Emergency Parts To Keep On Hand this Summer
June 2025
Summer is on the way, and it’s bringing longer hauls, hotter temperatures, and more strain on your truck’s critical systems. Whether you’re running local deliveries or hauling across the country, breakdowns in high temperatures can lead to costly downtime and delays. The best defense? Keeping emergency, summer-ready parts on hand. Here’s what you should keep in your cab to stay prepared for unexpected repairs.
1. Belts and Hoses
Extreme heat can speed up wear and tear on your serpentine belts and coolant hoses, especially in older trucks or if you’re hauling heavy loads. Belts crack, hoses split and leak under pressure. This can cause your engine to overheat or your coolant levels to drop significantly.
That’s why it’s important to keep an extra serpentine belt and radiator hose in your truck. Swapping these is quick and easy, especially compared to the time and cost of waiting for roadside assistance or a tow truck in the middle of a hot summer day.
2. Coolant and Antifreeze
Overheating is one of the most common causes of breakdowns in the summer. As the temperatures get hotter, your truck’s cooling system has to work harder. If your coolant levels get low or your mixture is off, it can cause your engine to overheat fast. That’s why having extra coolant and antifreeze on hand is essential this time of year.
It’s best to carry a couple of jugs of pre-mixed 50/50 coolant compatible with your engine to top off safely. If you’re traveling long distances, especially in desert regions, keep a close eye on your coolant levels every time you stop. A quick top-off can be the difference between finishing your route or spending hours waiting for a tow.
3. Fuses and Relays
Fuses and relays might be small, but they play a critical role in keeping your truck on the road. Summer heat, combined with increased electrical demand from air conditioners, cooling fans, and lighting, can shut down everything from your blower motor to your starter system, and they often fail without warning.
It’s smart to carry replacement fuses and relay switches that match your truck’s systems during the summer. A fried fuse or a malfunctioning headlight relay can cause headaches, but having spares that you can replace in minutes, rather than waiting for help, makes a huge difference.
4. Lights
Electrical issues become more common during the summer, especially with lighting exposed to heat, vibrations, and summer rainstorms. Corroded connectors, broken lights, and busted harnesses can lead to a DOT violation or leave your trailer dark after the sun goes down.
It’s a good idea to keep spare bulbs, marker lights, and even a backup harness in your ride. A few quick connections can get you back on the road and become visible again. It’s also important to include some dielectric grease and electrical tape in your kit to help protect any wiring fixes you have to make on the fly.
5. Wheel End Parts
Wheel ends run hotter in the summer, and long hauls can increase the strain on your parts. Overheating bearings or worn seals can quickly turn into major problems. While full replacements may require you to get work done at a shop, there are still some small spares you can keep with you to be prepared.
Hub caps, extra bearing grease, and seal kits are good to keep stocked in your truck. Even something as simple as topping off grease or replacing a damaged cap can prevent a bigger issue.
6. Emergency Repair Supplies
Even if you’ve got all the right parts, sometimes it’s the small stuff that keeps you on the road. Emergency supplies like clamps, thread locker, wire connectors, and cable ties can make all the difference.
Remember to keep roadside safety equipment with you at all times to keep you visible and safe if you have to pull over. Summer traffic is heavy, and roadside safety can be ignored. A small but well-stocked emergency kit gives you the peace of mind you need.
Stay Cool with FleetPride
Summer isn’t the time to test your luck. Keep emergency parts on hand to handle breakdowns and avoid downtime. Check your inventory now and restock if you need to. Browse our selection online at FleetPride.com to get everything you need for your emergency summer kit.
* The foregoing is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult your local FleetPride Heavy Duty Experts to verify the suitability of a part for the intended application.