What does your road tool box consist of?

earthmover1980 · Aug 31, 2017

I like to carry with me all the time and extensive set of hand tools since I work on all of my own stuff, and work on the fleet of Trucks and Excavating equipment. I try to keep it as much quality American made as possible. Sure, there are a couple of cheapies, but I try to keep every popular size with me. I'm guilty of carrying too much yes (1/4,3/8,1/2 drive sets, and wrenches metric and standard) but hate being broke down, and not having that next larger wrench since set doesn't have it. Also keep a large 15" crescent wrench with too. These tools are good for emergency use, and salvage finds! Tell me what tools you carry!

sberry · Aug 31, 2017

First pic is older but the box on seat is the best thing I ever find for working out of the truck.

Codejack · Aug 31, 2017

Heh.

To be fair, I just spent a month agonizing over that socket set, customizing it to be exactly what I wanted.

Buster21 · Aug 31, 2017

Here's mine.

Yarpo · Aug 31, 2017

Might be cheating because I work mobile, but not sure if that's the kinda road box you're interested in, or if you are interested in the box I keep in my car which is just a Stanley black chrome set and ratchet, with a few deep sockets lol.

joseph.a.owens.9 · Sep 1, 2017

I carry a 1/4 inch socket set along with 3/8 and some 1/2 drive stuff. Gear wrenches in standard and metric. A hand full of bigger wrenches a big adjustable wrench (can't remember the size off hand) two full sets of screw drivers a set of nut drivers torques bits a driver for them line wrenches breaker bars a jack that I also use the handle as a cheater bar several sets of hex keys an *** load of random sockets break tools (disc and drum) jumper cables oil spray lubes cleaners test lights all sorts of stuff.... I'm sure I have more in my truck then most have in there too boxes. ....well maybe not the garage Journal group lol lol you may ask why so much in my truck because when you live in town with a small garage and own things like an ATV your forced to keep at your in laws out of town and other people like friends and family want you to work on things all the time you carry what ever you may need. Better to have and not need then to need and not have.

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bobcatdan · Sep 1, 2017

I have an 8 drawer 26" top chest in the back of the truck. Pretty complete socket set. Every RP combo wrench craftsman makes. 1/2" crowfeer. Multimeter and general electrical tools. I have about 98% of whatever I would need to fix a farm tractor or construction equipment with me.

Tonyuk · Sep 1, 2017

I don't carry much in the way of tools in the car since i don't drive far from any town or city, but i always have;

Breaker bar + wheel socket
Screwdriver
Multi-tool
Some oil, water and brake fluid
Electric tyre pump
Pair of pliers and some strong tape
Some food, warm jacket, hi-vis + warning triangle. Phone charger

Anything needing more than that above would probably need a shop to fix, so plan B is breakdown cover.

joseph.a.owens.9 · Sep 1, 2017

I also carry pliers and a 6inch adjustable wrench on my belt....

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ihateminimumwage · Sep 1, 2017

I work mobile fixing generators out of a very overloaded company provided half ton truck. Have a 4 drawer Waterloo (also very overloaded) in the back with a bit of everything, along with my go to CLC bag with everything needed for basic maintenance jobs, and the rest of the back and topper side boxes loaded with tools in cases, parts, cordless tools, larger prybars and gas fitting tools. Only picture I have on my computer that turned out well enough to see is the top, but I'll get more when I'm back (box is currently at home since I'm out of state on a side job).

3/8" & 1/2" impacts, 3/8" chrome mid-depths, torx, e-torx, hex, different sensor sockets, ratchets (long CAT wrench moved home while putting the engine/trans back in my Thunderbird).

BLJ · Sep 1, 2017

For those of you with the regular top boxes as road boxes, how do the slides hold up on them riding around in the back of the truck? I've thought of doing this myself, but wondered if the slides would get beat up to bad.

theoldwizard1 · Sep 1, 2017

Everyday, I just have my cell phone !

For trips, I take this

View media item 74228

Yarpo · Sep 1, 2017

BLJ said:
For those of you with the regular top boxes as road boxes, how do the slides hold up on them riding around in the back of the truck? I've thought of doing this myself, but wondered if the slides would get beat up to bad.

The snap on in my picture broke a slide about 14 months into it, 30k miles or so of driving.

First and only one, that was about a month ago.

BLJ · Sep 1, 2017

Thanks , yarpo. I was thinking more along the lines of a dewalt, Milwaukee, porter cable box from lowes or home depot as opposed to snap on. Poor mans road box.

bobcatdan · Sep 1, 2017

BLJ said:
For those of you with the regular top boxes as road boxes, how do the slides hold up on them riding around in the back of the truck? I've thought of doing this myself, but wondered if the slides would get beat up to bad.

The slides hold up fine, it's the rest of the box. First box I had was a ball bearing craftsman six drawer. The bottom drawer is heavy with hammer and such. Where the slides clip into the box gave way after 8 or so years. I now have a Menards performex 8 drawer top box. After 2 years, the box began to crack at the corners. Welding it up was a ***** since even at the lowest setting, my Miller 211 burn threw like nothing. Some ugly welds and some gringing later, it's still going.

