Cheap tools for camping

[seber]

I regularly loan out tools at camp sights and they often don't come back. So I'm looking to restock the tool kit with end wrenches and sockets on the cheap. I can get used Craftsman ratchets at garage sales for a dollar or two. The question is whether Harbor Freight or Walmart wrenches and sockets are good enough to actually use. I know that some wrenches simply fail or round the fastener. Is this a problem with these super cheap brands?

 

[bdbecker]

Pittsburgh from HF would be a solid choice for this purpose.

 

[sberry]

You have heard that, it's different than knowing it. I use cheap wrenches in brutal work all the time.
Don't lend anything out not coming back. Cheap or not.

 

[zendriver]

If you're loaning out tools, to people who can't be bothered return them, why do you care how well they perform?

Personally, I don't care if I buy my tools from Dollar General, if I Loan tool out I'm getting it back.

I worked too hard for my money for that.

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[sberry]

This is endless and really the topic of most debate.
The word professional is subjective and so is "doing it for a living". Neither makes one accurate especially whrn it comes to opinion and experience can mislead. Generalizations need to be considered.

I am a career mechanic, been to the scoop back in the day. Never worked at a dealer and never pipelined when welding, have welded a lot of pipe, just not ROW.
I mechanic a lot over a long time, bought the tools for it, am the shop so to speak, both portable and in buildings. Have bought tools for others and over decades where changes occur. I have sized a lot of pipe and wire along the way.

 

[sberry]

This is the thing. Over 40 years my advice would change. I got early experience in trades, applied it to own enterprises, looking back a lot I wouldn't do again and certainly can get more from less today,,, by a long way,,,,,,,!
I really needed more faster vs better although some of that i did. I should have bought a few new air tools sooner.
But along the way a lot of cheap stuff started to creep in and I was probably behind the curve then .
My tools are no less valuable, in fact it's a bonus when they are cheap. Everyone does,, but I try to keep the expensive specialty stuff in the shop but my portable needs to be as reliable, even more. Some of my most well proven and wrenches cost a dollar, it's utility value is no less than one I pay 30 for.
Everyone has seen stamped in India but there is lots of good tuff stuff at near disposable pricing makes this a no brainer to add tools as needed without almost compulsive fear it's not good enough. Real experience has seen otherwise. Only time I ever beat up on a wrench was continious impacting on job. Out of 300, regular used wrenches by a few men can near count on one hand ever had a broblem with one and it was under abuse, a higher dollar of the same design would be no real help.
The exception to this I might give to the Snap tubing wrench and a little collection of 6 flank drives in with the specials might pay off for a career guy but I don't need them in every one I own or in every size and style. A lot of my specials and variations in common sizes are knock off I simply collect or buy single from the dollar bin. Dba offset box etc, must have 20 from Sears, China, couple mac, they ain't "better" but different.

 

[sberry]

9 wrenches that cost 2$ that do 99 or more percent the work for everyone that cost 30. There are often some in sets not used, just as soon leave those and get ones needed.
Having a tool not returned ruins the value, not as equity but utility. Makes a socket set way useless missing a 13 even its only worth a dollar on my road set. In the shop where I have spares it's less valuable and sensitive to loss.
The fact it only cost a dollar leaves it easy to replace it with a more reliable or improved one if needed. But over the years have likely beat on small wrenches with 20 oz nail hammers and. 4# than most hobby types and the Sears,the MIT, HF, olympia, generic forged USA, are brutally tough and fit well. Wouldn't and doesn't scare me to carry any of them and some even have features I like.

 

[sberry]

About the only thing that doesn't meet that standard,, and they are original brand namebare vise grip and 400 series Channelock and specifically 440 and straight jaw vise grip.
Screwdrivers are there, sockets are there, some cutting pliers and while it's tuft to improve on adjustable they actually have and if I got the choice a couple China are my go to on the road. End wrenches are there and so cheap a guy can get different style and features but common combo is my default choice.

 

[ScottsGT]

"Want to borrow a wrench? Leave me a $10 bill or your drivers license. Nothing personal, just want to get my tools back."

 

[Elginz]

Used HF for many years, not many let downs, even with a pipe on them. I had a 3/8 ratchet give out, but I had a 3 foot pipe and was pushing on it with my feet.

 

[zendriver]

"Want to borrow a wrench? Leave me a $10 bill or your drivers license. Nothing personal, just want to get my tools back."

I agree, somewhat and that's a shame that that's the way it goes today.

Not that I am overly principaled, but for me it's the principle of it.

A loaned tool is a loan and any loan must be repaid, or at least that's how it's supposed to work.

Someone could loan me the shittiest screwdriver on planet earth and I would not be able to sleep nights until it was returned, to the owner with my thanks.

I know in the campground people can be drunk busy or distracted, forgetting to return The borrowed item, I would make the short pilgrimage to ask for it back.





