What's in your mobile travel tool kit?

[njc41980]

I have more than enough tools at home and in the shop, but need to outfit my work truck, personal truck, and wife's car with kits containing the basics so that I don't have to constantly raid the home/shop.

This will be for unexpected things of any and all types that come up while on the road.

I'm planning to get a couple of the cheap generic tool bags from Harbor Freight or Amazon. Leaning towards the 15" size, but wanted to hear suggestions of what everyone's travel kit list includes before deciding how big of bag to be throwing behind the seat.

My work truck will have a few extra "management" tools for my construction job (i.e. temp gun, moisture tester, laser measure), and my personal truck will have a few more outdoors items (tow strap, tied downs, ext).

I want a consistent basic tool kit that's the same for all my vehicles.

 

[njc41980]

My current list includes:

Basic wrench sets (metric and SAE)
Tape measure
Knipex Style water pump plyers
Medium sized adjustable wrench
Plyers
Multi bit screwdriver
Work Gloves
Flashlight (headlamp)
Utility Knife
Duct Tape
Allen Wrenches
Funnel
Vice Grips
Zip ties
Paracord
Letherman
Shop rags
WD-40
Hammer
Pry bar
Jumper cables

Maybe: 3/8" ratchet and socket set
Maybe: Emergency air compressor

BTW,
I'm adding to this as we go

 

[M.Brane]

Which one? There's one on the bike, one on the truck, and one on the RV.

 

[Roert42]

I have a tool roll that I carry for work with some basics, but I've found that it has been pretty useful for keeping my junk running when something falls off on the road.

#2 and #0 Phillip's, couple of flats. Small channel locks, like 5 or 6". Strippers, needle nose plier, and dykes. Metric Din sizes, 7,8,10,13,17. Scissors. little Plier wrench. Little bit of wire. Maybe a few other things. Everything fits in a Carhartt tool roll.

Can do a lot more then you would think with just a fist full of common stuff.


If I was building one specifically for a car I would probably throw in one of those little 1/4" socket sets that come with their own holder too.


Anything more then that your likely not wanting to try and mess with on the side of the road.

 

[njc41980]

Which one? There's one on the bike, one on the truck, and one on the RV.

I want my travel go bags to all the be identical so that I don't have to wonder about what's in each one.

 

[dscheidt]

there are about 25,000 threads on this, and the advise is always "what jobs do you want to be able to do?". Make a list. What tools do you need (and not just want) to be able to do them? That's your answer.

for the vehicle itself, you can't do much on a modern vehicle without parts; anywhere that sells parts also sells tools.

 

[njc41980]

I have a tool roll that I carry for work with some basics, but I've found that it has been pretty useful for keeping my junk running when something falls off on the road.

#2 and #0 Phillip's, couple of flats. Small channel locks, like 5 or 6". Strippers, needle nose plier, and dykes. Metric Din sizes, 7,8,10,13,17. Scissors. little Plier wrench. Little bit of wire. Maybe a few other things. Everything fits in a Carhartt tool roll.

Can do a lot more then you would think with just a fist full of common stuff.


If I was building one specifically for a car I would probably throw in one of those little 1/4" socket sets that come with their own holder too.


Anything more then that your likely not wanting to try and mess with on the side of the road.

Good point.

It's amazing how much a simple thing (like a steel prybar) can change your life when you really need it.

 

[honcho]

Too much but it's my insurance policy. It's more than just for vehicles since I often make use of it when visiting family.

