If you read a little about four-wheeling, or go on a few wheeling trips with FSJs (almost as reliable as Italian sports cars), in no time you realize ol' Murphy and his law are always tracking you down like some crazed out rabid dog of misfortune ready to bite you in the butt, leaving you with a big hunk of broken Jeep in the middle of the trail miles from civilization.

I was never in Boy Scouts but I live by the "Be Prepared" motto anyway. One of the ways I do that is to pack spare parts for all eventualities. I bet you think I'm exaggerating.

As I contemplated going on a 700 mile road trip down to the remote, and rather long, trails of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon I thought to myself, "self, you really need more spare parts." Then I said, "well, that's great, self, but where are you going to fit all these parts?"



I already carry three surplus .30-Cal sealed ammo boxes to fit engine oil, transmission fluid (aka transfer case fluid aka power steering fluid), and brake fluid, as well as two .50-Cal sealed ammo boxes for various small parts, electrical repair, and useful things like duct tape and bailing wire (seriously). Heck, that alone is usually enough to fix anything.

I just bought the two big boxes are for the longer trips and the hardcore spares. If you look closely, you'll see I'm able to jam the following spares into the above two boxes: alternator and rebuild kit, starter, complete carburetor and rebuild kit, two electric fuel pumps, water pump, radiator hoses, heater hoses, fuel hoses, spare front wheel bearings and spindle, timing light, distributor with cap, rotor, and wires, miscellaneous bolts... Why? I've seen or experienced all of this stuff break on the road or trail.



Imagine how much it sucks to have an electric fuel pump go out on a 4x4 road and have to bum a ride off your wheelin' buddy to a small town on a Sunday afternoon right before closing to try and find an overpriced replacement. Been there, done that, bought the snow-globe. Now suppose there's no small town nearby. That's why I carry two.

My extensive collection of spare parts is fodder for chuckles in the Jeep club but we all have to laugh when somebody breaks down on the trail and I have the spare part they need.

Besides, a fundamental law is that you will always break something you didn't bring a spare of. I'm at a point where if I don't have a spare I can probably fix it with the bailing wire and duct tape.