BLJ · Sep 1, 2017

If I can get 2 years or more out of one before i need to repair, i would be happy. Thanks for the info.

ssdave · Sep 2, 2017

Snap-on KRA-21 with the following in it: I use it for a quick grab box to throw in the truck whenever I am on a road trip or have a repair or pickup of something to do. Often not automotive, so has both SAE and metric.

regular and deep sockets in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive, metric and SAE. Flex in 3/8" drive. Two sets each of combination wrenches, SAE and Metric. Full assortment of pliers and screwdrivers. A few punches. A set of torx sockets and a few hex. Hex keys sets, SAE and metric. Hammers and a chain wrench. Small rigid pipe wrench. Electrical tape and tie wire. Impact driver and set of bits to fit. A file.

Retail, this box is more valuable than my truck by far. It's surprising how much stuff fits in it.

Teenager with old tools · Sep 2, 2017

Every tool I've worked on my gmc jimmy with short of a vise. I know I have too many. But I could remove my control arms (same tools as adjust camber which is needed cuz I can't get the camber adjustment bolt to stop slipping when I'm off road so I always gotta readjust it before getting back on the road). I'm away right now but I'm few days ill get a pic. I've been told its too much but when you're two hours from home and a cv shaft goes out and you can't afford to pay a shop it pays to have the tools to remove it in a parking lot

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ihateminimumwage · Sep 2, 2017

BLJ said:
For those of you with the regular top boxes as road boxes, how do the slides hold up on them riding around in the back of the truck? I've thought of doing this myself, but wondered if the slides would get beat up to bad.

I picked up the Waterloo nine months ago when Lowes had them for $34 with a coupon, so I bought it as a throwaway for the truck. Only problem so far was from having all those sockets loaded into a deep drawer and it flexed enough to pop the little plastic rail of ball bearings out of the slide. Pinched the rail back into shape, put it back together and reorganized it. Surprisingly no new issues since.

BLJ · Sep 2, 2017

Thanks guys. When the time comes, this is the route I'm going to take.

joseph.a.owens.9 · Sep 2, 2017

Teenager with old tools said:
Every tool I've worked on my gmc jimmy with short of a vise. I know I have too many. But I could remove my control arms (same tools as adjust camber which is needed cuz I can't get the camber adjustment bolt to stop slipping when I'm off road so I always gotta readjust it before getting back on the road). I'm away right now but I'm few days ill get a pic. I've been told its too much but when you're two hours from home and a cv shaft goes out and you can't afford to pay a shop it pays to have the tools to remove it in a parking lot

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I have thought about making a vice holder/mount for my receiver hitch something that can ride around in the back and be put on for use. But if it comes to that I will move whatever I'm working on.

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crewchief888 · Sep 2, 2017

BLJ said:
For those of you with the regular top boxes as road boxes, how do the slides hold up on them riding around in the back of the truck? I've thought of doing this myself, but wondered if the slides would get beat up to bad.

ive eventually destroyed every box ive ever had in a service truck, some have lasted longer than others.
the key is to secure them from the back and bottom into the body to keep the box from "racking"

the current box i'm using is a late 90's CM top. it's been in 4 service trucks since '03, and had a hard life banging around in the back of my pickup truck before that.
most of the drawer slides are mangled to some extent. the bottom drawer ripped the mounts out of the inner walls of the box.. it's since been cut off, angle iron and tubing are now welded to whats left of the lower "frame" noticed last week the (now) bottom drawer slide mounts are now bent/broken.

i'm not buying another box, this will have to do until i'm forced to retire from field work....

:beer:

crewchief888 · Sep 2, 2017

i dont keep much of anything toolwise in any personal vehicle, unless were heading on a road trip.

wifes '07 saturn has a set of jumper cables, and her cell phone charger

'00 sierra, jumper cables, a hammer, long screwdriver, (the hood latch sticks sometimes) breaker bar and deep socket for the aftermarket wheels/lug nuts.

:beer:

zktk01 · Sep 2, 2017

I don't keep my box in the truck too many thieves going around cars to leave stuff inside. I only carry when I go out of town. I got Roadside coverage for anything else.

ihateminimumwage · Nov 19, 2017

Cleaning out the truck and have the 4 drawer Waterloo box in the garage, so figured I'd finally get some shots of what's in it. Again, this goes along with a CLC bag for general service tools, way too many Milwaukee cordless tools, big pry bars, oil change equipment, pipe wrenches, and too many Fluke meters and electrical testing tools.

Top is sockets/ratchets/extensions (everything from Snap-on, MAC, Williams, Armstrong, SK, Sunex, Kobalt, Husky, Gearwrench, Craftsman, HF, etc.)

Top drawer is strippers/crimpers, spark testers, micrometer, 1/4" socket box and catch all misc stuff.

MAC 1/4" box with Williams sockets (plus one misc Snappy) and T72 ratchet

Second drawer: Snap-on bit driver, Snap-on bit box (full of Gearwrench bits), Mini-drivers for voltage regulator adjustments, Duratek drivers, Milwaukee insulated drivers, seal/hose pullers, step bits, etc.

