Tools for long commute disaster bag

[toolaholic]

Hi, starting June 1 I get to travel 50miles to work. My facility downsized and now I must travel. Thank god we own a Toyota Yaris. My craftsman 12 inch bag contains the following tools. Cradtsman 55 PC 3/8 and 1/4 drive set w/ a spinner and a #2 Philips znd 3/16 slotted screwdriver. A proto 1/2 drive sliding t bar, gearwrench 5 inch locking 1/2 drive extension and a sk 6pt 21mm socket for flats. A gatorback serp belt and a OTC 12 inch indexing pry bar(to move alternator to remove/put belt on-no tensioner{alternator is tensioner}) for fixing slipping/broken belt. A huge LED 3 D cell maglite flashlight. Roll of shop towels. A kobalt 3/8 72 tooth flex head ratchet( crsftsman in kit not that great). Roll of duct tape. Am I missing anything? Feedback appreciated.And yes I am a AAA member. But would like to do what I can within reason.

 

[yjWrangler]

If something goes wrong with your Yaris chances are you won't be fixing it on the side of the road with tools alone.

 

[crewchief888]

funny as it might sound, i'd keep a good tire plug kit with me. not for the obvious flat tire, but i've plugged blown radiator hoses with them.

cleaned the area with some brake clean, plugged and wrapped the area with electrical tape, refilled coolant, left the cap loose, and made it back approx 50 miles to the shop.

 

[toolaholic]

If something goes wrong with your Yaris chances are you won't be fixing it on the side of the road with tools alone.

Yeah I figure belt, hoses, tire and if I am within walking distance of parts store; battery.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Roadside assistance number. Included with my insurance policy for around $5 for 6 months.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I've been doing 50 couple miles each way for 17 years....I have found it's just best to drive something decent / reliable. I used to drive some real beaters, but most often, when I had trouble, it was serious - blown engine / trans or some such. As long as you do your due diligence on the weekend and check the vehicle over / top off fluids, fix the worn belts / hoses then and whatnot, there really inst much that will go wrong during the morning / evening rush for which you will deal with on the side of the road. All I prep for is weather and the simple flat tire kinda emergencies.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Rain poncho because you know it will pouring on the day the car craps out.

A tool that cuts seat belts and breaks glass. (just in case)

Fire extinguisher.

 

[SigElite]

As far as tools go I didn't see a pair of pliers. I would venture to say a pair of slip joint, small knifed cobras or similar and a pair of vise grips are good. Maybe a pliers wrench Instead of a set of open ended ones

 

[wmartin]

cash,AAA card, cell phone, credit card, small first aid kit, toilet paper, a few clothes.

Other than that, all that makes sense to me is one of those emergency battery jumpstart boxes, maybe a Fix-a-flat can, although I don't know how well they really work.

Maybe an umbrella and a groundcloth/gloves for flat changing.

I guess the upshot is that for late model cars, the field fixable problems will be dead batteries and flat tires. It isn't like your points are going to close, although a matchbook cover makes a decent gapping tool.

 

[ArmyVW_GuyInTX]

A ziplock bag with a dozen nitrile gloves in it-it no fun cleaning grease and dirt off the interior after getting to your destination.

I have chem lites onboard - they make for great lights and/or warning lights if on the shoulder and not far enough away from traffic.

First aid kit as posted above should be in every car on the road.

 

[flying2275]

I'd carry a full size spare if you have room for it. It ***** getting a flat on the way home and not being able to find a shop to change it that night and you have to drive another 50+ miles on a donut the next day.

 

[marcone]

Buy a motorcycle, it would definately make your commute more fun

 

[Zeke]

Fuses.

 

[0.511MeV]

Being in the rust belt, I have had two types of "breakdowns". Easy (tire goes flat, and that is about all I can think of in that category right now)... or corrosion related total failure.

Examples of corrosion related total failure would be a wiring harness breaking or a brake line blowing out suddenly. Spending time diagnosing intermittent problems helps head those off, but plenty of those types of failures have happened to me without warning. In all cases, I needed a tow.

