Vehicle Tool Storage

[Doctor_Ink]

Searched for this and 0 Matches... if you know of any similar threadsfeel free to post them!

Let's see your vehicle tool storage!

I drive a car (for now) and it would be extremely helpful to have tool storage. Looking for inspiration.

 

[Doctor_Ink]

Should have put this in free parking... whoops.

 

[bhalv]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466&highlight=toolboxes

 

[Doctor_Ink]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466&highlight=toolboxes

Those are just tool boxes...

 

[crewchief888]

all depends on what you plan on fixing on the side of the road.

you could have anything from a small mechanics tool bag with a screwdriver and a pair of vice grips, to a 12 drawer top chest packed with tools.

all i keep in my truck is a breaker bar/socket for my aftermarket wheel lugs, set of jumper cables behind the seat, a small cresent wrench, 13mm wrench in the console.

 

[ratdoggy]

small toolbox under the seat. Wire, fuses, tape, flashlight and basic hand tools

 

[mayhemman]

my truck has a three drawer craftsman toolbox with a full compliment of tools. my firebird has a crescent brand toolkit with wrenches,sockets, ect. a just in case kinda thing. i plan to add a few other items when i get the chance.

it all depends on what you think you will need or be able to bring with you. i have pictures of what i carry in the truck, but not of the common kit i have in the bird.

my tools in my truck

 

[Lippyp]

I have a suede leather tool roll in my Blazer, just big enough to get a reasonable selection of tools in for a get you home repair, if I can't fix it with whats in there then its probably time to get it recovered home.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just a simple tool bag here.

 

[HarleyArley]

Tool bag goes on any road trip... metric wrench set, 3/8 deep drive metric sockets, extension, and ratchet, allen wrench set, multi-bit screwdriver, long straightblade screw driver, long #2 phillips screwdriver, pliers, channel locks, electrical tape, duct tape, hose clamps, tie wraps, tube of high temp silicone sealant, flashlight, rags... don't think I've ever used it on my own vehicle in at least twenty years, but I like knowing its there and its come in handy to help others a few times.

 

[Martha39]

Just a simple tool bag here.

 

[Relex]

Other than this I have a small floor jack in my toolbox along with a bumper jack in my truck toolbox.

 

[KEH]

Emergency tool set in a .50 caliber ammunition box in wife's car. Narrow tool chest from Tractor supply fastened to bed of pickup, mounter behind wheel well on passenger side, with pretty complete tool set in it. Square box under bed on passenger side of flat bed on f350. Reason for having boxes on passenger side is that in case of emergencies on side of road I can access tools without being next to traffic.

KEH

 

[BD1]

I have my wife's old leather purse. I bought it 30 years ago for big bucks. It's a Stone Mountain.No tears,rips,even zipper works,good as new. She was throwing it out ! Bullsh$t , I paid big bucks and now it's in the trunk. Works great.

 

[rlitman]

At a local flea market, I picked up a "Kit, BDAR Maintainer". That stands for "Battle Damage Assessment and Recovery" for those not familiar with it.
It came with a Safety Seal tire plug kit, a spool of wire, wire splicing pieces, several types of epoxy putty, a link belt, an assortment of emergency compression splices, plus a handful of neat devices designed to seal a gas tank when a round goes through it (ok, I don't travel with those . . . ) and a bunch of other neat stuff.
I removed a number of things I don't need, and added a set of metric sockets, a torque wrench (I always have one in my car for at least lug nuts), zip ties, wire-tying waxed cord, electrical tape, pliers, screwdrivers, a combination wrench and vice grips, and a handful of things I can't remember now.

 

[rsanter]

a couple of good options have seen

I have seen several guys take a mid chest and bolt it into the car on the hump over the rear axle under the package tray

one friend had a small flip top box that he secured to the trunk floor with latches. it was a slick deal

bob

 

[CoyoteLL]

I took a plastic battery box and placed in the spot where a spare battery was designed to go. 09 GMC Sierra.

Holds tow strap, ratchet straps, gloves and a tool roll of wrenches and screwdrivers. On long trips, I'll throw the 4 way and floor jack in the back of the truck.

 

[bugnout]

In the Ranger:
I have a tool bag, In it goes a tool roll and a 3/8 socket set
Roll has the basics; screw drivers, rachet wrenches, pliers, etc. Quart of oil, all tucked into the passenger side jump door. Factory Jack and spare.

