Anyone Have a Short List of Ranger-Specific Ratchet, Socket, Crescent Sizes?

[subquark]

In the old days (but after the hammer-and-chisel stone age) I was able to carry enough tools that my FJ40 never broke down so much that I couldn't get it going. But I also didn't care how much I had in it (even carried a timing light!). BUT ... that thing had no computers and not even any smog control stuff (it did have a charcoal canister for fuel fumes, but I took that out in 1976). Mechanical fuel pump, drum brakes all around, two spare tires, blah, blah, blah.

I was also much younger and invincible.

Today, I'd have no clue how to get a Ranger going again. Maybe disconnect the battery and reconnect?!? Hell, it took a technician to get the one-touch window to work when I picked it up!

I'm building a new tool kit for it with a few things that I'd like to think could be useful.

But a wise ass man here said the best tool kit is a cell phone and credit card!

A behemoth 30" breaker bar with impact 19 mm for a lug wrench (and pacifier).

Storing smaller stuff in this 12' tool bag.

Plus leather gloves, fire extinguishers, Leatherman, knives, flashlights, recovery gear, 5-pound sledge, come-along, snow chains, shovel, tin foil hat, flares, safety triangles, vampire stakes, silver bullets, etc.

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[Dr_Strangelove]

This thread makes me think of one of my favorite quotes.

In a pinch; every tool is a hammer. Except for a screwdriver. That is a punch.

 

[subquark]

This thread makes me think of one of my favorite quotes.

Perfectly said and perfect answer to the OP!

 

[NTXTremor]

If you are going to carry a set of wrenches, I really like these Flex Head Ratcheting combination wrenches. I tend to use these more than my socket wrenches these days.

 

[subquark]

If you are going to carry a set of wrenches, I really like these Flex Head Ratcheting combination wrenches. I tend to use these more than my socket wrenches these days.

Those are wicked nice! Hmm, might dump the sockets and consolidate to this (because, in reality, on the side of the road, I probably won't have enough to fix it and just hang out waiting for AAA!).

I thought this European car kit (I think it was stock in a Mercedes or BMW) looks interesting as far as being compact:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IFIODJM/

 

[AzScorpion]

I don't carry anything while around town. When we go on vacation I carry this Crescent set which has just about everything and I also bring a 18" breaker bar. It folds up nice and I lay it under a larger tote which I carry my bottle jack, another bag of assorted screwdrivers, flashlight, duct tape and large hammer.

 

[NTXTremor]

Those are wicked nice! Hmm, might dump the sockets and consolidate to this (because, in reality, on the side of the road, I probably won't have enough to fix it and just hang out waiting for AAA!).

I thought this European car kit (I think it was stock in a Mercedes or BMW) looks interesting as far as being compact:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IFIODJM/

That is a nice set for a car!

I carry a metric version of this in my Ranger, too, not necessarily for the Ranger but for general purposes.

 

[subquark]

I don't carry anything while around town. When we go on vacation I carry this Crescent set which has just about everything and I also bring a 18" breaker bar. It folds up nice and I lay it under a larger tote which I carry my bottle jack, another bag of assorted screwdrivers, flashlight, duct tape and large hammer.

That's a really nice looking set! Is it both SAE and metric?

Nicely packed case too, I hate cases where they have lots of empty space.

18" breaker bar? Amateur! =p

 

[DHMag]

I get being prepared and all but unless you're offroading, tool kits arent really needed. Now, my wife has a Jeep bag with a few tools and recovery equipment when offroading with some of the local offroad groups. But 9 times out of 10, someone has the tool you need if you ride in groups (NEVER WHEEL ALONE).

 

[AzScorpion]

That's a really nice looking set! Is it both SAE and metric?

Nicely packed case too, I hate cases where they have lots of empty space.

