Your basic in car/truck tool set?

[gtivr4]

I'm trying to put together a basic toolset to leave in my truck for basic on the road repairs. The obvious include a basic socket set, wrenches, breaker bar (for wheels), pliers, vice grips and screwdrivers.

What else do you carry around with you everywhere?

 

[dulmer]

claw hammer, duct tape, electrical tape, zip ties and good jumper cables

 

[TJ1200c]

A good small floor jack, gloves, towels, liquid wrench/WD40

 

[ESpiker80]

I also add a good bottle jack, hate those sissor jackst that come with most vehicles and a four way lug wrench. the basics, bailing wire, duct tape, electrical tape and wd-40 for quick fixes.

 

[Davefr]

All the above plus a few feet of 16 AWG wire, a flashlight w/fresh batteries and a set of used coveralls.

 

[speed bump]

Shovels, Chains, pry bars, wooden blocks, pipes, bungies, rags, crescents, hammers, jumper cables, and other things I can't remember.

Once the welders out of the back and I put back in my tool box then I will put in wrenches (up to 7/8 and 16mm), Sockets (up to 1" and 20something mm), pliers, screwdrivers, and various other tools that are useful.

 

[The Rusty Gear]

Tools are nice, but don't forget about the "parts" used to fix breakdowns

Radiator stop leak and/or Radiator repair putty
Spare fuses
Spare fan belt
hose clamps and spare hose
Tire repair kit or tire seal in a can
12V air compressor for inflating tires
Washer fluid (can double as rad fluid in an emergency)

Most common breakdowns are related to tires or cooling so be sure you can fix those well enough to get home.

 

[SSGTWC]

For the car, I have your basic tools:

Wrenches SAE and Metric
Sockets 1/4" 3/8" 1/2"
Screwdrivers
Electrical Tape
Jumper Cables

For my Truck
Same as above, plus
Spare u-joints
electrical wire
Nuts, bolts, and washers
mechanic's wire
bulbs
duct tape
gasket sealant
Hi-Lift jack

 

[Chief]

Dont flame me. I carry the bare mimimum. Anthing more than a flat or minor item, I'm getting towed. I have no intention of working on the car for something major on the side of the road in decent clothes (asuming I am commuting). If I am planning a long trip and heading to a rural/remote location I'll pack more tools. Other than that, I am calling for help. If I can fix it, I'll have the car towed to my house. Roadside assistance is so cheap it worth the cost.

 

[welderwink]

I usually carry a spare tire and a jack. also a AAA card.

 

[welderwink]

i dont carry jumper cables either. i drive a stick.

 

[mdbeck1]

I travel heavy. This is a partial list:
Socket sets 1/4 and 3/8, deep and shallow, metric and SAE
Wrenches - 2 of each size in metric and SAE from 1/4 to 1 inch 4mm to 26 mm
Screwdrivers - several
Pliers - several sets
Wire Cutters
Propane bottle(s) with torch, single mantle lantern, solder
Various screws (wood and steel)
Various nails
Framing Hammer
Roofing Hammer
Tie down straps
Berryman B-12
Engine oil
Duct tape (various colors)
Bungee Cords
Tape Measure
Allen wrenches (SAE and metric)
Torx wrenches
Transport chains
Folding shovel
4 way lug wrench
Furniture blanket in a waterproof bag
Jumper cables (wire size 0)
Cheater bar (fits ratchet)
Cheap Torque Wrench
12 V air pump
200 ft 1/2" rope
Multimeter
wire crimpers
multiple
wire ends
jump wires
Electrical Wire
tape (various colors)
Bailing wire
one burner coleman stove

Folding chair - on top of tool box

Then I move inside the cab (under the back seat). Again a partial list:
First Aid kit
rechargable flashlight
Jacket
Hunting pack
couple pocket knives
Fillet knife
Another moving blanket in a waterproof bag
Coffee
Coffee creamer
Sugar
plates
bowls
spoons
small coffee pot
coffee cups
matches
Hunting pack (binoculars, squirrel call, first aid kit, jerky, ...)

