tools to keep in the vehicle

[kanai]

I'm looking for a set of tools, ideally in a plastic blown-molded case, to keep in the car. The Bahco S103 looks interesting because it has 1/4" and 1/2" socket sets, deep sockets, combination wrenches, hex keys, a variety of hex bits, all in one case. Not interested in China-made tools to be honest.

I was wondering what other options might be out there for a set like this that has a wide range of sockets, plus wrenches, plus hex bits and keys all in one case?

I suppose I could put together a set of tools in a bag and select various bits that I prefer, but having one case that has everything inside is also a nice option.

Thank you in advance for sharing anything I am not seeing.

 

[ukruser]

I used to an owner of a similar Bahco set (S81MIX) and some of tools (wrenches, pliers) was different from Bahco popular lines of tools and the quality of these tools was not a Bahco quality. So I called to local SNA office and asked about COO of this set and wrenches in particular. They promised to call me later, but this never happened. Then I broke a diagonal cutters and soon desided to sell the set.

Later I regretted not buying this set from Toptul

 

[ace10]

Do you drive a modern car?
And are you frequently in areas with no cell service?
What on-road repairs would you like to be able to do?

 

[Ronson25]

i keep a cheap craftsman 200 piece set it served my uses. it helps me get my vehicle home at least so i dont have to do any major repairs on side of road.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I used to carry a Craftsman 100 some odd piece kit in the truck, but kids and a dog etc etc it’s a lot of space being eaten up. I think I’d get what I need on tool rolls and go that way now doing it over.

 

[tez929rr]

No matter what, a set in a blow molded case will almost certainly be missing something you want. Stuff on the lid will fall out and annoy you every time you open it (I speak from experience). Building your own set will make you happier in the end. Get a nice tool roll with zippered pockets or tool bag with compartments. If it’s for roadside repairs you don’t need a set of wrenches but instead a nice adjustable and good set of slip joint pliers. I will admit that this Geodore set on Amazon is the closest I’ve seen to a complete set; it’s still going to have stuff fall out of place and there will be something missing,

 

[Magnum440d100]

Way back when, I purchased a craftsman 117 piece for work. I got it because it had a spot for “extra” tools. Specialty tools. While it had the basics, the spot had room for anything else.

I don’t know what’s available that is similar today, but I would get something that has the basics for what your car needs, but room to add other stuff (ie: 36mm for axle nut, etc).

That being said, I travel across country. A LOT. I feel the need to be able to tackle most common repairs. So my road box is a Kennedy 526. I have everything to rebuild the front suspension, rebuild the transfer case, replace the VP44, do brakes front and rear, etc. basically any non critical major repair. I couldn’t pull and rebuild the engine. I could pull the transmission though. But I figure if the engine or trans went out, it’s time for a tow.

Your road box depends on what you expect to go out, what you expect to repair, and what you’re willing to repair.

 

[kanai]

Do you drive a modern car?
And are you frequently in areas with no cell service?
What on-road repairs would you like to be able to do?

I do. A Toyota, so it's pretty reliable.

I'm not often in places without cell service.

Mainly I want a set of tools in the vehicle for emergencies.

 

[kanai]

Building your own set will make you happier in the end. Get a nice tool roll with zippered pockets or tool bag with compartments. If it’s for roadside repairs you don’t need a set of wrenches but instead a nice adjustable and good set of slip joint pliers.

Good points. I was thinking about making a custom set tailored for my vehicle but was lured by the ease of getting a set.
Agreed that maybe a set of Knipex Plierswrenches would do the job of most of a set of combination wrenches.

ok, now I'm leaning towards just making my own set...

 

[MarvinBerry]

Threads like this go long enough and guys will say you need a full on service truck for any situation...

Other side is parts. Roadside breakdown? Do you have parts on hand to fix it? I don't even carry a 4 way anymore because my car doesn't even have room for a spare. Anything happens it's a tow.

