spare parts to carry when off-roading

[jediwebdude]

An FJC in our Toyota Trail Riders club outing experience a bent tie rod. This got me thinking...what are ideal spare parts to carry for our 4th gens when off-roading? Also, anyone know if the are after market tie rods that are sturdier than OEM? Tried searching, but came up empty.


Toyota Trail Riders at Bridgeport Northwest OHV Park by VisualUniverse, on Flickr

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I would carry extra suspension and drive train parts. tie rods, maybe one front and one rear shock, front drive shaft, an extra 3rd member for the hardcore guys.

 

[aha2988]

I carry an extra CV axle or two, inner and outer tie rod end's with a seal kit for the rack and pinion. Radiator fluid, a good assortment of tools, and ratchet straps (sometimes mounts for things like the front differential bracket can break and a strap can get you to the shop at least)

with that said however I've never broken anything I've had a spare for it's always something I don't have that goes wrong lol. For instance my rear ring and pinion exploded on me. It could have been beneficial to carry a spare third member but I don't really know where I'd store it lol. If either of the diffs go out you can simply pull the drive shaft, lock the center diff and drive home.

 

[jediwebdude]

I would carry extra suspension and drive train parts. tie rods, maybe one front and one rear shock, front drive shaft, an extra 3rd member for the hardcore guys.

I carry an extra CV axle or two, inner and outer tie rod end's with a seal kit for the rack and pinion. Radiator fluid, a good assortment of tools, and ratchet straps (sometimes mounts for things like the front differential bracket can break and a strap can get you to the shop at least)

with that said however I've never broken anything I've had a spare for it's always something I don't have that goes wrong lol. For instance my rear ring and pinion exploded on me. It could have been beneficial to carry a spare third member but I don't really know where I'd store it lol. If either of the diffs go out you can simply pull the drive shaft, lock the center diff and drive home.

Great advice! Thanks. When people talk about carrying a spare 3rd member, are they referring to the gearing inside? Or the entire housed unit? The latter seems to big and heavy to haul around.

 

[aha2988]

Great advice! Thanks. When people talk about carrying a spare 3rd member, are they referring to the gearing inside? Or the entire housed unit? The latter seems to big and heavy to haul around.

they would be talking about the entire housing unit, lol yeah it would be big and heavy to haul around. I wouldn't worry about that unless you were in competition off-road or something.

I haven't seen beefier tie rod's either not even sleeves to wrap whats there. It would be nice to have an option to step up the steering components. The tundras at least the newer ones have massive tie rod end links and inner rods probably doubles the size of what comes standard on the Chevy 2500's. I've looked at the tundra rack an pinions here and there to see if maybe their's could incorporate into our trucks but I haven't made any head way with that research.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Drive shafts are a good idea as the rear is exposed.

Some brake or pressure line and pressure fittings. Saw an FJ with way too much back yard hacked up lift kit.....:crazy: rip off a brake line. patch up job of the day was squeeze the line real tight with vise grips.

So therefore vise grips, bring those. :...

Same said backyard hacked FJ exploded a rear diff. As already mentioned, a removed drive shaft was the solution for that one, winched and pulled out of the trail. FWD all the way home. You could have a spare 3rd. But the diff is busted anyway, it's not like you can save it or reuse it. Unless it's an expedition, and you must go forward, on a simple trail day it probably is not required if you can get it to a regular road.

UCA's. Seen one of these fail. Plenty stock versions are available fairly cheap, from guys replacing them with after market ones.

I broke a front axle in half. We didn't have a spare. We made a tube from an aluminium shovel, slid the 2 shaft ends into the tube and drove out of the trail..sort of. Winch and pull, but it did drive all the way home. Basically, the tube was like a broken arm cast. Just prevented the parts from flinging all over the place since one end was still attached to the wheel. So, spare front axle. The whole thing assembled. I believe left and right is the same.

Rear lower control arms get a fair amount of action. Not a bad idea to have those. And not to difficult to change if one gets bent up.

Nice thing about wheeling with the same trucks, is that you can spread the load of trail spares.

 

[CAN-03runner]

they would be talking about the entire housing unit, lol yeah it would be big and heavy to haul around. I wouldn't worry about that unless you were in competition off-road or something.

A competition or a multi day wheeling trip away from home like a long weekend at rausch creek. Your weekend is less ruined if you could replace the diff, or whole axle in a parking lot somewhere.