 

[Scout Driver]

If I am straying more than an hour or so from home, or if I am in the boonies, I carry a 12 volt booster pack. It saved our tails off-road when an alternator went bad and left us stranded in a "no-service" cell phone area.

Scott

 

[crewchief888]

tire plug kit
can of brake cleaner
electrical tape

i blew a rad hose on my service truck on a long road call out in the boonies. cell service was dead, i let the truck cool down while i was making eq repairs, cleaned off the hose with brake cleaner, shoved in a couple plugs wrapped the whole mess with electrical tape, refilled the system, and drove back.

couple other things.
small first aid kit sterile eye wash
toilet paper
fire ext.
and in cold weather
extra socks
dry boots
extra hat
rain jacket in case it's snowing/sleeting

when we go wheeeling, it's usually a 3 day run,
we load up with
generator
110v mig & welding hood
grinder w/ wheels & cutoff blades
drill /drill bits
spare everything that you can think of
ratchet straps
more than once we've towed vehicles back to the parking lot held together with ratchet straps, found some scrap steel laying around, and fabricated body mounts, and welded frames back together. last trip out we had a guy break a steering knuckle at both ball joints, and snapped the inner axle shaft. finally winched the truck up in the air with the help of a tree, pulled the ball joints took them and the spindle back to the parking lot, and welded the ball joints back in.
got him back together so he could drive out of the trail and make it back to the trailer... this one was ugly........

 

[mkdive]

When going out on a road trip or even a weekend drive....

 

[Scout Driver]

last trip out we had a guy break a steering knuckle at both ball joints, and snapped the inner axle shaft. finally winched the truck up in the air with the help of a tree, pulled the ball joints took them and the spindle back to the parking lot, and welded the ball joints back in.
got him back together so he could drive out of the trail and make it back to the trailer... this one was ugly........

That is a hard-core trail repair!

Scott

 

[ike]

jumper cables.

if we go on a road trip, i take a small 12v compressor and plug kit and a crescent wrench.

 

[crewchief888]

That is a hard-core trail repair!

Scott

we didnt have much of a choice, he's in a full size blazer locked front and rear, 6" lift on 39's and stuck in a hole that put his front bumper under water.
we winched him back far enough to at least get the axle up out of the mud, by then he's up gainst a tree on the drivers side, tree saver and ****** block up in the tree, broke a winch cable on his 9000 lb winch trying to pick himself up, then hooked a hyd 12,000 lb winch to him and lifted him up about 4 feet to get the ball joints out.

on another trip we had people in the parking lot taking pics and video taping us while we welded a rusted/broken frame back together, and welded in some new body mounts in an old CJ while 2 other guys changed a broken front axle shaft. later that same day, the spiders in my rear diff broke, so out came the welder, and installed a lincoln locker

we go prepared for the worst, cuz thats usually what happens

gives us something to talk and laugh about that night sitting around drinkin'

 

[quneur]

Premixed Anti-freeze
couple quarts of oil
small set of sockets/ratchet
jumper cables
trolley jack
2 jack stands/lug wrench
set of wrenches/pliers/screwdrivers/mallet
flashlight

need to pick up flares/cones
12v compressor/tire patch

 

[psychoclaw84]

I have a small tool bag in the trunk of my car that contains:

• 3/8 & 1/4 drive metric sockets
• Socket extensions
• Set of metric combination wrenches 8-22mm
• 3 Phillips screwdrivers, mini, #1, #2
• 3 Slotted screwdrivers, small, medium and large
• Pliers: Needle nose (regular size & mini), diagonal cutters (regular & mini) Channel Lock pliers, Vise Grip
• Ball Pein Hammer with a brass & steel punch
• Portable wheel chocks
• Liquid wrench - penetrating oil
• Wire strippers & crimpers combo plier
• Fuses, electrical crimp connnectors
• Hose Clamps
• Scissors, utility knife
• Wire brush, steel & brass
• Various rubber hoses of small lengths
• Knee pads and small cushion from garden store

This is enough to fix anything in a parking lot or on the side of the road, anything more it's a tow back to the house for repair.

Also, I have noticed that folks include jumper/booster cables in the tool bag, my booster cable is in the car elsewhere.