What to have on board on a long tour

[Tom Wesenberg]

"You want a fun arguement amoung friends: Ask if a spare starter should be carried. (Beer should be involved in the thought process) "

I thought we all carried a spare starter.......it's called the lug wrench.

[columbiA]

I think that if you feel you have to carry a lot of spare parts on along trip,then either you dont know how reliable a good A can be or the car wasnt restored properly.

[glenn in camino]

My wifes favorite Model A tools are her cell phone and a good book.

[ryan1929]

Wow some of you guys are way over prepared....you might as well just tow antother A behind you for spare parts..

[Jordan]

I figure carry as many parts as can fit. You'll be thankful you did instead of paying $300 for a tow home when the $3 part you needed was sitting on your tool bench. For people who just drive short distances or trailer their cars to events, it's not that necessary. But I drive my car to all events/tours/conventions. So I would rather be prepared than underprepared. And when you're driving in a group, you're also packing parts for extra insurance for the people you're traveling with--not knowing the condition of their cars.

[Frank Miller]

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Clem said blanket but I carried a piece of cardboard in my 49. Put it on the rear seat to protect the upholstry from a suitcase. When someone had to crawl under the car to connect a tow rope for another members car it worked out good. You do not want to lay on the asphalt on a 95 degree day in VA.

[Clem Clement]

I capture large sheets of cardboard where ever I can find them. New Refrig cartons, etc. I cut them into big sheets. When we go on tour, I store a few under the back mat of Momma's Tahoe. At the Williamsburg National we used about 10 of them. We were getting about 6 jobs done before we had to change out the cardboard. The carboard is slippery enough for your back side to slide on while under the car and easy to clean. It will last on wet bround for 3 jobs usually.

As for all the stuff I carry, every piece has been used and replaced at one time or another. I give the tour master my list as does others, so we know who has what. If we can, one generator per tour group is enough.
Clem

[Clem Clement]

On tour in the past I carried a large uuugly cooler on the trunk rack. Filled with ice/water/soda and beer. As for all the parts, it gives me great pride to be able to help a fellow tourer in need. If aI know I willhave a lot of little shoes in the rumble seat I have a 1/2 board coverted with velvet for the seat protection. For local touring a big stuffed eagle rides with me. He has an Uncle Sam hat on and eats Talaban for breakfast.( he sez they taste like chicken)
Happy New Year

[Frank Miller]

"The carboard is slippery enough for your back side to slide on while under the car and easy to clean."
Not to mention a little more clearance than a creeper for last year's beer.

[ryan1929]

Hey Can someone Tour on over to my house and fix me up with a spare radiaitor??

[400A-64]

I have found that most spare parts are are in the other persons car while on tour! I seems that when someone has a problem while on tour..from then on the carry that part as a security blanket. You can usally find a carb.,starter spring, head gasket etc... As for the world trip in 1982( long enough tour?)We had a very long list of parts divided among four cars. We only had one MAJOR break down...my broken rear axle (had one straped to the frame) but NO JACK STANDS...Took us 6hours at night with flashlights in the Syrian desert.
Bruce Davis [email protected]

[HoarseWhisperer]

I find it amusing when someone criticizes others for carrying spare parts or being "over-prepared" on long tours.

Frequently, they are the ones that only put on a few hundred miles a year, then join a long tour unprepared.

Then comes the inevitable breakdown, slowing the whole tour down, while they are begging for help, or spare dissy, carb, or tappet wrenches to adjust their "adjustable" valves.

Of course, they don't know how to use the tools or install the part, so someone else will have to stay behind to get them running while the tour proceeds.

If all else fails, they will holler at the nearby NAPA store clerk, "What do mean you don't have parts in stock for an 80 year old car???"

Hopefully, they can borrow someone's one's cell phone (no coverage, left behind, or dead battery), call AAA/CAA, before realizing that they forgot to renew their membership.

Well, there's always the credit card to get towed home. Oops, that's expired, too?

And you left cash at home with your spare parts? Ouch!

Sounds like the start of a real bad day!

Know anyone like this?

[400A-64]

Over the years...I've had experiences of a few persons that are never prepared for a tour,..long or short ! They ALWAYS rely on the knowledge and skill of others. However..in the spirit of good will or just moving the tour along...they recieve the help/parts needed. Many times in the days preceeding the tour, different members will call that person and ASK WHAT HE HAS DONE TO PREPARE HIS CAR. Folks would rather help/teach ahead of time.
Bruce Davis [email protected]

[Clem Clement]

One surprise was a generator pully that seperated into two halves. Night time in the rain with full tummies

[Clem Clement]

I was honored to be the chief of the repair tent for 2 Williamsburg Nationals. Great fun. The first time we were next to the gas station on site. Great location. We had power, air, trash cans and drains. The next time the tent was next to the hotel's heat exchanger. Phew it was hot and with no fans. At one point a member went and got Ms. Sandy to remove me from duty for a rest as I was bright red and puffing (thanks fellows ModelAers.) [It was this kind of situation that convinced Woody Williams to set up the first National tour, where those who put on the tour could have some fun as well. For both Williamsburgs Woody and I saw only the repair tent and not much else of the meet.]

Anyway we hadd some interesting situations. In guy brought a terrible A that he had driven down. We determined it needed a new head gasket. By golly he said he had no idea how to do the job, but would like to learn. He bought a kit from the flea market and did the job with only minor instruction from us. We were so proud of him and he showed the pride he gained by learning and fixing his own car. Another fellow rolled a pile off a trailer and left it in a repair spot and said he had a meeting and would pick the car up later. We rolled it out in the woods. I'm proud to report that we fixed everything we had except a sheared axle. The late Bob Williams had just sold his last rear end the week before or we would have done that as well.

In sum it was a wonderfull experience for us fixers. During quiet times I held classes for further learning and fellowship. In one class we had who senior gents who between them had 75 years of Model A expertise. We hung on every word they said!!

[eagle]

Craig Lewis' comment made me laugh... last summer my brother towed me home. Him in his Model A and me in my Model T. These country roads haven't seen anything like that in a bunch of decades I'd bet!