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What do you carry with you?

Hokiesmokes

Hokiesmokes

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
50
Location
Ohio
I only bring
-my lunch
-phone
-plenty of hydration
-personal ppe
-first aid supplies for me and whoever i'm working with.

I don't bring anything else because they don't pay me to wrench and I slip seat all the time and anything left in a truck more than the next morning you'll never see again. I drive to our shop and company truck to where ever the work is. I even gave one of our foremen a 1/2" breaker bar and still can't get it back. If it breaks, I leave it and find something else to do, after I call the boss and the mechanic. I don't wait for mechanics either.
 
T

Taylortractornu

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2003
Messages
481
Location
Iuka, Mississippi
Occupation
Privvate landfill operator/manager
I have a 94 Dodge3500 flatbed company truck. Heres my list.

1/2 inch drive Proto socket/pull handle set to 1 1/4
Craftsmen wrenches

Big taiwan wrenches up tp 2 inches and some home made tools
A Blackhawk 3/4 ratchet and several sockets

Screw drivers and pry bars

Baling wire and electical

Pliers and cutters.

16 HP IR compressor with 1/2 inc IR and 3/4 and 1 inch impacts,

Miller Bobcat welers and tools

Porta band saw.

hammers

Small old Chain hoist and hydraulic jack

1/2 inch drill

Cheat pipes

Chains one 5/8 choker.


clevises

An odd piece of steel or two.

Starting fluid,brake cleaner, and PB Blaster.

Grade rod and level.
If we are on a big seperate job i keep bucket pins and teeth and their keepers on hand to.
I also keep a towel, and a blanket in the truck.

Extra clothes nothing like getting soaked from a blown hose at 6 am then having to wear it all day. 3 rolls of toilet paper, One good one for the machine one good one for the truck and one of the John wayne brand for every one else.

I also carry a small 32 pistol. Ive run into alot of funny folks on the fill early in the morning.

I also keep a pair of empty clean buckets on the truck for parts or leaks.

I work at a private landfill but all this comes in handy and I did this on my previous jobs. I also keep 100 bucks stashed in the truck for parts runs.
 
Buckethead

Buckethead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
1,055
Location
Waterfront
Occupation
Operator
First Aid Kit
Grease Gun
equipment keys
rain gear
in cold weather lots of clothes!
several pair work gloves
hard hat
Funnel
Leatherman Tool
small pocket knife
utility knife
jumper cables
a few different adjustable wrenches
a few different size Vise-Grips
ball peen hammer
lots of drinking water
lunch
wallet
extra work boots
sneakers (for the ride home if my boots are really dirty)
Windex
Paper towels
hand cleaner
cell phone (I don't talk on it during working hours, I keep it with me in case of emergency)

I never realized I carried so much stuff until I wrote in down.
 
R

rabbit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
119
Location
Washington
Occupation
Plumbing and Exavation Contractor
My most used and important tool is my cell phone
 
Deerehauler

Deerehauler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
78
Location
SW Nebraska
I have a basic set of metric and standard wrenches, pliars, vice grips, Channel locks, a 14" crescent wrench, and a few screwdrivers. Fluke 78 mulitmeter, set of fuel filters and water separator filter for my truck, fan and A/c belt for truck, two cans of ether, set of 4/0 20' long jumper cables, window cleaning spray, box of paper towels. I don't have time to wait for a mechanic and I want things fixed right, so I do it myself. I am sent to retrieve all the dead equipment so it is easier for me to get a machine running to load, if possible.
 
R

rabbit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
119
Location
Washington
Occupation
Plumbing and Exavation Contractor
Deerehauler said:
I have a basic set of metric and standard wrenches, pliars, vice grips, Channel locks, a 14" crescent wrench, and a few screwdrivers. Fluke 78 mulitmeter, set of fuel filters and water separator filter for my truck, fan and A/c belt for truck, two cans of ether, set of 4/0 20' long jumper cables, window cleaning spray, box of paper towels. I don't have time to wait for a mechanic and I want things fixed right, so I do it myself. I am sent to retrieve all the dead equipment so it is easier for me to get a machine running to load, if possible.
Click to expand...

OK yah I know. I also carry a lot of stuff with me. Couldn't take time to fill out a 4 page list. I do have to do the same job as you. But, when I need the mechanic or another rig to pull the dead machine onto the lowboy the cell phone is my best friend. :)
 
K

koldsteele

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
223
Location
Va.
Occupation
Owner Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Mike said:
What I carry try about $60,000 worth of SnapOn tools not to mention the cost of my service truck so I can make about $40 bucks an hr the math just not come out right in this equation . Ah the life of a Heavy Duty Mechanic theres no life like it NOT LOL
Click to expand...
You got that right ..don't leave extra money for important things like fish hooks:drinkup
 
R

rabbit

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
119
Location
Washington
Occupation
Plumbing and Exavation Contractor
Originally Posted by Mike
What I carry try about $60,000 worth of SnapOn tools not to mention the cost of my service truck so I can make about $40 bucks an hr the math just not come out right in this equation . Ah the life of a Heavy Duty Mechanic theres no life like it NOT LOL
You got that right ..don't leave

Thats why I call the mechanic.
 
