Hilux/4runner tool kit?

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Feb 14, 2008
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On the farm
Hi,

I'm going on a trip at the end of the month and am wondering what I should grab in tools from the farm tool cabinet? What size/type of sockets, extensions, etc.? What regular and special sizes and shapes tools do I need for work on various things like axles, etc.? If a tool is for something specific, then tell its use too. Like XXmm socket for hub nut.

The goal here is to include all needed sizes and types and not carry the unneeded ones. Sure, I could grab one of the general farm tool boxes, but they push 175lbs and would be overkill. After all I don't need any of the english sizes.

EDIT: Post #15 has a big list of tools consolidated from here and other places plus thoughts of my own.
 
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8,10,12,14,15,16,17,19,21,22,24,27mm sockets & wrenches
52mm or 2 1/8" socket hub (may want to check that it fits inside the hub, has to be thinner walled)
all the extensions you own
flarenut wrenches
breaker bar
jackstands
strap wrench
nutdrivers and screwdrivers
I know I'm forgetting some other practical ones.

Edit: have any pullers? 2 or 3 jawed
 
I know I ran into torx bits on the fan housing but they could also be done with a socket or flat bladed screwdriver. You need a very short screwdriver or socket wrench for the back one.
 
IMO:

You should think think well through what kinds of repairs you will consider doing on the road-shoulder, and what parts are likely to break down.. There is no point in bringing tools to replace a part, unless you bring the part aswell! My point is if the engine totals or your axels brake in half it's not likely you will fix it on the road... and Toyotas will in most cases get you home or to a shop

I think you would do nicely with a standard tool kit with 12,14,17,19 and 21 sockets and wrenches. A crowbar, hammer, brass-driver and screwdrivers..and general basic tools+maybe the 54mm for the wheel-bearing-nuts. Some straps, strips, tape, lightbulbs, fuses, hoses and belts should be included
 
Don't bother with a 54mm unless you're gonna bring a torque wrench... Just use a hammer and screw driver to snug those up if you're in a pinch...

AMEN, Brother!
I never mess with those giant sockets. I wrench on all kinds of 4x4's and I always use the "universal socket!" A small hammer and a worn out dull standard screw driver. done and DONE!
 
Don't bother with a 54mm unless you're gonna bring a torque wrench... Just use a hammer and screw driver to snug those up if you're in a pinch...

AMEN, Brother!
I never mess with those giant sockets. I wrench on all kinds of 4x4's and I always use the "universal socket!" A small hammer and a worn out dull standard screw driver. done and DONE!

Please tell me you're joking. PLEASE.

hahahaha! we gotta hook up, I will show you the way.

It's actually a tried and true method. I've used it in the past. I don't like to, but you do what you need to do. For a car I had I used a channel lock pliers and tire iron. I clamped and held the channel lock on the nut from the end while my friend stuck the tire iron through the jaws to turn the nut. When you can get access, pipe wrenches work nicely on big nuts and bolts.
 
Pickle fork
vise-grips
LFH
BFH

pickle forks can jack up the boots on the tie rods, or what ever. using the BFH to whack the knuckle mount gets em off every time.
 
hahahaha! we gotta hook up, I will show you the way.

No, that's OK... I'm fine with doing it the RIGHT way.

Excuse me for ranting for a bit, but using a hammer and screwdriver/chisel to remove the front hub locknuts is a total rookie amateur stunt. I *hate* it when people do this. When I bought my Cruiser, I found the locknuts all chewed up from someone doing this. They went into the trash, replaced with new ones.

Yes, I carry a 2-1/8" socket with me everywhere. Writsty, you and all those fancy over-priced Snap-On tools, you should know better...

I don't own a pickle fork either. I bought the RIGHT tool for the job, a proper tie rod end puller. Yup, it's in my truck box too.

A pipe wrench is for wrenching on pipes. Not turning nuts.

<cracking another Long Trail Ale and going to bed>
 
The other stuff to think about is what spare parts you are going to take with you. The tools may be useless if you dont have a spare part to replace it with.

Know your weak points and carry the spare parts to fix them is needed.

