Indexmill
Well-known member
Why do you need tools in the car/truck? Does it breakdown while out on the road?
tools to keep in the vehicle
- Thread starter kanai
- Start date
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
In addition to a socket set, pliers, screwdrivers and the required tire changing tools... I have a separate bag/kit with:
Duct Tape
Rope
Zip Ties (big ones)
Huge black garbage bags
Disposable gloves
Camping shovel
Duct Tape
Rope
Zip Ties (big ones)
Huge black garbage bags
Disposable gloves
Camping shovel
joseywales
Well-known member
Same here. And calling a tow sounds good, but 2 hours later, I was
Wait! Socket sets come with a 10mm socket?
joseywales
Well-known member
Sooo, we’re picking up a new trailer from Lowes, so we can haul 6 kayaks.
After hooking it up, I say, “I wish I had a Zip Tie, to tie down the license plate.” My 10 YO daughter at the time, reaches into her backpack and says, “here’s a couple dad.” I was afraid to see what else might have been in my 10 YO’s backpack, but was happy enough to use the Zip Ties.
It’s a family joke to this day.
tez929rr
Well-known member
One more thing - when you build your own it’s like any other tool set in that you are always wishing you had that one tool. My truck kit is in a big tool roll with zippered pockets and I pulled it out the other day and it’s become crazy heavy. I haven’t used it to fix anything on the truck for years but frequently for other stuff. For example, there is a set of heavy duty wire cutters I added after I had to cut some fencing that was across the road during a flood, and a pipe wrench for something I’ve forgotten about. and on and on. You get the idea. We have one of those 300 piece Harbor Freight sets in our rescue truck just in case.
UglyViking
Well-known member
If you drive a remotely modern vehicle, chances are you're not gonna need tools for a side of the road fix without parts. I know this doesn't answer your question directly but I think (personally) it's a better call.
- Go to a vehicle specific forum for your rig, find the gen/years of your ride and start looking for common issues/tech areas. Generally speaking most of these forums, and others will have dedicated threads for common issues.
- Once you find the "common issues" start working out what each part needed for replacement would be, can you rig something with tape? Do you need to carry some extra bolts? Are parts shelf stable enough and cheap enough you should carry the extra?
- As an example. I had a 94 S10 blazer. The thing loved to have issues with it's water pump, often after a days work. I eventually had a setup including the basic tools I needed for fixing it, cleaning it, and getting it back on the road.
- It's probably best to printout instructions, or keep a book with the tools unless you're pretty capable. Some things are obvious, others are not as much, having the tools, parts and know how come together allow you to fix your problem and get on the road, or at least toward a place to fix it properly.
- As others have said, a tool role is a nice option. Try and bring options that can serve multiple functions, or a decent crescent wrench or two. Also lighting. If you need to be under the rig and fixing something even if during the day you may not have the kind of lighting you want, so a headlamp or something multi-purpose is nice. Just remember that if it's got batteries it will be dead when you need it, so best to only carry stuff you cycle through. Also, don't store alkaline batteries in stuff for long periods, in case it's not obvious.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
In my truck I have an old Crescent blow-mold tool kit with sockets, (Metric and S.A.E. deep and shallow) a 3/8 ratchet, 3/8-to-1/4 adapter, a couple of extensions, some screwdrivers, and a ratcheting bit driver with a wide range of bits. It also has a pair of Long-nose pliers with strippers, and a pair of diagonal cutters. Plenty of Allen wrenches too, of course. The one tool that's missing is a Crescent wrench, which I think is funny.
So I have a small tool bag with a couple of Crescent wrenches, a hammer, a tape measure, some more screwdrivers, including Torx drivers, some tongue and groove pliers, some slip-joint pliers, Vise Grips, a utility knife or two, some automotive electrical tape, some zip ties, and a flashlight with lithium batteries in it. I think I also have a cheap multitool in there as well. In a separate box, I have jumper cables, bungie cables, some ratchet straps, some duct tape, a small can of WD-40, some paper towels, a grill lighter, and a couple of glow sticks. I have some work gloves, a small first-aid kit, a rain poncho, a small shovel, and a fire extinguisher as well.
