Critique my trunk tool kit - PICS

[SMKS]

EDIT - I should note that this tool kit rides in the trunk of a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. There's not an SAE bolt anywhere on this vehicle.

I only put the SAE stuff in the kit in case I need it to work on my mother's yard equipment. It seems like her snow thrower and lawn mower always need some maintenance while I'm visiting her house.





Here's the tool kit I keep in my trunk. I put it together recently with extras and doubles I had.

I had actually forgotten how much I had stuffed in that little bag. I weighed it a while ago and I think it's 13 lbs.

What do you think? See anything I'm missing?

Here's a list:
-1/4, 3/8 and 3/8 flex ratchets
-extensions
-a bunch of pliers
-screwdrivers
-1/4" drive standard and sockets
-3/8" shallow metric socket set
-3/8" deep and shallow SAE socket set
-adjustable wrenches
-tape measure
-metric wrench set

 

[bhalv]

maybe an SAE wrench set depending on what your vehicle needs

 

[blue dog]

Hammer ?

 

[JeremyManning]

Flashlight **** happens usually in the dark, always nice to have a spare

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

I'd add tapes, safety wires and a pair of locking pliers

 

[canuckian]

-Good knife or multi tool
-Small pry bar - I know you could use a flat screwdriver in a pinch but sometimes that just won't do
-tire plug kit or can of fix a flat
-some kind of tire pump to inflate the tire when you plug it
-hammer
-pack of fuses ( not a tool but when you need em, you need em)
-flashlight

 

[tyndall]

Universals, electrical tape, duct tape and baling wire.

 

[larry_g]

I don't see any thing there for trouble shooting an electrical problem. Maybe a small multimeter or a circuit tester. I also carry a bundle of tywraps. Jumper cables.

lg'
no neat sig line

 

[70Chevy]

Ty wraps ...I started carrying a small floor Jack.

 

[WRX/Z28]

Zip Ties, Duct Tape, Electrical tape, hose clamp or 2, Flashlight, super glue, and the obligatory Advil for when you end up needing the bag.

 

[Toolman12]

Vise grips,flashlight, flares, depending where you live if it's cold a kneeling pad, blanket, and fuses and a jump kit

 

[bibman]

toilet paper...seriously...toilet paper...better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

 

[SMKS]

toilet paper...seriously...toilet paper...better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

Ha! Best suggestion by far.

 

[supra90turbo]

Tampons. I'm not kidding. They are small, lightweight, and amazing at soaking up fluids of any sort

 

[bibman]

Ha! Best suggestion by far.

otherwise....there's always your socks... I've been on the road a looooong time...sometimes you gotta use a little frontier improvisation!!

 

[Neuswede]

Whatever you need to change a headlight bulb on the car. My Tahoe needs an E30-External Torx, so I keep that in the kit. The Audi uses a T-30 regular Torx. Had this happen during Thanksgiving 350 miles from home; had what I needed...thankfully (some pun intended).

I also keep an Actron CP-9575 OBDII scanner in my kit with a test light and a test meter.

In addition to a fuse kit as already mentioned, I also keep a light bulb kit, especially for hard to find bulbs if your car uses any of them. When on road trips, I also keep an extra coil pack along too.

 

[mypov]

I dunno maybe it's just me, but What are you going to do with all those tools and no parts???

Handy to have yes, worth while, maybe . . . but unless you brake down outside a parts store, what are you going to do? Unless I'm 4x4ing carry no tools, save a chain or tow rope, and my CAA or AMA card...I should add that I have a booster pack in my car. Your road tool collection is great, and nice to have, hope you never have to use it. I would add some flares, and some basic first aid stuff (AR Mask, blanket, gauze, and that sort of thing...)
When I'm 4x4ing, carry spare parts (that are more likely to brake than others) and all the tools necessary to change those parts...

 

[WR250F]

flashlight
flares
vise grips
ball peen
magnetic pick up tool that extends
drill bits
knife of some sort
small butane torch
heat shrink or electrical tape
roll of tie wire
tube of gorilla glue
steel wool

 

[Jeeprz!]

AAA gold card.

