What tools/parts to keep in the truck?

I wish I could carry all of it.
Just where to put all that stuff?
To have all that clutter inside the cab is not something I want either.
Invest in a storage box under the trailer,

 

If you own the truck, you could get a jobsite box and mount it behind your sleeper. May require moving the trailer hookups which can involve extending the air and electrical lines.

 

Looks like you are stretched out. One that deep wouldn't fit my truck. I bought a cheap Tractor Supply truck box first time around and it rusted to bits in a year. Now I have a better aluminum one and it's holding up fine, not that big though.

How much does that weigh empty?

 

Box is steel and weighs maybe 50-100lb empty. Think it measures 2ft x 2ft x 4ft. Have it bolted to the frame through holes I drilled in the bottom of the box.

Just have a standard t680 and it's a former JBS truck so big company specced. Did have to move my 5th wheel all the way back to keep my trailer (dry van) from possibly hitting it if I get the front of the cab up an incline and 45 degrees to the trailer. Also had to move the trailer hookups to the side fairing or the lines would almost get pinched with the cab at a 45 degree angle to the trailer.

 

Uh oh, I hate to be a party pooper but if you drilled straight through the box and through the top of your frame that is a no no. At least that's what I was told. Supposed to only drill in the sides of the frame rails because the torque twist can crack the frame.

Nice set up regardless.

 

One thing for sure...that Kobalt box can carry the whole overhaul kit and tools for it...let's not forget about a tent if the overhaul would need to happen in an open air somewhere. With that box you're ready for anything anywhere and anytime. That's an ultimate setup for a self reliant owner operator.

 

And I had to log back in and ask one more question before going to bed...
Can you actually perform an overhaul task in the field...somewhere on a parking lot? Only one man, his tools and determination. Taking out the engine could be problematic...but can it be done without taking it out at all?
Let's say someone offered you $1000 000 to do the task successfully but if you failed you'd owe for the cost of the overhaul kit and redoing it somewhere else...would you accept the risk?

 

I have heard of in the 70’s several guys helping set the head on or off a CAT in the truck stop lot...


Seems a life time ago now, I was 22 my wife was in college we we’re living in Fayetteville a long way from home. My B model spun #2 rod bearing. I got it ready to pull transmission and all in the parking lot of our apartment complex. Called a heavy wrecker to come set it out and then set the trans off. Bought cheap cherry picker to flip it once I had it stripped. Bought a used crank at Alma truck parts 1 cylinder kit and stuffed it back together. Had the wrecker come sit it back in. Guy musta thought I was nuts......told me pay him when I made some money. Guess I was foolish for it but it was still running last time I seen it. I traded it 18 months later on a brand new one.

 

It's not so much about carrying it in the truck but if you have a truck that has any amount of time on it and recommend that you change the wiper motor and put a new sprayer on it.

That's the last thing you want to go out in the middle of the storm and dot will always ask you to spray your windshield.

 

So it can be done.