Weight savings, safety gear to keep - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bestclimb · 11-19-2009, 11:45 PM

Ok for you folks who have put their cars on a diet, what safety gear have you decided to leave. For me; the spare and jack will stay, as will the jumper cables, small air compressor with tire repair kit and a first aid kit. In the winter a snatch strap + cold weather survival gear. My car is a manual and I am usually pretty good at staying out of the ditch so the jumper cables and strap are good Samaritan items. Even in the civic as with proper application a 2000# civic can, without damage, pull a 5000# truck out of some stuff.

Christ · 11-20-2009, 12:36 AM

I've pulled some nicely laden vehicles with my Civic.. In fact, I towed my Father's F150 home from a friend's house. I think I got about 18MPG doing it, as well.

Regarding safety gear that's in my vehicles - If I'm only driving locally, I don't leave any of it. If I'm going more than a couple hours away, I have a travel pack.

I don't keep a spare because I could just as easily call AAA or walk somewhere and buy a tire and some tools, and just change it there on the road. I usually do carry a compressor and a can of FAF, though. My compressor is toast right now, but I also know how to inflate a tire using the engine, and have a fitting for my van (also not currently in the van.).

k.civic.f4i · 11-20-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christ

I also know how to inflate a tire using the engine, and have a fitting for my van (also not currently in the van.).

how do you do that?

Christ · 11-20-2009, 01:14 AM

Find a threaded fitting that will thread into a spark plug hole, and a pressure relief valve that you can set to whatever your tire pressure is (pressure regulator works fine). You set it up, remove a spark plug and remove the engine's ability to start (disconnect coil, remove ECM fuse, etc.) thread the fitting into the spark plug hole and crank till the pressure relief blows. When that's done, you remove your fitting and such, set the engine up to run again, and drive to a service center or wherever you can fix your tire (if you haven't already done so).

McTimson · 11-20-2009, 09:17 AM

I keep a donut spare, jack, and my junkyard tool bag. The tools include a socket set, ratchet, vise grips, crescent wrench, misc. screwdrivers, and a crowbar.

PaleMelanesian · 11-20-2009, 12:04 PM

Cell phone and wife.

jamesqf · 11-20-2009, 01:07 PM

I'd consider the compressor & tire repair kit as excess weight, mainly because I've never had a flat that was repairable. It's never a simple puncture in the tread, but road debris or something punching a hole in the sidewall.

Christ · 11-20-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I'd consider the compressor & tire repair kit as excess weight, mainly because I've never had a flat that was repairable. It's never a simple puncture in the tread, but road debris or something punching a hole in the sidewall.

Mine have always been screws or nails in the tread, or a small hole in the sidewall that I could repair enough to get it home.

I also change tires by hand, if need be. I've had to do that before, as well.

I always carry a basic tool set because of the way I use my vehicles. If something should break, I can usually fix it and move on.

busypaws · 11-20-2009, 04:49 PM

Removed the passenger seat so I removed the passenger Airbag. Now I have the flashing airbag light on the dash all the time. I'm keeping both if I ever have to reinstall.
Passenger seat 37lbs and passenger airbag 7lbs.

darcane · 11-20-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestclimb

Ok for you folks who have put their cars on a diet, what safety gear have you decided to leave. For me; the spare and jack will stay, as will the jumper cables, small air compressor with tire repair kit and a first aid kit. In the winter a snatch strap + cold weather survival gear. My car is a manual and I am usually pretty good at staying out of the ditch so the jumper cables and strap are good Samaritan items. Even in the civic as with proper application a 2000# civic can, without damage, pull a 5000# truck out of some stuff.

Roughly where in the Bush are you? I grew up in Wasilla...

I carry jumper cables and a tow strap in my truck these days, but I live in the city now. When I regularly traveled in rural Alaska, I tended to take a lot more with me. I usually had a square headed shovel and a bag of kitty litter or sand in my truck throughout winter. They come in handy if you get stuck in the snow. I never needed them myself, but I helped several others out in the middle of nowhere (i.e. Cantwell).

I usually had a gallon jug of water. Good for putting in the radiator, drinking, or even melting ice. Quart of oil and tranny fluid. Duct tape, hammer, mechanics wire, knife, crescent wrench, and screwdrivers (it's amazing how much stuff that particular tool kit can fix). Blanket, lighter, first aid kit, flares. Probably missing a few things too.

Was never a boy scout, but their motto of Be Prepared always sounded like good advice. Especially if you are travelling somewhere where you can't call for quick help on the cell phone.

Mike