I like to have:

First aid kit
Washer fluid
Small tool set including a DMM
Weather related survival gear (must make it long enough to get a tow out or whatnot, in the worst conditions you'll face, I can think of several blizzards that left people stranded for a day or more where I grew up).
Something like coveralls to protect nicer clothes when changing a tire.
Warning reflectors or lights

 

[diesel research]

I've been doing 50 couple miles each way for 17 years....I have found it's just best to drive something decent / reliable.

 

[jfcasey]

Fuses.

Onthat note make sure they are the toyota fuses... normal mini fuses will do you no good in your yaris.

 

[jd_1138]

I'd add one of the small 12v air compressors for cases when you notice that your tire is down 5-15 psi (slow leak or whatever). They take up so little room, and it beats having to jack up the car and installing the donut.

 

[TJx]

A lithium battery powered flashlight. Plan on the D cells in your maglite leaking and ruining your light unless they're lithium. Keep ruined flashlight in your car as a last resort self defense weapon that no LEO can ever question having in your car.

A few other things odds and ends to think about:
Duct tape
Zip ties
Tire gauge
Magnetic pickup
Reflective vest

 

[flying2275]

A lithium battery powered flashlight. Plan on the D cells in your maglite leaking and ruining your light unless they're lithium. Keep ruined flashlight in your car as a last resort self defense weapon that no LEO can ever question having in your car.

I keep a 18" 1/2 drive breaker bar with a 11/16" socket next to the drivers seat. When I'm asked what its for I say its for removing lug nuts but if I had to I could use for self defense. It blends in better than a baseball bat would.

 

[toolaholic]

Thanks for all the tips

 

[Bad Jackson]

I agree with Heavy Metal Doc. I've been commuting 75 mi each way for 8 years now. Plan for winter weather with blankets or a sleeping bag, a couple of MREs, fire starter (hand sanitizer works good), a big bottle of water, and a flat tire. Invest in the premium AAA membership. If you're driving something as new as that, you should be ok as far as mechanical breakdowns. Phone charger is a must too.
Good luck.
Munsk

 

[Bad Jackson]

Flashlights & breaker bars are good for self defense, but I would rather have a 1911 .45 ACP. If you hit a deer, elk, or moose, you can put it out of its misery with a .45.
Try that with a Maglite.

 

[captain14]

Phone charger ,
easy to keep healthy finger food ( peanuts?) , drinking water
GPS ( alternate routes for accident avoidance) ,
preplan stopping points for assistance if needed ,
any friends or coworkers along route if you need help
Emergency cash
Antifreeze mix ready to add
Coveralls for roadside emergencies
Second mounted full size spare at home

 

[TJx]

Flashlights & breaker bars are good for self defense, but I would rather have a 1911 .45 ACP. If you hit a deer, elk, or moose, you can put it out of its misery with a .45.
Try that with a Maglite.

That was just a suggestion for getting some utility out of a ruined flashlight.
I always have my carry gun with me including work. One of the nice things about Kentucky law is employers cannot prevent you from having it in your car on their property even without a permit.

 

[jd_1138]

That was just a suggestion for getting some utility out of a ruined flashlight.
I always have my carry gun with me including work. One of the nice things about Kentucky law is employers cannot prevent you from having it in your car on their property even without a permit.

A. 357 Magnum is a nice protection handgun as well, and you can run .38 Special ammo through it to save money at the range.

 

[KnurledNut]

multi-use things...that take up little room:
-jumper cables
-a coat hanger
-a heavy mil trash bag
-a small hammer
-leatherman type multitool
-bottle of water
-nylon tow strap

 

[greatlaker]

I also carry a flourescent hi-vis saftey vest with the reflective tape on it.
Rubber gloves and rags.
gl

 

[jfcasey]

I wouldn't worry too bad. I've been commuting 60 miles each way for over a year now and I typically just keep a socket set, good flashlight, pliers, and a CELL PHONE with me.

The secret is keeping up with preventative maintenance. If you keep up with the pm, chances are nothing is ever going to fail and catch you off guard.

The other suggestion I have is to listen to your car when it tells you something is off! If it starts to act up a little or feel funny investigate! Its pretty rare that a taken care of car leaves anyone stuck somewhere SOL without fair warning these days.

