Ideas that help drivers out new and old.

I second the pliers! Without a doubt, have a couple pairs of vice grips/locking pliers handy at all times! The little "clips" (but bigger) like the rock climbers use to secure themselves to a harness and rope come in handy for securing trailer doors that have no clasps or even rope or chain on them. Good for a quick and simple fix but if you have time, get it fixed if you can so the next driver doesn't have to deal with it and also SWEEP YOUR #### TRAILER OUT if it's dirty! This helps the next driver.

Most drivers just sweep debris into the nose and I was always amazed at how much crap was up there. I took the liberty on several occasions to even sweep all that out. Speaking of that, get yourself a good, solid broom (the big ones).

For pigtails that don't seem to want to stay in, I always used duct tape wrapped around tightly, several times and they never came loose again (I learned the hard way one day when I was kindly informed I had no tail lights after the pigtail popped out).

You could probably rig up something with velcro to serve that purpose as well. I also carried with me a set of tandem stoppers and a tandem puller. These are great tools to assist with sliding the tandems.

Tandem stoppers can be found online and they also sell them at the Iowa 80 (where I got mine). What I like is the fact that you can set them in front of or behind the hole (depending on which way you're sliding) to get it in the exact hole you want the tandems in, the first time without having to do trial and error (comes in real handy in the winter when it's so #### cold you'd rather pee in a bottle than make the walk to the bathroom).

The tandem pullers can make the job of getting pins in on those PITA trailers much easier when you use them with the locking pliers. Also carry a couple of the rubber chocks to assist on the stubborn tandems. I forgot to mention a pound of ground coffee can do wonders to get the stank out of a trailer! I found this out one day and was glad it worked because I wouldn't have got that gravy run if it didn't. If it'll get garlic out, it'll probably get most anything out! Carry around a bag of it just in case you get an mt that stinks or just dropped off a load that's stanky and need it to be right for the next load. BTW this was a dry van, it might work in a refer too.

 

I drove a T600 that always had issues with wipers and windshield icing up. I figured out that If I set the defrost on heat full blast and crack both windows very slightly, there would be enough hot air flow across the whole windshield to keep the icing at bay. As for the wiper, them wiper huggy things worked well for me.

 

When I pulled a van I carried a piece of chalk to mark the hole I was shooting for when sliding the tandems. As far as stopping the ice build up on your windows, lower both visors when running defrost it keeps the ice from building up in the corners of your windshield. And finally during the winter I always carry kitty litter with me, it works wonders if you are stuck on ice and snow and can't get traction.

 

4-pound hammer. Great tool.

Used it to un-stick the brakes on a trailer I picked up a few weeks ago.

Also helps to pound nails INto the floor when the heads keep breaking off the dang things when you try to pull them out (we haul a lot of paper, so those shippers are pretty picky about nails). Loosen stuck pins...removes stains...even makes julienne fries! But I digress....

Also works well on stubborn computers.

Always carry a basic set of tools and a bag of kitty litter.

And did I mention the hammer?

 

I can think of three that I didn't see. WD-40,duct tape, and 100' tape measure. The nice about duct tape is it can be used to mark where to put the tandems. The tape measure also can be used for marking where Calif bridge law is. FYI its 10 ft from the rear of a 53' trailer.

 

Better than beating things is this:

When you buy washer fluid in the winter, get the -37 stuff that looks pee bottle yellow, it has de-icer built in. Pour that on your bottom shoes give it a little bit and bang-pow, they are unstuck!

Also grabbing the spike/j-bar/trailer brake and riding it a little bit before you stop for the night warms the shoes and dries the water.

 

I was doing that a few weeks ago and on about the third slap, the wiper blade flew off..lol.. Had to take the one off the passenger side to get home. Another time I was doing that, the back of my leg hit the seat slider lever and the seat went all the way back - I pretty much fell back into the truck while leaning out of the window in a snowstorm.

I really hate winter.

 

I carry armor all with me spray it on the airbags and outside of the tires. Makes both look good and prevents the airbags from cracking.

California bridge law is 40ft from Kingpin to rear axle for trailers that are 48'1"-53'

 

A leather belt with standard square buckle and a claw hammer make a dandy filter wrench in a pinch. Will also hold up your pants and pull nails respectively. Not seen all that often anymore but stuff I always carry are 50ft rope, 100ft parachute chord, sterno, parafin and trappers wire.

 

I too carry a well put together survival kit including an E-tool, Ka-Bar, flint and striker, 10 energy bars, plenty of water, first-aid kit, compass, G.I. poncho and poncho liner, thompson snare kit, 100ft para cord, duct tape, waterproof matches, space blanket, signal flares, whistle, signal mirror, fishing kit, $20 in ones and a roll of quarters, and the list of small things goes on. This all fits into a bug-out sized bag. I never ever touch any of these things unless it is a survival situation.

Most people dont realize it, but any one of these items can save your life should you ever become stranded in the middle of nowhere which can happen to any one of you. It's also important to have some sort of knowledge and training to go along with these things. At the least a good survival field manual.