In the Jeep:
I have two clear plastic 9 liter "Really Useful Box". In it goes 3 Plano latch boxes,(think fishing tackle) for 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 socket sets. 4th box has screw drivers, electrical, DC soldering iron, fuses, bulbs, splices etc. Pliers, side cutters wrench's etc go in a tool wrap.
Big ball peen hammer, chisel, drift, center punch, inspection mirror, magnetic retriever and a bunch of tie wraps, gloves. A folded 6 ft tarp sits over the top.

Second box contains oil, atf, brake fluid, superglue, jb weld, spare fuel filter, serpentine belt, gorilla tape, hand cleaner and other bits and pieces.

Both boxes strap to the floor in the back of the Jeep.

Entrenching tool, Hi-Lift jack, 3 foot 1/2" breaker bar and socket for the wheel nuts all stay in the vehicle. Recovery bag, with straps, chains, assorted clevis's, and ****** block, gets thrown in if I think I might need it. Long handled round nose shovel gets strapped to the roof rack if needed.

 

[zmotorsports]

This is what I carry in my Jeep. Full set of sockets in SAE and Metric (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2"), two sets of SAE and Metric wrenches. Assortment of screwdrivers and pliers. Assortment of bolts/nuts, zip-ties, tape, mechanics wire and gorilla tape. Also a few specialty sockets including the 36MM for the front axle shaft nut. VOM, hammer, soft face mallet and prybars as well. Not pictured is the Hi-Lift jack under the rear seat.

Pretty much everything is stowable in the large canvas tool bag and very easy to access. I keep the sockets in the molded boxes and the wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers are in zipper pouches and labeled so I am not wasting time searching for tools. When someone in our group breaks down I want to get back on the trail having fun not looking for tools to get their rig up and running.

I carry a similar set in my truck but nowhere but not as many specialty tools as in the Jeep in the back country not having the correct tool would ****.

Mike.

 

[zmotorsports]

On a side note, don't go too cheap on tools for your vehicle. Many people think that they will keep their good tools in the shop/garage and get a cheapy set for their vehicle. The problem with this philosophy is when you are out in the boonies broke down the last thing you want to rely on is the cheapest tool you could find. Round a nut or bolt off and your quick repair just turned really ugly really quick.

I am not saying that you need SO, Mac, Proto or any of the other high end stuff but get a decent set that is good quality.

Mike.

 

[Agent1320]

Right now, I just have a large canvas tool bag. It's been my "vehicle" bag for several years. I once flew to Phoenix to buy a truck and had the loaded tool bag as checked luggage, it was 74 pounds! The TSA agents looked at me kind of weird. In my Suburban I have a Contico hard shell storage box where I store all of my larger things like offroad recovery gear, towing gear, fluids, tape, rope, etc.


zmotorsports, how do you like those canvas Klein tool bags? I just ordered a 4-pack of them last week. I think the ones I ordered are 12" long and 7" tall. My idea was to use them the same as you, to organize my wrenches and screwdrivers. Glad to see my plan has already been tested out by someone else!

 

[zmotorsports]

Right now, I just have a large canvas tool bag. It's been my "vehicle" bag for several years. I once flew to Phoenix to buy a truck and had the loaded tool bag as checked luggage, it was 74 pounds! The TSA agents looked at me kind of weird. In my Suburban I have a Contico hard shell storage box where I store all of my larger things like offroad recovery gear, towing gear, fluids, tape, rope, etc.


zmotorsports, how do you like those canvas Klein tool bags? I just ordered a 4-pack of them last week. I think the ones I ordered are 12" long and 7" tall. My idea was to use them the same as you, to organize my wrenches and screwdrivers. Glad to see my plan has already been tested out by someone else!

The Klein zipper bags work great and they have held up well for several years now and a couple of vehicles. I just used a Sharpie to write on them. It sure makes it easy to find the tool your looking for.

Mike.

 

[Agent1320]

Yeah, digging through my big bag trying to retrieve a certain wrench is not fun. Half of the tools have to come out just to find what I'm looking for.

