Tools to live in the boot

[Gad-Westy]

I've been caught out a couple of times recently with punctures on cars with no spares and in reviewing the kit I carry to deal with those I started thinking more and more about putting together little car specific tool kits for each of my cars that would give me half a chance of fixing little things at the side of the road rather than have hours to wait for recovery.

I've got most of a plan together in terms of the usual stuff, tyre related items, bulbs, fuses, cable ties, tape but I wondered if anyone has discovered any little gems/gadgets that I should be aware of. I've looked at some of the little all in one tool kits but a lot of those are quite household orientated rather than being geared towards cars. I also quite like the idea of a leatherman type tool that has a load of stuff on without taking up much space but I don't want to spend a fortune on something that might never see daylight again so a recommendation for something cheap.

So just after some ideas before I put a shopping list together. Over to PH.

[E-bmw]

I used to carry a full tool box weighing around 15kg in the boot of my car until (when I had a 3.0 24v Senator) I lost the rear end on a wet road due to the bungee cord holding it snapping.

This allowed the box to slide across the boot on a sharp bend, obviously the extra angular momentum (if that is the right term) caused the rear to break-away!!!!!!!!!!!

Major drifting round the bend might have looked spectacular from behind but it really caught me by surprise & when I found the cause I really slimmed it down to a tool roll small enough to fit in an appropriately solid cubby hole.

[Gad-Westy]

E-bmw said:

I used to carry a full tool box weighing around 15kg in the boot of my car until (when I had a 3.0 24v Senator) I lost the rear end on a wet road due to the bungee cord holding it snapping.

This allowed the box to slide across the boot on a sharp bend, obviously the extra angular momentum (if that is the right term) caused the rear to break-away!!!!!!!!!!!

Major drifting round the bend might have looked spectacular from behind but it really caught me by surprise & when I found the cause I really slimmed it down to a tool roll small enough to fit in an appropriately solid cubby hole.

A harsh lesson! I'm not looking to carry loads, just a few simple little things that might get me out of some pickles. One of the cars is an MX5, my pal suggested I carry a welder!

[ChocolateFrog]

Puncture repair kit
Tyre sealant
Air compressor pump
Scissor Jack
Breaker bar and socket
Screwdriver multi head
Small adjustable spanner
Small mole grips
Cable ties
Snips
OBD reader


All kept in a plastic tray in the boot. Saved me twice in the last 2 years so well worth it.

[senditchris]

A head torch has saved me some grief, in addition to the already mentioned.

[wong]

ChocolateFrog said:

Puncture repair kit
Tyre sealant
Air compressor pump
Scissor Jack
Breaker bar and socket
Screwdriver multi head
Small adjustable spanner
Small mole grips
Cable ties
Snips
OBD reader


All kept in a plastic tray in the boot. Saved me twice in the last 2 years so well worth it.

Add a thin waterproof/hi-viz jacket
Neddlenose pliers

[monthou]

wong said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Puncture repair kit
Tyre sealant
Air compressor pump
Scissor Jack
Breaker bar and socket
Screwdriver multi head
Small adjustable spanner
Small mole grips
Cable ties
Snips
OBD reader


All kept in a plastic tray in the boot. Saved me twice in the last 2 years so well worth it.

Add a thin waterproof/hi-viz jacket
Needlenose pliers

Gloves
Something to kneel / lie on
Lithium jump starter
rope / lorry straps

[dtaylo2]

The Wera Toolcheck plus is handy to have.

https://products.wera.de/en/ratchets_and_accessori...

[E-bmw]

Gad-Westy said:

E-bmw said:

I used to carry a full tool box weighing around 15kg in the boot of my car until (when I had a 3.0 24v Senator) I lost the rear end on a wet road due to the bungee cord holding it snapping.

This allowed the box to slide across the boot on a sharp bend, obviously the extra angular momentum (if that is the right term) caused the rear to break-away!!!!!!!!!!!

Major drifting round the bend might have looked spectacular from behind but it really caught me by surprise & when I found the cause I really slimmed it down to a tool roll small enough to fit in an appropriately solid cubby hole.

A harsh lesson! I'm not looking to carry loads, just a few simple little things that might get me out of some pickles. One of the cars is an MX5, my pal suggested I carry a welder!

I know, I was just recounting my younger stupidity rather than employing common sense.

[Stick Legs]

Quite simply enough to stop me getting stranded.

My Capri: fuses, points & condenser & a tool roll with spanners & screw drivers.