 

[mikey03]

I been changing up what I carry for a car kit over the years and honestly idk what the perfect toolset is.

i started off carrying everything then realized it was real silly because I can’t change a transmission on the side of the road

then I downsized to nothing and realized I do handyman stuff like helping around the house and it’s nice not to have to lug so many tools to and from my car when I pack so having a basic wrench and socket set is nice there not used alot for handyman stuff but sometimes good.

now I’m thinking of making a car tools bag something small and light for stuff I might actually do roadside and I am approaching it from a way of looking at it by bolt size because the bigger the bolt the less likely I’m going to be able to find it useful on the side of the road

so thinking 8 10 12 13 as the main sizes for a real streamlined kit just to get the car functional again to limp it back to the garage with more tools

if I got to start messing with m10 and bigger bolts it’s prob going to need more stuff

dont need to strip a dashboard roadside to get the car working
not able to do suspension work roadside

i could change bulbs hoses a starter a alternator a battery a radiator on alot of the older 10 to 15 y/o cars I drive and those are m5 m6 m8 bolts from what I seen and yea I don’t carry a spare alternator and yea autozone sells tools but I like tools and the basic tools to deal with m5 m6 and m8 nuts and bolts dont take up much space

 

[NUTTSGT]

Instead of a bag, I use an Apache case from HF.

 

[BigMike62]

Sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, channel locks. and an assortment of some other things. It's pretty much mandatory to have when taking the Jeep out 4 wheeling with our club. I always have enough to get me off of the trail if needed. Although, once I sheared a valve stem and didn't even know a tool existed to install one from the outside of the rim. Lucky for me a guy had one and now I own one.

 

[honcho]

i started off carrying everything then realized it was real silly because I can’t change a transmission on the side of the road

Don't be spreading such scurrilous negativity about what you can or can't do on the side of the road!

 

[charbar]

I use one of these things

https://www.harborfreight.com/tactical-ammoutility-box-64113.html

I only carry metric tools.
The very top compartment holds a short 1/2" ratchet, flip sockets, a couple extensions and a wobble. The tray holds deep and shallow 3/8" and 1/4" drive sockets, hex and torx sockets, extensions and some ratchets. Under that I have different levels that I keep separate with dividers I cut out of those foam interlocking floor tiles. One level has a drilling hammer and a wrench roll, next is an assortment of pliers, ziplock bag of various fuses, crimp connectors, zip ties, electrical tape etc. Next level is a set of screwdrivers and utility knife. A few other random things but that covers most of what a person is going to do along the side of the road.

 

[dscheidt]

Don't be spreading such scurrilous negativity about what you can or can't do on the side of the road!

I used to travel long distances in a series land-rover. I burnt an exhaust valve driving from Chicago to Ottawa for a club event. When I got to the site, I found someone who'd bought a cylinder head for the swap meet. Everything else that got used for the swap came out of the back of my truck. I've sense reevaluated life choices, and drive modern vehicles that work, but one thing I found very useful were brightly colored zip ties. They're useful as zip ties, of course, which can be fantastically useful for all sorts of improvised mayhem, but having a bright orange or pink thing made it easier to find the place I'd bodged something together.

 

[M.Brane]

One of my favorite bumper stickers:

 

[four.cycle]

There's another thread here somewhere on this same subject.
Since this photo was taken, I've added:
Duct Tape, electrical tape
Dura-Tech 90-degree-angle socket wrench set
couple other widgets I can't remember now.

 

[JoeMcGov]

From the pyramids to the moon: roll of duct tape and a pair of adjustable pliers (you can call them: Vice Grips).

 

[engineer2]

At least:
A battery jump start pack or (or jumper cables) and tools to change the battery.
A battery (or cig lighter) powered tire inflator with a gauge.
Flashlight, combo screwdriver, duct tape.
More tools if you are travelling:
Impact and sockets to make tire changing faster.
Tire plug kit.
Spare fuses and a fuse puller.
Mini battery tester.
OBDII reader.
Some cars or beaters have common things that break so you'll know what you need for that.
For example, AAA towing membership for British or French cars (just kidding).

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Ski mask, gloves, rope, cable ties, duct tape, bleach, shovel and a big hunting knife.

 

[njc41980]

Ski mask, gloves, rope, cable ties, duct tape, bleach, shovel and a big hunting knife.

This sounds like a different kind of adventure.

 

[AJHD]

Ski mask, gloves, rope, cable ties, duct tape, bleach, shovel and a big hunting knife.

