As I read thru these threads I have noticed a lot of guys saying they toss the cheap stuff into their in the trunk or roadside box. Now keep in mind, this is just my worthless opinion but.... my tool roll I carry on my 30+ year old Harley is nothing but old US made craftsman and proto... as big a fan of harbor freight as I am I wouldn’t ever consider carrying a tool I have little to no respect for in my brokedown on the side of the road in Deliverence country to repair my ride tools... Lifetime warranty be dammed.. I wasn’t to absolutely know at 2am the wrench I grab WILL do exactly what I need it to do. I save the knuckle busters for home where I can cuss, throw it across the field, grab a beer then grab a replacement.
“Roadside” Toolbox
- Thread starter Jland
- Start date
Dave455
Well-known member
I am totally with you on this!
I have several “road boxes / bags”, some of which stay with a particular vehicle, and one that serves as my portable box.
For the vehicle boxes I save on cost and weight by only including the wrench sizes I need. No point packing a full set of metric wrenches if I only need four sizes, but… they do need to be of decent quality!
I don’t get silly about it and carry around sets of Snap On, but good quality ”first world” manufactured tools are an absolute must!
I have several “road boxes / bags”, some of which stay with a particular vehicle, and one that serves as my portable box.
For the vehicle boxes I save on cost and weight by only including the wrench sizes I need. No point packing a full set of metric wrenches if I only need four sizes, but… they do need to be of decent quality!
I don’t get silly about it and carry around sets of Snap On, but good quality ”first world” manufactured tools are an absolute must!
Walkers
Well-known member
I save the knuckle busters for the scrap bin.
Dave455
Well-known member
Here is one of my vehicle boxes.
Gedore screwdrivers (and a Williams USA bit driver), Knipex pliers, Saltus wrenches, Williams USA ratchet and sockets, and decent quality sets of bits (German Wiha).
All of very good quality, but none of it stupidly expensive. The common factor here is that just about everything was on some sort of deal, which is the way to put together a road box I reckon. If you can take your time, you can get really good tools for close to the price of the crappy stuff.
I’m in the U.K. If I was in the U.S, and putting this together 20 years ago, it would probably be full if U.S. made Craftsman too!
Gedore screwdrivers (and a Williams USA bit driver), Knipex pliers, Saltus wrenches, Williams USA ratchet and sockets, and decent quality sets of bits (German Wiha).
All of very good quality, but none of it stupidly expensive. The common factor here is that just about everything was on some sort of deal, which is the way to put together a road box I reckon. If you can take your time, you can get really good tools for close to the price of the crappy stuff.
I’m in the U.K. If I was in the U.S, and putting this together 20 years ago, it would probably be full if U.S. made Craftsman too!
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I tend to agree with you here. I think the old craftsman usa stuff makes great seconds/vehicle tools. However, In my newest vehicle (A 2015 silverado) I keep a harbor freight 300 piece set in the bed. The only thing protecting it is a locked tailgate and a tonneau cover so If someone grabs it or the cover leaks and everything gets wet I won't be terribly upset. If i know i'm going to a specific job I'll grab a craftsman rally box with better tools.
bassJAM
Well-known member
My truck bag is a full mechanic's set from Craftsmen from the early 2000's. Wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, hex keys, pliers, etc. The ratchets and screwdrivers might be a hair above junk, but everything else is OK.
The biggest thing I've done is to makes sure I NEVER steal from that bag, as tempting as it is when I can't find that 10mm socket in my garage box and I know there's both a 1/4" drive and 3/8" drive 10mm in that bag!
The biggest thing I've done is to makes sure I NEVER steal from that bag, as tempting as it is when I can't find that 10mm socket in my garage box and I know there's both a 1/4" drive and 3/8" drive 10mm in that bag!