Tools in the car?
- Thread starter TNHEMIFAN
- Start date
eschoendorff
Well-known member
My FIL needed a cheap toolcart and bought one of the companion branded ones at Sears. It came with a set of tools taht he didn't want, so he gave them to me. Now, I haven't used them much, but if I lose any of those Companion tools on the side of the road, I certainly won't be out any money. And for the little experience that I have with them, they seem to work pretty well in a pinch. I just keep them in a small toll bag in the trunk of the car.
PAToyota
Well-known member
I picked up one of the Sears 100~120 (or so) piece toolsets in its own plastic case for the car and the truck when they were on sale for some ridiculous price. Then added some pliers, screwdrivers, and shop rags to it. Seems to work well for me.
I carry vise grips, an adjustable wrench, an all-in-one screwdriver, electrical tape, plastic wire ties, some electrical wire, flashlight, small thing of WD40, tire plug tool/plugs, fuses, rags. These days I carry a cell phone too.
thefairlaneman
Banned
Best bet is to carry enough tools for you to make almost any on the side of the road repair........A flashlight, jumper cables.fuses.also. good idea for some extra oil and a gallon of water also with some DUCT TAPE and a replacement belt/belts...and starting fluid.....all of this can be put into a medium size tool box or crate
I picked up a cheap road side emergency kit, then added a few things like zip ties, duct tape, channel locks, etc.....and like Byrdman, I carry a cell phone too. If we're going on a road trip, then I take a larger box, 12v power source, fluids, etc.
i have tool kits in both of my trucks, but they have basically become kits to fix small engines from our generators and cut off saws at work. i mean, these days with such complicated engines, what can you actually fix ont he side of the road? cell phone, blanket, and water are your best bets...
HighOctane
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 10, 2006
- Messages
- 178
Just buy like a 30 dollar cheapie special box and fill it with the impotant tools,
Phillips screwdrivers, a few wrenches, pliers,spark plug socket, can of WD 40, maybe a few allen keys, etc. anything that you can use on your car/truck.
Phillips screwdrivers, a few wrenches, pliers,spark plug socket, can of WD 40, maybe a few allen keys, etc. anything that you can use on your car/truck.
redvalkyrie
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2006
- Messages
- 423
I carry a set of standard and metric wrenches, a 3/8" ratchet, 10-19mm sockets, 10-19mm deep sockets, 1/4" ratchet with 4-12mm sockets, a 1/2" breaker bar, a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter socket, 11" extension, wire cutters, pliers, screwdrivers, zipties, gloves, wire, and some other odds and ends.
Everything is craftsman or companion brand--all bought on sale.
I put it all in an Armani bag that I got for free.
Everything is craftsman or companion brand--all bought on sale.
I put it all in an Armani bag that I got for free.
JohnZ
Well-known member
I don't carry any tools in my new cars (other than a cell phone), but I made up a tool kit I carry in my '67 Corvette and '69 Z/28 that goes in a 12"L x 7"W x 6"D Rubbermaid plastic toolbox (with removable top tray) that fits perfectly in the storage well behind the Corvette passenger seat. Has sockets, ratchet, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, dykes, wire, fuses, razor blade, electrical tape, **** splices, cheapo VOM, test light, tie straps, flashlight, band-aids, two spark plugs, spare points/condenser, handi-wipes, and two shop rags. Also carry spare fan belts and Halon extinguishers separately in each car, and I always have my cell phone and AAA 100-mile flatbed towing card with me.
Murphy's Law says as long as I have this stuff with me, I'll never need it.
Murphy's Law says as long as I have this stuff with me, I'll never need it.
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Jay H 237
Well-known member
I have basic toolkits I made from Craftsman tools in each of my 3 cars.
One thing I have for each car that hasn't been mentioned yet is a small 12v air compressor. I bought 3 of these 12v CH units for $20 at Walmart to keep in all my cars. I also have tire plugs and the tools for them kept in each car. I have been able to fix a few flats and not have to drive on that mini donut tire.