80’s BMWs: fuses, crank sensors, temp sender, the car had a good enough tool kit.

Modern Range Rover: fuses & a code reader.

[vikingaero]

monthou said:

wong said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Puncture repair kit
Tyre sealant
Air compressor pump
Scissor Jack
Breaker bar and socket
Screwdriver multi head
Small adjustable spanner
Small mole grips
Cable ties
Snips
OBD reader


All kept in a plastic tray in the boot. Saved me twice in the last 2 years so well worth it.

Add a thin waterproof/hi-viz jacket
Needlenose pliers

Gloves
Something to kneel / lie on
Lithium jump starter
rope / lorry straps

4 post lift
Large wheeled Snap-on tool chest



My latest addition to all of our family cars are a tyre plug kit. I've not used one on my own vehicles yet, but have helped 4 other people out with them.

[E-bmw]

Stick Legs said:

Modern Range Rover: fuses & a code reader.

And a full workshop staffed with at least 2 x RR master techs.

[Stick Legs]

E-bmw said:

Stick Legs said:

Modern Range Rover: fuses & a code reader.

And a full workshop staffed with at least 2 x RR master techs.

In my experience JLR products will generate all kinds of scary warning lights & make some funny noises but very very rarely strand you anywhere.

A mate runs a garage which does lots of 2006-2016 JLR stuff and short of the crank snapping they will get you home.

My 80’s BMW’s would fail a sensor and then because first generation Motronic had not fixed input limp mode capability would just stop running.

This happened on two occasions to me and it was a temp sender unit & the second time a crank position sensor in the bell housing.
Engine just stopped running. Clutch in & coast.

I’m not claiming it’s reliable.
I’m listing what I carry to avoid getting stranded.

[Gad-Westy]

E-bmw said:

Stick Legs said:

Modern Range Rover: fuses & a code reader.

And a full workshop staffed with at least 2 x RR master techs.

And a prayer mat. Sorry

I think I'm getting a plan together. Thanks for all the suggestions folks. My modernish BMW, has a tool kit and there is a limit to what I could do at the side of the road so in that it's just tyre kit stuff and an OBD reader and some tape, fuses, cable ties etc. I'd like a multi tool of some description too though as that sort of thing is often handy for all sorts of non-car things when away with the car. I do tend to carry a tow rope and jump leads in that as there is plenty of room but in all honesty that's as much for helping other people as myself.

[ChocolateFrog]

monthou said:

wong said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Puncture repair kit
Tyre sealant
Air compressor pump
Scissor Jack
Breaker bar and socket
Screwdriver multi head
Small adjustable spanner
Small mole grips
Cable ties
Snips
OBD reader


All kept in a plastic tray in the boot. Saved me twice in the last 2 years so well worth it.

Add a thin waterproof/hi-viz jacket
Needlenose pliers

Gloves
Something to kneel / lie on
Lithium jump starter
rope / lorry straps

Yep, forgot to add pliers and my latest Christmas present a jump starter that proudly tells me it'll start a 12l petrol or 10 litre diesel

Guessing it'll cope with a mighty 1.3 litres.

[C5_Steve]

monthou said:

wong said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Puncture repair kit
Tyre sealant
Air compressor pump
Scissor Jack
Breaker bar and socket
Screwdriver multi head
Small adjustable spanner
Small mole grips
Cable ties
Snips
OBD reader


All kept in a plastic tray in the boot. Saved me twice in the last 2 years so well worth it.

Add a thin waterproof/hi-viz jacket
Needlenose pliers

Gloves
Something to kneel / lie on
Lithium jump starter
rope / lorry straps

I'd add duct tape to that. You can fix anything with the right amount of duct tape

[s p a c e m a n]

Surprised that noone is carrying some wire with them, I've always carried a bit of 2 core the length of the car in my kit

[thebraketester]

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/socket-s...

You can get a lot done with a small kit like that.

[Gad-Westy]

With those lithium ion jump starter packs, do you need to leave them plugged into a 12v power source or doe they just keep their charge for weeks on end? I'm kind of curious as they have come down in price a lot and are way more compact than I'd assumed.

[monthou]

Gad-Westy said:

With those lithium ion jump starter packs, do you need to leave them plugged into a 12v power source or doe they just keep their charge for weeks on end? I'm kind of curious as they have come down in price a lot and are way more compact than I'd assumed.

The one time I've used mine - work car park, not my car - it had been sitting in the glove box for 3 months and showed one bar under full. It worked fine.