PeaTear Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 What recommendations would you guys have as the utmost essential tools to have in the boot of the car for those just in case moments. Currently I have nothing except for a jack and wheel brace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 pliers , screwdrivers, length off wire, small selection of basic spanners , torch, warning triangle. first aid kit travel light have faith in your car Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 ... and remember to take a communication device to contact Uncle Pete when you are desparate! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 It doesn't matter what you pack the car will find a way of outwitting you if it wants to. ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 I’ve been to the Pyrenees off-roading from 2010 to 2016 (except 1 year when we went to Poland) and between the groups we carried loads of spares. Probably £5-6k worth. And every time it was the part we didn’t have that broke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 Badwolf I offer a 24/7 service ..........3hours a day Chris is right , the chance of being able to sort a stopper out when in best shirt and brogs normally ends in divorce Ive only stopped once when the front diff support plate bolt unscrewed into the prop coupling bolts and locked the transmission Could not get under to refit it , so pliers and wire of no use so whats the point And all due to reputable recon not using the correct wedgelock bolts The boot is for picnic gear and enjoyment not a shed load of Tat and tools weighing it down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 All of the above plus a piece of one of the most useful, cheapest and lightest “ tools” I have ever bought: a piece of comfy closed cell foam matting to save your knees, elbows back etc. when working on road gravel. I have a bigger piece in a roll I bought at the Classic Car Show at the NEC some years ago for about a tenner. Transforms working next to or under the car at home for some of us now ‘beyond our teenage years” - it even feels warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 I bought a thick mat for working on the car at home. To go with the interlocking tiles I have too. Though they are a bit thin really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTV8 Posted July 12, 2018 Report Share Posted July 12, 2018 Mr Triumph supplied a small range of open-ended spanner’s, a wheelnut wrench (of sorts) a hub-cap lever, pliers a make-do flat-blade screwdriver, jack and a plug socket.... the only thing I’d add is Pete’s wire, couple of real flat/cross-head screwdrivers and the phone number of recovery service...... then drive, enjoy and hope you won’t need any of them ...... Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeaTear Posted July 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Thanks for the replys. Hope to never have to use tools by the road but it's a case of better looking at them than looking for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 I carry a fairly comprehensive kit as the car gets used hard. It includes a folding axle stand, smallish hammer and decent junior hacksaw. On the extended Le Mans trip my starter motor started to play up. The body was coming apart, so unusual. 30 minutes had it jacked up, supported on the stand and it out. I was caight out as the bolts that needed tightening were Torx, which I didn't have with me. Allen keys sort of did them up,and motor replaced. I then got a set of torx keys when we were buying lunch stuff at tey supermarket later that day, but of course the motor survived, just, until I got home. So yes, sometimes the thing you need is the one you left behind in the garage. But I have fixed numerous bits on my and other cars over the years. A few bits of hose/wire/small tube of grease/brake pads and so on are tucked in beside the boot against the wings. A 12" toolbag contains a 3/8 socket set including several extensions/wobble bars etc, imperial spanners, cheaper open ended metric, 4 screwdrivers, pliers(combination, sidecutters and long nosed) normal and long nosed mole grips, hammer, hacksaw, torch, epoxy putty and araldite, hymolar blue, allen keys and torx keys(!) and a electrical tester. plus a wide-mouth 500ml drinks bottle stuffed with electrical connectors/nuts/bolts/fuses and so on. Actually quite compact....and not much it cant fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 What about a decent brolly for when you get caught in the rain or sun with the roof down in a traffic jam ? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 I have one of these in the boot most of the time. Packs up very small and is light. And will hold my weight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Recent trip to CLM found two electric faults. One was that the alternator plug fell out, I think caused by the vibration of the very steep ramps from the upper deck of the ferry, that have strips weleded across for grip. Engine failed about half an hour out, but lifting the bonnet revealed the problem. A short rest for the battery, and it restarted and we were away again. More subtle was a failure of the rev.counter - 'bad connection, I'll fix it later' - followed by oveheating, as the electric water opump had failed. Which brings me to my recommendation - a multimeter. Using that showed, not no volts, but too low volts, at the pump, and enabled me to trace it back until I found the poor connection. Would have been far more difficult without the 'meter. What else in my tool kit? Set of stubby spanners, takes up less space, set of sockets to match, LARGE screwdriver, doubles as lever and is a strike-through so can be used as a punch as well, mole-wrench. In box with 'meter, small screwdriver, set of fuses, length of wire, side-cutter and needle-nose pliers. Tow-rope (like an umberella, carry oen and never use it0, but also a HiViz waistcoat - a legal requirement in France and a very good idea anywhere. But like carrying Pete's number on your mobile, have breakdown insurance, valid for abroad if that's the case, and your mobile. And to keep that charged, a USB socket in the car. I have one, fag lighter sized, that has two sockets (phone and