Tools for Xterra

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ryandavenport

Guest
I keep a full socket set (SAE and metric), a drill, an impact, 3 replacement batteries, and a few other odd and end items. I also keep 10 gallons of compressed air, and an air compressor, along with some recovery gear. I keep all of that in there all the time. I would eventually like to get some impact sockets and a air impact, but what I have will do for right now.
 

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I'm going to keep my eye out for old tool sets going up for sale at farm auctions around here. I figure I can get a huge setup for cheap and just paint em to look new :D
 
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ryandavenport

Guest
^^I never though of that. I am going to build a tool box for the back of mine to keep all of my stuff organized. It moves around too much right now.
 

Mirage

<img src="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u7/ra
Founding Member
Location
Greenville SC
I keep only metric stuff in my bag, which stays in whichever vehicle i'm driving. In it I have a 3/8" metric 6 point sockets (9-19mm) 3/8" 12 point deep (11-21mm), 3/8" swivel sockets (10-17mm), 1/2" normal (12-22mm) with 2 3/8" ratchets with 3 extensions and a swivel, 1/2" ratchet and 3 extensions, 1/2" breaker bar (which I leave the short extension and a 22mm impact socket on, and use it as a tire iron) 1/4" ratchet with short extension and a 6mm socket and a standard socket I cant remember (the 2 cover 50%+ of the hose clamps out there though). Full set of combo wrenches (8-19mm) reversible ratcheting wrenches (8-19mm), set of stubby wrenches (12-17mm), set of flare nut wrenches. Pliers include 2 needlenose, 1 normal slip joint, 1 side cutters, 1 set of channel locks. Have a set of snap ring pliers with changeable tips, 1 set of allen keys, 2 flat heads and 3 phillips screwdrivers, 1 razor knife. I think that covers most of it, there probably is more, but I've used it to pull 4 different engines, 3 different transmissions, and saved 4 different friends butts because I had tools and they didn't. It covers 80% of the jobs i've done, as time has gone by if I need a tool I add it to the kit, but my bag is overflowing now. I have way more in the shop, but I do a lot of work just out of my bag.
 

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I told my dad I was going to go trick or treat at his house and to have the good stuff, so he told me he'd have a circular saw, some pudding, and a little bit of candy for me. I thought he was joking.

STH72380.jpg


My grandpa sent it from New Mexico for me. He finds all kinds of cool deals....dumpster deals, garage sale deals, going out of business deals. He mows a lot of lawns, used to, and when he'd take the grass to the dumpster he'd find cool things that people threw away that were easily fixable. So far he's given me a nice grinder and now a nice circular saw. He'd given my parents, years ago, a nice vacuum. And not one of those sissy vacuums they make now, the ones that would suck skin off if you let it!
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
The Pittsburg brand is pretty good.. Ike most things there you hVe to really look it over...


Sent from my underground bunker in the middle of my mind
 

Roschili

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
KnoxVegas
Does anybody know what the quality of the tools from Harbor Freight are like? Compared to stuff at Sears and Lowes.

It really depends on what you're looking at and how much you're going to use it. I won't buy anything from them that I'm going to use a lot or have to rely on in a pinch. I'm sure some of their stuff would work just fine, but I only look to them for less used items that I don't want to spend much on. Just think about how much you're going to use something and what its worth to you, then remember that you get what you pay for.
 

Alpine Spirit

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
South Park, CO
Harbor Freight is great for stuff you will use on a rare occasion or may only need one time. For stuff to use all the time get a little better quality.

Sawzall is a must... :)
 

granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
Stuff like impact sockets take abuse like no bodys business. All of the hydrolics that I have from them just keep on going, like 12k shop press, floor jack, while stuff like grinders, and drills are not as good as a lot of others that you can get.
 

AaronsX

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
^Where did you get your tow strap from?
Harbor Freight. I havent used it yet, its a 8k lb strap. People are iffy about harbor freights stuff and iffy about the ones with metal hooks. But like I said I can tell you from experience but I keep if for pulling cars back onto the road in the winter.
 
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ryandavenport

Guest
Aaron, you should look for something slightly higher capacity than 8k lbs. That's not a lotof room for failure
 

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Stuff like impact sockets take abuse like no bodys business. All of the hydrolics that I have from them just keep on going, like 12k shop press, floor jack, while stuff like grinders, and drills are not as good as a lot of others that you can get.

Good to know. I was curious about their hydraulic stuff as well.
 