I carry tools but they're mostly for times I need to fix something else. Little husky bag has screwdrivers & bits, adjustable, wire strippers, hammer... tape measure... etc

Trunk has a 5 gallon yellow tote with roadside kinda stuff. 12 volt compressor... jump pack... ratchet straps & my socket set. Only 3/8 drive metric... 8 to 19mm

That all covers most situations in the field. Figure if I need more then that it's probably big enough I need the full work bench.

 

[ace10]

Toyota?

10mm socket. Some screw drivers. Gorilla tape. Zip ties. Flashlight or headlight. Adjustable wrench. Needle nose. Maybe a battery booster pack if you wanna get fancy. And a cheapie code reader.

I dunno. A massive tool set seems like waste of space and excess weight in the vehicle.

 

[joseywales]

I’m in both camps: tools and preparedness. I carry tools to use to remove my bed cover, if I choose, or for when i use the tow hitch. Also to help someone else.

However, breakfast bars, bottled water, blankets, tarp, and ecomms will handle any road emergency.

 

[marak]

For me, this is a perfect application for purchasing Harbor Freight tools (so I don't get peed off if my vehicle is broken into and the tools get stolen): at minimum, an adjustable wrench and some drivers. I have a small Sears Craftsman socket set that I got for Christmas about 30 years ago that I keep under the passenger seat of my Tacoma. I also have spare fuses, pipe fittings whose OD match the ID of hoses, zip ties, galvanized wire, tire plug kit, and so forth. These have saved my **** on many of occasions. I also make sure that I can loosen lug nuts with what tools I have on board. Once I had a tire losing air and I had to drive from exit to exit along I-70 in KS to find a 4-ft pipe in a dumpster to use as a cheater bar because some numbskull overtightened the lugs when performing a vehicle inspection.

 

[M6erfan]

Sometimes it doesn't matter how many tools you have with you. . .



I carry the basics in a small zip bag; needle nose pliers, 5 in 1 screwdriver, some rescue tape, some baling wire, a flip socket set, and I threw a HF extendable 1/2" ratchet in the trunk.

And my cell phone & credit card.

 

[M6erfan]

deleted

 

[krole]

Don't really need to carry a whole toolkit in your car\truck. Maybe multi-bit screwdriver, pliers, adjustable wrench, hammer.

It would be more important to have things like this

-Jumper cables and\or jump box
-Tools to change spare tire if you have one
-Tire plug
-Air compressor
-Extra fuses
-Recovery strap
-Flashlight\headlamp
-Bailing wire
-Duct tape

 

[65ranchero]

AARP road side towing for flats or jump
tow off the highway and a good CC

 

[Dave455]

I don’t blame you not wanting Chinese tools.

While some (not all) offerings from places like Taiwan have improved in recent years, much of the Chinese isn’t great.

The problem is, most of these sets of different tools in blow moulded cases are Chinese. The Bahco is no different. See below.

Never really seen the appeal of Bahco. Yes, it was halfway decent, some time back. Yes, they offer some ratchets with a similar mechanism to the Snap On Dual 80, but this is a very limited range.

Most of the tools, (all of the ones I see in this country) seem to be average quality Chinese, with a below average finish and an above average price.

If you want a set, why not go out and buy a nice, but inexpensive bag or box. You can fill it with a few good screwdrivers, reasonable pliers, and probably some better Taiwanese wrenches and sockets for no more money than the Bahco set.

 

[marak]

Military surplus stores often carry very nice canvas bags of about every size. I use a small one, 12" x 6" x 6", that came with a hard bottom (wood encased in the canvas, I believe) that works very well for this purpose.

 

[Fatboy148]

Not really a tool BUT I keep one of these for both my wife (in her size) and myself in the vehicles because bad stuff never happens on nice days or when I have old clothes on!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TCX2YZX/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used to keep the regular Tyveck coveralls but these are more visible than the white Tyveck in the winter. The feet and hood may seem crazy till you are out there in the snow or rain.

