Toolkit to keep in the boot

[TUS373]

Please can I have recommendations for a small, simple, get you out of immediate trouble type of toolkit to keep in the boot of the car? I used to keep one in the back when I had a Chimaera, and looking for a modern equivalent. Small number of useful sockets, electrical tape, scissors, pliers, a few spanners. That kind of thing. Needs to be compact to fit in a cubby hole.

Many thanks!

[GreenV8S]

What tools and equipment do you know how to use? How willing are you to get uncomfortable and dirty dealing with car problems? How far will you be from rescue / recovery? For most people, a charged mobile phone and breakdown cover is the preferred way to deal with any problems.

[E-bmw]

^^^^ Wot e' said.

If you know what you are comfortable doing then make sure you have the tools to do that.

Sounds a bit wooly I know but there is no point buying a multimeter (for instance) if you know nothing about electrics, but I wouldn't get in a car without one.

[NiceCupOfTea]

On a modern car there's very little you can do at the roadside. Personally, a code reader, gaffer tape, WD40, battery booster, a litre of oil, some water, tyre foam/compressor.

[tux850]

I've had one of these in both our cars for around 20 years now (living inside the spare wheel) and they've been superb.



For many years I used them for all my regular car maintenance until I'd built up enough tools in the garage to no longer warrant getting them out. Not had a single failure despite plenty of abuse.

[TUS373]

tux850 said:

I've had one of these in both our cars for around 20 years now (living inside the spare wheel) and they've been superb.



For many years I used them for all my regular car maintenance until I'd built up enough tools in the garage to no longer warrant getting them out. Not had a single failure despite plenty of abuse.

Yes - that's the kind of thing I had in mine. From a quick look, that looks like £30 from Halfords and similar to what I have had. Not looking to change a head gasket at the side of the road, just want a few things that, if needs be, could come in handy. Thank you.

[Haltamer]

Add some targeting to your car as well - All the hose clamps take 7mm socket? etc.

[Smint]

If you change the auxilliary drive belt keep the old one (or a new one of course, but you know for sure the old one fitted easily) in the spare tyre well as a spare, and whatever tool is needed to release the tension...if the belt route is complicated take a pic now of the belt route print it and keep it with the spare belt.
Torch and some spare batteries, selection of cable ties, long ones and strong ones.

Make sure the wheelbolts are able to be undone with the wheelbrace you carry, similarly the jack is wortth more than tuppence ha'penny and not likely to collapse, with a wooden block so it doesn't sink if your flat tyre is discovered on soft ground.

If you have no spare, might be worth a grommet or string type temporary puncture kit together with an adequate inflator.

A general kit of spanners and screwdrivers (JIS if your car has Japanese cross head screws) pliers and water pump type plier and/or mole grips, maybe a compact socket set, aerosal of releasing type fluid, suitable spare bulbs particularly a spare dipped beam bulb if yours are changeable without dismantling the car, selection of fuses, mechanics type gloves and a pack of wet wipes.

[Pica-Pica]

GreenV8S said:

What tools and equipment do you know how to use? How willing are you to get uncomfortable and dirty dealing with car problems? How far will you be from rescue / recovery? For most people, a charged mobile phone and breakdown cover is the preferred way to deal with any problems.

Agreed. I keep cars for 10+ years. I have had two breakdowns in the last 33 years. in those case a decent tool set would not have helped at all (both water pumps if I recall, Volvo and BMW). A phone with a USB point and a multi head charging lead in the car would be better, plus Start Rescue membership (you pay a nominal membership, then a call-out fee)

[donkmeister]

I've had a few cars with a small factory supplied toolkit, but only two marques have really nailed the integrated toolkit in my view:

Rover:


And McLaren:


I just carry an OBD scanner (might be able to diagnose whether an engine fault is a limp home or call for recovery situation) a breaker bar with correct size wheel socket (ever since I had a wheel nut that had received all the dackas), a tyre inflator and whatever toolkit the car is supplied with.

[Jaz2000]

ON a modern car there is not a lot I could do at the side of the road, but with my classics I keep a few tools which will get me home without waiting hours for the recovery guy who doesnt know what to do if theres no obd2 socket.

I bought this nice compact set for around £80 and was surprised at the quality when I used it, managed to repair my car just outside John O Groats and I live in Cornwall so that would have been a long ride back.

[Smint]

Thats a really decent set, unusual to see the larger torx bits (up to tx70 or more?) and those allen keys will come in handy too.
Add a wrap with pliers/moles/screwdrivers harddly taken up any room at all.

Oddly enough my tx70 has disappeared and a front diff oil change is due on the Forester, got one coming today from Amazon at which point the missing one will magically reappear.