Should you pack fluids on the trail?

kmac5130

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Doylestown, Pennsylvania
I hear of a lot of people carrying engine oil, gear oil, trans fluid, brake fluid, and the other fluids on the trail. It seems to me that if you were to break your oil pan or crack open a differential, then it would be very tough to seal either back up, and if you were able to, you’d need the full amount of fluid to drive again safely. But normally I hear of people only carrying about a quart or two of oil. So I’m curious to hear about how carrying fluids (besides water), has helped people on the trail.
 
The group I ride with carry them all and we have used them more than once. However, when riding locally, we tend to just hope for the best and carry nothing. :)
Edit : As for oil pans or diff cover…DEVCON will get you back to the trailer more often than not.
 
Water is very important. ATF+4 can double for anything so that's a good one to have as well. How much you carry depends on how much pain you want getting your rig home when it breaks. Things break, plan on that.
 
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I've carried coolant, engine oil, gear oil, brake fluid, and transmission fluid for years. In all that time, the only one I've ever used, for myself, was gear oil. I'm confident that as soon as I stop carrying the other fluids, I'll need them. It just seems to work that way! :(
 
I carry an extra qt of gear, engine power steering oils. It’s not enough to fix a oil pan, but if everyone carries 1qt then we will be ok.
 
I hear of a lot of people carrying engine oil, gear oil, trans fluid, brake fluid, and the other fluids on the trail. It seems to me that if you were to break your oil pan or crack open a differential, then it would be very tough to seal either back up, and if you were able to, you’d need the full amount of fluid to drive again safely. But normally I hear of people only carrying about a quart or two of oil. So I’m curious to hear about how carrying fluids (besides water), has helped people on the trail.
I carry 3 quarts of oil and 4 quarts of ATF and brake fluid. Oil can go in the engine and differentials ( you would just have to drive slow on the freeway to not overheat. ATF for trans and power steering. Brake fluid there is no substitute. I also have water at all times. Coolant is messy if it leaks and not needed to get off the trail. We had a pinion nut loosen on a front differential at the bottom of lippencott pass in Death Valley. We were able to tighten the nut and refill and he was able to get home in 2wd. I have fixed a motorcycle side case with 15 minute JB weld and a potato chip bag and we finished the weekend.
 
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@Gollywomper is right. If everyone carries a little, then the one bad break is covered. I carry a little of all fluids. Very little storage required. I have used power steering fluid the most. People love rolling huge tires on 20 year old steering pumps.
 
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I hear of a lot of people carrying engine oil, gear oil, trans fluid, brake fluid, and the other fluids on the trail. It seems to me that if you were to break your oil pan or crack open a differential, then it would be very tough to seal either back up, and if you were able to, you’d need the full amount of fluid to drive again safely. But normally I hear of people only carrying about a quart or two of oil. So I’m curious to hear about how carrying fluids (besides water), has helped people on the trail.
I've dumped a gent's ice chest out, wiped it out real quick and shoved it under his oil pan he punched a hole in. Let it drain, cleaned it up, shoved some 5 minute JB weld over the hole, duct tape over that to hold it in place until it cured, dump the oil back in. Lost less than a quart. He started to say something about his fancy ice chest, realized he was about to look stupid and shut right up.

Someone should always have brake clean or similar for stuff like that.
 
My father in law ripped a soft brake line on his truck hammering the throttle with chains...bad idea...wish we had some DOT 3 on hand.

Fluids are important.

-Mac
 
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Water works. Water will get you home. Water won't hurt anything short term. I need to check and see if anti-freeze will affect anything because that would even slow down vapor lock.
I’ve also heard you can pee in the m/c but I wouldn’t want to put anything in my brake system but brake fluid (too much to go wrong there) so I carry a jug of brake fluid with the cap taped shut so it doesn’t spill. I would like to try water though see how that would work very low boiling point but if you can get to a parts store that’s what matters.
 
We carry plenty of water for drinking for us or the Jeeps. We also carry a few spare Jeeps in case someone needs to go back to camp and get fluids, spares, tools. I have the largest pack out Milwaukee makes full of tools and spare bits, it and my cooler completely fill the area behind the rear seat on my LJ. I can fix a lot of stuff on the trail, if we have to send someone on a parts run we are normally ready to install the new part when it arrives.
 
I probably pack to much stuff but yes a lot of fluids types and quick dry JB weld patch kit.

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I cut out the dividers of a Dewalt rip saw case to use as a fluid carrying case. I don’t have it with me at all times, just long trips or off-roading.

Thinking about cutting up one of my smaller cases for some gear oil bottles.

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