Thoughts on a Ryobi Impact and Compressor for College bound Daughter

[NightSky]

Whatever tools you decide on, the best tool you can provide will be the hands on training.

I thought I had shown my spouse how to operate the jump pack, evidently I didn't do a good job. With the tow and shop battery install, it turned into a very expensive battery replacement.

 

[CGarage]

1) Automobile Club / AAA membership. Make sure to get the proper one with long range towing capability

2) I would have the LED road emergency flares on hand also. Rural roads / highways at night are no fun. A lot of times, out in the country, folks will drive while drunk.

3) Have you checked mobile phone coverage along the remote routes she will be driving? If rural, and no phone signal, what is the plan then? You need one.

4) Are there any 24 hour stores or truck gas stations in the area that are SAFE that she could make it to in an emergency? Time to do a map study and identify these locations.

5) You need a medical kit with the ability to stop blood loss. You also need to carry water bottles.

 

[dchawk81]

1) Automobile Club / AAA membership. Make sure to get the proper one with long range towing capability

2) I would have the LED road emergency flares on hand also. Rural roads / highways at night are no fun. A lot of times, out in the country, folks will drive while drunk.

3) Have you checked mobile phone coverage along the remote routes she will be driving? If rural, and no phone signal, what is the plan then? You need one.

4) Are there any 24 hour stores or truck gas stations in the area that are SAFE that she could make it to in an emergency? Time to do a map study and identify these locations.

5) You need a medical kit with the ability to stop blood loss. You also need to carry water bottles.

Damn I don't have any of that in my pickup. I do have jumper cables and a spare fuel filter. And some kitkat wrappers.

 

[CGarage]

11 Common Reasons People Need Roadside Assistance

Here are 11 of the most frequent situations that lead drivers to rely on the services of a roadside assistance and towing company.

www.eatowingllc.com

This is useful for your to read. AAA and a few other automobile clubs publish similar based upon collected data they have from calls for service.

I carry portable jump packs in my daily drivers and while I have never needed to use it, I have used it successfully to help rescue several stranded motorists with dead batteries in my “pay it forward” way of living.

Last July, I spotted a Vietnam Vet in full uniform headed to the lodge for the 4th. He had broken down driving his beautiful and restored Willys Jeep. Cause of no start condition? No fuel. We took the jerry can off and ran to the petrol station for him and filled it up with gasoline. Once back at the vehicle, we realized the nozzle would not fit in the fuel tank. We had to improvise, adapt, and overcome…..and ended up having to fashion a funnel of sorts using a rubber floor mat.

This allowed us to get about 50 percent of the fuel can contents into the tank. The remaining petrol ended up on our legs and running into our shoes. I was not excited about driving around fuel covered. I spotted him until he got to the gas station to get proper filled up and off I went.

Lesson learned?


One should also carry a FUNNEL that fits your vehicle and it’s fuel tank.

 

[never rest]

I've got the older Ryobi 18v inflators and 1/2" impact. They're fine for living in my vehicles, and I would imagine the newer ones are fine too. One of my inflators did quit working, but there was ample warning that it was on its way out and it was used a lot for several years. I doubt she would need to use it once and find it dead.

As far as jump starters, I got some NOCO's on sale a few years ago and have been using them. No idea if there are better ones out there, but I have no complaints. I do keep cables as well, though.

Also if she has a car that's prone to having the wheel get stuck on the hub when it's hot, make sure she knows that's a thing up front.

 

[BWWgarage]

No to a foot pump, yes to a decent 12v plug -in inflator. A good flashlight. A pair of work/mechanics gloves. A little toolbox with basics (tighten battery terminals etc). Hand cleaner a nd a roll of paper towels.

decent 12v plug -in inflator
^^^ this ^^^

 

[CGarage]

More thoughts from a recent road trip where I was in remote areas of Europe and the Alps…

- Emergency blanket
(it can get cold especially at night and if breakdown occurs in the cold, you will need to conserve body heat). It can get cold in months outside of winter.

- Dead blow hammer with soft face
(sounds like you are in a northern climate. If you are in a place where roads get salted, it will be difficult to get a wheel off of a hub without a dead blow and maybe some penetrating oil like Liquid Wrench). Living by the water, salt air is a real pain to deal with. I see this first hand when getting new tires fitted and the difficulty the tire changers have getting the wheels off the hubs. A soft face dead blow is the trick.

