I had a bad experience yesterday, it could have been tragic had I not had a fire extinguisher. I had a oil line from a gauge burn up and spray oil all over the manifold. I felt like I was in a NASCAR film when the cab filled with smoke and flames burst from under the hood. I luckily had put a large fire extinguisher in my rig after hearing others who had near misses. So I implore you all to put a fire extinguisher in all of your rigs, you never know what could happen. I was able to cap the tapped hole and fix the vacuum leak in the braking system caused by the fire. All turned out just fine, I just need to give my rig a bath and it will be like it never happened.

 

Great Idea, I have seen small ones that mount to the wall right behind the drivers door before. If you have a fire in the engine bay is it a good idea to shut the truck off? It seems logical but I have a feeling someone told me not too long ago... maybe it was with airplanes. My memory is a little foggy.

 

I didn't shut it off, but only because I was in a hurry to get the fire extinguisher. Although I got the fire out with it running, I wish I would have shut it off because I kept pumping oil out.

 

Along with having the fire-extinguisher, it is good practice to install a ball-cut-off valve FIRST in any oil or fuel gauge-port, then connect the pressure-line to that; thus, you can close the valve should the line fail.

Also, in any place where such a line is subject to heat, or could become a fire hazard, use copper tubing, or better yet --- steel tubing, or BEST --- braided stainless.


Glad you got things under control before it became a disaster.

I bet you came alive.

 

Ditto, I used SS braided hose. I also keep a good size ABC extinguisher in the tool box, on the driver's side. I'd rather have it and not need it, than to need it and NOT have it.

 

Speaking of safety things, what else do you guys keep in your trucks in case of a breakdown? I have a full socket set and some wrenches, some emergency food and water, other survival supplies, and an axe. Is there anything I'm missing? What other tools would be beneficial?

 

First aid kit?

 

All good things to have! But of course you KNOW that whatever you REALLY need, you won't have!

Something I've always kept handy too is a small first aid kit. Don't buy a pre-made one because they're about 1/2 full of stuff you'll never need. Buy a small fishing tackle box and get some rolled gauze, 4"X 4" dressings, triangular bandages, bandaids, 2" (or there-abouts) wide medical tape, medical scissors like you see EMT's use, (they're incredibly cheap and will cut ANYTHING!), and chemical ice packs. Keep the ice packs and use them in a zip lock bag. Sometimes they leak and the chemicals in them will corrode everything, not to mention give someone a mild chemical burn. That's all you really need and I bet you could put the whole thing together for less than $20.

One other thing about fire extinguishers; Take them out of their storage space once in a while to check that they're still charged. Just because you've never used it doesn't mean the propellant won't leak out. And if you DO use it, any remaining propellant WILL leak out, so they ARE a one time use kind of thing. Replace it or get it recharged after use. Lastly, while you have it out inspecting it, give it a good shake. The powder inside can compact after sitting in the same position for prolonged periods and when you go to use it, you may get nothing but propellant and no powder.

 

winter clothing for staying outside at -20 for a day in the winter with a shovel and a good rope 100 feet long with a crow bar attached ( Ice rescues )

 

LPU,a little food for thought.IF you are in an accident,you might not want the extinguisher to come loose (g-forces) and rattle around in the cab during impact.We have always had good luck by mounting on the floor just in front of the drivers seat centered.Unless you drop off a 30 foot overpass on your lid,they pretty much stay put,are out of the way and are easily reachable should the need arise. Just my $.2 1/2 worth.

 

Just take the truck for a 100 mile drive. That extinguisher will be plenty shook up.

 

While I am certified first responder, I am no expert but take a proper fire extinguisher use class. On different fires the proper type and how to use the extinguisher. You really have to attack the fire and not just stand back and spray at a distance.

 

Hmm, that's good advice, but what class of extinguisher would be the most useful in a vehicle? I guess whatever is rated for oil and gas fires, right? Surely there is not much of a chance of an electrical fire.

I forgot about a first aid kit, I have a small mock kit in a ziploc bag with some bandaids and a sewing kit and stuff. Those scissors are a good idea I will keep an eye out for them.

I keep a towel, a spare set of clothes, an axe as well as other small camping supplies just in case I get a breakdown out of cell range.

 

Yes, if it's loose and rolling all over the place. If it's mounted, in ANY position, the powder will always settle in the same place and eventually provide the potential to pack.

Class ABC, good for most all fires you may encounter.
A = Anything that creates an Ash... paper, wood, cloth, etc
B = Anything that comes in a Barrel... oil, gasoline, etc
C = Charged electrical stuff.

 

To add to what chaikwa said about the powder packing, clumping, and not spraying, I was shown/told by the fire-extinguisher service/inspection guy that sees to the couple dozen at our shop to invert all extinguishers every three months and go after the canister with a RUBBER mallet, whacking the tar out of it.

He also said to mount them upright for a month, and then mount them upside-down for a month, flipping them the first day of each month.


He said state-troopers were the worst offenders in allowing their extinguishers to clump up and, when they need them, nothing spray out except the propellant.