Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General What tools should I always keep on me?

I have been carrying my toolbox arround for the past few years, and have realized that I am wasting a lot of space and carrying a bunch of extra weight for nothing. I want to put a much smaller tool kit together with the tools that i should always have on me, in case of an emergency. for example which socket sizes i should have, screw drives etc.
Any help/suggestions are appreicated.
Mike

Screw drivers, something big and hard for hitting stuff, a good lug nut wrench especially if you have aftermarket wheels (I use a large 1/2" broken torque wrench), 10mm is a good socket to have. Also a 10mm wrench. Basically think about what could likely possibly happen to your car that you'd need a tool for, and think what tool you'd need to fix it and carry those with you. Basically any tool I buy goes in my car (no, I don't have very many tools, and some I use I leave at home in case my mom needs em). I just throw them in the back floor board, my car is a rolling tool box.

I have a portable tool set in my trunk... It has a socket wrench set with metric and english sockets... 3 screw drives, 1 flathead, one philips head and 1 with a universal attachment for Sockets and a bunch of different Screw driver heads... it has 12 wrenches, 6 english 6 metric, 2 sets of allen wrenches, pair of plyers, cresent wrench, needle nose players... I would say head over to meijer or Sears and just get a tool set like that with a carrying case.

a good quality set would be my suggestion..


you CAN get complete sets at Wally World, or the like for much less, but lesser grade steel, etc, They tend to be weaker, more forgiving (give slightly) and more prone to either being marred, deformed, or snapped...


I would use a higher quality toolset, and you will never regret the first time you have something go out on you and you use ol' el cheapo and they snap, or break..


Look through the how-to's written and pinned at the top of major forums for tools needed for some things, and see what can be consolidated.


Carry a MINIMUM of

MOST IMPORTANTLY - coolant, brake fluid, at least 1QT motor oil, power steering fluid.

then:
4 screwdrivers (2 of EACH type (phillips, flathead) one small , one large

Socket set
- Metric from 6mm-19 should cover most, except wheel nut (locking spindle nut is a 32mm I believe)

- Standard to 1 inch-ish (???)

a set of wrenches, box/open combos in metric and american.

some odd tools, such as needle nose, vice grips, ELECTRICAL TAPE..

A MAGNETIC ROD (extendable, like a teacher's pointing stick) to retrieve lost parts in the engine bay...

maybe four or five wire splices/taps in case a wire snaps.


You can't be prepared for EVERY situation, but when you have a varied assortment of quality tools, you can usually improvise alot of the time.
Let me think of anything else REALLY pressing..


Ray

Your American Automobile Association card........
Leatherman tool, Vise grips, Multi driver, hand cleaner....

There are 4-5 CEGers you should keep with you at all times.

credit card, cell phone, friend's phone #

I kept some tools in my car.....until someone broke into my car and used them to steal my stereo, etc.

i duno why you need to carry around brake fluid and motor oil. If your leaking either of those bad enough you have to replace it constantly you shouldnt be driving the damned car. GET IT TO A SHOP. Im with the group that says some spare change or cell phone for emergencies, credit card or CAA or AAA or any kind of emergency roadside service. I do carry around some windsheild wiper fluid. As for tools, the only thing i carry in the car is a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, a couple emergency candles....a multi-tool. I dont see the sense in carrying around a toolbox full of crap, if something goes wrong with thhe car that would require immediate service id call CAA and get it towed somewhere safe or to the garage.