One thing I have for each car that hasn't been mentioned yet is a small 12v air compressor. I bought 3 of these 12v CH units for $20 at Walmart to keep in all my cars. I also have tire plugs and the tools for them kept in each car. I have been able to fix a few flats and not have to drive on that mini donut tire.
Ign
Well-known member
I'll assume jumper cables, gloves, flashlight, rags and such need no mention.
I also got one of the basic tool kits, Husky from HD. I made sure to get one w a decent selection of all three drive sizes (1/4, 3/8 and 1/2) 'cause IME you need all three with virtually any automotive repair.
Then I grabbed a couple of the cheap black tool bags from Harbor Freight and hand picked the rest of what I wanted. Right now is actually an excellent time to shop for stuff like screwdrivers, pliers etc 'cause Home Depot and all the major retailers will sell sets of Stanley or whatever very cheap for "stocking stuffers." Browse the "swing" (ie seasonal) area at your local HD for all kinds of cheap tools to carry in the car. Allen keys, utility knife, and whatever else you think you will need.
One of the tool bags is nothing but a recovery bag with a clevis or two and a *quality* 30' strap with NO hooks. Even the best of the Keeper stuff that Home Depot sells gives me pause. I also got an aluminim clevis insert for my receiver,
http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/cPath/51_1996/products_id/15538
but in a bind you can always just run the hitch pin thru the strap. Never put a strap over a trailer ball. Ever. Honestly most of the recovery stuff is more likely to be used with me as the recoverer than the recoveree but ya never know.
I also carry a 12V compressor.
I also got one of the basic tool kits, Husky from HD. I made sure to get one w a decent selection of all three drive sizes (1/4, 3/8 and 1/2) 'cause IME you need all three with virtually any automotive repair.
Then I grabbed a couple of the cheap black tool bags from Harbor Freight and hand picked the rest of what I wanted. Right now is actually an excellent time to shop for stuff like screwdrivers, pliers etc 'cause Home Depot and all the major retailers will sell sets of Stanley or whatever very cheap for "stocking stuffers." Browse the "swing" (ie seasonal) area at your local HD for all kinds of cheap tools to carry in the car. Allen keys, utility knife, and whatever else you think you will need.
One of the tool bags is nothing but a recovery bag with a clevis or two and a *quality* 30' strap with NO hooks. Even the best of the Keeper stuff that Home Depot sells gives me pause. I also got an aluminim clevis insert for my receiver,
http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/cPath/51_1996/products_id/15538
but in a bind you can always just run the hitch pin thru the strap. Never put a strap over a trailer ball. Ever. Honestly most of the recovery stuff is more likely to be used with me as the recoverer than the recoveree but ya never know.
I also carry a 12V compressor.
ZRX61
Well-known member
1, cellphone
2, in my pocket
2, in my pocket
milly
Well-known member
I have jumper cables and a 96 piece Stanley tool kits in both of our daily drivers that I got on clearance at Walmart. I have a Husky tool bag with Husky wrenchs, screw drivers, jumper cables, and some other stuff in the T/A. We always have a cell phone with us on long trips too.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Well, those cheap tools sure came in handy those couple of times when I needed to change an alternator in a parking lot. Or those times that I needed to tighten a hose clamp.stupidjet said:
I also keep tools n my car so that I have them for projects tha I might encounter on the road or a other locations (unplanned projects that is...)
Coach James
Well-known member
In the last 5 years, I've used the tools in my vehicles to change 2 alternators, a serpentine belt, a heater hose, radiator bypass hose and thermostat all on newer cars alongside the road much of that was for friends and family when we were traveling together, but it still kept us going. I also did one brake job in the parking lot of Advance Auto about 6 hours from home when a brake pad broke off the backing plate.
Coach
Coach
did you guys have those spare parts with you??? i assume not, so, when you left your vehicle to pick up your parts..could just pick up your tools too...
i still wanna know who had had their car break, and with their tools, fixed it on the spot and moved on, without ever leaving the vehicle..
i still wanna know who had had their car break, and with their tools, fixed it on the spot and moved on, without ever leaving the vehicle..