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[Moparman390]

https://imgur.com/gallery/Rfko1tH

This is a really easy one, HF for most everything. I put this in my wife's vehicle. All the stuff here was either discounted with coupon or free with coupon. The most expensive thing was the pliers set for like $8. The small screw drivers and Allen wrenches are Wal-Mart $1 items. The Tekton nut driver bits were from Meijer. I replaced the cheapo HF sockets with this on sale for $15:

https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/737750-duracraft-pro-sae-mm-drive-socket-set.html

It's basically the F&F version of this with an extension thrown in:

https://m.harborfreight.com/hand-to...-metric-high-visibility-socket-set-61954.html

(Possibly the same OEM)

I think I added a pair of the $3.99 Hardy gloves from HF as well.

 

[finn]

It’s more important to have tools that you will typically need in a camping situation than to have high end tools.

I picked up a set of, I think, (brand isn’t important to me) Crescent or Gearwrench Black Friday special tools in a plastic carry case from Menards to keep in the camper. They work fine, but don’t cover the water heater drain or water pump bypass / drain plug.

Luckily I also carry an adjustable.

A cheap claw hammer ( I think it was $.99from Menards) is great for installing and pulling tent pegs.

I can leave the homeowner tools in the camper where they will always be available, and if I lose them, so what.

 

[metaleltr]

Other than a hammer and a wrench for a propane tank is there really anything else you really need while camping?

 

[Negen]

I would pack a hunters hatchet and maybe a folding hand saw of some sort.

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[Ign]

Most pawn shops are overflowing in singles of combo wrenches and sockets, generally .25 to .50 ea. I'd restock "camping" singles that way, brand be damned

 

[Firebrick43]

I'm confused? I thought tools while camping was hatchets, knives, and a compass. What do you with wrenches and ratchets/sockets?

 

[seber]

My camping is with a very small motor home, trailer and UTV. That means I need to do the occasional repair on the road. As far as worrying about getting tools back, I just don't want to fill my mind with worrying about such things. Go cheap and stop at a HF or Walmart. It's all good.

 

[zendriver]

I'm confused? I thought tools while camping was hatchets, knives, and a compass. What do you with wrenches and ratchets/sockets?

r

Campground?

Cars, trucks, RVs, boats, minibikes, bicyles, grills. etc.

What's more fun, than going for a relaxing weekend, that has yet something else, that needs repaired?

 

[stonesg]

I've always figured that when on the road and in a, "must repair" situation that that is when you need good stuff that will not fail.

The stuff on my motorcycle and in my truck box is at least as good as what's in the garage.... I have cheap stuff but they are squirreled away for destructive or modification use.

The only real compromise is that the road wrenches are not ratcheting but they don't give up anything on quality. It'd be horribly frustrating and possibly make a bad situation worse to have a failure on the road during a breakdown or when trying to help someone.

All the that said there is now a some decent stuff at the HF. The Taiwan wrenches seem to be at least Taiwan Gearwrench quality.

 

[Shootinok]

I've always figured that when on the road and in a, "must repair" situation that that is when you need good stuff that will not fail...

I agree whole heartedly!
Of course cost is a consideration, I buy used. go to pawn shops, watch Craigslist, eBay etc.
But I insist on quality I can count on. Having a tool fail in a real "at need" situation is worse than a fail at home.



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[jgromada]

Can't go wrong with HF hand tools, i haven't had any problems.

 

[sberry]

I will agree about the quality being there in a pinch. Of course this is probably different than the repeated use a road kit for a professional.
I used a couple tools at a campsite today from the handful I carry in the family truckster. Nothing severe about it, just a couple nuts on a cable clip. Anything worked. A leatherman would have sufficed.

 

[finn]

I've always figured that when on the road and in a, "must repair" situation that that is when you need good stuff that will not fail.

The stuff on my motorcycle and in my truck box is at least as good as what's in the garage.... I have cheap stuff but they are squirreled away for destructive or modification use.

The only real compromise is that the road wrenches are not ratcheting but they don't give up anything on quality. It'd be horribly frustrating and possibly make a bad situation worse to have a failure on the road during a breakdown or when trying to help someone.

All the that said there is now a some decent stuff at the HF. The Taiwan wrenches seem to be at least Taiwan Gearwrench quality.

I see no point in keeping my Snapon wrenches in the fifth wheel.

They’re inanimate, so they don’t enjoy vacations. I don’t know of any cheap tools that won’t work to repair typical camping equipment failures. Mostly, you need tools to replace propane bottles, remove sheet metal covers to access furnaces, hammers to free stuck hitch pins... Most of us don’t do valve jobs in a campground.

An axe is more important than a dual 80.

 

[ttpete]

I have a Crescent kit that is in a plastic case. Cost about $60. Add a few adjustable wrenches, pliers, and a large hammer.

The most important thing to have is an AAA RV road service card. It's good for minor roadside repair and it includes a 100 mile tow if necessary.

 

[Robinson1]

I feel your pain. Back when i was big into camping I used one of my service trucks as a tow vehicle. Been asked to borrow every tool imaginable including a concrete saw. Didn't have one with me and still don't understand what they were going to do with it! haha

As far as cheaper tools go I think its hard to beat the Stanley stuff from Wal-Mart. Actually their entire line of handtool are very descent for the money with a few exceptions. I don't care for any of their screwdrivers and I've found their hammers are very soft.