spare belts and hoses April 03, 2006, 08:39:38 am Yahoo Message Number: 64944What seems to be the prevailing opinion regarding carrying spare hoses and belts for the LD and toad? I will be traveling extensively away from major metropolitan areas this summer. Many years ago, I used to carry spares in all of my vehicles, but such products have improved in quality over the years, and it has been thirty years since I had a busted hose or belt. Foy
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #1 – April 03, 2006, 10:21:46 am Yahoo Message Number: 64946Quote What seems to be the prevailing opinion regarding carrying spare hoses and belts for the LD and toad? I will be traveling extensively away from major metropolitan areas this summer. Many years ago, I used to carry spares in all of my vehicles, but such products have improved in quality over the years, and it has been thirty years since I had a busted hose or belt. In our '83, which uses a handful of v-belts, I carried extra belts because the previous owner had. It did allow me to do emergency replacements twice, which saved the expense and certainly much time that would have been lost had a remote service call been necessary. Of course, if you are even out of cell phone range when it happens ..... Replacing even belts requires carrying a pretty full tool set, which I do, but that reduces payload some. Still, even though modern serpentines are much less likely to cause problems or fail, it doesn't hurt to carry a spare so the service call can be performed on-site. A sharp rock kicked up can easily nick a spinning belt, and then in a little while you're disabled.Steve
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #2 – April 03, 2006, 12:02:26 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64950"What seems to be the prevailing opinion regarding carrying spare hoses and belts for the LD and toad? "FoyI carry new serpentine belts for both the LD and the toad. If you have an older LD, with multiple belts, make sure to carry all of them and a belt diagram. When an older model breaks a belt, it will often take out all the belts at the same time. A belt diagram is necessary to figure out how it all goes back together. A small belt diagram is often located under the hood along with an emissions system diagram.To be prepared for a leaky hose, buy a radiator and heater hose repair kit. The leaking hose is cut at the leak and the repair tube in inserted into the two halves of the hose and held in place with supplied hose clamps. Hose repairs made with just duct tape seldom last for more than a few miles.Hose repair kit http://tinyurl.com/pj3r2I'm not a fan of carrying old parts. They will probably be rotted by the time they are needed. I would also suggest carrying a complete set of fuses and bulbs.Larry
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #3 – April 03, 2006, 01:53:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64956Quote What seems to be the prevailing opinion regarding carrying spare hoses and belts for the LD and toad? I will be traveling extensively away from major metropolitan areas this summer. For myself, I have no interest in putting my fingers where the belts live.And I don't particularly worry when I'm "away from metropolitan". I'm a lot more confident to find a helpful shop that can rebelt a Ford in the next town over, than I would be in a strange city.John
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #4 – April 03, 2006, 04:42:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64961"What seems to be the prevailing opinion regarding carrying spare hoses and belts for the LD and toad?" Do it. The issue isn't whether you want to "put your fingers where the belts live"; it is that there are so many kinds and sizes of belts and hoses that no service truck can carry them all. Find a helpful shop in the next town over? Fine, if you could get there. But when a belt or hose breaks, you're not going anywhere. At that point you're going to have to call a service truck, and if you don't have the necessary belt or hose and the truck doesn't either (which is likely), you'll have to be towed to the nearest garage, whic could be anywhere from five to fifty miles away. On the other hand, if you have the parts, you can probably have the repair made on the spot rather than being towed to a garage. Which would you prefer? Which will get you on your way sooner? Belts and hoses are inexpensive, lightweight, and don't take up much space. So why not carry spares? I do...and I've used them more than once.Andy Baird Bisbee, AZ
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #5 – April 03, 2006, 05:16:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64962Quote "What seems to be the prevailing opinion regarding carrying spare hoses and belts for the LDQuoteand toad?"Do it.if you have the parts, you can probably have the repair made on the spot rather than being towed to a garage. Which would you prefer? Which will get you on your way Quotesooner? Belts and hoses are inexpensive, lightweight, and don't take up much space. So whyQuotenot carry spares? I do...and I've used them more than once.Andy Baird Bisbee, AZ Great advice, but for those of us who are mechanically challenged, how do we find out what belt and hose sizes to buy?! Is it in the manual?!Even though I don't have the ability to stick my hands in there I know that some Good Smaritan might and a service truck guy almost certainly will.DaveRuby the red 04 RK just back from her 2006 maiden voyage to a local state rec area and she came through with flying colors!!!!!
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #6 – April 03, 2006, 05:35:26 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64963"for those of us who are mechanically challenged, how do we find out what belt and hose sizes to buy?" Same way I do: go to an auto parts store and tell them what you have (e.g., 2003 Ford E450 with V-10 engine), and they'll be able to look up the belts and hoses you need. Pick up spare headlight and taillight bulbs while you're there. :-)Andy Baird Bisbee, AZ
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #7 – April 03, 2006, 11:36:42 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64981QuoteAnd I don't particularly worry when I'm "away from metropolitan". I'm a lot more confident to find a helpful shop that can rebelt a Ford in the next town over, than I would be in a strange city. Different folk have different camping habits. In our case, we frequently find ourselves out where the cells don't reach. In most cases, a broken belt will leave you stranded - you can't make it to the next town. In addition, if you CAN call for help, when a service truck reaches you, he is unlikely to have the belt you need on hand, and his shop back in town may not either (serpentines particularly). If you have the right belt with you for him to install, what might otherwise be a 1-2 day repair adventure will probably just keep you tied up a couple of hours.Steve
Re: spare belts and hoses Reply #8 – April 03, 2006, 11:50:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 64982QuoteGreat advice, but for those of us who are mechanically challenged, how do we find out what belt and hose sizes to buy?! Is it in the manual?! That actually is a tricky question for older models, but less so with newer ones. The belt# is printed on the outside of the belt, usually with a brand name. Starting and stopping the engine a few times should eventually put that number in a readable spot.Older engines are more of a problem due to multiple belts, obscured part numbers, and more non-standard belt arrangements. For instance, our '83 has a LD-installed aftermarket dash air, and thus a non-GM compressor, mounting, and belt drive. This was a LD decision, and not necessarily the same choice made by Winnebago or Jamboree that year. Finding the right belts is a chore, but the peace of mind is worth the effort.Steve
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