Nice torque wrench for expedition use

[bushmechanic]

I want something nice, and the market really has changed. It's got to be durable, and of some design that is less likely than others to lose calibration after a knock.

It would also be helpful to find something that can handle a bit of "environment". Obviously, you do your best to keep things clean when working, but you'll get caught in the rain, or in the snow, or in the mud, or in the sand...

Some of these things cannot at all tolerate conditions like that. Get one little contaminant in there, and it throws everything off.

Repeatability is important; more so than precisely nailing the number I want out of the gate. I'd like to see the accuracy within the +/- 5% or so at 100 foot pounds, and it's got to be 1/2 inch drive.

I've honestly been having a look at some of those Snap On electronic devices. Am I incorrect in considering that they may actually be more tolerant of harsh environments than traditional designs?

There are 50,000 designs out there, though. I don't know what's what anymore.

 

[General Geoff]

Wouldn't a simple beam torque wrench fit all of your requirements?

 

[bushmechanic]

Wouldn't a simple beam torque wrench fit all of your requirements?

No, I'm never at the right angle to view the darn things. I only bend in so many ways, and a primary use for this will be wheel swaps.

The damned wheel/tire combo already weighs 100 pounds, and the spares are high in the air. I'm not going to be in the mood to twist about to get a better look at the wrench.

 

[General Geoff]

Something like this digital torque adapter might be right up your alley. It uses a sensor to measure torsion internally, so it's very robust and has only one barely-moving part. I actually use that exact product to torque down the lugs on my vehicles, and it can be set to beep at the specified torque value.

I'm sure there are other brands which make a similar tool if you're not a fan of HF.

edit; Here's an AC Delco branded one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VYURT0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[honcho]

I carry a micrometer style clicker torque wrench in my truck but I've never used it immediate for an emergency tire change. I have used it to replace a wheel bearing on a road trip but I was in civilization and probably could have found a torque wrench to use if I didn't have one in the truck. In fact, I think using a torque wrench to replace a tire on the side of the road is a bit overthinking things. Maybe if you've got some sort of exotic setup that is sensitive to torque differences but otherwise unless you're Brutus and worried about breaking studs with your raw strength I believe a torque wrench for tires makes things unnecessarily more complicated.

Now, if you're fixing other things in remote areas besides tires, that's a different story. You mentioned wheels but perhaps we don't have the whole picture. In that case, the electronic torque adapter (alltrade I think makes one, here's a link to one on Amazon that is unfortunately no longer available http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031QPJZG/?tag=atomicindus08-20 ) might be a compact, usable choice.

Look at it this way, what't the worse that can happen if you don't carry a torque wrench? In other words, what situations that you can do something about in the middle of nowhere are going to absolutely require a torque wrench to get you rolling again?

Good luck

 

[nieuport17]

To Op.
Did u look at CDI ? I think they make the snap on torque wrenches.
They have analog meter torque wrenches that are pretty good quality.
I dont know know much u will be using the expedition torque wrench, but for emergency, I usually just have a Craftsman beam in the car. The needle on those are nice.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Precision Instruments Split Beam and keep it reasonably clean.

http://www.torqwrench.com/tools/item.php?StockCode=C3FR250F