Fluids on the trail

[chris snell]

I'm getting an early start on packing my Pelican cases for an upcoming trip. One case that I'm trying to pay more attention to is my spares case. Previously, I just threw everything in there (parts, lubricants, extra tools, etc.) and predictably, it was a giant, oily mess.

I'm trying to do better this year. I'm organizing my spares into Ziploc bags and putting groups of those little bags into bigger bags with packing lists on them so I can quickly find what I need.

I'm stumped about the fluids, though. There just isn't a nice way to carry things like one-shot, gear oil, MTL, etc. I've thought about packing them in a cardboard box with filler paper and packing that box in the Pelican with more padding. What I really need is some kind of padded, oil-proof bag--like a Trasharoo for fluids--that I can pack and then toss in the case. Sure, I could use a trash bag but that's just so bush league.

Ideas?

 

[DiscoDavis]

Expensive but I too am planning on this,

Nalgene bottles, either 1L or the 42 oz long ones. Labelmaker to put stickers on each bottle with type. I am not a chemist, still trundling through various discussions on whether the plastic type is OK for oil, my thinking is yes. I will probably use the 1L ones for simplicity of service items.

A friend uses a 1L nalgene bottle as the coolant overflow container on his morgan.

Edit: torn between the Tritan and HDPE models, but likely will go with the HDPE being softer, and I know HDPE is safe for oil/fuel, right?

https://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-Mouth-Water-Bottle-1-Quart/dp/B000KA6AOU/ref=pd_sim_468_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000KA6AOU&pd_rd_r=DP0G2CNNQ9HJG5N1BEAK&pd_rd_w=9DAwt&pd_rd_wg=uJbZ1&psc=1&refRID=DP0G2CNNQ9HJG5N1BEAK

 

[chris snell]

Are those oil-tight? Will they leak? I never had any leak water when backpacking but auto fluids are another story. It's an interesting idea, however. They're pretty bomber, especially the old ones.

Looks like some of the slednecks are using them for this: http://www.dootalk.com/forums/topic/438638-storage-of-spare-partsequipment-on-your-sled/page-2

 

[chris snell]

Some ideas from Advrider: http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/oil-bottle.330439/

 

[SARTech]

Back in my helicopter days we use Nalgene bottles to carry some fluids, lubricants and greases in our Helicopter Support Kits. They worked well.

 

[LR Max]

As a series owner, this is a constant struggle that I fully understand.

I roll with cardboard oil cases. I know that isn't sexy, but they soak up oil quite nicely...also free upon request at the local auto parts location. I destroy one about once a year. Which is good because then I'm forced to go through it and discover all the crap I don't need to carry. This stays bungee'd in the cargo area right behind the rear seat.

For gear oil, I use Sta-Lube GL-4 in my 109 (because old rovers...and GL-4). I found they have a 1 quart bottle (available on amazon) that is the quantity I actually want to carry. So I bought one of those.

https://www.amazon.com/Sta-Lube-SL2...1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491312227&sr=8-1&keywords=GL-4

Or you could go full sexy with one of these beasts...

https://www.kartek.com/parts/maxima-four-oil-quart-carrier-four-maxima-1-quart-bottle-holder.html

These are popular with the KOH crowd. Back when I was in rock crawling and the like, these were gaining popularity out west as many rock crawlers had to be self- sufficient for the day. And as KOH grew, so did these things.

Now there is this one, which might work well for you. As you can label the bottles whatever you need. There are also ones that work with a normal-people oil quart size. I googled "Quart oil holder" and then went to images. Go see if any of those thingies will work.