RacerXXL

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
North Alabama
Can't believe DRB didn't post this.....a pair of vice grips. Nice and handy to have when a metal brake line fails. You can use the vice grip to pinch off the ruptured line and still have brakes to get back to the parking lot.
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
^^^ good point Kelly... and I have a set in the X :)


I need to take inventory of what I keep... Ill try to post up tomorrow
 

Roadwarrior

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Harbor Freight. I havent used it yet, its a 8k lb strap. People are iffy about harbor freights stuff and iffy about the ones with metal hooks. But like I said I can tell you from experience but I keep if for pulling cars back onto the road in the winter.

I ask, because I carry the same one.. haha
 

Ricel

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Rhode Island
Carry two tool bags in my truck full metric sae sockets and ratchet wrenches, assortment of pliers, screw drivers, zip ties, lithium drill and step bits (for drilling bumpers to reattach with zip ties!), odds and ends, rescue tape is a must, full fid kit for splicing all kinds of line (winch lines and 12strand braided), sawzaw with wood and metal bits, recovery straps, synthetic tree savers, tie downs and ratchet straps, assortment of bungee cords, soldier iron flux and wire for electrical, butane heat torch, MAP gas torch, machete, #10 CO2 tank with 50' of hose and assorted bits, starter fluid to pop a bead back on, common fluids, mag light, head lamp...

Just to rattle off a few I carry daily... Hehe
 
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granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
The straps with hooks are a last last last resort, while it might be OK for pulling your neighbors civic out of the snow bank at the end of the driveway. That is about where I would end its use. About the only thing that would be worse would be a chain.
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I'll find the link for you guys.. I agree with grantix. The straps with hooks are last resort.. The straps break easy and I have seen the hooks in car windows


Sent from my underground bunker in the middle of my mind
 

Bklyn.X

Skid Plates
Moderator
Supporting Member
Founding Member
Location
Brooklyn, NY
I hardly keep anything in the truck while driving around in Brooklyn but kind of over do it when I’m on the trail. Almost every tool in my list besides the most basic I have needed on the trail in the past and had been without (not always for my junk heap, sometimes when helping others). In addition to the parts (zip ties, hose clamps, wire, etc.), spare parts (front axle, u-joints, tie rods, front hub, nuts bolts, etc.), fluids (oil, coolant, brake, steering, trans, grease, WD40, PB blaster, brake cleaner, anti-seize, loctite, etc.), spill kit and recovery gear these are the tools I carry when wheeling my 1st gen (don’t know what applies for 2nd gen except I now carry the 32mm socket needed to remove the front axle);

Sockets including metric impact, metric Hex sockets, hex wrenches, wrenches, ratchet wrenches including some metric flex head, 2 Torque wrenches (ft.lb., in.lb.), 2 Breaker bars (18â€, 25â€), BFH, Ball peen hammer, rubber mallet, asst. pliers including Snap-ring pliers and cutters, Vise grips, screw drivers, Pry bars, bearing retaining nut socket, Bearing Packer, grease gun, Punch, set of picks, asst. files, asst. wire brushes, shop towels, basic air tools (impact wrench, ratchet and air hammer), CO2, C-Clamps, Thread repair tool (I seem to be always F’ing up a wheel lug), MAPP, hack saw, axe, machete, air gauge, multimeter, 12 volt circuit tester, code reader, HiLift, jack stands, OEM jack, duct tape.

I might have forgotten something but I think that’s it…

Sometimes I carry a chain saw but it depends where I’m wheeling.

Tim admiring my packing before hitting the trails;
DSC00283.jpg
 

Bklyn.X

Skid Plates
Moderator
Supporting Member
Founding Member
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Like I said I've needed and been without many times. When it has happened I would swear to myself "never again"!
 

civicjoe

lone wolf mod
Founding Member
Location
Nevada
i would say, its guys like this that save those that are unprepared, or there to help those of us that thought they had what they needed. Sometimes you never know.
 

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
The most useful straps are the nylon webbing that stretches and snaps back...snatch straps. They are looped at both ends, no hooks to fly through the air and kill people, etc.

I find the most useful size is 30' x 3"...you rarely are giving a yank from further than that, but, you don't want to be THAT close either....to avoid yanking them into YOUR rig, etc...and the 3" width strap is rated for 30k lb.

As force = mass times acceleration, and, lets say your 5k lb rig is going 10 mph to yank the guy from that mud hole he's sunk to his frame rails in...

5,000 lb x 10 mph = 50,000 lbmph

I think that's a bit OVER over 20k lb of force....so, upping to a stronger strap that can take 30k lb is wise/safer.

:D

This is why those recovery HOOKS rated for 10k lb get ripped OFF on a hard yank sometimes....the physics is brutal.

:D



The straps are MOST useful if you also have recovery points on the front and rear of your rig, to ATTACH the strap TOO.

:D



arb_705US.jpg
 
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