View Full Version : What's In Your Tool Kit?
DeepBarney
31st May 2016, 11:06 PM
Looked around and couldn't find a thread regarding what tools folks carry with them when they hit the road (though there were plenty on what spares parts to take). So here it is what tools and fix it gear do you take with you when you head out? I'm interested in seeing what everyone likes to keep in their Landy's and thinks is necessary. In the interest of learning let's break it down as follows: When just driving around town? Day trips? Week or longer trips? If it's always the same kit no need to answer more than once.
Blknight.aus
31st May 2016, 11:30 PM
lots, lots and lots and lots of tools.
and If I know Im going out to support and will be expecting to be the mechanic.. even more.
but then those tools usually pay for my fuel/food/booze/themselves.
what you need. as basics as a starting point.
screwdrivers
pliers 
ring open ended spanners in metric or imperial depending on your vehicle
socket set (8-19mm) in 3/8th drive
socket set 6-15mm in 1/4 in drive
knife
vice grips
mulitmeter
shifter
thats usually enough for most side of the road stuff bar tyre changing but you should have that gear already.
just how much did you want to do?
DeepBarney
1st June 2016, 12:40 AM
Thanks for the reply.
Back home in the states I have a big tool box full of stuff that sits in the back of my pickup (everything I need for working on it and a lot of other things vehicular and otherwise). Not as much of an option for me here, so I'm looking to get a tool kit together for my Disco that's comprehensive enough to tackle most common and basic fixes. 
I've got a small set of tools that initially was for the bike I was travelling around on, and though comprised of relatively few things it was surprising comprehensive and barring a full engine tear down I could do just about any work with. I'll be incorporating this into my kit but will need to supplement it further. But like with the bike I don't wan't to be carrying any unnecessary tools (ie extra weight without benefit). For example if there's not a 16mm bolt or nut on this car, then there's no need for a 16mm spanner and socket. And ideally a tool should have as many purposes as possible (like an open end wrench being ground down enough to undo the plugs on the radiator and T-stat housing).
So part of what I'm after is what specific sizes of wrenches/sockets does everyone carry. What range shifter are you packing? Etc.
Currently I have (and this will be a constant carry kit):
-Double Box End Wrench 8 and 10
-"         "     "    "          12 and 14
-Sockets 8-19 (smaller ones are 1/4 drive, rest are 3/8 drive, the two sets I bought had some overlap so I've got a handful in both drive size)
-Shifter that opens to 22mm
-T-Handle multi driver tool (1/4 drive on one end, hex bit driver on other)
-Screw driver bits for T-handle driver (#2 and #3 phillips, 2 different standard/flat head bits, T30 torx, allen key (forget sizes), 1/4 drive bit (in case you can't or don't want to use the one on the short end of the handle)).   
-1/4 to 3/8 drive adaptor
-9 peice Torx key set T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40, T45 & T50
-9 peice Allen key set 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 10mm
-Pliers
-Needle nose pliers
-Adjustable grip pliers
-Leatherman tool
-Lots of duct tape
-Lots of zip ties of various sizes
-Super glue
-Spare wire and fuses
-Jumper cables/leads
-Tire pressure gauge
-Rags and soap/degreaser 
-Factory bottle jack, tire chock, and tire iron or wheel brace as I think you all call it here (with one hell of a cheater pipe/extension welded onto it)
-Wood blocks (short 6x2 with multiple uses, notable chocking wheels or using as a base for the jack if on sand or soft ground)
-A 5/8 spark plug socket I no longer have any use for
-A pair of tire levers for changing motorcycle tires (no real use for anymore)
-A hand held air pump for inflating bicycle or motorcycle tires (no real use for any more)
I'm likely forgetting some things but that's most of it. Some of that was acquired post bike, but I still need to add some more spanners, a 3/8 drive ratchet and extension, a screw driver kit, a tyre patch/plug kit, a small electric air compressor, and vice grips and a multimeter as you suggested would be a good idea.
Homestar
1st June 2016, 05:20 AM
RACV Total Care. ;)
87County
1st June 2016, 06:21 AM
RACV Total Care. ;) 
NRMA in this state + blknights tel no
DeepBarney
3rd June 2016, 08:29 AM
Add one "fabricated from a bit of scrap aluminum radiator cap remover" to my kit. Just a square bit of aluminum the same thickness as the slot in the brass radiator and t-stat housing plug. It's the same width and about twice as tall as it is wide, and I just grip it in a shifter tighten or loosen the plugs.
loanrangie
3rd June 2016, 10:28 AM
For my small toolbox i keep in the back of the disco -
combination ring / open spanners
selection of sockets
screw driver set
ratchet
extensions
mallet
hub nut box spanner
allen key set
circlip pliers
side cutters, pliers, long nose pliers
3 x shifting spanners
tube of rtv
duct tape
electrical tape
hose clamps
self tappers
a few various size bolts/nuts
other stuff i probably forgot.
Jesters Td5
3rd June 2016, 11:40 AM
I have a lockable Pelican box mounted to the roof and it holds my spare parts and the following (probably going to forget one or two things)
1/2" socket set 8mm to 50mm
1/2" impact socket set 10mm to 50mm
Metric combination spanner set up to 30mm
Screwdriver set
Pry bars of various sizes
Shifters 50mm, 150mm and 300mm
Strap wrench
Various pliers and cutters
Vice grips
Lots of tapes and self binders
Various zip ties of different lengths
Allen key set (very small to very big)
Various screws, bolts etc for repairs and building stuff
Rivet gun and rivets
4 metre long round blocks of solid urethane of various diameters (well they all started out a metre long but 2 are only about 30cm now after a few years)
Hacksaw and blades
Hand saw
Multimeter
Nanocom
Various electrical wires and fuses
12V stuff for which I have a mounted inverter for charging and 3 batteries.
Drill
Rattle gun
Angle grinder
Carrot cutter (chainsaw)
That's pretty much all of it I think. In the work Unimog this week so can't go check.
Overkill, but those have enabled me to rip out suspension and rebuild etc on the Tanami (bloody Nissan and not a Landy) which then got me 2 full tanks (180L) and a few cartons of beer as well as many other things along my travels
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