Funny story, there was one point where I actually kept most of those things and more in my vehicle (except the bleach).

Used to joke if I was stopped for some reason and the cops searched my vehicle, it might give them the wrong idea.

 

[rust in the eye]

A friend I used to work with, Dan, had an interesting solution to a breakdown once. He had some beater car he'd just picked up and was the driver when he and another colleauge had gone off to a hot dog stand in the next town over. It was only a few miles away on a single highway but the majority of it was through a forest presrve so no gas stations, homes or businesses.
Dan and Billy were quite late returning from lunch, seems they had walked a good way of the return trip. When asked what happened to the car Dan pointed to the west where a cloud of black smoke was rising. An oily rag and a Zippo were all he needed.

 

[Steel_Rain]

For example, AAA towing membership for British or French cars (just kidding).

Let's not leave out the Italians. I'm convinced there is no Italian word for "reliability".

 

[APEowner]

Most of the time when I travel in my truck I've got the race trailer attached so I have the toolbox and cabinet below full of tools and supplies. The rest of the time I figure any failure is going to require parts to repair and anyplace that sells parts also sells tools. Based on that I don't really carry any tools beyond jumper cables.

 

[GeoBruin]

In my truck at all times.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have a bag and a roll that I take in my old BMWs when I go to car shows or on long drives.

The roll has a set of combo wrenches wrenches, some picks, a couple flat screwdrivers (mainly for prying) and a small flashlight.

The bag has the a pliers wrench, several ratchets, 1/4 and 3/8 socket sets with a couple extensions for each, a 1/4" flex driver, the Icon meme tool (the flex-head bit ratchet thing), a box knife, a pry tool, a water pump wrench set, a magnet stick, some zip ties and o-rings, rags, rubber gloves, a couple phillips screwdrivers, a 17mm wheel socket and a few other impact sockets, a file, wire brushes, some blue loctite and my M12 Stubby impact with a fresh battery.

I'm sure there's a few things in each I'm forgetting and below are the only pix I could find.

Most of the time I've lent these tools to others at the shows - brake jobs, end link replacements and all kinds of other stuff have made them quite handy to have around, though I've been lucky for my car for the most part (with a couple of exceptions)


One year my old car had a last-minute issue that caused me to ride with a buddy. I brought along my tools, which he gave me a bit of good-natured **** about. I actually started to put it away, but changed my mind and put it in the truck. He made a couple more jokes over the weekend about them...

...until he lost the water pump/alternator belt over 100 miles from home.


Now what sucked was the one thing I hadn't put back in the car before we left was the water pump wrench kit, and we needed it, necessitating a round-trip Uber ride to the other side of the city we broke down in to get a set from the one auto parts store that had one for old BMWs. In the meantime he made good use of the stuff I'd brought, and the only thing I had that worked on the tensioner bracket was the Icon flex ratchet with an extension. Everything else was too thick or couldn't reach.

He doesn't talk **** any more

Recently I've added the LN46ACF pliers as well as the Icon '47 clones. I've got a couple car shows in the spring, and hoping nobody needs them, especially me.

 

[M635_Guy]

Oh - and lights. An M12 Rover and a head-band light. And a good small barrel flashlight. I'm old - light is important.

 

[Jgaz]

This kit in some form or another has been in every DD I’ve owned since my 1975 Dodge B Van.

The kit was first carried in a denim roll that was sewn by my mother. This tool roll was sewn by my wife about 15 years ago.

In my current truck I carry. 1/4” drive set in a separate pouch and a few other wrenches and sockets in another box.

 

[bassJAM]

I have a full mechanic's set of tools I keep in my truck. Metric and SAE wrenches and sockets from 1/4" to 1/2", pliers, hex keys, the whole gambit. Back in my college days when I drove a beater I used them constantly making repairs in parking lots and the side of the road, but it's been well over a decade since I've had to open the tool bag. I also keep zip ties, duct and electrical tape, vise grips, a 10-1 screwdriver, Buck 110 knife, hatchet, flashlight, and mechanic's gloves. If I go on a road trip with the family I'll transfer the tool bag to the minivan, but otherwise I don't keep anything in the minivan aside from a flashlight.