 

[yogitech]

I dunno maybe it's just me, but What are you going to do with all those tools and no parts???

Handy to have yes, worth while, maybe . . . but unless you brake down outside a parts store, what are you going to do? Unless I'm 4x4ing carry no tools, save a chain or tow rope, and my CAA or AMA card...I should add that I have a booster pack in my car. Your road tool collection is great, and nice to have, hope you never have to use it. I would add some flares, and some basic first aid stuff (AR Mask, blanket, gauze, and that sort of thing...)
When I'm 4x4ing, carry spare parts (that are more likely to brake than others) and all the tools necessary to change those parts...

It's better to have the tools needed to fix the problem. Once you purchased the part then you would have to buy the tools again also. I've had to purchase way too many crappy tools to do some stupid fix, now I have "kits" in all the cars....

 

[matthew]

If you're looking to pare it down a bit, multiple ratchets, the slip joint pliers, the small side cutters, a couple of the screwdrivers, maybe even some of the extensions and the 1/4" sockets could be pulled. I would add a couple of things, though:
- bitratchet, 1/4" hex screwdriver bits, and screwdriver handle (much better to have a larger selection of 1/4" screwdriver bits rather than limited fixed-blade screwdrivers)
- flashlight
- paper towel
- electrical tape
- fuses
- maybe a modest sized ballpein hammer

 

[Lomotil]

Only thing that's missing is a bag of lye and a shovel...

 

[slip knot]

As I've gotten older and wiser i've found I only need two tools when traveling. A cell phone and a credit card. Anything other than a tire going flat is going to get the tow truck out. Almost 100% of my on the road problems have been computer related. (sensor failure) and without the proper diagnostic tools you aint got a clue.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

I did a repair for a guy, and while we were getting parts, he offered to get me anything I wanted (within reason).

I got a 7 ounce can of PB and carry that in my mobile toolbox. It is small and easily fits in the box, and when you need it, you need it....

 

[tyndall]

I dunno maybe it's just me, but What are you going to do with all those tools and no parts???

Handy to have yes, worth while, maybe . . . but unless you brake down outside a parts store, what are you going to do? Unless I'm 4x4ing carry no tools, save a chain or tow rope, and my CAA or AMA card...

I had the alternator on a motorhome die on a Sunday in a fairly large city. Parts were available but couldn't find anyone to swap it at any price. Cell phone and credit card were useless. Only options were to buy tools or wait for a day or two (which wasn't really an option). An hour under the hood in the Napa parking lot and I was on my way. I would have been on the road a few hours sooner if I had a small road kit.

Doesn't make sense to pay for a night or two in a motel just to pay a tech $100/hr to change a fuel filter or fan belt.

 

[Outlawmws]

If you're looking to pare it down a bit, multiple ratchets, the slip joint pliers, the small side cutters, a couple of the screwdrivers, maybe even some of the extensions and the 1/4" sockets could be pulled. I would add a couple of things, though:
- bitratchet, 1/4" hex screwdriver bits, and screwdriver handle (much better to have a larger selection of 1/4" screwdriver bits rather than limited fixed-blade screwdrivers)
- flashlight
- paper towel
- electrical tape
- fuses
- maybe a modest sized ballpein hammer

This; along with both Paper towels and the TP (You really don't want to use one for the other...), and 1/2 roll should suffice for either to minimize space requirements.

Wire strippers, the knife, J-B weld, maybe some 5 min Epoxy

On the flashlight: an LED model and lithium batteries for it (10-15 year shelf life on these, minimal chance of leakage...)

On the bit driver get one of those smaller 2"X3" bit set packs that include the common torx, straight and Philips.

For those guys mentioning they don't see a need for any tools; this IS GJ, Turn in your Man cards!

 

[bhalv]

maybe an SAE wrench set depending on what your vehicle needs

and that's what I get for not actually reading

 

[glockman]

As stated by the OP, sometimes you need the tools to work on something other than your car. I regularly use my car kit to fix bikes, motorcycles, work on my camp trailer at the storage lot, remove/clean battery terminals on my four wheeler and a thousand other things. If your like most of us on GJ you have a lot of mechanical items around you all the time, an when those things break your the one who is expected to fix them.