 

[sharpe427]

Not quite sure what you are looking for, but here's an idea. In the 50's/60's a lot of sports cars (Ferrari, AC) had tool pack on a board inside the spare tire. It seems as if you could make a circle out of 3/4 plywood, cover it in foam rubber, and make a very compact storage place for the necessities. I will try to find a pic....

 

[sharpe427]

Here's a later model version...

 

[Doctor_Ink]

my truck has a three drawer craftsman toolbox with a full compliment of tools. my firebird has a crescent brand toolkit with wrenches,sockets, ect. a just in case kinda thing. i plan to add a few other items when i get the chance.

it all depends on what you think you will need or be able to bring with you. i have pictures of what i carry in the truck, but not of the common kit i have in the bird.

my tools in my truck

I'm thinking about getting a 3 drawer craftsman too. That sounds like a plan.

Tool bag goes on any road trip... metric wrench set, 3/8 deep drive metric sockets, extension, and ratchet, allen wrench set, multi-bit screwdriver, long straightblade screw driver, long #2 phillips screwdriver, pliers, channel locks, electrical tape, duct tape, hose clamps, tie wraps, tube of high temp silicone sealant, flashlight, rags... don't think I've ever used it on my own vehicle in at least twenty years, but I like knowing its there and its come in handy to help others a few times.

Wow this seems like a nice, complete list!

Emergency tool set in a .50 caliber ammunition box in wife's car. Narrow tool chest from Tractor supply fastened to bed of pickup, mounter behind wheel well on passenger side, with pretty complete tool set in it. Square box under bed on passenger side of flat bed on f350. Reason for having boxes on passenger side is that in case of emergencies on side of road I can access tools without being next to traffic.

KEH

What's all the ammo for? Good idea, it's always nice to not have to worry about getting hit by 60+ MPH traffic

This is what I carry in my Jeep. Full set of sockets in SAE and Metric (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2"), two sets of SAE and Metric wrenches. Assortment of screwdrivers and pliers. Assortment of bolts/nuts, zip-ties, tape, mechanics wire and gorilla tape. Also a few specialty sockets including the 36MM for the front axle shaft nut. VOM, hammer, soft face mallet and prybars as well. Not pictured is the Hi-Lift jack under the rear seat.

Pretty much everything is stowable in the large canvas tool bag and very easy to access. I keep the sockets in the molded boxes and the wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers are in zipper pouches and labeled so I am not wasting time searching for tools. When someone in our group breaks down I want to get back on the trail having fun not looking for tools to get their rig up and running.

I carry a similar set in my truck but nowhere but not as many specialty tools as in the Jeep in the back country not having the correct tool would ****.

Mike.

Very nice!!

On a side note, don't go too cheap on tools for your vehicle. Many people think that they will keep their good tools in the shop/garage and get a cheapy set for their vehicle. The problem with this philosophy is when you are out in the boonies broke down the last thing you want to rely on is the cheapest tool you could find. Round a nut or bolt off and your quick repair just turned really ugly really quick.

I am not saying that you need SO, Mac, Proto or any of the other high end stuff but get a decent set that is good quality.

Mike.

Story of my life! I never go cheap anymore. Whether it be doing a job and doing it right the first time, or getting the right tools etc.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm thinking about getting a 3 drawer craftsman too. That sounds like a plan.

Craftsman 3 drawer. $59.99

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965337000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

TSC 3 drawer. $39.99

http://www.tractorsupply.com/masterhand-reg-20-1-2-in-3-drawer-steel-tool-box-4038330

Same box, just green and the instruction sheet was printed just like the Craftsman box. I bought one for my chainsaw stuff. You can see it sitting in the background.

 

[oldgoat]

I usually carry the jumper cables, decent 4way lug wrench and bag with some basic wrenches like screwdrivers, cresent wrench, pliers and some basic wrenches. Then I also have some zip ties, elec. tape and wire. Only had to use it once in all these years except for the jumper cables and 4way.

 

[Bluefin]

On a side note, don't go too cheap on tools for your vehicle. Many people think that they will keep their good tools in the shop/garage and get a cheapy set for their vehicle. The problem with this philosophy is when you are out in the boonies broke down the last thing you want to rely on is the cheapest tool you could find. Round a nut or bolt off and your quick repair just turned really ugly really quick.