I also keep a repair manual for the truck in the pocket behind the seat, and a cheap ODBII reader as well as a cheap multimeter, both of which have saved me a lot of trouble. Oh and a tire pressure gauge.
So I have a small tool bag with a couple of Crescent wrenches, a hammer, a tape measure, some more screwdrivers, including Torx drivers, some tongue and groove pliers, some slip-joint pliers, Vise Grips, a utility knife or two, some automotive electrical tape, some zip ties, and a flashlight with lithium batteries in it. I think I also have a cheap multitool in there as well. In a separate box, I have jumper cables, bungie cables, some ratchet straps, some duct tape, a small can of WD-40, some paper towels, a grill lighter, and a couple of glow sticks. I have some work gloves, a small first-aid kit, a rain poncho, a small shovel, and a fire extinguisher as well.
I also keep a repair manual for the truck in the pocket behind the seat, and a cheap ODBII reader as well as a cheap multimeter, both of which have saved me a lot of trouble. Oh and a tire pressure gauge.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My Trunk Bag gets some eyebrow dancing to this day. I used to be in Animal Control. I used to stop for road kill and bag it up for Public Works (who I gave a ring to notify). The bags, rope, zip ties were required most times.
One thing I forgot to mention... Tree Limb Saw... for quick amputations.
I also have friends with a sense of humor... they once added a ******** to that bags handle. I nearly choked laughing.
I think the VW Beetles I had were the last cars I had enough tools and parts to do road side repairs. I keep a spare fan belt, Headlight ' bulbs and fuses, oil ,strainer and gasket, and a tune up kit (points, condenser, plugs, cap, wires ). If I didn't need any I would use them for the next tune-up and then replace them in the trunk. The Bugs were easy to work on. Also keep a copy of "How to Keep your VW Alive" by John Muir in the car.
When I am on a road trip and plan to travel thousands of miles away from home, this is what I take with me:
I carry an old USA made Craftsman tool kit that includes SAE and Metric wrenches, along with 1/4 and 3/8 Sockets and ratchets. I also carry at least one Philips and one standard screwdriver, one standard pliers, one standard needle nose pliers, one side cutter, one 12 volt test light, a Safety Seal tire plug kit, and a 12 air volt compressor, a roll of duct tape, a handfull of zip ties, and a razor knife.
Normally I would simply call a tow truck if I am broke down around my home area, but if I am in the middle of the desert in the SW part of the US, a tow truck could be hours away. I would hate to sit on the side of the road for hours in the middle of nowhere when I could easily plug a tire and be on my way. (for example)
I also carry $300 in cash (sometimes more) hidden inside my vehicle. At any given point in time you could easily find yourself in the need of cash...... Lost or stolen wallet, credit cards not accepted for whatever treason, credit card machine not functioning properly, declined for no apparent reason, etc, etc. I hide the cash inside my vehicle and forget that it's there..... until I need it!
I carry an old USA made Craftsman tool kit that includes SAE and Metric wrenches, along with 1/4 and 3/8 Sockets and ratchets. I also carry at least one Philips and one standard screwdriver, one standard pliers, one standard needle nose pliers, one side cutter, one 12 volt test light, a Safety Seal tire plug kit, and a 12 air volt compressor, a roll of duct tape, a handfull of zip ties, and a razor knife.
Normally I would simply call a tow truck if I am broke down around my home area, but if I am in the middle of the desert in the SW part of the US, a tow truck could be hours away. I would hate to sit on the side of the road for hours in the middle of nowhere when I could easily plug a tire and be on my way. (for example)
I also carry $300 in cash (sometimes more) hidden inside my vehicle. At any given point in time you could easily find yourself in the need of cash...... Lost or stolen wallet, credit cards not accepted for whatever treason, credit card machine not functioning properly, declined for no apparent reason, etc, etc. I hide the cash inside my vehicle and forget that it's there..... until I need it!
Snapped-off
Well-known member
I know I'm in the minority here.
Breaker bar and socket for the spare. Nothing else.
