Tool kit / socket suggestions

[JAsh1967]

Well, needed a new battery today, and the existing battery died hard at the auto parts store, so I had to wait for them to help install it...

So if you were putting together a toolkit to keep in your Jeep, a "oh crap I need to tighten / loosen this" sort of kit, something to get you back to civilization and your 72" long tool chest of tools, what would you put in it?

I've got some tools (but, of course because I needed tools, they weren't in the Jeep) which is partly our "camper tools" box. But no sockets.
So, what I've got right now is: Hammer (16oz claw hamer,) 3lb sledge hammer (short handle,) 2x adjustable wrenches, an electricians' screwdriver (includes multiple bits,) a set of "robogrip" pliers, and regular pliers.

Now, I've got a decent selection of sockets at home, if the Jeep had started again, I could've gotten home and done the work easy enough. So if I were to be tossing sockets in the toolbox to have in the Jeep, what are the common sizes?
An extension (say 9-12" long) for the sockets is a given, and I'm presuming a nice size collection of 10mm sockets to give as offerings to the auto-repair gods are givens.
Or, should I just go to the auto parts shop, buy a "set" of sockets and an extension there and call it good?

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[rbroncotx]

Metric socket set with a ratchet and a couple extensions covers most roadside stuff, plus a multi-bit driver. Keep it small enough it actually lives under the seat instead of the garage.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Well, needed a new battery today, and the existing battery died hard at the auto parts store, so I had to wait for them to help install it...

So if you were putting together a toolkit to keep in your Jeep, a "oh crap I need to tighten / loosen this" sort of kit, something to get you back to civilization and your 72" long tool chest of tools, what would you put in it?

I've got some tools (but, of course because I needed tools, they weren't in the Jeep) which is partly our "camper tools" box. But no sockets.
So, what I've got right now is: Hammer (16oz claw hamer,) 3lb sledge hammer (short handle,) 2x adjustable wrenches, an electricians' screwdriver (includes multiple bits,) a set of "robogrip" pliers, and regular pliers.

Now, I've got a decent selection of sockets at home, if the Jeep had started again, I could've gotten home and done the work easy enough. So if I were to be tossing sockets in the toolbox to have in the Jeep, what are the common sizes?
An extension (say 9-12" long) for the sockets is a given, and I'm presuming a nice size collection of 10mm sockets to give as offerings to the auto-repair gods are givens.
Or, should I just go to the auto parts shop, buy a "set" of sockets and an extension there and call it good?

Sockets/wrenches all the way to 24MM.

Mostly cause you never know if you end up with a loose control arm bolt, and some of those are big.

Well, and the oil filter takes a 24MM I believe.

But you might be shocked what I ride around with in my truck on a normal day.

I have a 'milk crate' with two tool rolls and a Craftsman socket/ratchet set in a plastic bi-folding case. All three drive sizes, sockets and wrenches up to 24MM, pliers of all types, basic electrical tools, two hammers (rubber and 3 pound steel), standard ratches and long flex head, a 1/2" drive cordless impact and a 3/8" cordless ratchet, and muchmore.

If I had the little tools to hold the cams in place in my tool bag, I am overly confident I could change the camshafts in the truck in an Oreillys parking lot.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

All of the above at the cheapest price available. Dont get em made out of cardboard but don’t be gettin Milwaukee top of the line scratch you back while you wrench stuff either. Tools disappear on the trail all the time. Not theft just set it down and it is gone type stuff. just get good enough stuff that you can work on the jeep under stress and not give a hang if the tool makes it off the trail.

 

[ChrisNLA]

All of the above at the cheapest price available. Dont get em made out of cardboard but don’t be gettin Milwaukee top of the line scratch you back while you wrench stuff either. Tools disappear on the trail all the time. Not theft just set it down and it is gone type stuff. just get good enough stuff that you can work on the jeep under stress and not give a hang if the tool makes it off the trail.

Ironically, everything in my truck is my primary stuff. I don't have a ton of storage at home right now and I am often fixing stuff away from home - so a pretty tool box in the garage fails me.

But yes - if not your primary get up, don't get too fancy.

Even though for me primary/fancy still just means Harbor Freight, lol (aside from cordless power tools and a few other things).

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Ironically, everything in my truck is my primary stuff. I don't have a ton of storage at home right now and I am often fixing stuff away from home - so a pretty tool box in the garage fails me.

But yes - if not your primary get up, don't get too fancy.

Even though for me primary/fancy still just means Harbor Freight, lol (aside from cordless power tools and a few other things).

Right there with ya!! Although I have thrown a couple Icon tools in the mix. Those aren’t cheap either.

 

[JAsh1967]

All of the above at the cheapest price available. Dont get em made out of cardboard but don’t be gettin Milwaukee top of the line scratch you back while you wrench stuff either. Tools disappear on the trail all the time. Not theft just set it down and it is gone type stuff. just get good enough stuff that you can work on the jeep under stress and not give a hang if the tool makes it off the trail.

So you're saying, Harbor Freight Pittsburgh brand sockets.
Yeah, I could see setting a tool down somewhere, it gets bumped / rolls off onto the ground and then disappears.
And if it's a 10mm? Doesn't even need to move, you take your eyes off it for a second and it's vanished...

 

[ChrisNLA]

Right there with ya!! Although I have thrown a couple Icon tools in the mix. Those aren’t cheap either.

A buddy of mine uses his tools for a living, and buys Snap On for his service truck - but he buys all Harbor Freight Icon for his home box. He's been really impressed with them overall.

I've bought the Pittsburg and Quinn stuff myself. It works totally fine. Quality is better than my 'older' Craftsman stuff.

 

[JAsh1967]

My home tools are a set of Craftsman sockets and the wrenches I bought, oh, back in the mid-80s or so. Still hanging in there, still working well.

Most likely, I'll look at getting a decent set, maybe Kobalt, maybe Icon, to keep in the truck. I'd rather spend a bit (and risk losing some) than get cheap and have it break on me when I need it.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I have Quinn and Pittsburg for sockets, pliers, and wrenches. Icon is a 1/2” driver that I really don’t want to break. It’s big and beefy and if I lose that doing trail repairs then I’m blind. Hammer is a mallet I picked up somewhere at some time and I don’t even know the brand. It won’t do for framing all day but it’ll whack a Jeep back into compliance.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

My answer is patrol the local garage sales and concentrate on metric. Never be afraid to ask because that old bitty may have forgotten her deceased husband even had tools while she was trying to find all of the doilies she wanted to sell.... I picked up a really nice Bosch Sabre saw just this weekend because I asked if there were any.

 

[UTRocky]

Try

https://www.craftsman.com/en-us/product/cmmt45242/versastack-mechanics-tool-set-242-pc

https://www.moparonlineparts.com/sku/68640356aa.html

Or build your own like everyone saying. =)

 

[JAsh1967]

Try

https://www.craftsman.com/en-us/product/cmmt45242/versastack-mechanics-tool-set-242-pc

https://www.moparonlineparts.com/sku/68640356aa.html

Or build your own like everyone saying. =)

I'll admit, that MOPAR kit looks nice, and looks like it'd be nice and compact to keep in the Jeep, but man that price...
That hurts...

 

[UTRocky]

Agreed find a leather wrap on Etsy and then make your own tool wrap based off their tools. Its my plan this winter I may share that journey here on forums.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Agreed find a leather wrap on Etsy and then make your own tool wrap based off their tools. Its my plan this winter I may share that journey here on forums.

This is one of the rolls I have in my truck:

https://a.co/d/04rI05LT

Can't remember what the other one is. I might lay that out on the tailgate this evening and take a few photos since we're all on the subject...

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