I am not saying that you need SO, Mac, Proto or any of the other high end stuff but get a decent set that is good quality.

Mike.

I know that this is an old thread but I signed up for Garage Journal to delve into this issue and can't see a more recent discussion. Anyways, I also used to think that a cheap set would be fine especially since there is a risk of it being stolen but then I thought about it some more and came to the same conclusion as you. If you're going to have good quality tools somewhere, they'd better be where you can use them when in dire need.

This revelation occurred when I tried to use the 196 piece Allied tool set (came with a metal box) that I had purchased for $50. This is probably the bottom of the barrel stuff and I imagined that it could get me going in case there was a problem. I tried to use this set to do my brakes and the 3/8" ratchet breaks in my hands at which point I grabbed the tire iron and it didn't fit my wheels.

I suddenly became quite aware of the fact that in case of an emergency I would have been screwed. So I bought myself a 1/2" drive Snap On SL936 (15") and a Snap On deep 6 point 3/4" socket which quickly resolved the problem although I had to use a lot of muscle. This proved to me that the benefit of having good tools on hand is far greater than the risk of having them stolen.

People keep saying that tools are worthless unless your car brakes down in front of an auto store. Well, my car broke down right next to Costco and an auto store. Luckily the Costco guys let me borrow their tools to hack away at the corroded battery and terminals. I was also able to get it replaced for free since I had purchased the battery at Costco. This was the second lesson in the past year that taught me the value of having tools on hand and decent ones at that.

I've since removed the Allied set from active use and put together a small assortment that I keep in my car. Although I don't believe that everything needs to be Snap On quality, those that get used often should be. As you can see in the photos, only the ratchet and socket are Snap On. Everything else is Stanley which seems to be better quality than what I had before. Of course I wish that I could afford Snap On everything but I can't. I will probably be picking up a used Mac metric socket set too. Not a fan of overdoing it but I need to make sure that I have enough on hand to make the "easy" job doable.

 

[zmotorsports]

Awesome Bluefin and welcome to the forum.

Mike.

 

[vaultdweller]

I keep a tool roll under the backseat of my truck. I got it for free at work. I keep all my "2nd tier" stuff in it. Like the pittsburgh vice grips, off brand drivers, and no-name pliers. Then I keep a HF el cheapo socket set under there too. I've needed to use my tools in emergency situations twice now, and had all I needed (barely).

 

[Bluefin]

Awesome Bluefin and welcome to the forum.

Mike.

Thanks, looks like you've been a member for a while. Have you had any similar experiences to mine or do you always have the right tool available?

I keep a tool roll under the backseat of my truck. I got it for free at work. I keep all my "2nd tier" stuff in it. Like the pittsburgh vice grips, off brand drivers, and no-name pliers. Then I keep a HF el cheapo socket set under there too. I've needed to use my tools in emergency situations twice now, and had all I needed (barely).

I assume you don't use the cheap socket set to take off your wheels so what do you use for that? Ever had a tool fail?

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks, looks like you've been a member for a while. Have you had any similar experiences to mine or do you always have the right tool available?

Yes and Yes. I have been a member of the forum for quite a while but I have been wrenching for several decades. I too started out with very cheap and inexpensive tools just to be frustrated when one didn't perform like it should. I made my mind up on two aspects of my job very early in my career and luckily had the wonderful support of my wife.

I told myself that when I needed to borrow a tool from a co-worker to perform a job or task, I would write it down on a "wish list". If I then needed that tool a second time, I needed to own that tool and would purchase it.

Secondly, I also told myself that I was ALWAYS going to buy quality when purchasing tools. This doesn't always mean they have to be Snap-On, MAC or Matco, even though the majority of my tools are. It merely meant I would research and purchase quality tools. Now after several decades of wrenching I have a very full and very reliable set of tools to work with.

Keep in mind as you are starting out also, that no one acquires these tools over night. It is easy to get sucked into the deals on the tool trucks and also from other people with large collections of tools, especially some of the collections many members here have. We all have had to collect tools over time. Don't get yourself into a financial pinch by thinking that you have to have a huge collection of tools right now.

Mike.

 

[Bluefin]

Yes and Yes. I have been a member of the forum for quite a while but I have been wrenching for several decades. I too started out with very cheap and inexpensive tools just to be frustrated when one didn't perform like it should. I made my mind up on two aspects of my job very early in my career and luckily had the wonderful support of my wife.