 

[RTM]

I don't carry tools normally, only a long set of jumper cables, leatherman, big knife, small flashlight and a credit card. Now there is a battery jumper in the car with a tiny battery. Tie down straps, and a small tow strap live in the truck. Good straps, a bigger tow strap, and some tire and pulling chains are available for certain projects

When I take a road trip, I throw a small socket set, screwdrivers and pliers etc, in a bag that is smaller than a shoebox. Not expecting to do much repair other than a flat tire, or removing a piece of road debris myself. And a Scantool, usually used on other people's cars more than mine when I travel.

I count on my Acura and Toyotas to not need work or to break down.

I carry more tools routinely in my briefcase than in my car. Swiss Army knife Cybertool type thing.

 

[mr.lemons]

If it matters, the Bahco set is from Taiwan (unless there has been a recent change).

 

[Ign]

To me a basic DMM is non-negotiable. Sometimes just checking battery voltage tells you worlds about a no-crank condition

 

[DAustin]

I try to keep a small took box in the car but it seems over time I keep adding stuff to it thinking "what if I need this or that ?" My tool box is like a hermit crab that keeps outgrowing it's shell. I now have to buy a bigger box or start taking things out. I think back to the tool bag that came with my VW Bug just a few tools for simple repairs. And to tell the truth it's a 2021 Honda if it breaks down I'm calling Honda. I guess I've never gotten over having junk cars that always broke down and had to be worked on -sometimes on the side of the road.

 

[Blind1]

Bolt cutters, 11-1, dykes, pliers, a mini sledge, crowbar, and gorilla tape (jumper cables of course).

Done.

And a AAA membership.

 

[Forgottonia]

Don't really need to carry a whole toolkit in your car\truck. Maybe multi-bit screwdriver, pliers, adjustable wrench, hammer.

It would be more important to have things like this

-Jumper cables and\or jump box
-Tools to change spare tire if you have one
-Tire plug
-Air compressor
-Extra fuses
-Recovery strap
-Flashlight\headlamp
-Bailing wire
-Duct tape

This is a pretty good list. And maybe a small piece of plywood for your jack--in case you're not always on concrete/pavement. Also, if you don't have a small air compressor you can throw in a bike pump. It only takes a few minutes to pump up a car tire with a bike pump.

 

[Ign]

Bolt cutters, 11-1, dykes, pliers, a mini sledge, crowbar, and gorilla tape (jumper cables of course).

Done.

And a AAA membership.

Add some rope and large zip ties.....and YIKES you're well on your way to RSO status

 

[DAustin]

Bolt cutters, 11-1, dykes, pliers, a mini sledge, crowbar, and gorilla tape (jumper cables of course).

Done.

And a AAA membership.

That's the Ted Bundy tool kit

 

[DrinkMan]

All our cars:
Cell Phone & AAA Membership
Tow Rope
Flashlight(s)
Jumper Cables

And most other cars we have, above plus:
Cheap Harbor Freight tool bag
Harbor Freight 10mm wrenches
Wrench set (from HF, of course)
Socket set including spark plug socket with ratchet
Needle nose plier
Tool of Charlatan (aka - adjustable wrench)
Pliers &dykes
Small Hammer
Duct Tape

And for us, we have spare points, condenser, spark plugs. And for car converted to electronic ignition, spare distributor with points/condenser

 

[Blind1]

Add some rope and large zip ties.....and YIKES you're well on your way to RSO status

You’re right, best just carry a multi-tool and call it good.

 

[cweidert03]

My tool set I carry isn’t for road side repair, I carry tools for when I’m at the camper, or a friends house helping. I drive a newer vehicle and would call for a tow unless it’s a battery, flat tire etc.

 

[kanai]

If it matters, the Banco set is from Taiwan (unless there has been a recent change).

I thought that the Bahco stuff was Taiwan- probably the HDPE case is made in China though?

