Car tool kit

[jjgrappler]

My son just got his first vehicle, a 99 Jeep Cherokee. I want to put together a vehicle tool kit to help him out in case he needs it. I have some stuff in mind and could use some help with whatever you guys think I may need for him. He's just like every other teenager so he's not getting the best most likely harbor freight because there's a good chance he loses this stuff.

So far:
Jumper Cables
Breaker Bar with appropriate impact sockets
Zip ties
Pliers
Assorted screwdrivers
Can of fix a flat
Hammer?

Any other ideas?

 

[MTNSleder]

Tow strap for when all else fails

 

[rossomania]

No duct tape?

 

[jjgrappler]

No duct tape?

Good idea

 

[JBradley500]

A winch because he’s going to get that thing stuck a lot (whether you want to believe it or not) and with a winch he won’t be redlining it and slamming gears to get out.

 

[Richard Cranium]

bailing wire, Some kind of drop cloth for when he needs to lay on the ground to fix some thing or change a tire.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Go through the chassis, body, and eng-bay to put together a set of what the vehicle needs for sockets. It's a lesson in organization.

Impact sockets on a breaker bar?

 

[Jsf721]

Bailing wire.

 

[woody 73]

If my parents did the following for me over 40 plus years ago, it would have saved me countless times (more then any tool kit), but alas it never came into being. I am 100% sure Mom & Dad would have bought it but maybe it was not made at the time ????

What I am talking about is a Tripple A membership Card, I swear that thing would have saved my rear end many times over.

But before cordless phones I used to carry money for phone calls, I know I am a dinosaur... Flashlights, flares and a blanket went a long way for me back in the day along with basic tools, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.

Hope that helps you out.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

Carry items to keep you warm in the winter if it applies to your area. Other than that a cell phone to call a tow truck. Its not worth being killed changing a tire on the side of a highway. In all of the years that I have been driving I have never really needed to have anything more than a multi tool in my car aside from the items to get a tire off.

 

[Knotgoalie]

Go through the chassis, body, and eng-bay to put together a set of what the vehicle needs for sockets. It's a lesson in organization.

It sure is. Having owned three Cherokees over the years, I went through a few different ideas before I built this...







Fits nice and snug with the rear seat up.

 

[Scout Driver]

I'd suggest something like this socket/wrench/screwdriver bit/allen key set.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-138...c-Mechanic-s-Tool-Set-with-Hard-Case/50200791

It wouldn't have to be Kobalt, but maybe a HarborFreight or used pawnshop set. Anyhow, it would allow for basic repairs along the road, it would let him help out friends with their projects and would still be a good vehicle tool kit if he adds to his tool setup in the future. Being in a single case, everything is together and has its own little space so loss shouldn't be as likely.

Scott

 

[kquistorff]

Breaker Bar with appropriate impact sockets

I would suggest a full set of 3/8" SAE and Metric sockets with either a sealed or composite 3/8" ratchet. A torx bit set will also see use in working on a Cherokee.

 

[crewchief888]

Tow strap for when all else fails

as mentioned, probably the 1st thing he's gonna do is get it stuck somewhere.

a couple years ago a friend of mines oldest son bought a jeep TJ..

about the 2nd night he had it the friends phone rings at 2 am...

"dad, i'm stuck"


he left him stuck there till daylight the next morning...

it wasnt the fact that he went night wheeling, or that he called at 2 am....

but he went by himself...

 

[Dave455]

It sure is. Having owned three Cherokees over the years, I went through a few different ideas before I built this...




Fits nice and snug with the rear seat up.

Nice work Knotgoalie, and you’ve still got useful hauling space on top!

O.P. I have 3 vehicles of varying reliability and I keep a box or bag of tools in each!

In the most reliable there are just a couple of screwdrivers, combination pliers and wrenches.

In the least reliable, the box doubles as my ‘road box’ for anything away from home.

Contents : Slotted screwdrivers from 1/8 to 5/16
Pozidriv screwdrivers 1,2,3 and Phillips 1,2
Torx screwdrivers 10 to 30

Combination pliers, long nose pliers and wire cutters

Combination wrenches 8 to 19 and 3/8 to 3/4

Ball pein hammer and soft face dead blow
Punch set, drift and hex keys

3/8 socket set, breaker bar and plug socket.

