Thread: Vehicle recovery / breakdown tool kit

Everything except the tarp, knives and multimeter (refer first post) fit in this ammo box, which works well for a 90.

Do Not and i Repeat Do Not Rely on the factory wheel brace You do need a 60cm (2 FT) Breaker bar and sockets dont fool your self.
I dont care how well cared or serviced your car is they still break down .
Im sorry i always carry more than enough tools as well as the main common spares .
I know you cant carry everything but im not going to be caught unprepared
Yes i did cubs and scouts

Yeah, while it would be nice, I don't think it's necessary to carry something that big? I too appreciate a good tool (I have an enviable collection), I reckon a 40cm 1/2" breaker bar would be more than enough to get you out of the most serious pickle.

Notwithstanding things like crank pulleys, I've never had an issue with wheel nuts using the stock gear.

To put it in perspective:
130Nm torque is needed for the alloy wheel nuts.
1kg of weight is approx 10 newtons of force
If you had 70kg body mass, and stood on the end of a 1m breaker bar, you'd be putting 700Nm on that nut.
Just standing on the stock 40cm tyre lever is 700x0.4 = 280Nm (plenty!)... and that's before I break out the hi-lift jack handle to make a 1.2m long breaker bar, or utilise the 'jumping up and down on the lever and get mad' technique!

I'm all for carrying everything that could potentially be needed, but we need to remember that a 'remote touring' repair kit would be significantly different.

For example, back in september, I was heading to dubbo and pulled into Coolah for a bite to eat. I heard a terrible clanging as I drove off, and discovered it was a diff guard flopping about. I didn't have a 15mm spanner (or my all purpose nut-rounding device, AKA shifter), so I had to beg/borrow one from the local NRMA mechanic. One now lives in the tool box, as well as it's 9/16" mexican cousin for the driveshaft.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

Yeah, while it would be nice, I don't think it's necessary to carry something that big? I too appreciate a good tool (I have an enviable collection), I reckon a 40cm 1/2" breaker bar would be more than enough to get you out of the most serious pickle.

Notwithstanding things like crank pulleys, I've never had an issue with wheel nuts using the stock gear.

To put it in perspective:
130Nm torque is needed for the alloy wheel nuts.
1kg of weight is approx 10 newtons of force
If you had 70kg body mass, and stood on the end of a 1m breaker bar, you'd be putting 700Nm on that nut.
Just standing on the stock 40cm tyre lever is 700x0.4 = 280Nm (plenty!)... and that's before I break out the hi-lift jack handle to make a 1.2m long breaker bar, or utilise the 'jumping up and down on the lever and get mad' technique!

I'm all for carrying everything that could potentially be needed, but we need to remember that a 'remote touring' repair kit would be significantly different.

For example, back in september, I was heading to dubbo and pulled into Coolah for a bite to eat. I heard a terrible clanging as I drove off, and discovered it was a diff guard flopping about. I didn't have a 15mm spanner (or my all purpose nut-rounding device, AKA shifter), so I had to beg/borrow one from the local NRMA mechanic. One now lives in the tool box, as well as it's 9/16" mexican cousin for the driveshaft.

In theory yes untill the dealer or tyre shop do your wheel nuts up to some stupid torque

I would be looking to secure that toolbox, would be a nasty missile in a roll over.
Slightly off topic
First Aid Kit (people repairs)
Toilet Paper
Soap
more toilet paper
Only had one roadside emergency and it was most appreciated.

Originally Posted by rangieman

In theory yes untill the dealer or tyre shop do your wheel nuts up to some stupid torque

I understand this problem and how frustrating it can be but, I've heard so many stories of cars leaving tyre repair shops with loose wheel nuts, that I never trust 'em these days.
I back-off and re-torque (at home, using my 'inner' torque-wrench) all my wheel nuts asap after any visit to the tyre shop and, every time a wheel nut is touched for any reason, the stud always gets a dab of quality copper grease.
There is no reason to expect monster torque values and squealing threads when either getting wheels off or putting them on.
(Breaker bar and full socket set for the big trips though )

A large packet of wet wipes. Have many uses.

And a couple of old towels are handy to stop all your 'emergency repair gear' from rattling around .............. and come in handy as rags when you are called on to do that unexpe ted repair.