I've decided to just put a bag of stuff I like together, not get a case. Thank you all for your thoughts!

 

[KnurledNut]

@kanai

Some good tips here:

Whats a good tool set for the car ??

I got a boat load of tools in my roller cab in garage, and a small carry box in my van,,,but id like a set in my car too...I see the Craftsman 130 pc sets for 100.00 or so,,,screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, hammer etc...fold u plastic set... I have AAA but still wan tools with me just in case

www.garagejournal.com

 

[DAustin]

I thought that the Bahco stuff was Taiwan- probably the HDPE case is made in China though?

I've decided to just put a bag of stuff I like together, not get a case. Thank you all for your thoughts!

Good luck, remember sometimes it's not just the tools you need but also parts to fix things. Baling wire and pipe hanger will only get you so far.

 

[joseywales]

Another piece of irony I see is when folks put cheap Chinese, or other "disposable" tools in their vehicles. Same folks who use a Sig Sauer at the range, but carry a cheap pistol for self defense.

If the SHTF, be it in a vehicle or a back alley, you likely want the better tool at hand.

 

[gtae07]

In my vehicles:
Basic socket and combo wrench sets
Multi-bit screwdrivers
Pliers
Jack
12V inflator
Tire plug kit and supplies
Spare tire
Trailer hitch
Rope
Jumper cables
Flashlight
Lug nut wrench
Rags
Bottled water
Bluetooth scan tool
Truck also has a recovery strap

Honestly I find that having the tools on hand has come in handy. They’ve bailed me out on a few things with the cars, too, but it seems more frequent that this stuff gets used for other things. Fixed some stuff at church a couple times because I happened to have the tools available, for example.

 

[kjbenner]

... but it seems more frequent that this stuff gets used for other things. Fixed some stuff at church a couple times because I happened to have the tools available, for example.

This is the main reason I keep tools in my car. The most advanced roadside/parking lot repair I think I've ever done is tightening a battery clamp and hold down, but I've pulled some things out to help fix or assemble random **** when nobody else had tools on hand.

 

[Magnum440d100]

This is the main reason I keep tools in my car. The most advanced roadside/parking lot repair I think I've ever done is tightening a battery clamp and hold down, but I've pulled some things out to help fix or assemble random **** when nobody else had tools on hand.

We’ve done a water pump on a GM 3.8 in a parking lot of a safehouse, throw out bearing on a 1990’s Mazda truck in a grocery store parking lot, fuel pump in my 73 Lincoln at a feed and seed, etc etc.


Yes, you need the parts or the tools are useless. To a point.

If you’re just outside towing range, you can have the parts pulled while someone is bringing you the replacement.

Or, if you know the car well enough, you can guess/gauge/anticipate if you know the common failure points. My truck is the VP44. I’m ready for it to fail. Transmission is another weak point, but that’s taken care of. Otherwise, you can carry the small/common/maintenance items (fuses, serpentine belt, hoses, etc).

Everyone’s needs vary according to what they anticipate or what their skill level or physical ability is.

That being said, I’m praying that everyone who carries tools in their vehicle will have no need for them!

 

[PoorUB]

The last ten years I drove 35,000 to 75,000 miles per year for work. Tools carried in the truck? A cell phone and a credit card. Number of times I used either for vehicle trouble on the road? Zero. In all those miles not once did I need road service. Has an engine issue once and drove it in. Not even a flat tire. I haven't carried tools on my vehicles for 40 years. Never need them.

 

[Blind1]

Another piece of irony I see is when folks put cheap Chinese, or other "disposable" tools in their vehicles. Same folks who use a Sig Sauer at the range, but carry a cheap pistol for self defense.

If the SHTF, be it in a vehicle or a back alley, you likely want the better tool at hand.

Depends on the tool. My bolt cutters need to be top notch, because my life could depend on them.

Sockets? Nah, I doubt the one time (maybe) I need to turn a 10mm using my car tools that it’s going to matter.