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Putting together a proper tool kit for overlanding. I’ve pulled together some obvious stuff but curious to hear from others what they would include.
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- Thread starter mcd_ovrlnd
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Snatch rope, a couple of shackles Steel, a couple of soft shackles. A couple of recovery boards, shovel, portable lighting, heavy duty gloves, a proper Jack like a bulldog not a high lift and seriously the list can get longer but those would be my essentials. And of course a proper tool kit, and impact wrench, some type of power station and a solar panel.
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- #3
Yeah, I am asking specifically about what you are carrying in your tool kit. Wrenches, sockets, Allen keys, torque wrench. For instance, I don’t want to take every socket so wondering which ones are folks taking for the 6G4R.
A Leatherman tool and a 10mm wrench... Used to the wrench to fix a misbehaving rear door latch once, that's the only field repair I've needed to do in 8 years of off roading and overlanding.
If I was to bring anything else it would be something to bend sheet metal in case I crashed into something bad enough. Would probably use a combination of the Leatherman tool and maybe the handle of my shovel as a crow bar.
I never air down below 12 psi, so I don't worry much about breaking the bead. If I was going to go lower, say to float on snow, I would bring tire irons a flammable aerosol to reset the bead.
Tools for changing tires... I always make sure to properly torque my lug nuts if someone else has mounted wheels for me. In that case, I know I can loosen the lugs with the tools that came with the 4Runner. I am not going to worry about getting the exact torque when mounting the spare, that can wait until I get home. Also the Toyota jack is perfectly good for putting on the spare, but I do bring a couple pieces of 2x8 in case I'm on soft ground. A larger Jack isn't necessarily going to fit under the rear axle with a flat tire.
What types repairs do you realistically expect to do while off road? What do you expect to fail so bad that you cannot get back to civilization? Carrying a any spare parts?
If I was to bring anything else it would be something to bend sheet metal in case I crashed into something bad enough. Would probably use a combination of the Leatherman tool and maybe the handle of my shovel as a crow bar.
I never air down below 12 psi, so I don't worry much about breaking the bead. If I was going to go lower, say to float on snow, I would bring tire irons a flammable aerosol to reset the bead.
Tools for changing tires... I always make sure to properly torque my lug nuts if someone else has mounted wheels for me. In that case, I know I can loosen the lugs with the tools that came with the 4Runner. I am not going to worry about getting the exact torque when mounting the spare, that can wait until I get home. Also the Toyota jack is perfectly good for putting on the spare, but I do bring a couple pieces of 2x8 in case I'm on soft ground. A larger Jack isn't necessarily going to fit under the rear axle with a flat tire.
What types repairs do you realistically expect to do while off road? What do you expect to fail so bad that you cannot get back to civilization? Carrying a any spare parts?
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- #5
All that sounds good. I’ve tried to keep track of what I’ve installed in case I need to tighten anything or remove/move anything while I am out there. For instance, a 3/4 socket for my Rig’d tire swing. Or the socket for my Maxtrax mount on the roof. I wonder if there are some standard socket/wrench sizes used by Toyota throughout the vehicle.
In my tool roll that I keep in the truck, I've got a few basics that seem to cover anything routine:
- Screwdriver and bit set (philips, flat, torx)
- Metric socket wrench with 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 22 (fits my wheel lock key) sockets
- A handful of assorted wrenches (6-7) in metric and imperial
- Torque wrench
- Adjustable wrench
- Needle nose pliers
- Flashlight
Same stuff you're carrying plus all the other things that I mentioned earlier but I forgot to mention.
The sidewall repair kit. I'd consider that a tool as well as a shovel and Recovery boards,
those seem to be the most items I've used in the past as well as a good bottle jack.
Usually tools that I carry in the sense of a hand tool; it's sockets, breaker bars, CV joint/ axle.
It all depends on where you're going and how far.
I consider all the tools essential when it comes to working in the outback but before you know it you've got 500 lb of tools.
For me the real Science is trying to focus on the most essential tools that you use mostly in your garage. I think you've listed quite a few good ones on your screenshot. But consider a sidewall repair kit. That seems to be where all the little Pinchy leaks happen. G-Day
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thanks. I do have that sidewall kit, plus a bottle jack. Honestly, after the responses so far I am feeling pretty good about what I am carrying.Same stuff you're carrying plus all the other things that I mentioned earlier but I forgot to mention.
The sidewall repair kit. I'd consider that a tool as well as a shovel and Recovery boards,
those seem to be the most items I've used in the past as well as a good bottle jack.
