Packing for overland trips

[Peter1949]

Many of us have learned the hard way that you should not underestimate the rigours of overland travel.
Bolts and nuts come loose, screws unwind, "things" fall off etc.
Cans rub through and leak contents, bottles break, lids pop off, wiring insulation rubs through etc. etc etc.
Without spending a lot of money which many of us do not have, what are the suggestions for minimising such damage, mess and loss?
Loctite, contact adhesive on nuts and bolts, silicon jell etc.
Dust is one of the biggest culprits providing a nice abrasive interface between items as well.
I have thought of bubble wrap as a possible solution. i.e. Wrap it between items in your cooler box or container - the air bubbles in the plastic would firstly reduce chafing but also reduce jolts and impacts while, for example, traversing bad corrugations or rocky tracks.
Any one know where to buy the stuff, maybe in a small roll or in sheets that could be cut to fit?
Any other ideas for this problem? I'm sure that between us resourceful fellows we can find some interesting and maybe unique solutions.
Let's have all the good ideas .....

[Tony Weaver]

Hi Peter, on the nuts and bolts issue, we just deal with it when it happens. But packing wise, we collect and have several boxes of plastic containers in various sizes and shapes with very snug fitting lids for packing into ammo boxes - we decant everything into them: coffee, oil, tomato sauce, sugar, tea, rice, pasta, olives etc. Absolutely no glass containers. Honey jars are excellent as their lids are really snug. I even keep my assorted collection of nuts, screws and bolts in honey jars - you can buy them quite cheaply at Plastics for Africa etc.

[RodS]

Plastics For Africa sells bubble wrap by the metre, as well as plastic foam about 5mm thick, which is useful for the bottom of drawers and ammo boxes.

Something I have found useful is a big bag of foam offcuts, about 100 mm thick, which I bought at a foam mattresss place for about R30. A couple of blocks of this are useful for chocking off things that can move around, as in say a half empty ammo box

[roynaidoo]

Bubble can be bought from a packaging supplier.I use ice cream and marg containers for cuttelery etc.I also carry Q20,insulation tape,cable ties,hand cleaner,jumper cables,brake fluid,oil,water,air,oil and fuel filters,an electric fuel pump,tow rope and a set of ball joints amongst other things.

[Peter1949]

Some good advice here - thank you.

[Tool_Fan]

Ive gotten a google doc that I refer too, before heading out and about.

The below is for recovery and repair (in no particular order).

• Small shovel
• Leatherman
  
• Can Brake fluid
• Can Gear oil
• Can Engine oil (Caltex Helo 400)
• Oil filter
• Fuel filters
• Full socket and spanner set, screwdriver set, pliers, etc.
• Fuses
• Tyre repair kit
• Radiator seed net
• Basic tool kit,
• Duct tape,
• Isolation tape,
• Q20
• Hammer
• Tire Compressor
• Wheel spanner
• Funnel / siphon pipe
• Heavy Duty Cable Ties
• Nylon Rope
• Jumper Cables
• Torches
• Multimeter + Battery
• 20 - 30m Nylon Ropes
• Grip and go ( http://www.erosiontech.co.za/grip-n-go.html )
• Hessian Sand Bags
• Badger Tire deflator
• Tire Valve remover
• Set of Tire valves
• Fire Extinguisher
• Gloves
• Jumper Cables

[Tony Weaver]

Peter, I've just remembered that five years ago, I posted a sticky on packing on this section (Overland) - it is the first sticky up above.

[Peter1949]

Thanks Tony I see it.