I told myself that when I needed to borrow a tool from a co-worker to perform a job or task, I would write it down on a "wish list". If I then needed that tool a second time, I needed to own that tool and would purchase it.

Secondly, I also told myself that I was ALWAYS going to buy quality when purchasing tools. This doesn't always mean they have to be Snap-On, MAC or Matco, even though the majority of my tools are. It merely meant I would research and purchase quality tools. Now after several decades of wrenching I have a very full and very reliable set of tools to work with.

Keep in mind as you are starting out also, that no one acquires these tools over night. It is easy to get sucked into the deals on the tool trucks and also from other people with large collections of tools, especially some of the collections many members here have. We all have had to collect tools over time. Don't get yourself into a financial pinch by thinking that you have to have a huge collection of tools right now.

Mike.

That's a very good way of going about it. I also decided that I would get a tool only after I needed it more than once. Unfortunately, I'm a procrastinator and it takes me forever to commit to a specific tool. It took me several years to buy that orange hammer even though I needed one many times during that period. I want to understand every aspect of the tool before deciding which to get and that usually prevents me from getting a task done on time.

Just recently I purchased a used Mac socket set from 10mm to 18mm for $62.50. When it got here the back of the sockets seemed more worn than I liked on many of them although the outside was nice. I did my drum brakes using the set but one socket popped off my Snap On ratchet which I found odd considering that my Snap On deep socket didn't even come close to doing this. So I decided to return this set and save up for a new one. I buy most of my tools on eBay so I can wait for the right price. I saw the new version of this set going for $95 and it included a 19mm socket as well.

Since you have a lot of experience with tools, do the gashes and rust on the sockets indicate that they were worn out even though the outside looks great? I wonder if the gashes on the bottom end of the socket caused it to pop off. Either way, I didn't like how little room there was for my knuckles using these shallow sockets. Would it be better to go with deep sockets first? I would prefer semi deep but you can't really find those on eBay for cheap. Thanks for your time and help.

 

[Vern122576]

Ammo can, narrow one. 7.62 / .30 cal behind the folding seat in the rear of the cab. hold enough to take about almost the entire truck. Pack it full of tools and top it off by stuffing the rest of the room with a rag to stop the tools from rattling.

 

[zmotorsports]

That's a very good way of going about it. I also decided that I would get a tool only after I needed it more than once. Unfortunately, I'm a procrastinator and it takes me forever to commit to a specific tool. It took me several years to buy that orange hammer even though I needed one many times during that period. I want to understand every aspect of the tool before deciding which to get and that usually prevents me from getting a task done on time.

Just recently I purchased a used Mac socket set from 10mm to 18mm for $62.50. When it got here the back of the sockets seemed more worn than I liked on many of them although the outside was nice. I did my drum brakes using the set but one socket popped off my Snap On ratchet which I found odd considering that my Snap On deep socket didn't even come close to doing this. So I decided to return this set and save up for a new one. I buy most of my tools on eBay so I can wait for the right price. I saw the new version of this set going for $95 and it included a 19mm socket as well.

Since you have a lot of experience with tools, do the gashes and rust on the sockets indicate that they were worn out even though the outside looks great? I wonder if the gashes on the bottom end of the socket caused it to pop off. Either way, I didn't like how little room there was for my knuckles using these shallow sockets. Would it be better to go with deep sockets first? I would prefer semi deep but you can't really find those on eBay for cheap. Thanks for your time and help.

The end of the socket that fits over the bolt/nut is generally not the part that shows the earliest wear, although they can/will show signs long term. The area that seems to get "abused" more than anywhere is the drive end of the socket. If the square drive hole is rounded out it is generally a good sign that someone used an impact gun on the chrome socket and started to deform the drive. I haven't bought a lot of used sockets due to this reason. I try to use the proper tool designed for the proper job and in the workforce that is not always the case as I have witnessed by some of my co-workers.

As far as standard depth vs. deep, they both have their place. I prefer to use standard when possible to keep the drive of the ratchet as close to the fastener as possible. Usually the need for a deep socket is due to a nut being threaded on to a bolt that still has some length sticking through an it is too long for a shallow to reach the actual nut.

Mike.