Uncle Buck
Banned
The only time I carry a toolbox in the car anymore is when I take the car 100 miles or more from home. If I am within 100 miles I call a tow truck, have the car towed home, or to the shop of my choice, which is home, pay the tow bill, turn the bill into State Farm, and they reimburse what my tow bill was. I should prolly keep a couple screwdrivers, a pair of pliars, a crescent and a hammer in the trunk.
stupidjet said:
A few years ago, I had a 1970 Chevy C-10 Stepside. It had the 250 straight six and "three on the tree". It was my daily driver, but had a penchant for breaking exhaust valve springs. I never did determine why the springs were breaking, but it had to do with them getting hot and losing their temper.
I bought a bag full of valve springs for about $2 each and kept it in the glove box. Over the course of about two years, I changed 8 or 9 of them on the side of the road.
I had a 12V air compressor (ex-Cadillac air shock compressor) in the truck as well as a typical assortment of tools. I made an adaptor out of an old spark plug and a tire valve stem so that I could pressurize the cylinder to keep the valve closed.
By the time I had done a couple, I could change one in less than ten minutes.
True story.
thefairlaneman
Banned
I also think having a hand gun in case you have a real problem with someone "gettin in your business" while you try to repair your car,
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Hmmm... that sounds like you're just begging for trouble. Just my .02.thefairlaneman said:
Uncle Buck
Banned
wilbilt said:
I did valve guide seals on my old 72 Chevy years ago, almost immediatly I started bending pushrods, after bending a couple I figured out that my valve lash was set too tight and corrected the problem with correct adjustment. I have never had that problem with a GM smallblock since, I guess I learned my lesson!
russellmn
Member
eschoendorff said:
how is this "begging for trouble"??? I think if the area you live in/are traveling through is questionable but you can't avoid driving there, then the Handgun is perfectly logical.
As for tools, I could supply a pro shop for most jobs out of my Jeeps. I've fixed and/or replaced: axles, ujoints, lockouts, wheel studs, exhaust, carbs, ****** linkage and misc other parts on my and other's vehicles and had the parts with me. My Jeeps were always ready to wheel, which means I had large amounts of tools and parts on board. In the process of building new rig right now.
Coach James
Well-known member
In my case, I wasn't going to drive 6 hours hours home to get anything. I dropped my wife off at her appointment then went another few hundred yards to Advance Auto and did the brake job. One of the alternator changes, I called someone and asked them to bring the alternator, tools and a jack(it was a Saturn and the alternator comes out through the wheel well). They brought the alternator and no tools, luckily I had mine.
The other times, I was with other people when they had a hose, belt or alternator go bad. We were all far from home and I was able to drive to the parts store, get the parts and we got their car going again.
I've called a tow truck before, but if I can fix it myself in a short period of time, I hate calling for a tow.
Coach
The other times, I was with other people when they had a hose, belt or alternator go bad. We were all far from home and I was able to drive to the parts store, get the parts and we got their car going again.
I've called a tow truck before, but if I can fix it myself in a short period of time, I hate calling for a tow.
Coach
thefairlaneman
Banned
The only things you really need to carry in your car are 2 things.A cell phone and a hand gun!
972500
Well-known member
u guys dont carry parts wiht ya on roadtrips? if im goin anywhere more than an hour away or if im towing somthing i carry most every part wiht me that could break. i have them here at the house anyways (everyone knows stuff breaks after the parts store is closed).i just throw all the parts in the bed of the truck and i have a toolkit in there that could rebuild the truck anyways so its not really taht complicated. ive replaced water pumps, fuel pumps, belts, alternators, u joints(that was a fun one) all on the side of the road. i guess i dont like callin the tow even though i have AAA.
Mark
Mark
Coach James
Well-known member
The only parts I carry are spare serpentine belt, radiator hoses, couple feet of heater hose plus quart of oil, jug of anti-freeze and bottle of brake fluid.
Coach
Coach
eschoendorff
Well-known member
I also carry a cheap code reader in the car... at least I'll know why that damn light is on again! Don't want to have to trust the dummies at Autozone to read my codes.