights? Why don't ya pick them all up in ome trip, instead of picking up one each trip?!
  BK 

[belfert]

I had all the lights to start with.  I've had to buy fasteners, screws, and new drill bits.  I haven't missed anything on my trips yet.

Time to get back to work after getting back from the store.

[Airbag]

You don't have a patent on that   My workers at the shop will tell me when I come in" Rick were out of masking tape, Rick were out of sandpaper, Rick were out of rags, You get the idea. My response is always: is the phone not working? I have accounts everywhere and all they need to do is pick up the phone and order it.    I think they expect me to run out and pay full tilt because they are too lazy to order the stuff before they run out.

What does this have to do with you Belfort, Nothing just do what I do and if you even remotely think you will need buy it and not just one but by 10 of them and you to can have a garage full of stuff you may never use,  

[Len Silva]

Before we moved to St Pete, the nearest store was 40 miles away, can't tell you how many times I did the same thing.

[Chuck Newman]

Brian,

The solution is simple.  You leave on your work clothes (as I do), then take the old truck to the store (as I do).  If you really must take the spouse's car (as I never do), use an old sheet or blanket over the seat.  Don't forget to wipe the steering wheel and door handles afterward, and say thank you. 

Now, for the really important stuff, what are the LEDs being mounted on?  Pictures??

[Sojourner]

You're not only one...I been there done that, but with fewer unnecessary trips.

One of the solution I do is to keep a low cost assorted stock of......in a plastic parts tray with cover & handle
1) Assorted sizes of 24 screws & 6 bolts & nuts & washers for metal & wood
2) 3 or more of tubing connectors for copper & PCV to match its size
3) 12 or more stay-con electrical connectors with crimper
4) 2 rolls of good electrical tape
5) Shrink-tubings in 1/8" to 5/8" dia at 6 inch long
6) A tube of RTV
7) A small roll each of low voltage wire from 18 to 10 ga.
8 ) A Plastic-Welder epoxy (very good & the latest version)
9) A full set of sharpen drills
10) Write the list of the above items you use up for the next grocery trip to town,  
11) There many more to mention and I sure you already have them

There are many more to add but these are for unexpected jobs errors.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[Dreamscape]

As many as it takes to get it right!

[NewbeeMC9]

3 is usually a min for any project


Shoulda got a box of self drilling self tapping screws

[niles500]

Question: How many trips to the store does it take to install some lights?

Answer: One more

[TomC]

Now you know what takes the most amount of time on a conversion-is the constant trips to the store for that extra part you either forgot, or broke.  Would be nice to just park in a hardware stores parking lot so you could just walk inside everytime you needed some more hardware.  Good Luck, TomC

[JackConrad]

I know one couple, that when converting their Eagle, parked at a Home Depot.  They were spending so much in the store, the store manager showed them a place to park near the rear of the store and even showed them an outlet to use for their extension cord.  Jack

PS: This was several years ago, times may have changed

[belfert]

I had to make a a fourth trip to ther store yesterday.  My 1/8" drill bit snapped.  This trip was to Menards as the hardware store was closed by then.  I have a whole lot of various nuts and bolts left over from projects, but never the right ones.  Some day I want to go crazy and spend a couple thousand at on online store on various nuts and bolts so I can avoid some trips to the store.

I only have one vehicle besides the bus and it is nearly brand new so I treat it with care.  I would like to have an older beater pickup, but insurance and registration would cost too much.

No pictures yet as I'm not done.  The engine door is still propped open so the pictures wouldn't show much.  I don't even have all the new lights installed yet, let alone the new wiring.  I spent a good four or five hours on the new LED license plate lights alone because I had to so much custom work to get them installed and make several trips to the store.

I already have to make a trip to the store today as the hardware store had the wrong sizes mixed in the bin and I didn't notice it at the store.

[John316]

Brian,

You might want to check and see if a beater truck would cost all that much. We have a decent 97 GMC 2500, and for liability only, we it cost us 35 a month (that is with USAA, which is nice if you are eligible). I tried quoting Geico, and they were outrageously priced!!! They wanted 200 a month for the same bare-bones coverage!

I think that it might help that I have a completely clean driving record.

God bless,

John

[Len Silva]

I don't understand how it would be possible to do a bus conversion (or damn near anything else) without a beater pick up truck. Just can't be done.