Here’s a list of our truck-related gear. I’m sure I’ve missed a lot, but will populate as we use items (or remove them from our rig).
Safeguard 12 Ton Air/Hydraulic Bottle Jack – In typical Gary fashion, we have the “go big or go home” jack for our truck – something we can use to lift with our onboard air system. This is a beefy guy but definitely feel better knowing we can change a tire if need be.
Michelin XDS2 Tires – We ended up replacing our OEM tires with these Michelin tires in Feb 2023. We were able to trounce around Utah with these and have been very happy so far. They’re not cheap, but most good tires aren’t. Here’s the video where we get these installed!
Crossfire Dually Tire Equalization System – We added this system when we had our truck bed upfitted by Sherptek. This is seriously a great system to give you added peace of mind. We created a short video to describe the system and why it’s beneficial.
AutoSock – We purchased these back in January 2020 when we first picked up our Sherptek bed and camper then drove it back to Illinois. While our tires were snow rated, we wanted to have something to help if things got really slick.
Tire chains are a complete PITA and getting on the snowy, muddy ground to put these on isn’t the most fun.
This is an alternative that is much easier to install and is also easier to stow (since you don’t need these that often).
Go Treads (XL Version pair) – We knew we needed to have something before we headed out west. We wanted to explore more BLM land and have ways to get us out of trouble if we chose poorly.
We purchased these mainly for sand recovery but these would also work well in the snow. With limited space in a truck camper, I was also grateful for this fold-up version.
And… we recently used them to supplement a tippy but awesome site by using these as levelers on our front tires.
Two uses are always a win in a truck camper!
Wanna see how these worked for us? Check out this video where we SERIOUSLY get stuck!
Waterproof Tool Pouches– These colorful bags give you the best chance of finding the right tool quickly. Gary has them color-coded by function and then also has tags (for me!). These come in a pack of 4.
Ammo Crates – We bought several of these as a way to easily store heavier items in our truck storage compartments. We ended up purchasing two of these. They are sealed which is an added bonus and keep our tools better organized.
Rockpals Power Washer – This small portable electric washer can actually do a decent job of cleaning your truck, camper, or boat when not at home. You use a bucket of water (not a hose) that feeds the wand. This allowed us to clean our boat and truck camper with a much smaller amount of water and was great in between Blue Beacon washes. Check the video we made about this.
PB Blaster – I swear Gary uses this on darn near everything. And it works, so why change, right? We will always have this with us on-hand and likely something you may want as well. Perfect for getting bolts off that won’t budge and more.
Goof Off Pro Strength – Similar to PB Blaster, this thing works everywhere. We like the pourable version so we can put it on a towel (or paper towel) and wipe on so you don’t get spray in areas you don’t want.
I will say that we typically will try the cheaper option – 1 part olive oil to 1 part baking soda. This makes a nice paste that you apply to what you’re trying to get off (think labels off plastic jars, etc.). Leave it sit for several minutes to loosen and then remove. I will sometimes use a plastic scraper to assist.
Filter Wrench – This typically works great at removing filters. On the first oil change, though this might not be enough (as we shared in the video)
If you’re interested, we also created a video where we compare the cost of doing an oil change yourself vs the dealer.
Filter Cap – Gary has a very old version of this, but this one might be better with it made out of aluminum. Possible future purchase once Gary’s one falls apart!
If you’re interested, we also created a video where we compare the cost of doing an oil change yourself vs the dealer.