Good Tool Kit for the Road

[VH5150]

Any thoughts or experience on a reasonable Tool Set for the average joe to keep in the trunk of the car? I'm sure there are other threads on this, but for this one I would like to not get into a ******* match over USA vs. Taiwan or this wrench vs that wrench that can withstand 9,000 lbs of torque lol. My brother asked me what set would be good for him. He's a college kid on his own and definitely not a mechanic, but he would like something for routine stuff on his car and around the apartment.

I have I have the 82 piece Duralast set which I really like and paid around $100 for, AND the 225 Pittsburgh set that I paid about $130 for. No wrenches in the Duralast but the Pittsburgh has a small assortment of them, plus the sockets are all Pittsburgh Pro which have really good reviews.

Anyways, I'm interested in your thoughts on a good-bang-for-the-buck set with perhaps even more thoughts on supplementing the set with a bag of extras for jobs up to maybe side-of-the-road jobs like alternator, starter, or water pump jobs.

I supplemented my sets with a bag of extra extensions, pliers (big and small channel locks, dikes, long and short needle nose, linesmans, crimpers, vice grips), long flex-head 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" ratchets, tape (ductape and electrical), extra wrenches up to 1" and 19mm, flashlight, good mechanics gloves, torx and allen sockets, screwdrivers, and a 3/8 and 1/2 breaker bars.

Any other thoughts out there? I know Tekton, WorkPro, Craftsman, Stanley, Bostich, Prograde, etc. all have some budget sets out there but I'm interested in your thoughts and specifically WHY?

 

[jgromada]

I would think if there is any chance your vehicle can get broken into then I wouldn't want my best stuff to be left in a vehicle. So no to Snap-On then. I saw a nice sale a few weeks back on DeWalt (now expired) and that looked nice because in addition to be good stuff it was compact too.

 

[four.cycle]

I would think if there is any chance your vehicle can get broken into then I wouldn't want my best stuff to be left in a vehicle.

In another thread on this same subject that point was raised.
On the flip side, if and when your vehicle breaks down in the middle of the night in the rain in the wrong end of town, the last thing you want is a set of tools that may fail you.

I have a set of Craftsman metric combination wrenches (cheap) and a set of Craftsman 1/2" drive sockets (cheap) and an old Thorsen breaker (cheap) in my truck, along with a crappy pair of side-cutters and a 4-way Enderes screwdriver and a "Leatherman" tool. Pretty much covers anything I'm going to be capable of doing out on the road. If somebody breaks into the truck and steals them, I won't spend too much time weeping about it.

YMMV

 

[anndel]

I have a bunch of Pittsburg sockets, Tekton rotohead ratchets, old Craftsman Teardrop ratchets, Husky wrenches, Channelock pliers, Husky screwdrivers in my truck boxes. All the Snap Ons, SKs are at home in my locked garage boxes.

 

[jgromada]

In another thread on this same subject that point was raised.
On the flip side, if and when your vehicle breaks down in the middle of the night in the rain in the wrong end of town, the last thing you want is a set of tools that may fail you.

I have a set of Craftsman metric combination wrenches (cheap) and a set of Craftsman 1/2" drive sockets (cheap) and an old Thorsen breaker (cheap) in my truck, along with a crappy pair of side-cutters and a 4-way Enderes screwdriver and a "Leatherman" tool. Pretty much covers anything I'm going to be capable of doing out on the road. If somebody breaks into the truck and steals them, I won't spend too much time weeping about it.

YMMV

would sound like that selection is perfect

 

[Gmonkee]

A Stanley kit with wrenches and a decent but not huge socket selection. As you stated he is not a mechanic so no need to go the full GJ Monty.


He won't be changing a timing belt or water pump roadside. He might be doing a battery clamp or messing with a stereo install.

Why:
Stanley has known good sockets and solid ratchets. Good wrenches that do what wrenches should, not what they shouldn't.

No real bling or thief bait in the brand, just good users.

Newer car look for all metric. He won't need SAE ''just in case' very often. Keep it packaged small and good solid basics in the add ons. Two screwdrivers, one pliers halfer drive breaker bar with one socket for his lug nuts.

Think amateur night roadside repair. He won't use a torque wrench.

 

[quadrcr87]

Picked up this 268 pc Husky kit for $99 at Christmas. It should work well for going on weekend offroad trips and taking to the track. Ill at some pliers and misc specialty tools but the core tools are there. Now I wont have to pull tools out of my big box every other weekend.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-268-Piece-H268MTS/203541462

 

[M6erfan]

Indeed there are many threads on this. You'll hear all sorts of recommendations, it depends on personal needs and abilities. I have a small selection of tools in the car including a tire plug kit, 12v compressor, breaker bar, set of flip lug sockets, LED headlamp, 55ga drum liner, gloves, scissors, pliers, pliers wrench, small 1/4" socket set, Picquic multi driver, utility knife, lithium jump pack and a disposable Tyvek coverall. Many of my "trunk tools" are there to help others as well as myself.

