Jumper Cables

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by piglith

Well thanks to the fire extinguisher thread. I thought it might be beneficial for other to post what they keep in their tail gate. So I'm starting this thread for that purpose.

My thoughts are:

Get some of that heavy plastic/poly foam (don't know the name, seen it in blue and white) and cutting it to shape. Then cutting out spots for different items. Like a tool box.

Items I've thought of:
First Aid kit (small)
Small box of tools with Torx and some Smart sized wrenches
Bagged jumper cables
Bottle or two of water
Some rope
Extra LED flashlight
Flares (not sure on this one because of heat)


Post your ideas and thoughts

Do NOT keep your jumper cables in the tailgate. There is no way (at least I could not think of one) to get to the tail gate if your battery is dead. I keep mine under the passenger seat.


CUBE

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by cubefx

Do NOT keep your jumper cables in the tailgate. There is no way (at least I could not think of one) to get to the tail gate if your battery is dead. I keep mine under the passenger seat.
CUBE

I moved my compressor and goo can to the tailgate, joining the other tire servicing tools (jack, wrench, plugging kit, plastic ground cloth, "Wash n' Dri"s, etc.). Bad enough to have an on-the-road flat without adding time on your knees pulling up the passenger footwell.

Anyway, with the compressor and goo can gone there may be enough empty space left behind in the foam pad to stow a set of lightweight cables. If you need cables you are going to be under the footwell anyway to get to the battery. The AWG of the cables need not be bigger than the OEM battery cables (which aren't very big). Actually, if you could devise a way to positively keep the cable clamps from shorting, you could keep the battery ends permanently attached and not have to pull out the foam pad.

Add: Assuming you can get access to the interior of the car (the manual cylinder lock on the driver's door handle), you can reach back between the seats and open the tailgate lid manually, even with the tailgate up and window down (at least on a coupe). I did it, and everything came tumbling out onto the engine cover.

[John_H]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Actually, if you could devise a way to positively keep the cable clamps from shorting, you could keep the battery ends permanently attached and not have to pull out the foam pad.

Wouldn't you have to devise a way to negatively keep the cable clamps from shorting, too?

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by John_H

Wouldn't you have to devise a way to negatively keep the cable clamps from shorting, too?

The negative pole of the battery is already "shorted" to the chassis; it is just a matter of keeping the positive cable clamp away from the chassis (the foam pad should be sufficient), and the positive and negative cable clamps away from each other.

Similar to the idea of putting a foam insert with cut-outs in the tailgate to keep things in place and from rattling together, spaces could be cut in the footwell foam pad to hold the two clamps apart (like the tow eye's).

[Old smart]

Split thread.