As important as the tools are some simple materials to help out with repairs. I have : Wire wool
Emery paper
Oil
Grease
Copper slip
Copper wire and locking wire
Super glue
12 volt wire
Cable ties
Insulating tape
PTFE tape
Cable sleeving
Fuses
Nuts, bolts and screws
1/4 inch clear hose and 5/16 fuel hose
Hose clips.

Fixed a lot with that over the years. Looks a lot but it’s not. Not costly either, just takes an afternoon to put together. I add a multimeter or stuff like hose repair tape if I need it.

Don’t go too cheap on the tools. If you really need to undo a seized and perhaps pre rounded nut, you don’t want the crappiest wrench!

Think about a couple of slightly specialised tools too. By the side of the road you always seem to be dealing with coolant leaks and brake problems a lot, so I also have a hose clip driver and flare nut wrench’s in 10 and 11mm.

 

[jjgrappler]

Go through the chassis, body, and eng-bay to put together a set of what the vehicle needs for sockets. It's a lesson in organization.

Impact sockets on a breaker bar?

Yea, I just use the cheap impact's that you get a coupon for at harbor freight, maybe a little overkill but for 9 dollars a set it beats a 4 way or cheap lug wrench they put in cars these days.

Thank you all for the suggestions so far.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Gloves. Both nitrile and leather work type.

 

[sweet victory]

Bycicle air pump.

 

[Dave455]

As I’ve had my stuff in use today, here it is!
First pic are the tools, second the parts (and a couple of bits that don’t fit in the tool box!)

Red box is parts specific to a vehicle such as bulbs and plugs, which stows in a glovebox.

Everything else fits into two .50 cal ammo boxes. Great boxes. Easy to stow, rubber sealed, and cheap / free!

There are a few bits not shown, such as my Koken flex head speeder and sockets, and stuff like hoses, and the punches and big pozi were in use!

 

[Stuart in MN]

First question is how mechanically minded is your son? If he's not going to do anything more than change a flat tire there's no sense in getting bunch of tools he won't use anyway. On the other hand if he's the sort who will do an engine overhaul on the side of a freeway, load it up with tools.

The main thing is stuff for emergencies - tools for changing a tire, a quart or two of oil, jumper cables or a jump box, maybe a tow strap, etc. I assume he has a phone he can use to call for help if something major goes wrong.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Triple a membership.

Winch for off road.

Pointless to carry a rolling toolbox unless you carry a rolling part house too

 

[eyeball]

I didn’t see where the OP indicated the type of driving the Cherokee will be used for so, it will take a stab at both.

I think a simple took kit like this that is a combination of SAE and metric ( as is his Cherokee) and will cover 90% of things he will run across. It can be supplemented with zip ties, baling wire, duct tape etc. Add to that a AAA card and he is set for on road driving.

If he plans to take it off-road instill in him the importance of wheeling with a friend and add a tow strap to the mix. With those two items and maybe a few larger wrenches, he can get back to the road and then use AAA to get it towed home or to a shop for a proper repair.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ike]

I think a 12v compressor, a plug kit, a pair of vise grips (to pull a nail or screw), and a pair of jumper cables is about all you need for a modern vehicle. Anything more, hit up an Uber to get home and get the tools you need.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Check the condition of the lug nuts, those Jeeps either loose the chrome covers (making the 18mm nuts) or swell up from rust (making them 19.5-22mm & a sledge hammer is required). Yes, they do make sockets in 18.5, 19.5, 20.5 mm for lug nuts.

 

[Alexander]

I think a 12v compressor, a plug kit, a pair of vise grips (to pull a nail or screw), and a pair of jumper cables is about all you need for a modern vehicle. Anything more, hit up an Uber to get home and get the tools you need.

This is pretty much my perspective, but I'm not the type to perform any type of roadside repair beyond changing a tire.

