Traveling tool kit?

[GrantP]

I have a ton of good tools at home but no practical "tool kit" to bring on the road. I'm looking for something in a hard plastic case that I can easily throw in the vehicle and hit the road. I'm about to drive a 36 year old Jeep on a 1000 mile trip home and would like to have some tools with me for obvious reasons. Anyone have a set like this that they are happy with? I'm not looking to use the kit as my "go to" tools, just roadside emergency stuff.

Thanks,
Grant

 

[mwilson]

I have one in each vehicle, two Craftsman and one Gearwrench brand. All came in a blow molded plastic case. Contain 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive stuff, US and Metric and a smattering of wrenches. I add some screwdrivers, pliers, black tape, zip ties, etc......Probably have $150.00 in each kit.

I don't leave home without them.

 

[DavidC]

Take a trip to Harbor Freight.

Dave

 

[JR]

I've got an older version of this

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjABegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw2ncZnm2PhOtwuVFiZ64jMk

It's every bit of 15 years old now, still have the original ratchets, screw drivers, and most of the sockets. I've yet to actually break any of the tools. When I first bought the set I used it regularly but is now used for road trips. In the summer I throw it in a storage compartment in the camper. I have not seen the quality of the new crescent tool sets but mine has no doubt paid for itself a few times over.

 

[Brian Sullivan]

I use ammo. boxes from tractor supply. Metal with a rubber gasket on the top works good for me.

 

[sarj]

I jeep and found the best the best road kit is a vehicle-specific kit. If you've had your jeep a while, and wrench on it, you know most of the sizes. I've gotten small canvas zip pouches for each of the sockets, extensions, ratchets, and wrenches, so their easy to find but pack tight. Add in the screwdrivers, small hammer, a small vise-grips (I like small and medium cowboys too), a quality pair of channel-locks, a mexican micrometer, and anything else that you use. Add a small WD40, LPS, oil bottle, little grease container, tape, zip-ties... whatever your choices. Add in the few rags and a few pair of rubber gloves. Put in everything you know you use and leave out all the "set" stuff that really doesn't get used on your jeep.

Get all that out in front of you, and then find the smallest pelican case (or a good knock-off) that will hold it all and pack it all in there using the rags for padding. It's the best traveling case I've found, supports the weight, and is waterproof. We used a similar setup on our boat out in the ocean.

It works for me because it gets everything I might need, knocks it down to the tightest space (critical for jeep travel) and the pelican is waterproof and has a solid handle for the weight, tough enough to stand on, but the plastic makes it pack and travel well.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have a Crescent brand suitcase kit that worked great when doing chase duties in Baja.Youcan lay it out for quick selection.But I also had a soft side tool bag for the tools not found in a suitcase kit

 

[ntsqd]

Work on the vehicle only with the kit of tools that you carry in it. Start with nothing and add those that you need as you progress. No point in carrying an 11mm box-combo wrench if there isn't an 11mm headed bolt anywhere on the truck. Clearly you aren't likely to carry air tools (unless OBA'd), but do carry what you'd use if you didn't have those. I carry any special tools likely needed to get me home. For instance the socket for the front unit bearing's center nut and it's 1/2" drive adapter and the 12 pit. socket for the front unit bearing bolts travel with the 24" breaker bar for the lug nuts.

Race-Chase tool kits are different. There you pretty much can't carry too much.

I think that every tool kit should have one of these: https://clamptitetools.com/collections/tools, one of these: https://www.harborfreight.com/9-inch-safety-wire-twisting-pliers-45341.html and a one pound spool of .032" wire (McMaster if you can't find it local: https://www.mcmaster.com/#8860k63/=1bv8o9r ). There are way too many 'getcha-home' things that you can make on the side of the road or trail with those three items.