- Tow strap

- High Visibility Yellow Reflecting Emergency Vest
(These are mandatory in Europe, so if you pull over and exit the vehicle, you must wear it. I am so surprised this is not a requirement in the States. I think it should be. I have seen so many police officers, pulled over in police vehicles with flashing lights on, who manage to get hit and injured by other distracted drivers, especially in the US).

 

[Jay H 237]

Honestly that’s my concern too. I may just do the big breaker bar with a dedicated socket like you suggested. Without that I worry she may not be able to get the lugs off since she’s on the smaller side

Home Depot has a 1/2" breaker bar that extends out, that is what I carry.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-2-in-Drive-x-18-in-to-24-in-Extendable-Breaker-Bar-H12EXTBB1824-06/321478278

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Op add a good flashlight. knive, duct tape. shovel, rope, blanket, triangles, gloves, water, bat (use your imagination), first aid kit. She may think you are overly cautious.

 

[Twisted Sid]

Op add a good flashlight. knive, duct tape. shovel, rope, blanket, triangles, gloves, water, bat (use your imagination), first aid kit. She may think you are overly cautious.

Wtf? This sounds like a road side killer/kidnapper starter kit

 

[dchawk81]

Wtf? This sounds like a road side killer/kidnapper starter kit

I mean kidnapping someone is kind of a matter of survival. Especially if they're scrappy.

 

[jd_1138]

Spend the money on a more reliable car with better tires and add road service to her car insurance.

My money says she’ll never use those tools even if she goes on to get her PhD.

Even brand new cars have emergencies -- pick up nails, screws, tire failure, etc. I would want my child to be self-sufficient if need arises. What if she's out of phone range and can't call AAA. What if her phone is dead. What if the tow co's are busy and it's going to take a while to get there?

The hope is she never needs to use the tools, but they are nice to have. And basic mechanical knowledge will serve her for the rest of her life and she can teach her kids the skills.

Also I'd suggest getting her a torque adapter from HF. I think they're $40. So she can get the torque on the lug nuts perfect when she's installing the lugs back on the studs. The adapter fits on any breaker bar. Ideally use the electric impact to remove the lugs, then spin them back on with the factory tool (start by hand of course) and then use the torque adapter for final tighten. Breaker bar is a good backup to have for the impact in case its battery is dead.

And like Nuttsgt said above, a trolley jack is awesome compared to the factory scissor jacks which are poop. I have that very jack in my car. These tools will last a long time for her even for when she's out of college and working.

 

[Twisted Sid]

With all the **** thats been suggested for her to carry in her vehicle, I hope shes driving a moving van

 

[CGarage]

I think a lot of this can be avoided with good pre-planning.

I’d also keep a charged mobile phone power-bank in the glovebox.

 

[finn]

Even brand new cars have emergencies -- pick up nails, screws, tire failure, etc. I would want my child to be self-sufficient if need arises. What if she's out of phone range and can't call AAA. What if her phone is dead. What if the tow co's are busy and it's going to take a while to get there?

The hope is she never needs to use the tools, but they are nice to have. And basic mechanical knowledge will serve her for the rest of her life and she can teach her kids the skills.

Also I'd suggest getting her a torque adapter from HF. I think they're $40. So she can get the torque on the lug nuts perfect when she's installing the lugs back on the studs. The adapter fits on any breaker bar. Ideally use the electric impact to remove the lugs, then spin them back on with the factory tool (start by hand of course) and then use the torque adapter for final tighten. Breaker bar is a good backup to have for the impact in case its battery is dead.

And like Nuttsgt said above, a trolley jack is awesome compared to the factory scissor jacks which are poop. I have that very jack in my car. These tools will last a long time for her even for when she's out of college and working.

What if’s are endless.

She’s an adult and at some point you will have to let go and let her unfurl her wings.

Can’t be a parachute parent forever.

 

[jd_1138]

What if’s are endless.

She’s an adult and at some point you will have to let go and let her unfurl her wings.

Can’t be a parachute parent forever.

No endless what if's -- just a couple hundred in tools and some knowledge that can serve her for a lifetime.

There are many options in between doing nothing and outfitting her car like a NASCAR pit crew. Maybe some of the tools are overkill but I'd definitely at least teach a kid basics like how to change a tire if need be. At very least a 25 inch breaker bar ($15 at HF) would be a tool I'd make sure was in the spare tire recess. That makes it way easier to loosen lugs.

Hopefully it's not needed. 98% of time a simple call to AAA will be sufficient.

 

[Shoreline_]

What if you just got her run flats?