About a year ago, my pickup burned to the ground. I lost a number of tools, my first aid supplies, towing supplies, etc. At that point, I had to replace stuff for my new (current) truck, and I evaluated different options for quite a while. I really, really wanted to buy a Montezuma box to organize stuff, but just couldn't swing the coin for it at that point. So after much consideration, this is what I came up with.
First, inside the cab of the truck, I have a few supplies:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362775068/" title="behind seat by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4362775068_403cfd1305.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="behind seat" /></a>
To the far side, you can see the green bag that holds my cargo straps/tie downs/bungies. It also holds 3 pairs of gloves. In the middle of the photo, you can see my LED light bar. I use that for escorting farm equipment, or for making my truck more visible if I stop to help someone with a flat tire. On the near side of the picture, you see my fire extinguisher. Also, you'll see a few old towels I use to cushion/protect stuff, or to lay on, etc. General purpose throws. Under those towels is a 1 quart container of motor oil and 1 quart of washer fluid.
Under those items, there is also a pair of my old fireboots (knee-high, steel toe, steel shank) that I keep in the truck for just about any purpose. I can take off whatever shoes I'm wearing and slip these on, and be waterproof up to 18", toes protected, good in mud/snow/etc. Also under the stuff pictured is a max axe and accessories. This is what they look like:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362775102/" title="max ax by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4362775102_b8528d4793.jpg" width="380" height="265" alt="max ax" /></a>
Those are good for cutting/digging/fighting brush fires/breaking down doors and gaining access/etc. I also have a set of homemade 0gauge welding cable jumper cables.
In the rear of my truck (where the Montezuma box would fit really nicely), I've got a pretty basic looking rubbermade tote:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362775010/" title="box by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4362775010_8deacba94e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="box" /></a>
It is held in place with two adjustable cargo bars (from Farm & Fleet). Between those and the Line-X bedliner, the tote doesn't move. It is light, dry, easily moveable storage...but not nearly as nice as a Montezuma (did I mention I like those?
). Open the tote, and you'll find:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362774968/" title="inside box by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4362774968_956c7e473d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="inside box" /></a>
On the left, my first aid kit (hey guys--where are your first aid kits and fire extinguishers? That should be the basis of any roadside repair kit. If we can't fix ourselves, we can't fix our cars!)
Inside the first aid kit, pretty standard stuff. CPR shield, a ton of bandages/wraps/splints/bandaids, wound cleaning materials, clotting agents and bloodstopper bandages, a good set of tweezers, a light, some basic airway tools, basic pain killers.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362774494/" title="inside first aid by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4362774494_c431f03694.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="inside first aid" /></a>
On the right, my 'general hand tool' bag. This is my go-to bag for just about any job (home improvement, car repair, etc.). On the outside, you see my trusty Craftsman Hickory Handled framing hammer, a few flashlights, tape measure, and roll of electric tape and plumbing teflon tape. Exterior pockets also hold an assortment of drill bits.
One inside pocket holds a Li-Ion cordless hammer drill (Hitachi 18v) and spare battery, along with an assortment of bits and drill bits for it (the two blue plastic boxes are both dedicated to the drill/driver). The clear plastic box on the left holds an assortment of sheetmetal and wood screws, bolts, nuts, washers and various other little bits and pieces. The red thing at far left is a multi-meter. Next to that is a container of black plastic zip ties. At the bottom of this side of the bag is a container full of crimp connectors, wire nuts, scraps of wire, fuses, and related electrical repair stuff. Also, 3 flat bars (large/medium/small), one 18" pry bar, and 3 tiny cans of spray stuff (penetrating oil, lithium grease, and lock deicer/lubricant). Finally, a set of screw and bolt extractors.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362809726/" title="drill by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4362809726_e8b50e8cc3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="drill" /></a>
The other inside pocket is where the goodies are.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362032123/" title="inside bag by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4362032123_2c05ef7a8a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="inside bag" /></a>
Crescent wrench, screwdrivers, leads for multimeter, nail puller, mini screwdrivers, non-contact voltage tester, trauma shears (good for cutting anything from tape to cloth to wire to thin sheetmetal), non-contact thermometer, assorted pliers (wire cutters, lineman, adjustable, needlenose, miniature, nippers). LED battery powered clamp on light (for light wherever you need it). Craftsman handi-cut. 3prong to 2 prong 120vac adapter. Plunge cut handsaw. Crimping tool and wire stripper for wire repairs. Putty knife. If you look very carefully, in the middle of the screen, you'll see the orange handle to the Grainger mini-screwdriver I got for free after completing a survey I learned about here on GJ!
If you take out the first aid kit and the tool bag, you see this:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362774908/" title="inside box 2 by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4362774908_c9a87dbe86.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="inside box 2" /></a>
Sorry that pic is upside down. Anyhow, on the right, a 3" x30' nylon tow strap (good to 40k lbs). On the left, a bunch of plastic containers, an 18" pipe wrench, and an assortment of 3 crescent wrenches (big to small).
Under the tow strap:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362032199/" title="towing by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4362032199_320f1d5074.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="towing" /></a>
Combination pintle hitch/ball hitch with 2" ball (a 2 5/16 ball is in the plastic bag, along with 3 different wiring adapters. Truck has a 7 pin connector and a 4 pin flat connector; the adapters cover all other possibilities that I encounter (5 pin, 8 pin, etc.). Beneath that, 50' of 5/16" hi-test chain, 1 short chain choker, 1 safety chain for farm equipment, 4 screw clevises. At the top, my Schuck cushion hitch insert (for pulling heavy farm equipment). Below that, a hitch pin for farm equipment, and a repair kit for my hi-lift jack. (Hi-lift not pictured; rides under driver's side bedrail of truck. Inside the hi-lift handle, I store a piece of 4' long, thick-wall pipe. That gives extra leverage when using the hi-lift, and doubles as a cheater bar with sockets, as described below.). With this stuff, if I can't get my pull it, it shouldn't be pulled!
On the other side of the pic (under the tool bag) are hand tools. I've acquired a set of Harbor Freight hand tools that I keep in the truck for field repairs, junkyard duties, etc. There are two rolls of wrenches (one SAE, one metric) that look like this:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362031887/" title="wrench rolll by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4362031887_1382e53050.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="wrench rolll" /></a>
There are also complete sets of 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" sockets, along with ratchets, breaker bars, u-joints and extensions in each size. Those are each in their own, separate cases (SAE and metric, shallow and deep). Those are the little cases shown in the picture. Each case looks something like this on the outside, labelled with the contents:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362774730/" title="socket label by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4362774730_700b28483a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="socket label" /></a>
(That says 1/2 SAE Deep in my characteristically bad handwriting). Inside each of those cases are the sockets themselves.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanfrieders/4362774632/" title="inside sockets by DeanFrieders, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4362774632_e6c7144a95.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="inside sockets" /></a>
Each socket set has an extension or two in it. I also have a small plastic case that holds the ratchets and u-joints. These tools cry out to me constantly, telling me about how much they'd rather live in a Montezuma box.
The silver plastic wrap-thingies at the side of the picture above (left of the crescent wrenches) are allen-keys and torx-keys. The white plastic cylinder holds another round of nuts/bolts/odds and ends for common repairs, along with a replacement stud and lug nut of the size my truck uses.
