I have been wanting to put together a basic tool kit to keep in my disco and with all of the Black Friday deals on inexpensive chinese tools, now might be the time...

Short of trailering around my Snap-On cabinet, I am trying to assemble an inventory of tools that I can keep to handle basic road-side/trail repairs. Has anyone ever sat down and cataloged this?

All I am carrying at the moment is a 1/2 breaker bar and an impact socket for the lug nuts. But I figure I would start with a set of combination wrenches, 3/8 drive socket set, and basic hand tools (pliers, channel locks, side cutters, adjustable wrench, etc). Perhaps a simple electrical kit and some duct tape....

First question.... Metric only? Or shall I include SAE? I believe most of everything I have encountered has been metric.

 

Metric. I also keep a bundle of zip-ties and gorilla tape in mine, just in case I need to make some side of the road emergency repairs.

 

I carry a cheap 3/8" drive socket set with both SAE and metric, I mean it was $10 at AutoZone, its small and cheap but works.
Cheap wrench set.
I also use a 1/2" breaker bar for the lug nuts.
A 16oz claw hammer, channel locks, roll of duct tape in a zip lock bag, zip ties, 1 phillips and 1 flat head screw driver.
I always have a Swiss Army knife in my pocket.
I do not carry extra fluids as those can be bought anywhere.
I also carry jumper cables, recovery strap, 20ft or so of rope, 2 pair of work gloves.
Draw bar for the trailer hitch.
All of this fits in the storage bins and under the back seat and the tools cost under $50 for all of them.
Garage sales and retail surplus stores are a great way to get your cheap "I dont care if they get lost by the side of the road" tools.
I also carry a LED flashlight and extra batteries in the glove box.

 

Go big on the duct tape...

 

Stop by and I'll show you my tools.
Seriously, I keep a soft sided Husky Bag from Home Depot and a small Pelican case of tools. I'll also show you my spares.
Here's the basic list:
1/2" drive breaker bar, ratchet, extensions, and SAE/Metric sockets
1/4" drive ratchet, extensions, SAE/Metric sockets
Assorted socket adapters and swivels
SAE/Metric ratcheting combination wrenches
Screwdrivers, torx drivers
Punches, chisel
2lb sledge, rubber mallet
Pickle fork
Two 6pt 9/16" combination wrenches for driveshaft
close quarters pipe cutter, 3/16" flaring tool
Channel locks, vise grips, needle nose, side-cutters
So on and so forth.....

 

Trail tool kit??

Most of this I also have a press tool to change u-joints. I bring the hub nut tool, 12 point sockets and wrenches to change broken CV's. I carry fluids because you cant buy them on the trail when you need them. Also I'm going to be investing in bottle jacks that also work as jack stands. Fixed too many damn things supported sideways on LR bottle jacks or high lifts.

This is not including the spares box which includes more parts that I'll even need.. hoses, fan clutch, fuel pump, spark plugs (from the last time I flooded my engine long story), U-joints, spare bushings, brake lines, MAF, ECU, and a lot more. It sucks being stranded or trouble shooting something on the trail and not having the part you need.

 

Thanks for the input. I was looking for more of a "condensed" tool kit with exact sizes etc, but that is probably impossible with these trucks

Anyway, I picked up a tool bag, SAE and Metric wrench sets, hammer, mallet, pliers set, screw driver set, and some other assorted do-dads and I didn't even spend $30. There are some deals going on now for decent sockets sets for less than $20. I need one to round out my kit.

I have some multi-tools, lights, electrical tools etc at home that I can throw into the bag and that should round out my road-ready tool kit. I will need to beef up on spares, but for daily driving I think I will just upgrade my tow insurance

 

Sounds like somebody hit Harbor Freight!

 

All you need for daily driving is a basic tool kit, just something to get you home so you dont have to wait for a tow truck.
If your truck is well maintained and you pay attention to it you should never need to use your tool kit.
Sounds like you scored big and are on the right track.