18" breaker bar? Amateur! =p

Yes it has both SAE and metric. I have a good size rollaway full of Craftsman tools I bought back when I just got out of high school. My neighbor was moving back to Canada and gave me this set because he has a full garage full of tools back there. They all snap into place and stay there which is nice and it doesn't take up much room.

 

[lazynorse]

I get being prepared and all but unless you're offroading, tool kits arent really needed. Now, my wife has a Jeep bag with a few tools and recovery equipment when offroading with some of the local offroad groups. But 9 times out of 10, someone has the tool you need if you ride in groups (NEVER WHEEL ALONE).

I think its wise if you're truly rock crawling its best to be in a location where you're unlikely to be alone.

I routinely go alone (wife and dog in car, but no other vehicles) in my adventures, which are more 'overland' though I hate that word. Its car camping, off the beaten path, in remote locations for often more than 1 night far away from pavement. Until this year, I did most these adventures in a Subaru Outback. I repaired a tire puncture and tighten some loosened bits, which is really what I'm looking for in a pared down tool kit.

Something rattles or looks wrong during inspection. Can I retighten or re-align in the field? Maybe I can limp back into town and buy a part. If lucky, I can undo the bolts, swap the piece and continue on rather than throw in the towel, get a tow truck and a hotel while my vehicle as at some far away repair shop. I'm not planning on rebuilding a motor!

That red Craftsman kit posted above looks enticing for $30. A small, metric ratchet set with screwdriver and swappable bits. Maybe I just get that and scavenge from my prior Subaru kit for adjustable crescent, needle nose pliers and a couple odds and ends. Wondering if I can get away with just the adjustable crescent rather than a wrench set mirroring the small Craftsman ratchet set pieces.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Okay Folks,

Here we are dealing with 10mm and 18mm. When we tried early in my career to do metrication of the vehicles in design, it was until 1981 that the program was implemented. There were some hard rocks like the 302/351W that was non metric but otherwise vehicles in Truck were on the drawing boards as metric. I was even given a metricl metal scale (ruler). So the design engineers decided on 18 mm for chassis bolts???? We had "standard" 17 and 19mm but they choose 18...WTF???

I never got an answer to that and resigned myself to obtain sockets and wrenches in 18mm. Sheesh! 10mm...different story as this is a metric standard.

Best,
Phil

 

[PltFX4]

My issue was two fold. First, I didn't want any tools on my truck that would hurt me if they got stolen. Second, when I went to aquire home Depot or Lowes house brand stuff, it was always cheaper to buy the set. With that, I did pull out a bunch of items to leave behind...

In my neck of the woods, Craigslist has tons of old guy (like me) selling off their tools at really cheap prices... and good stuff, Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac, etc. That's how I built up my "in-truck" tool kit. If they are stolen, no great loss.

I think @NTXTremor's approach is best way to go... What are you prepared to fix off road? verses having it dragged back to civilization. Because besides the tools, you'll need the spare parts too... load keeps getting bigger. Just IMO.

 

[Big Blue]

I don’t off road or overland, but do pull a small travel trailer. I carry a relatively cheap Harbor Freight tool kit, Like 100+ piece. Has a variety of sockets, combo wrenches and hex keys, SAE and metric. Pliers, needle nose, diagonal cutter and vice grip. Couple sizes of both phillips and flat screw drivers and a replaceable tip driver with bits. Oh yeah it has a hammer too. Pretty much covers any thing I might need in a campground.

In my swing cases I have a 1/2" breaker bar and Torque wrench, set of wheel sockets, the tire wrench kit from under the back seat (don't want to unload if have a flat), tire guage, cheap VOM and variety of bungies and straps. Also add to that a combo bottle jack/jack stand.

Think I'm pretty well covered. The HF tools are not Snap-On quality but get the job done in a pinch, and if lost or stolen, who cares. The good stuff is at home in my tool chest.

 

[got3fords]

The tool kits with the designated spots for certain tools would certainly come in handy when cleaning up. It's easy to tell immediately if something is missing before you drive off.

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