IDODIRT

IDODIRT

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2015
Messages
11
Location
Macon,GA
Occupation
Owner of A-1 Excavating & Grading llc
CM1995 said:
I think the decision to have an air compressor depends on several factors. If you are like Rollover Pete - work by yourself, operate several different machines and change locations regularly - then yes it is a neccesity. If you are working for an outfit that is running several pieces of iron on a project and has a dedicated service truck - then no it is not a neccesity. If you are an owner/operator with a few pieces of iron - then it becomes a neccesity.

I have a dedicated service truck with an IR air compressor, 1/2" and 3/4" air lines and tools, Milller welder/generator, 100gal diesel, grease keg, oil and evac system, etc,etc. It's sort of homemade over the last few years - started with an old welding supply truck (99 4700 Int.) that has a very nice liftgate. I couldn't stomach $100k for one of those nice ones.:D Over the years I have probably invested $35k in this one.

Recently I have outfitted a crew cab F450 4x4 that has an 11' goose body with a 100gal diesel tank, tool boxes, Dewalt gas powered compressor, 1/2" air hose reel and a grease keg. It's all neatly packed up by the headboard to still allow about 7' of bed space and access to the goose hitch in the bed.
Theory being that the big service truck stays with the heavy iron and the 450 can hit the small stuff that is scattered around. We also use the 450 as a utility truck moving small iron around, blowing hay,etc.

I have 11 peices of heavy iron, 3 pieces of small iron, 2 OTR dumps and 5 pickups. We do the service on all of our equipment and trucks except for 1000HR services.
Click to expand...
CM1995 do you have some pics of the f-450
 
CM1995

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,344
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
IDODirt I sold that truck back in '09 when the economy tanked. I might have some pics but I don't know where.

That 450 worked well although a 350 would've served the same and rode better..
 
td25c

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
Generally travel light with just basic tools & needs .

Low tech will get you through where high tech has failed every time ........:)
 
Last edited:
IDODIRT

IDODIRT

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2015
Messages
11
Location
Macon,GA
Occupation
Owner of A-1 Excavating & Grading llc
CM1995 said:
IDODirt I sold that truck back in '09 when the economy tanked. I might have some pics but I don't know where.

That 450 worked well although a 350 would've served the same and rode better..
Click to expand...

IDODIRT said:
CM1995 do you have some pics of the f-450
Click to expand...
CM1995 said:
I think the decision to have an air compressor depends on several factors. If you are like Rollover Pete - work by yourself, operate several different machines and change locations regularly - then yes it is a neccesity. If you are working for an outfit that is running several pieces of iron on a project and has a dedicated service truck - then no it is not a neccesity. If you are an owner/operator with a few pieces of iron - then it becomes a neccesity.

I have a dedicated service truck with an IR air compressor, 1/2" and 3/4" air lines and tools, Milller welder/generator, 100gal diesel, grease keg, oil and evac system, etc,etc. It's sort of homemade over the last few years - started with an old welding supply truck (99 4700 Int.) that has a very nice liftgate. I couldn't stomach $100k for one of those nice ones.:D Over the years I have probably invested $35k in this one.

Recently I have outfitted a crew cab F450 4x4 that has an 11' goose body with a 100gal diesel tank, tool boxes, Dewalt gas powered compressor, 1/2" air hose reel and a grease keg. It's all neatly packed up by the headboard to still allow about 7' of bed space and access to the goose hitch in the bed.
Theory being that the big service truck stays with the heavy iron and the 450 can hit the small stuff that is scattered around. We also use the 450 as a utility truck moving small iron around, blowing hay,etc.

I have 11 peices of heavy iron, 3 pieces of small iron, 2 OTR dumps and 5 pickups. We do the service on all of our equipment and trucks except for 1000HR services.
Click to expand...
 
IDODIRT

IDODIRT

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2015
Messages
11
Location
Macon,GA
Occupation
Owner of A-1 Excavating & Grading llc
I am just starting out on my own I've decided to start with compact equipment. I have a ford f-550 with 11ft service body and a kaufman 15k 7x20 bumper pull trailer. I will be renting for my first year. Any advice for me
 
I

Inthedirt42

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2015
Messages
18
Location
Vancouver island
Trick to not working on anything when not on the clock is don’t carry tools in your personal truck! Guess living on an island helps too, someone’s always close. lol
 
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