If you take care of your junk then I would just pack the tools you need to disconnect your battery, remove a wheel, and a pair of pliers.

 

[flying2275]

Flashlights & breaker bars are good for self defense, but I would rather have a 1911 .45 ACP. If you hit a deer, elk, or moose, you can put it out of its misery with a .45.
Try that with a Maglite.

I do carry a M&P 45 FS when not driving to and from work. I work on a military base and cannot carry on base. They do random vehicle inspections at the gate and inspect the entire vehicle inside and out and only once have they asked about my breaker bar. I've had probably 5 or 6 inspections in the last 9 years.

 

[p_mori7]

I travel A LOT. I carry what I've actually used.

- Cell phone & roadside assistance card.
- GPS unit.
- Quality small LED flashlight (batteries last a long time)
- Wetskins rain suit with reflective stripes.
- Lightweight orange vest with reflective stripes.
- Leather Gloves.
- Clean / Dry wool socks.
- First Aid kit.
- Long & Thick tow strap with hooks.
- Water
- Fuses
- 3 Twenty minute Road flares
- Leatherman multi tool.
- Tire pressure guage.
- Small baseball bat (to check tire pressures if the guage fails of course !)

That's it.

 

[jfcasey]

I do carry a M&P 45 FS when not driving to and from work. I work on a military base and cannot carry on base. They do random vehicle inspections at the gate and inspect the entire vehicle inside and out and only once have they asked about my breaker bar. I've had probably 5 or 6 inspections in the last 9 years.

On a related note, if you keep your plug kit opened in your glove box, you have pretty quick access to the reamer. Not a bad thing to have balled up in your hand in a tight spot when you don't have a gun.

 

[andywander]

Buy a motorcycle, it would definately make your commute more fun

Yeah, except when its snowing......

 

[andywander]

...I work on a military base and cannot carry on base.....

That's hysterical.....or is it sad?

 

[rick carpenter]

A real jack in addition to the one that came with your car and at least one jackstand, and plywood boards to put under each. Locking lugnut socket is a must. A cell phone brick battery could be helpful. And tunes.

 

[Dave455]

Spare coolant hoses and clips are useful, or alternatively some of that rubber tape for repairs! Something for radiator repairs and a length of fuel hose can be handy too! A tin with a few nuts, bolts and electrical fittings, a can of tyre weld and a selection of bulbs take care of most probs!

 

[BK13]

Jeez, you're going to have to trade the Yaris for a Tundra to carry all that stuff...

 

[jfcasey]

Jeez, you're going to have to trade the Yaris for a Tundra to carry all that stuff...

Thats what I'm saying. This isn't the oregon trail, you are going to drive that same 50 miles twice a day 5 days a week. After 2 weeks its going to feel like just going down the block and the anxiety of "what if my **** breaks" will be replaced with "damnit I gotta get gas again".

 

[toolaholic]

Thanks for all the advice! And I'd love a tundra! LOL

 

[Flatintoone]

I recently updated both family cars' emergency tool kits. I tried to keep in mind what I would actually be fixing on the side of the road. For example, replacing the serpentine belt in either car requires removing a motor mount... Which means I'd need a jack, which means I'd need a solid surface to put it on, which means... Anyway, the cell phone is probably the most important tool. Others are there to make common, likely repairs (tires, batteries, etc), or to diagnose. Things I make sure are in the kits: Cheap mechanic's gloves from Menard's, a hand towel, tire pressure gauge, zip ties, tools to change tires, 10mm wrench, 8-18mm sockets and drive tools, flash light, pliers. I put the kits in old metal socket set boxes. The one in my car is more complete, as it's probably less reliable.
Last roadside repair I made: Water pump belt in my wife's car (separate from the serpentine belt). Last roadside emergency I had: Failed belt tensioner in my car. (Used the cell phone on that one. Had the car towed home, then I repaired it that evening.)

 

[Hogger]

I carry an extra set of keys, either hidden on the vehicle or someplace. Someone at work takes your coat by mistake your not stuck.