 

[Bob4x4]

Work on the vehicle only with the kit of tools that you carry in it. Start with nothing and add those that you need as you progress. No point in carrying an 11mm box-combo wrench if there isn't an 11mm headed bolt anywhere on the truck. Clearly you aren't likely to carry air tools (unless OBA'd), but do carry what you'd use if you didn't have those. I carry any special tools likely needed to get me home. For instance the socket for the front unit bearing's center nut and it's 1/2" drive adapter and the 12 pit. socket for the front unit bearing bolts travel with the 24" breaker bar for the lug nuts.

Race-Chase tool kits are different. There you pretty much can't carry too much.

I think that every tool kit should have one of these: https://clamptitetools.com/collections/tools, one of these: https://www.harborfreight.com/9-inch-safety-wire-twisting-pliers-45341.html and a one pound spool of .032" wire (McMaster if you can't find it local: https://www.mcmaster.com/#8860k63/=1bv8o9r ). There are way too many 'getcha-home' things that you can make on the side of the road or trail with those three items.

Heads up!check your cac hose clamps...............11 mm

 

[ntsqd]

That was an example, not a specific recommendation. Some take everything too literal. Who uses a box wrench on a hose clamp? I guess I should have said "No point in carrying an 19/32 box-combo wrench....."

 

[skipro3]

I bought a complete Husky Mechanics Tool Kit at a thrift store for $75. Evidently someone got it for Christmas and didn't want or need it I guess. Home Depot was selling them at Black Friday for $150. It's a great size but needs pliers added. So easy to just throw it in the truck and not worry if I have the right tool or not.
While it is more than the truck will need, I also have my camper/RV tow to consider plus it's nice if someone else I run across needs a tool. For example; stopped by son's house and helped him with doing his brakes last Saturday. Every tool needed was right in the Husky kit.

 

[w6pea]

I bought one from Sears. I have it in my 2016 Ram 2500 Laramie. I moved it from my Old Ford.
I also have one in my RV. I had it in the semi I used to drive. I also have one in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. And of course if I need a tool at home I can't find one. (Just making a joke)

 

[w6pea]

I bought one from Sears. I have it in my 2016 Ram 2500 Laramie. I moved it from my Old Ford.
I also have one in my RV. I had it in the semi I used to drive. I also have one in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. And of course if I need a tool at home I can't find one. (Just making a joke)

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Remember to throw in as many extra 10mm and 15mm sockets and wrenches you can find! Many SAE wrenches and socket sizes can be substituted for all the rest.

10mm and 15mm are the ones that can't be substituted and are also the two sizes needed for wrenching on any engine that may exist beyond the US border.

 

[HarryW]

Carry Only What You Need

Work on the vehicle only with the kit of tools that you carry in it. Start with nothing and add those that you need as you progress. No point in carrying an 11mm box-combo wrench if there isn't an 11mm headed bolt anywhere on the truck. Clearly you aren't likely to carry air tools (unless OBA'd), but do carry what you'd use if you didn't have those. I carry any special tools likely needed to get me home. For instance the socket for the front unit bearing's center nut and it's 1/2" drive adapter and the 12 pit. socket for the front unit bearing bolts travel with the 24" breaker bar for the lug nuts.

Race-Chase tool kits are different. There you pretty much can't carry too much.

I think that every tool kit should have one of these: https://clamptitetools.com/collections/tools, one of these: https://www.harborfreight.com/9-inch-safety-wire-twisting-pliers-45341.html and a one pound spool of .032" wire (McMaster if you can't find it local: https://www.mcmaster.com/#8860k63/=1bv8o9r ). There are way too many 'getcha-home' things that you can make on the side of the road or trail with those three items.

The BEST response yet. It took me years to finally stop hauling around all the "one of everything kits" and carry ONLY the tools that my vehicle or "toys" actually required.

 

[GrantP]

Thanks for the feedback. I went with a Crescent kit from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0758FNX38/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It has a little of everything which is good with three cars and two trailers. The quality is better than I expected from a 100 dollar tool kit.