satnav) that also is a voltmeter! Like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/MICTUNING-Charger-Voltmeter-Universal-Motorcycle/dp/B06XK7YQG8/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1531472180&sr=8-17&keywords=usb+socket+voltmeter JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 You could put the entire contents of your garage in the boot and still be caught out. Go for the fix-all solutions that will get you home or to a place of safety, not enable an entire roadside gearbox swap - good tape, cable ties, an adjustable spanner or pliers and a couple of screwdrivers. A container of water is always handy - radiator, screenwash or handwash afterwards. Spare fan belt, ignition lead, rotor arm and sparkplug. Jack and wheelbrace plus of course the spare tyre. The sparewheel is a great place for storing things - rubber gloves and cloths, tool rolls, and an old footwell mat to kneel on. I like the basic concept of repairs: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 A tool roll is one way of packing in as many tools as you can without taking up too much space. A loose bag of sockets and ratchet is also useful. The problem with a tool box is, it is space greedy. Rolls and bags will fit in smaller corners. Also use the spare wheel to store item in. Car boot sales are a useful source of tools you can leave in the car and not have to pack your normal workshop kit in the boot. Generally you only need the get you going again spares and tools. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 2 hours ago, JohnD said: breakdown insurance, valid for abroad if that's the case, and your mobile John wins the prize. Peter James insurance for preference Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjit Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 I carry most of my non-specialist tools in the boot, including twin sets of AF spanners and sockets upto 3/4" (minus the obligatory ones that have gone in to hiding over the years), pliers, cutters, basic crimp tool, screw drivers, hacksaw, hammer, punches, allen keys, and a few random others that just live in the tool bag. Might sound like a lot but all fit in to a small bag just a bit bigger than the size of a six-pack of Coke cans, so doesn't take up much space and easy to swap from car-to-car. Certainly takes up less space than the 5L can of oil. Those plus the random lengths of wire/crimp connectors/worrying nuts that always seem to be left over after reassembling something that all rattle around the Spitfire boot have saved me numerous times. To name just a few: Years ago after someone reversed in to me while stationary with the hand break on at a set of traffic lights (yes, you did read that correctly) the hacksaw gave me clearance between the front 1/4 box and wheel to drive home. A quick crimp connector replacement sorted things when the car started overheating, due corroded connector to electric fan so fan not running. On the way back from the Le Mans 24hr this year a quick adjustment to the d/s bonnet cone when we hit the worn-enough-for-the-catch-to-start-pining-open stage. At Le Mans, stripping down the fuel pump which had randomly decided to start weaping fuel past the top seal (modern replacement screw-together type). On the way to Le Mans, stripping down the rocker shaft after the engine started sounding 'wrong' on the Autoroute through the Pais du Calais. Still don't understand it but the locking nut on #1 inlet had gone missing so the adjuster slowly adjusted itself till it was hardly opening the valve. Neither myself or my passenger saw anything fall out when I took the rocker cover off, nor find anything on the top of the engine or on the ground - and removing the rocker shaft and having a good play around with each of the push rods proved it wasn't down there. One quick hunt for a suitable nut and reassembly later and we were back on the road. I can only think I must have taken the nut off while adjusting the rockers pre-trip...but you only losten, not remove the nut to do adjust the rockers!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Cautionary tale - NEVER accept the first quote they give you. I asked the RAC for cover for CLM, because I already subscribe in the UK. Quoted £90 -for five days in France! I exploded. Please hand on, they said and came back with £70, still a lot but nearly a quarter less! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 I asked the same question about 'boot tool kits' last year. I now have enough stuff in my boot to strip down most of the car (haynes manual is also in there), along with a plastic sheet for under the car work or a picnic when used in conjuction with the obligatory blanket. No wonder my mpg is suffering. Like my garage, I need to declutter, but if I take stuff out of the boot......!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Cheap performance booster..........empty the boot !!!! Ha !! pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 28 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: Cheap performance booster..........empty the boot !!!! Ha !! pete Pete, You can get a lot more in a 2000 than a Herald/Spit/GT6Vitesse! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Declutter - absolutely! I used to take my entire top box of tools. Looked good sitting in the back of the tow car, but it got to be a lumbar liability lifting it in there. I now have a small rigid suitcase with tool clips and racks, started with the absolute minimum, to which I have added, but it's only the size of a briefcase, if a bit deeper so there's a limit, as ghere should be. But the big boys! At CLM, the number of powered buggies, quads etc, pulling whole trollies of kit about was extraordinary, but they go in pantechnicons. JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeaTear Posted July 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Wow. I didnt expect to many replys but I think I now have a good idea for a small list of what I should have. It's my birthday next month, time to start dropping hints/Amazon wishlist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 add a workshop manual to your birfday wish list Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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