 

[BigMike62]

Ski mask, gloves, rope, cable ties, duct tape, bleach, shovel and a big hunting knife.

I have an axe and a shovel mounted to the tailgate of my Jeep.

 

[rust in the eye]

This kit in some form or another has been in every DD I’ve owned since my 1975 Dodge B Van.

The kit was first carried in a denim roll that was sewn by my mother. This tool roll was sewn by my wife about 15 years ago.

In my current truck I carry. 1/4” drive set in a separate pouch and a few other wrenches and sockets in another box.

Kudos to the wife for that roll up. Could be a cottage industry sewing up bespoke versions.
I'm curious about the single socket

 

[Jgaz]

I'm curious about the single socket

Lug Nuts on my truck.

My wife says thank you but no thanks

 

[L.Cheapo]

I keep a Swiss Army knife in each vehicle. That's it, aside from my commuter vehicle which also has a lithium jump pack in it.

I kept tools in my truck for a long time and never used them. They just got in the way and gave people a reason to break in.

These days, I'm not fixing anything on the side of the road. Everyone seems to drive distracted, intoxicated, or just plain so badly it isnt worth the risk. I've never even had a flat tire, but if I get one I'll drive a flat tire down to the rotor if I have to to get to the next exit and a parking lot, then use the factory tools to change it.

Worst case scenario I have a cell phone and will call a tow truck, which has happened exactly one time in my 29 years of driving. And a friend, family member, or Uber to take me home.

 

[FigN⋅m]

My wheeler is also my daily ('98 4Runner 270K), so I keep a little more than usual JIC...
Tool roll with the relevant basics, and the bigger box with CV/tie rod & hose service items that - if
needed, can easily be removed until playday. I tend to make sure our vehicles have more recovery items
than anything else, as around here we're all more likely to slide off unplowed roads etc. than break down.

 

[richfinn]

Let's not leave out the Italians. I'm convinced there is no Italian word for "reliability".

They do have a word "Sprezzatura" which apparently means "being stylish without caring"

 

[bobg03]

I have discovered that all the tools I use to carry were only used to fix one of the two car trailers I had, the RV or the boat.

Now that I have none of that stuff, I carry a Jump Pak, a leatherman, a 6" adjustable and a Klien 10-n-1 screwdriver haven't been stumped yet.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Tape measure, tire iron, jack, Leatherman, jumper cables, cell phone. I'm past that, let's-rebuild-the-transmission-by-the-side-of-the-road, age by a couple decades. If what I've got doesn't fix it in 10 minutes, then AAA tows it home for surgery.

 

[Jgaz]

Tape measure, tire iron, jack, Leatherman, jumper cables, cell phone. I'm past that, let's-rebuild-the-transmission-by-the-side-of-the-road, age by a couple decades. If what I've got doesn't fix it in 10 minutes, then AAA tows it home for surgery.

For my car yes, I agree with the above.

My tool roll was added to when I was exploring with my Jeep.
I left the roll much the same when I sold the Jeep and started to use my truck on some sketchy roads while I search for Indian ruins here in AZ.

My tool roll also came in handy working on a friend’s tractor while cleaning up after a fire on his property.
It was quicker than taking the machine back to his shop.

About all I expect to do as far as repairs to the car is to change a tire or maybe the battery in a Costco parking lot!

 

[GRN96WS6]

I have roadside on two of the three cars (ironically the one that doesn't bc ins doesn't have the option without full coverage probably should bc DSM)

But when I go on longer trips I pack some light tools and my impact with batteries and if in my truck a FS jack.

 

[njc41980]

In my truck at all times.

That's a dang nice kit.

A bit more than I want to travel with though.

Did Tekton make that kit? or did you do all the cut outs yourself?