Thread: commonly used tools, socket/spanner sizes

Personally, I would put a 3/8" socket set on your list. I use mine far more than the 1/2", and they aren't so cumbersome. Mine is a Sidchrome 8 to 19mm (I think) and I have had it for years - always the first think I reach for when working on my vehicles.

You will be less likely to overtighten bolts as well.

Favorite tool is my cordless impact gun - it makes ripping stuff apart soooooo much quicker.

Cheers - Gav

Originally Posted by MLD

In addition, it would be interesting to know what special little tool that you throw in the tool box that has saved your bacon. A tool that you would never leave home without or has a special place in your heart.

Hello from Brisbane,

Facetiously, I might have said a bottle opener................

However, two tools that I always take overseas, and have used from time to time, are a mini Maglite (AA) torch and a Leatherman (Micra and a Wave).

For the truck, maybe a hub spanner - but probably only if you have the rest of the stuff required to fix a seal, bearing etc with.

Cheers,

Can't go wrong with a couple vise grips (more an emergency type thing, i wouldn't use them to undo anything unless i had to!), one small, with a narrow head and one big.

Other than that maybe a breaker bar, universal socket, deep sockets... where do you draw the line though...

Also, keep some penetrating oil like Inox under the drivers seat which serves two purposes, you can use it on rusty bolts and it also comes in handy for the inevitable Td5 ECU harness oil invasion

I always carry a small butane soldering iron, you can get a cheapie from stupidcheap.
Much better than twisting wires together and wrapping in tape.
The heat from the exhaust port also is great for heat-shrink and makes a good emergency fire (and cigarette) lighter
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Tube socket for hub bearings. WHen I broke a front axle, I used it. When I broke a diff, I used it.When a friend broke a CV, he used it. Sure a nail or centre punch and hammer can replace it in an emergency, but it makes it soooo much easier having that tool to hand.

Weller/Portasol butane pen torch. When my 'roid muncher physique can't budge a nut or bolt, ie often, it gets the torch. Works 9 times out of 10, particularly good in conjuction with the impact driver. Also good when dealing with rounded off lock nuts such as on propshafts-melt the nylon and they undo oh-so-easily. Has a soldering tip for electrical repairs. A hot-air tip for heat shrinking. A hot-knife tip for...slicing icecream?

One of the more common jobs I would have while out is tightening someone's towball. An aluminium handled stillson wrench and a 15 inch shifter together with a short piece of suitable pipe live in the travel toolbox.
Then there's the lump hammer for straightening suspension arms...(and tent pegs in difficult ground).

I have one of those impact wrenches, gave up using it 20 years ago. The piece of pipe and a decent breaker bar run rings around it.

A 27mm socket for the wheel nuts, circlip pliers, a good set of punches and chisels (for metal use of course), electrical crimps and quality crimper, 2 tyre irons (quality) a purpose built spanner for the viscous fan nut, grease gun (full), tie rod end (ball joint) breaker, Sidchrome Ratchet handle 3/8 drive ratchet bar, assorted size packets of plastic zip ties, small roll of wire (steel), a good solid ball pein hammer, a roll of fuel line (appropriate size at least 2M long), assorted hose clamps, bits of heater hose with preformed bends, a good quality set of Vice Grips, a set of 30cm Stilsons, teflon joint tape, spare hoses, belts, plastic Epoxy resin (for fuel tanks and radiator header tank, Chemi-Weld or Bars leaks and some silicon gasket maker, probably a few other things I can't remember, but these always go with my comprehensive tool kit, Regards Frank.

Tank you are either Macgyver or had many lessons learned the hard way.

cheers MLD