Some things I might add:
- Portable USB battery/charger. Chances are the emergency happens exactly when his phone battery gets low. I also include a spare wall charger in my kit, but that's not helpful on the side of the road - just when I find myself at someone's house for the night or something.
- I don't carry sockets because I wouldn't use them, but I do carry a crescent wrench, vice grips, leatherman, etc.
- Flashlight/headlight is a great idea. I keep a few in the car, both glove compartment and trunk.
- I keep ratchet straps in my car, but I tend to put a lot of things on my roof, so I don't know if other people do that.
- Rain gear and warm clothing/blanket are great to have. As a bonus, the blanket will come in handy when hanging out with friends at night, or long road trips, etc.
- First aid kit, including an extra bottle of tylenol or aleve or something. The prepacked kits have useful things in them, but the first thing people always go for are the pain meds and the bandaids.

Overall, I think the most useful kit for someone like myself when I was just starting out would have included some basic tools, but more than that it would have included items that would come in handy more than just when something goes wrong. When I was younger I feel like most of my time was spent with my friends in and around their cars, so having the basic items that helped us have a safer and more enjoyable time would be what I would recommend to include.

Plus, you get the benefit where the son will more than likely actually use some of the items in the kit on a regular basis, so he will be more familiar with its contents and more likely to reach for it in the first place when something comes up.

Hope some of that was helpful info.

 

[Schurkey]

HOW MECHANCALLY INCLINDED is this "Teenager"? There's plenty of kids where everything but the first two or three items will be a total waste. List assumes the kid already has a cell phone (don't they all?)

Credit card, with a signed contract between Teen and Parent that it is for emergency use only, and carried in a wallet not a glove box.

Tow-service card (AAA or similar membership).

Tire pressure gauge.

OEM spare-tire-changing equipment. Assure that all pieces are present and accounted for, including the instruction sheet which may be part of the owner's manual.

Jumper cables--my preference is long enough to park in-line (two cars on the shoulder of a road) and still reach from engine compartment to engine compartment. Depending on the vehicles, this could be ~20 feet. 4-gauge minimum, thicker strongly preferred. Mine are 00 welding cable.

Tow/recovery strap. Not a chain. Longer and heavier is better.


Anything beyond this list will depend on the abilities of the "Teenager" in question.

 

[Citation]

I only have a small collection of tools. One that many people don't carry but makes sense to me is a tire plug kit plus small compressor. My car is 19 years old and the compact spare is that old as well. So if I get a flat I'm more likely to try to find and plug the hole vs use the spare. If the leak is slow enough I will use the compressor and get the car home. If the leak isn't or if I can find and plug the tire on the car I'll do that. I know people frown on plug kits but I've had great luck with them.

 

[bmwrd0]

I keep a pretty good tool set in my truck, metric and SAE. Not that I will use it on the truck for emergencies, but it is nice to have good tools to help others out with houses/projects/whatever. I have full coverage insurance which covers towing. I am closing in on 50 and don't want to work on the side of the road. That said, a good, basic tool kit from any major manufacturer (HF, Crafty, Crescent, etc.) that can be lost (it will be) or stolen is what I bought my son (not really mechanical, but very smart.)

If he is serious about wheeling, he will figure out what he needs pretty quick. Don't try to force anything special on him, he will hang out with idiots who will loose/borrow/"borrow" things, won't need half of what you think he needs, need different things, whatever. Just a basic cheap set is all you can ask for (mostly when you need a tool.)

 

[Erampu]

When I bought my first car (my choice was contrary to my father's advice) I asked my dad what tools I needed to carry in it for those "just in case" moments. He looked at the car and said "A screwdriver."

"A screwdriver? That's all?"

"Yup." he replied.

"Why just a screwdriver?" I asked.

"When that junker quits, use the screwdriver to take off the plates, then walk away."

 

[jjgrappler]

Not mechanically inclined at this point. Mostly to be used for driving on road, probably will take it off road with his friends because there are tons of places around here to go. I am kind of throwing something smaller together to be his first tool set so if/when he decides its time for him to become personally responsible for himself he can go to the back of his jeep and find what he may need. Thanks again for all the suggestions it is really helping me out.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Volt meter. I end up using it more than you would expect.usually diagnosing other people's electrical problems.

 

[jdoe213]

A hammer and a long handled screwdriver that will reach the starter. Be sure to show him where the starter is. A bike rack and bike to peddle home.
A plug kit.