 

[nw2571]

I always like to have a spare fan belt with me and whatever tool is needed to change it. That's a common failure that would leave you stranded but is easy to fix.

As already mentioned fuses are a must! A multimeter is a good idea as well. Go cheap... you're not looking for accuracy, usually is it 12-14 V or not.

If I have a headlight go out, since you should always replace as a set, I keep the old working bulb in the vehicle as well. Headlights aren't going to strand you, but it's free at this point and may get you home safely. Other bulbs aren't really that important.

Otherwise, not a lot of repairs you can make on the side of the road. Any other tools are going to be for working on other stuff as you mention. In that case, I think your tools are probably sufficient. Do you really need a regular AND flex 3/8 ratchet though?

 

[Brentocool]

Heres my tool kit!

 

[cgv69]

I know this is an old thread but putting together a small tool kit for the car is something I've been meaning to do for a long time and always put it off. Well on my last road trip my procrastination finally bit me

As I've gotten older and wiser i've found I only need two tools when traveling. A cell phone and a credit card. Anything other than a tire going flat is going to get the tow truck out. Almost 100% of my on the road problems have been computer related. (sensor failure) and without the proper diagnostic tools you aint got a clue.

No offense but you may be older but not wiser. Sure there are plenty of things that can go wrong on a car that's not exactly roadside fixable, especially without parts or diagnostic tools but there are plenty of other things that can happen were having a few tools on hand may make the difference. Cell phones and credit cards are nice but they are not the answer to everything nor can they be counted on 100%.

About a 1/4 of the way into a recent trip to SC, we started hearing some type of rattling under the van. Pull over and check to find that the spot welds that held the heat shield to the cat had broken free and the only thing holding it on was the wire leading to the o2 sensor behind the cat. The heat shield was basically just dragging on the ground.

With a pair of snips I could (and eventually did) cut that shield off in less then 2 minutes. With some zip ties or gorilla tape I could have rigged it up and out of the way but I had nothing. I did have a cell phone and CC but was I supposed to do with them? Spend a $100 + dollars calling a wrecker? (which coincidentally is around the same amount of money it would cost to put together a small car tool kit ) It was around 3:30am (we like to travel at night) so it wasn't like I could pull into a service station and borrow something or even go into a store and buy what I needed.

Here's what I'm working on putting together...
1/4 & 3/8 sockets, universals, ratchets, extensions.
Pliers
- Slip Joint
- Diagonals
- Channel lock
- Needle nose
- Locking
Screwdrivers
- A couple of random size flat blades
- P1 and P2 Phillips
- 1/4 driver with a few assorted bits (Phillips, torx, etc.)
Adjustable wrenches
A few common metric and SAE combo wrenches
Hammer
Aviation snips
Lights
- Maglight (doubles as a light hammer or weapon)
- Small hand held flashlight w/lithium batteries that can be stood up in "candle" mode
- Head lamp or hat clip on type (hands free)
- light sticks
Tape
- Duck
- Gorilla
- Electrical
Zip Ties
Bailing wire
Super Glue
Small Ratchet straps
Small pry bar
Small cheap multimeter
PB Blaster/WD-40

On top of that, I always carry a good knife and a multi tool that I keep in my laptop bag that's almost always with me that also has some other supplies. Here are some other things that aren't actually tools but also part of an emergency road side kit....

Tire plug kit
Can of fix a flat
Tire pressure gauge
Small electric tire pump
Fuses
Flares
First Aid kit
heavy wool Blanket
Gloves
- Heavy Winter
- Mechanix
- Disposable (nitrile)
Large, thick plastic sheet.
Large "yard waste" type garbage bags.
1 gallon (or more) of water.
a few smaller water bottles
a couple of quarts of oil.
Paper towels
Toilet Paper
Sanitary hand wipes and\or hand wash

I know this sounds like a lot but it's really not. The tool kit itself can be put together for $100 or so if you shop around and realize the tools don't have be A. top of the line, B. New and\or C. US made. These are for emergencies only. All the tools should be able to fit into a small bag. The bag and rest of the car kit should be able to fit into a small plastic storage case like RUbberMaid's Action packer and left in the trunk.