Third drawer: (Less SAE wrench roll) Metric wrench roll, Ratchet wrenches, Crowfoot sets, flare nut wrenches, adjustables, puller set. Going to ditch the Ernst racks for some of the HF metal wrench loops like Codejack posted above to save space.

Bottom drawer is pliers, cutters, hammers, oil filter strap wrench, brass punches, lug crimper, compression tester, drill bits.

dan360 · Nov 20, 2017

New one, has built ins from American Eagle

http://americaneagleacc.com/drawersystems/

johndeereman · Nov 20, 2017

HEY dan360 nice New ride great looking set up.

Crazyjake8493 · Nov 20, 2017

Milwaukee M18 Mid-Torque impact wrench with 2 batteries, HF impact sockets, small 1/4 and 3/8 socket set, headlamp, SAE/Met wrenches, multi-bit screwdriver, old Klein linesman pliers, roll of steel wire, exhaust tape, tire plug/patch kit, and my 3 ton jack and jackstands under the back seat at all times.

Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

A guy in another thread recommend that I put a few pictures here of my mobile setup. I grabbed a few this morning while setting up, I'm currently in the planning stage for a big redo on the truck. The doors are much smaller than the compartments which really limits tool box options and leaves wasted space.

Basics are 1990 F700, 1980ish IMT box with IMT 7000lb crane. Wayne 2 stage compressor with HF 420cc engine and Miller Bobcat 225 welder. Today's job was changing coolant in some trucks and a huge list of misc repairs on the trucks and trailers.

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Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

Front compartment, screwdrivers, extractors, snap ring pliers, regular pliers, paperwork, and electrical. Also power inverter, chargers, lights, and misc kits. Also 20 ton bottle jack and 12 air/hyd bottle jack

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ex-x-fire · Dec 23, 2017

One tool I'd keep is a serp belt tool that I know works on the car I'm driving, even if you have to make one.

Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

Next compartment is misc junk drawer, metric wrenches, long standard wrenches, regular standard wrenches, and torx drivers/picks. That box is surrounded by hammers, slide hammer kit, and cases for temp gun, thermal imager, manual hose crimp tool, back of guages, ect.

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Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

Next compartment is misc channel locks, pipe wrench, big snap on channel locks thing, bags of truck lights. To the right of the box is big wrenches, snap on 1 1/4 - 2" (ouch!)

Box is torch parts, air hammer bits, drill bits, taps, files, and brass punches in the top 2 rows.
Next is 4way angle wrenches 3/8" - 1 1/2". Then ratchets, electric impact and ratchet and misc sockets. Next is 3/8 drive sockets, Allen's, and torx. Last is air tools

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Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

More

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Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

Other side compartment, top of box 3/4 and 1 inch drive sockets. 1/2 and 3/4 impact. Top drawer is grinding wheels and couple squares. Then pry bars, then set of CM wrenches 7/8 - 1/ 5/16", metric 1/2 drive and misc common used sockets , and standard 1/2 drive

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Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

Finally next compartment is bolt bins, welding rod, and misc hoses and parts.
Next compartment is axle sockets, filter wrenches, and power tools. M18 drill, and corded sawsall, grinder, portaband, vacuum pump, and a 1" impact

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Sycan · Dec 23, 2017

Two small lower compartments with lifting straps, batteries, grease gun, and 10 ton porta power. Also good lights all over for when you run out of daytime

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ihateminimumwage · Dec 24, 2017

Killer setup Sycan.

Puts my little rig to shame just running around fixing gensets. Almost makes me wish I'd stuck with trucks or equipment just for the excuse to run a setup like that.

Good to see you get to have the pooch ride along. I finally cleared some space so my big dope can ride along (and yes, my wife bought him a Carhartt). Still hasn't sunk in to keep his head inside the truck during a snow storm though...

Sycan · Dec 24, 2017

That's an awesome Carhartt, where did she get it? My poor dog doesn't like the cold.

It does take a stupid amount of equipment to work on a variety of big stuff. Plus I'm in a very rual area so running back to the shop isn't always an option. I try to pack really good tools since I don't have space for alot of duplicates

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ihateminimumwage · Dec 24, 2017

Sycan said:
That's an awesome Carhartt, where did she get it? My poor dog doesn't like the cold.

It does take a stupid amount of equipment to work on a variety of big stuff. Plus I'm in a very rual area so running back to the shop isn't always an option. I try to pack really good tools since I don't have space for alot of duplicates

She probably got the jacket from Amazon, just checked and the model is 102300. Our dog isn't a fan of the cold either. They shipped him from a kill shelter in CA up to a no-kill in ID (no irony there at all

), so he didn't know cold or snow until right before we got him.

I work a lot deep in the backwoods in North Idaho and Montana, and the plains in Eastern WA, so I feel ya on having the best tool for the job at the time you need it done. I just get to skip brakes/hydraulics/transmissions/lighting/etc. nowadays, so it takes a lot less to get the jobs done. I do still have drawers full of tooling for trucks and equipment at home. Never know where the next move will land, so better to be somewhat ready.

What does your road tool box consist of?

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