Usually tools that I carry in the sense of a hand tool; it's sockets, breaker bars, CV joint/ axle.
It all depends on where you're going and how far.
I consider all the tools essential when it comes to working in the outback but before you know it you've got 500 lb of tools.
For me the real Science is trying to focus on the most essential tools that you use mostly in your garage. I think you've listed quite a few good ones on your screenshot. But consider a sidewall repair kit. That seems to be where all the little Pinchy leaks happen. G-Day
Is a 4000# capacity enough to get a 4R out of a jam that is, say, stuck in a ditch and has to be pulled up a bit? I know we are not trying to dangle the vehicle hanging from it, but it is heavy and being stuck in addition to having to pull it up a bit of a hill? Of course the vehicle can help (if the vehicle cannot start/engage than it is probably not so important to move it).
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- #11
I would not use that portable winch. Just my personal opinion. A loaded 4R is probably 6,000 pounds and if you are winching out of a real problem the load force is probably even more than that.
Besides my usual ditch gear I always carry one of these. This is probably the max you can go in tonnage for this type of tool. But for your average getting stuck in a rut or sand/mud off road these work fine and you don't have to have the extra weight of a winch on your rig. Just my two cents here
I only do fairly light-duty off-roading, not rock crawling. Also, so far, I have only done short day or perhaps weekend trips. So, I do not have to plan for every possibility. I am going to answer this question with a slightly different angle, as the previous answers are quite complete.
Risk versus consequence: This is the first thing to consider. If something is very unlikely but conceivable but can get you killed or the vehicle completely disabled, you should probably plan for it. If the risk is high, but consequence is minor (say, you can still drive but maybe have to slow down a little) then you probably do not have to plan for it. Also take into consideration the length of the trip.
Space of course is a consideration. If you have the space, take extra. If not, just take what you really need. For the basic tool kit as the OP asked about, that is fairly small so having a pretty complete set is reasonable. It would be nice to know the full list of socket sizes that will likely be needed (you need to do external bolts like maybe skid plates but are not going to removing the enghine head in the field). As someone mentioned, 10mm is probably the most common--there are probably a couple others though. Probably good to have a couple standard box wrenches as well for tight spaces, although not sure that is needed. Or maybe just those. Pliers (slip joint and needle nose, and a slip-joint plumbers wrench is good for odd bolts or holding large items) are needed, as well as a couple screwdrivers--I would say at least #2 and #3 Phillips and one or 2 flat head (for prying more than screwing). Wire cutters/strippers and a way to repair a wire is good (crimp best but wire nuts fine for temp use and do not require a tool) although probably not critical (how likely is a wire repair, and you can probably make do with a pocketknife, twist the wires, and tape). Electrical tape is good to have though for many purposes. Of course, duct tape and bailing wire
. (Really, those last 2 are good to have!)
If you are close to help, you need less with you.
There is another post somewhere on this forum about the rest of the stuff (beyond the basic tool kit) to have with you.
Risk versus consequence: This is the first thing to consider. If something is very unlikely but conceivable but can get you killed or the vehicle completely disabled, you should probably plan for it. If the risk is high, but consequence is minor (say, you can still drive but maybe have to slow down a little) then you probably do not have to plan for it. Also take into consideration the length of the trip.
Space of course is a consideration. If you have the space, take extra. If not, just take what you really need. For the basic tool kit as the OP asked about, that is fairly small so having a pretty complete set is reasonable. It would be nice to know the full list of socket sizes that will likely be needed (you need to do external bolts like maybe skid plates but are not going to removing the enghine head in the field). As someone mentioned, 10mm is probably the most common--there are probably a couple others though. Probably good to have a couple standard box wrenches as well for tight spaces, although not sure that is needed. Or maybe just those. Pliers (slip joint and needle nose, and a slip-joint plumbers wrench is good for odd bolts or holding large items) are needed, as well as a couple screwdrivers--I would say at least #2 and #3 Phillips and one or 2 flat head (for prying more than screwing). Wire cutters/strippers and a way to repair a wire is good (crimp best but wire nuts fine for temp use and do not require a tool) although probably not critical (how likely is a wire repair, and you can probably make do with a pocketknife, twist the wires, and tape). Electrical tape is good to have though for many purposes. Of course, duct tape and bailing wire
. (Really, those last 2 are good to have!)If you are close to help, you need less with you.
There is another post somewhere on this forum about the rest of the stuff (beyond the basic tool kit) to have with you.
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