By Tony Konovaloff
The next time you work on your rig, set aside the tools you use during the repair. You would be surprised by how few of the tools in your kit are actually used. I sometimes think you could disassemble a Land Cruiser with only a phillips screwdriver, 10, 12 and 14mm sockets and a hammer. Even a Birf replacement on the trail is a job that doesn’t take all that many tools to actually do. But I have to admit I am chicken to carry such a small set of tools. I will also admit that I do carry too many tools on the trail. I think the point of this is to try and determine just what tools I really need to carry or if there are some I can leave behind.
What may help you decide what tools to bring is just what repairs you may have to do on the trail. If you don’t wheel really hard or don’t find yourself in the back of beyond that factory kit may work just fine but I tend to end up where Triple A is not going to come to my aid. This is where paying attention to the tools that are commonly pulled during maintenance or repairs in your driveway is really important. Here is what I carry on most runs.
A set of wrenches. Going to add a second 12 and 14mm as having two of these when tightening up driveshaft bolts is really handy.
Sockets, an extensive set of 3/8 and some 1/2 but try not to overlap too much. I have a 1/4″ set but mostly I use these sockets on an extension handle as nut drivers. I also have a couple of large sockets for hub nuts and pinion flange nuts.
Assorted pliers including vise grips
Screwdrivers
Electrical tools, crimpers, wire cutters and a multi-meter.
Rubber mallet and a ball pein hammer.
Air hose and compressor attachments, tire fill fittings and blower nozzle for cleaning out things
Allen Keys. You will find a few on Land Cruisers and I have added a few of my own.
Pry bar.
Hacksaw
Impact driver
Jump cables (long enough to jump a rig directly in front of you on a narrow trail)
Specialty tools. Hose clamping pliers, extend-able magnet, long rod for pushing out a broken axle, Picks, Broken bolt extractors etc.
Propane Torch. Trigger activated, just uses fuel bottles from the camp stove.
A fence tool and a pair of channel locks are left in my door for ease of access.
No matter how many tools you carry there are some tools that are just plain nice to have. That and they have earned a place in my kit from past experience.
Snap ring pliers, had my front end apart enough times that this has become a mandatory tool.
1/2 Torque wrench, just nice to know that trail repairs are tightened properly. And the one time I left it behind I really needed it.
3/8 Speed Handle. When pulling groups of bolts this thing has more than paid for itself.
Longer and extended trips have some additional things to consider because of the lack of available aid. We have found the need for these tools on occasion and nothing else would have served the purpose.
A Ready Welder (Portable Mig welder). Saved Eric at Rubicon when he broke a spring hanger. This includes an eye shield, mig pliers, gloves, wire brush, file and a 20′ extension cable that allows me to use the welder anywhere on my rig as well as on a rig in front of me.
Drill and bits. Recently to simplify things (and eliminate the need for a larger inverter) I attached a cord to an old 12V drill I had laying around. Works great just plugged straight to the battery by a couple of small clamps. Set of cobalt bits make sure I can keep drilling even in something extra hard.
Grinder.
The ready welder easily hooks to the dual batteries most of us run and the other electrical tools are easily powered with a small inverter. But not too small of an inverter or variable speed triggers won’t work.
Torque Specs cheat sheet- I used to carry a complete manual but after spending so much time under and around my rig I now only carry a small list of common torque specs. Its the bolts and nuts that come off the most often on trail repairs, all the front axle fasteners etc. Many of them I know by heart but not all.
An important consideration should be just where are you going to put your tools to keep them from flying around in the rig. I built a storage box that has a drawer for easy access when I do need them. And to make them easier to find just what I am looking for they are put into tool rolls and canvas bags to organise them. So have I decided to leave anything out? Not just yet…. And to be honest I don’t mind being the guy others come to looking for a tool they don’t have.
