Essential In Vehicle Toolkit?

[ecohouse1]

In my Xantia estate I have a bad habit of carrying around my full workshop tool box along with a medium trolley jack!As well as taking up a quarter of the boot it weighs a fair bit - c30kg? What is the general consensus on a "get you home" tool kit. I was thinking of looking for a cheapy set in a blow pastic case with a selection of combi spanners, sockets, screwdrivers and pliers plus a few cable ties etc? I do have roadside assistance via my insurance but sometimes its quicker to do a quicky repair at the time. Any suggestions?

[Chlorate]

I can't possibly comment...my toolkit takes up most of my boot

To be honest though the things that are likely to go t!ts up on an HDi Xantia aren't generally your fix by the side of the road sort of job.
I would recommend a BoL, proper jack, various screwdrivers, set of torx keys, multimeter, some wire, pliers, some sockets and spanners (11mm, 13mm, 17mm, 7mm), mole grips, hammer, selection of hose clips, axle stands and of course gaffer tape.

And a Lexia if you have one

Alex

[jgra1]

I have same issue

disposable gloves,

torch (headtorch or magnetic one) fuel filter if a TD

small screw jack instead of trolley..

rag

mirror on a stick

magnetic probe thing

something that could fix a leak in a hydraulic/oil pipe.. happened on motorbike last month..

[Jabo]

Mine used to be 2 full toolsets, axle stands, big 4x4 jack and a plethora of other tools like hammers, torque wrench, telescopic magnet.

Now it's just a can of tyre weld, mini toolkit with a socket set, adjustable spanner and screwdriver set, a tyre pump and WD40.

[Mandrake]

You've all forgotten the most important thing - a pair of overalls.

Going somewhere in a suit or other good clothes ? You really don't want to be lying on the ground in the rain or mud under the car in good clothes... even to change a flat tyre! Just getting the spare wheel out of the wheel carrier on the side of the road on a dark rainy night without ruining your clothes can be a mission on a Xantia with a rusty underbelly, let alone attempting to repair an LHM leak etc...

I echo most of the above comments, especially - head mounted LED torch, rags, mirror on a stick, telescopic magnet on a stick, Spare LHM/coolant/engine oil, a couple of blocks of wood to chock the wheels, and a small tool set including sockets, spanner, pliers etc.

I also tend to carry around my trolley jack, ramps and axle stands, but that's mainly because I have nowhere else to store them!

[Gibbo2286]

None of the above, just a credit card and the phone number of a local recovery firm

[ecohouse1]

I think superstition plays a part in it as well. I always think that the minute I take the tool kit out that's when I will have a breakdown.

Mind you the times I have had a problem there was only so much I could do eg buggered alternator brushes leading to a flat battery, radiator hose detaching from the radiator etc. The hose I sorted with a shove and getting filthy, the battery problem was less easy at the roadside.

[dnsey]

A length of stout wire, some insulated wire and choc-block connectors, cable ties, bits of various sized hose and pipe suitable for coupling them, screws and nuts in common sizes, alligator clips, jubilee clips etc. Also a little pot of hand cleaner.
It's all very well having the tools, but if something fails, the means of bodging a get-you-home replacement is required!

[Old-Guy]

You've all forgotten the most important thing - a pair of overalls.

Going somewhere in a suit or other good clothes ? You really don't want to be lying on the ground in the rain or mud under the car in good clothes... even to change a flat tyre! Just getting the spare wheel out of the wheel carrier on the side of the road on a dark rainy night without ruining your clothes can be a mission on a Xantia with a rusty underbelly, let alone attempting to repair an LHM leak etc...

Waterproof overalls for all the reasons given - a cheap florescent orange 'chemical suit'.

I'd also add:

• Breaker bar and 19mm socket for tight wheel bolts
  Hammer
  Good pair of big pliers
  Medium size snipe nose pliers
  Molegrips
  Water-pump grips
  Gorilla tape (very superior gaffer tape)

If you don't keep a genuine Swiss Army knife in your pocket, put one on your Christmas list, and in the meantime make sure there's a sharp knife in the car,

Not tools, but essential emergency kit:

• First Aid kit
  Couple of emergency 'space' blankets
  Bicycle LED rear light (flashing type) - small, very cheap and a potential life saver if you lose all electrical power.
  Florescent jackets

[Diabolical]

Sorry but all but "Gibbo2286" are completely mad.

[captaintau]

I won't drive anywhere without
- RAC card
- iPhone + car charger
- Leatherman (any one of various models)

That covers it. However I also have a toolkit containing various bits I've decided "could be useful" over the years, bearing in mind that really anything other than changing a tyre and I'm stuck.

[Chlorate]

Sorry but all but "Gibbo2286" are completely mad.

Hey now I've used breakdown recovery more times than I'd care to admit. As I said, generally speaking breakdowns are not often fixable by the side of the road. But if it's something very simple it's much better to have a couple of tools to hand to get you back on the road instead of waiting 4 hours for some bloke in a van to turn up.

And of course the b*stards tend to put your premiums up if you have the audacity to use them...may as well get your money's worth!

[qprdude]

2 Hi Viz vests
Warning Triangle
Mobile phone
AA card
Warranty details.
Blanket
Bottle of drinking water

[Stempy]

I used to carry a box full of tools but now just a leatherman and a breakdown recovery policy. Always had great service from the recovery guys. I think all times I have had a breakdown it has been some sort of hydraulic failure which with the best will in the world isn't usually a roadside job.

[jgra1]

gibbo and QPR make sense though,

but

2 Hi Viz vests
Warning Triangle
Mobile phone
AA card
Warranty details.
Blanket
Bottle of WINE or ALE /WHISKY