essential edc tool box question

[headchef1971]

I have been trying to create the ultimate compact every day carry tool boxes, pouch or roll.

how can I hone these two boxes to a more manageable carry box.

any suggestions.
on the left are my sockets and ratchets, wrenches and bits
on the box to the right I carry my diagnostic tools, wrenches, pliers,,and odds and ends.

I have a 2015 ram with ramboxes, and I would love to somehow incorporate a great system for the rambox.

plain and simple I think I carry too much .I would love to see every ones small diagnostic every day carry's , and or the simple bare essentials
thank you

 

[T45]

- Search for the small toolbox thread on GJ
- Set a dollar, weight, and volume budget
- List tasks you would realistically field repair
- Eliminate every tool that doesn't relate to a specific task
- Itereate the above
- Research more tasks and what research specific tools are needed
- Iterate on the above entire list

Decide upfront if you have tools to allocate to the project of if it makes sense to do a custom kit. Sometimes its easier and less baggage to just buy what you need. parting out matching sets can create OCD mental issues for some people.

 

[crewchief888]

i'm in the plain and simple crowd.

in my '00 sierra all i have is a screwdriver, hammer, set of jumper cables.


my other "Toolbox" has 6 tires, and tips the scales at 12.5k lbs....

 

[headchef1971]

I use my tool box for all sorts of jobs from car repair to electrical plumbing and small engine repair.
That's why I carry such big inventory on tools. I have seen all the pages in this forum on tool bags pouches and boxes.most boxes rolls and pouches are dedicated to a certain job. Hvac. Electrical or mechanical.
Or should I duplicate my boxes pouches rolls to smaller ones. One for elec.
One for plumbing
One for diagnostics. But I'm not sure
It's almost like I need to build actually need help building the ultimate all in one box or bag

 

[T45]

"most boxes rolls and pouches are dedicated to a certain job"

I would say yes to this.

ultimate compact every day carry tool boxes

Why do you carry tools around everyday?

 

[headchef1971]

I have 2 houses I take care of. Someone is always calling me for a repair from plumbing to mechanical.
Plus I feel good knowing I don't need to run home for anything

 

[ChevyEFI]

9mm sockets go bye bye. 11 usually does too.

Unless you're trying to be a mobile mechanic, let it be basically vehicle specific.
When you service the vehicle, keep the tools you required in a pile.
Write down the sizes and types you actually used.
Write down changes you think of during the job ("1/4 drive through 15mm; leave 3/8 drive 15mm socket at home")

Carrying 14mm? 9/16" stays home.

A mobile box I started putting together in the last year or two has a 1/2" drive 22mm socket for the brake caliper abutment brackets. I don't carry a ratchet because the breaker will get the job done for coarse thread work. And I could carry a Ko-Ken 19/22mm flip socket & extension to cover the lugs and the brakes.

Sunex has an 11/12mm flip socket. Snapper has an 8/10, 9/11, 12/14, and 13/15 which are 12 point.

Don't overlook good ol' crescent wrenches. One of those and a screwdriver and you can get the fan clutch off an L31 Escalade.

A 6-way combo screwdriver (Enderes has a few versions) will cover a few screw sizes plus 1/4 and 5/16 in a lot of cases. That plus google "33 pc hex bit set" for a very compact option.

My favorite pliers (Facom 180CPE) will access any constant-tension hose clamp.
Leftover heater hose is a decent item to keep with you.

Pipe wrench, 14"?
Breaker bar, 1/2
Facom pliers.
heater hose
handled and handle-less 3/8 extensions, 10" & 6"
screwdrivers. One flat bit & a #2 Phillips
crescent and a few metric combo wrenches
plug socket
lug nut
3 rails of sockets
2 3/8 ratchets

It only has what it has because I haven't cleared it out from doing some work on a truck last week. This and my 1/4" socket set took care of a water pump.

BTW, you should post more.

 

[headchef1971]

I'm going to be posting pictures of everything I carry .
right now I carry 2 rigid professional tool cases that I picked up at home depot .
they work great. I was also looking at the veto pro pack mc bag . I'm not sure which way I will go but I will need to find something that will fit in my ram box in my truck .
where can I find a list on this site for the most common tools and sizes to carry .
I most definitely am going to take all your suggestions and try to make this work .

 

[headchef1971]

this is what I generally carry in my cases .
I try always to be neat and organized
I hate to throw everything in one box with no order

 

[dale500]

Just looking over the pics I see a lot of duplication. 4 3/8 ratchets, 3 1/4 ratchets, single screwdrivers and a bit driver ect. I would be pondering how much do I really need to be carrying first and let that guide me to the right sized box/bag. I have a separate bag I use for junk yard trips and I am always looking to lighten the load down to the essentials. My dad was able to all his repairs including rebuilding engines with a set of tools that fit in a craftsman grey tote box. Everything was SAE back then so things are a little different today. Just keep asking will I really ever need this for the types of jobs I will run into.

 

[FJ 432]

I see a rubber mallet. I don't see a BFH.

 

[headchef1971]

I'm going to start putting the tools i always reach for constantly in a separate tote.
for anything that i don't touch i will delete from the pack
thank you for the advice

 

[headchef1971]

what about sockets and wrenches
i carry both deep and shallow sockets/ what popular sizes in sae and metric?
13/16"
3/4"
25/32"
11/16"
21/32"
5/8"
19/32"
9/16"
1/2"
7/16"
3/8"
1/4"
deep and shallow 1/4 & 3/8 drive

metric 4mm to 12mm 1/4 & 3/8 drive deep and shallow

spark plug sockets also

along with a handful of extensions, wobbles and flex heads

 

[Superbec]

you do not need that many ratchets , screwdrivers or sockets

you need a knipex aligator and cobra in medium-large size

Bit box is huge, so many smaller options out there with probably much better tools inside.

You will probably be just fine without the deep sockets, shallow+extension

A good set of 3/8 drive will also cover your 1/4 needs 8-24mm ~
(how many times did you actually used a 4mm socket???)

Look good in the bag and try to remember when you used some of the tools and for what job.
If one tool was not used for more than one year it goes in a box.

My carry box was more than 35 kilos at one time , I could move it but it was a pain, did some "cleaning" and I got about 15 kilos .