If I was going on a cross country trip I might take some things and some fluids, but how much am I going to fix on the side of the road?
When my clutched alternator pulley flew apart into pieces on the highway, I drove it the 20 minutes home and fixed it. It took a special tool to remove the inner part of the pulley from the alternator shaft.
When the clutch master cylinder bushing broke into pieces on my truck. I was able to use a small rock off the side of the road to get me home so I could fix that.
For $38 per year my insurance will cover towing if I need it.
Breaker bar and socket for the spare. Nothing else.
If I was going on a cross country trip I might take some things and some fluids, but how much am I going to fix on the side of the road?
When my clutched alternator pulley flew apart into pieces on the highway, I drove it the 20 minutes home and fixed it. It took a special tool to remove the inner part of the pulley from the alternator shaft.
When the clutch master cylinder bushing broke into pieces on my truck. I was able to use a small rock off the side of the road to get me home so I could fix that.
For $38 per year my insurance will cover towing if I need it.
gtae07
Well-known member
Outside of catastrophic engine failure (has happened once) the things that could have left me stuck were all tires and batteries. Being able to jump, change the battery, throw on a spare, or plug a tire has all saved me lengthy waits for a tow.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Its not just about yourself...
Where i come from, we help others.
Where i come from, we help others.
UglyViking
Well-known member
Is that a yellowstone quote? I agree with you, at least in new england unless you've got a replacement part it aint doing much good. Perhaps out west is matters more and is more serious.
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
Just to stir the pot about carrying tools.
My 7 week old nephew passed away suddenly a few months back. So I drove up to Sacramento California from San Diego California immediately after work when I heard about it. One end of the state to the other basically.
On the way back, I started overheating. I was going to pull the thermostat out, but the seal is around the thermostat. Ended up cutting it apart with my bandsaw. THEN the tow truck showed up. Now, if it happens again, I have a “blank” thermostat to toss in there and still be able to seal the housing.
Random tools FTW! Lol
My 7 week old nephew passed away suddenly a few months back. So I drove up to Sacramento California from San Diego California immediately after work when I heard about it. One end of the state to the other basically.
On the way back, I started overheating. I was going to pull the thermostat out, but the seal is around the thermostat. Ended up cutting it apart with my bandsaw. THEN the tow truck showed up. Now, if it happens again, I have a “blank” thermostat to toss in there and still be able to seal the housing.
Random tools FTW! Lol
Attachments
I have too much tools in my car but if we are in hurry in work I can make extra gig on my own. I can probaly do allmost full suspension overhaul if I have spare parts. But I want more tools ;D I have very good code reader it is BMW concern vehicle (mini) and E torx socket set
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Dave455
Well-known member
By spooky coincidence folks, I received a call from a friend this morning, saying he had broken down in his Citroen diesel.
I grabbed my standard “road box” (contents shown below) and was able to fix the problem by the roadside (not permanently, but got him home).
Now, in fairness, I thought I knew what the problem was (injectors) and knowing the engine, knew the tools I would need, and that they were all in the box.
Some observations though -
You can do a lot with a little, but nothing with nothing.
I couldn’t have managed with a leatherman. I needed a 17mm open end to remove the fuel lines and a 13mm socket and extension for the injector clamps.
You can’t always sort a problem without parts, but in this instance I was able to.
I do carry a small box of consumables as well (nuts, bolts, wire, tape etc) to which I will now add the small wire brush I could have used today!
I grabbed my standard “road box” (contents shown below) and was able to fix the problem by the roadside (not permanently, but got him home).
Now, in fairness, I thought I knew what the problem was (injectors) and knowing the engine, knew the tools I would need, and that they were all in the box.
Some observations though -
You can do a lot with a little, but nothing with nothing.
I couldn’t have managed with a leatherman. I needed a 17mm open end to remove the fuel lines and a 13mm socket and extension for the injector clamps.
You can’t always sort a problem without parts, but in this instance I was able to.
I do carry a small box of consumables as well (nuts, bolts, wire, tape etc) to which I will now add the small wire brush I could have used today!