Cellphone and credit card are probably the best 'road' tools...

Edit, I also have a bluetooth OBD II reader that stays in my car.

 

[four.cycle]

[QUOTE='jgromada, responding to my 'road kit' list"]would sound like that selection is perfect [/QUOTE]

almost... but the pliers are crappy 99-centers. I just ordered a pair of 10-inch tongue-and-groove pliers and I'll toss those in there as well.

mentioned just above: just as important, but often overlooked, are the items that can make a roadside repair tolerable and not a miserable experience:

- a plastic zip-lock bag stuffed with several pairs of throw-away nitrile gloves
- a pair of cheap cowhide work gloves
- an old cheap-*** pair of elastic-waist plastic pants that I can pull on over whatever I'm wearing so I don't have to get my pants all muddy while pulling the spare tire out from under the truck.
- a couple old-school road flares
- a length of rope heavy enough to pull a 6-inch blowdown tree out of the road.
- half a roll of paper towels
- toilet paper to dry my eyes after I smash my hand and cry.

and all of that **** (along with the tools listed above) fits neatly behind the seat into a zip-up bag that's about 15" x 12".

YMMV

here's the pliers - I got 'em for $11 bucks shipped. he might go lower - I think he wants to get rid of that stuff:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-Americ...-Groove-Joint-Pliers-Made-in-USA/112685845767

 

[fordnut85]

Picked up this 268 pc Husky kit for $99 at Christmas. It should work well for going on weekend offroad trips and taking to the track. Ill at some pliers and misc specialty tools but the core tools are there. Now I wont have to pull tools out of my big box every other weekend.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-268-Piece-H268MTS/203541462

This would be the winner for me. Add in a set of pliers and a real screwdriver set rather than the bits and it would cover just about anything you might need for basic stuff or side of the road emergencies.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Rustypigeon]

Most of the tool kits out there have a bunch of tools you won't likely use. I have no need for SAE tools in my trunk tool bag. I don't want the extra weight or space being used on them. I'm not worried about helping a stranger get his classic car running. I select tools that I will likely need to get my own cars running.

I like the $20 Husky tool bag at the Home Depot. It is cheap and a perfect size for a road tool kit. I have cheap but reliable tools in it, mostly USA Craftsman and some Pittsburg. I have metric sockets, deep and shallow. Long handle and standard sized ratchets, metric combo wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, hex sockets, torx sockets, mechanics gloves, disposable coveralls, cheap rain poncho, extendable magnet, inspection mirror, zip ties, spare wire and splices, extra metric nuts and bolts, multimeter, OBDII codereader and a few other items.

Whenever I change a belt for preventive maintenance the old belt goes in the trunk with the spare tire. A subscription to Alldatadiy.com will provide wiring diagrams and other useful info for roadside repairs.

 

[Coach James]

First, AAA or similar through auto insurance. The average Joe isn't going to replace a water pump at night in the bad side of town. AAA comes and takes you and the car home to be fixed when it's daylight and safe.

Second, For the car kit: a tool bag or small box with spare fuses, 1/4 inch socket set, 6 inch adjustable wrench, needle nose pliers, multi bit screwdriver, battery terminal cleaner, zip ties, small roll of Gorilla tape, wrenches for specific things on the car like battery terminal...windshield wiper bolts, nitrile gloves and a cheap rain poncho, flashlight, small compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter, tire pressure gauge. With that I can change a battery, tighten loose windshield washer arm, etc. I would add in a jump pack in case battery goes dead far from a parts store. I would also add a pack of crackers in case he has to wait a while for AAA. I keep two packs in my glove box.

For the house kit: tape measure, torpedo level, Allen wrenches, needle nose pliers, tongue and groove pliers, wire cutters, multi meter, wire strippers, putty knife, 5 in 1 painters tool, 16 oz claw hammer, utility knife, multi bit screw driver, precision screw driver kit, cordless drill(doesn't have to be high dollar), drill bits up to half inch, small bottle of wood glue, ratchet strap. With the above, he can hang pictures, do basic plumbing, reglue a chair or table leg and clamp it with the strap, check outlets for voltage, replace light switches and outlets, put together knock down furniture and most other basic things.

I would go to Lowes, Home Depot or Wal Mart and get all of the above. Kobalt, Husky and Stanley are all plenty good enough for people to do basic tasks.

Coach