Happy Joe
Apprentice Geezer
A little background I used to camp to four wheel now I four wheel to camp.
When doing very difficult to extreme trails some degree of breakage is expected, but I never expected to tear a leaf spring mounting plate in half; there happened to be a couple of welding rods in the vehicle so we removed the plate and used some jumper cables and 2 batteries to glue it back together (it never failed again) ... since that time when expecting difficult terrain (but not on "civilized" trips) I carry rods, a stinger and the goggles; the jumper cables are and always carried item.
Often times the tools (like the winch) are used to keep other vehicles mobile, I rarely break down myself.
For hand tools I have found that 3/8 drive sockets extensions etc to work for all but the largest jobs (pitman arm and pinion nuts etc are notable exceptions).
I select tools depending on the vehicle some vehicles are metric, some are not and some are a combination. I carry a minimal amount of the other type of tools (also as I am frequently asked to help fix random vehicles on the trail).
Some of the tools;
most sockets wrenches etc are 1/4" through 3/4" or 19mm range
craftsman 3/8 drive extended swivel head ratchet (based on their 3/8 drive breaker bar)
A set of combination wrenches
A set of deep well sockets (6 or 12 point)
a set on normal sockets (the opposite point style of the deep well sockets) or both 6 and 12 point styles)
a normal ratchet
a universal joint
a set of socket size adapters.
a set of extensions (usually enough to reach around 24" when combined)
Other specialty sockets/wrenches etc as needed for the vehicle (I have run into 1/4" or 5/16" 12 pint u-joint bolts very difficult to get off if you don't have the proper wrench).
a 10" or 12" adjustable end wrench.
a pair of large curved jaw Vice Grips - get the good ones not chinese.
a 10" or 12" pair or channel locks
a pair of dikes (wire cutters)
a needle nosed plier
a slip joint plier.
A crimping tool
a drilling hammer or other BFH (I carry a "jeep tool" consisting of a 3 pound blacksmiths hammer hear with a brazed on 3/4" pipe coupling, an 18" 3/4" pipe handle with an straightened antique jack handle inside for use as a pry bar. (the pipe can be used as a torque multiplier for stubborn bolts, or welded to a straightened bent tie rod/draggling to strengthen it).
a multi point screw driver.
a large flat screw driver big/strong enough to use as a pry bar.
a brass drift or soft steel punch around 9" long.
a thread chaser to straighten out threads on abused bolts.
A tiny/compact tubing cutter.
a putty knife.
A hacksaw blade holder and high quality blades, an alternative is a saws-all blade holder and blades.
This is off the top of my head so I probably left some things out.
Enjoy!
When doing very difficult to extreme trails some degree of breakage is expected, but I never expected to tear a leaf spring mounting plate in half; there happened to be a couple of welding rods in the vehicle so we removed the plate and used some jumper cables and 2 batteries to glue it back together (it never failed again) ... since that time when expecting difficult terrain (but not on "civilized" trips) I carry rods, a stinger and the goggles; the jumper cables are and always carried item.
Often times the tools (like the winch) are used to keep other vehicles mobile, I rarely break down myself.
For hand tools I have found that 3/8 drive sockets extensions etc to work for all but the largest jobs (pitman arm and pinion nuts etc are notable exceptions).
I select tools depending on the vehicle some vehicles are metric, some are not and some are a combination. I carry a minimal amount of the other type of tools (also as I am frequently asked to help fix random vehicles on the trail).
Some of the tools;
most sockets wrenches etc are 1/4" through 3/4" or 19mm range
craftsman 3/8 drive extended swivel head ratchet (based on their 3/8 drive breaker bar)
A set of combination wrenches
A set of deep well sockets (6 or 12 point)
a set on normal sockets (the opposite point style of the deep well sockets) or both 6 and 12 point styles)
a normal ratchet
a universal joint
a set of socket size adapters.
a set of extensions (usually enough to reach around 24" when combined)
Other specialty sockets/wrenches etc as needed for the vehicle (I have run into 1/4" or 5/16" 12 pint u-joint bolts very difficult to get off if you don't have the proper wrench).
a 10" or 12" adjustable end wrench.
a pair of large curved jaw Vice Grips - get the good ones not chinese.
a 10" or 12" pair or channel locks
a pair of dikes (wire cutters)
a needle nosed plier
a slip joint plier.
A crimping tool
a drilling hammer or other BFH (I carry a "jeep tool" consisting of a 3 pound blacksmiths hammer hear with a brazed on 3/4" pipe coupling, an 18" 3/4" pipe handle with an straightened antique jack handle inside for use as a pry bar. (the pipe can be used as a torque multiplier for stubborn bolts, or welded to a straightened bent tie rod/draggling to strengthen it).
a multi point screw driver.
a large flat screw driver big/strong enough to use as a pry bar.
a brass drift or soft steel punch around 9" long.
a thread chaser to straighten out threads on abused bolts.
A tiny/compact tubing cutter.
a putty knife.
A hacksaw blade holder and high quality blades, an alternative is a saws-all blade holder and blades.
This is off the top of my head so I probably left some things out.
Enjoy!