 

[rmsg0040]

24" breaker bar + socket for your wheels
Spare belt
Bottle jack
Jack stand
Booster cables
Tire plug kit
Small air pump 12VDC
Self booster pack (whatever they are called)
Blanket (winter)

Tools + no parts, why carry it

 

[cgv69]

BTW for anybody wanting to create their own "kit", here is an excellent starting point IMO...

Kobalt 110-Piece Standard/Metric Mechanics Tool Set with Case for $59.97 http://www.lowes.com/pd_228548-22328-86215_0__?productId=3693910&Ntt=110+piece+basic+tool+set&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

 

[ezriderga]

I may have missed it but I did not see where anyone mentioned a Luggable Loo Seat and Cover, aka portatoilet. This seat mounts to any 5 or 7 gallon bucket. We use a bucket from Lowe's.

The bucket also doubles as a storage container for bottled water, toilet paper, and other loose items. We have never had to use this so it is still clean on the inside which makes it suitable for storage.

I think I got the seat and cover from Amazon for around 13:00. There's a long story behind us getting this portable toilet, but my wife would not appreciate me telling it on here.

 

[goodspeed]

There's mine for reference. It weighs in at 35 Lbs, and holds way more tools than I'll ever need/use, but I believe in being over prepared. Lol

There is some stuff not shown, like duct tape, flashlights, OBDII reader, more vise grips, etc. And, of course, a first aid kit/extra oil/trans fluid/fuel, but those aren't in that tool bag, so I can hardly count them.

In addition, I also carry a stanley 3/8 socket set, and a larger Kobalt 1/4"-3/8"-and 1/2" drive mechanic's set pretty often, since I use it at PullAPart a lot.

Hope that helps.

 

[eborcim]

cloth rags and mechanic gloves

 

[bobemmerich]

No criticizing, looks like you've got the basics. But, it's been my experience that I can have all the tools to rebuild a car, but it does no good with out the proper parts (which with me is usually the case in the middle of the night on a dark road in no-mans land)

 

[ezriderga]

Thanks Stephen for starting this thread. It looks like you have a good collection of tools for basic repairs.

Others have chimed in with some good ideas as well. Since you started this thread, I have been motivated to clean out the trunk in my car and sort my tools and include some things I have overlooked.

 

[genevabuck]

I tend to carry more heavy duty stuff in my trunk, i.e. hammers, pry bars, etc. Also, a tire plug kit.

 

[richfinn]

I attend broken down vehicles for a living, as many have suggested you need a mix of tools and easy to replace parts and "Bodging/Hacking" stuff to complete repairs.

this would be my top 10

1. multimeter/code reader/bulbs/fuses/wire/crimp on connectors and tools (you can bypass faults)

2. inner cable for throttle/clutch and solderless ******* (you can also use clutch cable to make temporary ground leads if you double it up)

3. tyre repair plug kit and a pump (even if you carry a spare)

4. Fluids: carry everything your car uses plus a few gallons of water

5. Exhaust sleeves so you can bridge a broken section (get the correct clamps too)

6. ignition coil/crank sensor/coolant temp sensor - plus tools to replace

7. drive belts - plus tools

8. a decent jack and stands/good wheel brace or cordless impact

9. coolant hose repair tape/tools for removing thermostat/liquid stop leak (good quality)

10. threaded rod and nuts/washers and a hacksaw (for all sorts of repairs like exhaust hangers/alternator mounts/makeshift tools etc.)

also consider getting some transport blocks to wedge the suspension strut in an extended position if you break a coil spring

gaffer tape/lens repair tape/cable ties

Buy the best cordless LED worklamp you can find with a 12v charger (mag mount is best I find)

And a decent quality fuel can and a primer bulb for Diesels

I like my copper/hide mallet for knocking off wheels stuck on spigots and intimidating starter solenoids back into life

A power probe might be a good too if you know a bit about auto electrics

I could go on for ever