 

[WWheeler]

Tow strap definitely. A winch would be an awesome addition. But just a small winch that fits in a receiver hitch to go on the rear would be way more useful for what he'll run into than one on a front bumper.

Speaking from experience, when I was in my twenties every time I got stuck a lot of good a winch on the front would have done me. The front was always buried. I never got stuck going in reverse, it was always forward. The best way out without risking tearing something up was almost always backward. An added plus, sometimes the rear of the truck wasn't underwater or mud. The front always was.

I didn't have a winch back then myself, but what I did have was a 4 foot high-lift jack, I could jack up the front end or back end (heavy duty tube bumpers) as high as I could and then push the truck off the jack and get the tires on new ground. I tied a rope around the jack so I could climb out the cab into the bed and I could use that Jack to get unstuck and never even get my shoes dirty

 

[Knotgoalie]

Okay, I carry way too much but...

200pc Stanley Black Chrome socket set/blow molded case
Mastercraft Professional SAE/Metric wrench sets
Big red 2.5 ton compact trolley jack/blow molded case
2x3ton jack stands
2' 1/2" breaker bar
2xwheel chocks
28k/lbx20' tow strap
12v compressor (good one)
DeWALT DCF899 1/2" impact wrench
10pc torque stick set
1/2" shallow/deep impact socket set
12v/12a battery smart charger
20'x2ga booster cables
First aid supplies
Several quite blinding led flashlights
oil and antireeze

In Winter...

Snow Goose arctic parka
snow boots
ice slippers
brush/scraperx2
big tub of cat litter for "stuck"
summer music for the sound system inside the car


...and all of those other "little things" that you need...I'm sure I forgot something!

BTW, this is all in the perimeter areas of the trunk in a 2004 Cadillac Deville DHS...thank you GM for the air leveling!

 

[CR888]

There are many things I could list, most have been mentioned but a cigarette plug phone charger (for his particular phone) a torch and a battery booster (the new small jumper packs) would be useful. A spare car key accessible from outside the car is an idea too. Think of the most common things that can go wrong.

 

[KEH]

WD 40 or some spray on oil. Air gauge, be sure to check the air in the spare. Have him demonstrate that he can change a tire. Be sure there IS a spare in the car. I'm not a fan of donut spares, saw a car over the Weekend that had the donut spare on the left front. Car was leaning and to credit the driver, was going slowly.

KEH

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I have:

1/2" cordless impact wrench with sockets
2' breaker bar
3 ton floor jack
2 jack stands
ratchet straps
recovery strap (tow straps are too weak if you're stuck in a ditch)
jumper cables
battery jumper pack
pliers and adjustable wrench
plumbers strap and 1/4-20 bolts and nuts
zip ties and flush cutters
2lb sledge
12v 1/4" impact driver with bits and socket set
butane soldering iron, crimp tool, and wire connectors
an old plastic crate with a bottle of every fluid my vehicle could possibly need
hand warmers
a tire patch kit

and the new M12 inflator on pre-order

 

[M6erfan]

Credit card, cell phone charger, and a AAA membership

Done

 

[Tonyuk]

In my car i have;

- AA card
- Breaker bar + socket
- warm jacket
- work gloves
- warm hat
- cheap sleeping bag, unzips to a blanket
- some flapjack bars
- litre of water
- some screen wash concentrate
- litre of oil
- tow strap
- jumper cables
- plug in phone charger
- tyre pressure gage
- electric air pump
- bottle of tyre sealant

All of it fits into a small-ish overnight bag in my boot and i've used the kit a few times to fix flats etc..

If something more than just a flat tyre or dead battery go wrong its likely to need a workshop with tools to fix, hence the AA membership. My car comes with a spacesaver spare + jack in its tool kit.

Everything else is just to keep me going until they get there really. In winter i carry a snow shovel and a bucket of grit, plus a bit more food in case i get stuck for a night (been there before).

 

[pilotmotor]

You said "He's just like every other teenager " that translates to me that he hasn't got a clue how a car works and would probably rather have his cell phone if he had to chose between the two . Now if someone is along for the ride at least have everything necessary for a tire change .