I have an 86 4runner and I carry a spare rear driveline a bunch of misc nuts and bolts and spare tie rods and ball joints and I am looking for spare parts for my front axel at the moment.

Know what you plan on doing and know your limits if you are in a small group or by yourself. There are things I will try in the eairly morning in a large group that I would not even think of trying in a small group late in the afternoon.

Most importantly check your rig out before you go and make sure to keep grease in the correct spots.
 
Last night I did some crude thinking on tools to further refine a travel tool kit. The goal is to have a travel kit that will do most repairs short of stripping down and rebuilding a transmission or engine, but at least handle a head gasket replacement. I still need to narrow down the socket selection. Ideas/Input? What's missing? What's extraneous? What's the probability of use? It would also be nice to know which tools are needed for servicing various areas. That way somebody can easily prioritize acquisition for travel or when known projects are coming up.

  • 54mm thin walled socket for hub tension nuts.
  • Normal 1/4” sockets: 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15mm 1/4”
  • Deep Well 1/4” sockets: 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15mm
  • Normal 3/8” sockets: 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21mm
  • Deep Well 3/8” sockets: 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21mm
  • Normal 1/2” sockets: 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27mm
  • Deep Well 1/2” sockets: 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27mm
  • Wrenches, open/closed ends: 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27mm
  • Flare Nut Wrenches: 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19mm
  • Ignition wrenches: 1/4”, full range metric set.
  • 2 1' long pipes to serve as extensions for the wrenches when working on drive shaft flange bolts.

  • Ratchets: 1/2”, 3/8”, 1/4”
  • Breaker Bars: 1/2”, 3/8”, 1/4”
  • 1/2” torque wrench
  • 3/8" torque wrench
  • Extensions: 1/2” X (3” 6”, 12”, 24”, 36”) 3/8” X (3”, 6”) 1/4” X (3” , 6”)
  • Swivels: 3/8”, 1/2”
  • Adapters: 1/2” to 3/8”, 3/8” to 1/4”
  • Nut Driver: 1/4” square male for use with 1/4” sockets.
  • Nut Driver: 1/4” for using various screwdriver, allen, torx, and square drive bits.
  • Selection of screwdriver, allen, torx, square drive bits.
  • Screwdrivers: Standard and Phillips of various sizes.
  • Allen Keys: Metric and English sets, full range.
  • Oil filter wrench: Cap type or strap type. Strap type has other uses.
  • Jack Stands: 3+ ton std.
  • High lift jack
  • Regular jack and tool kit
  • Wheel chocks

  • 2 and 3 jaw pullers, small and medium.
  • tie rod end puller, size?
  • C-Frame u-joint press.
  • Pickle fork?

  • Standard hammer
  • 4lbs hand maul
  • brass hammer
  • mallet
  • medium ball pene hammer
  • Wrecking bar
  • crow bar
  • brass drifts
  • punches
  • vise-grips
  • Snap ring pliers.
  • Side cutting wire cutter.
  • Needle nose pliers
  • crimper + crimps and wire
  • grease gun with flex shaft.
  • oil pan
  • Mat knife.
  • Tie down straps.
Supplies:

  • Crimps
    • End to end splices
    • Selection of faston connectors, male and female.
    • Eye rings
    • forks
  • Spare snap rings, what sizes are used?
  • Spare cotter keys, what sizes are used?
  • Spare wire, AWG 20, 16, 12, and 8. 10+ feet each.
  • grease tube
  • brake fluid
  • power steering fluid
  • zip ties, various sizes
  • JB Weld or similar.
  • Sand paper, various grits.
  • Emery cloth strips
  • Tape, vinyl
  • Duct tape
  • Electrical tape
  • Spare light bulbs: Which ones?
  • Spare fuses: Which ones?
Spare parts:

  • 5 each various bolts, nuts, washers, and lock washers. What sizes?
Used spare parts to bring:

  • hoses
  • belts
Recovery Gear:

  • 2 Ground anchors
  • 20' Tow strap
  • 0 stretch winch strap.
  • 5+ Shackles
  • Snatch strap
  • 2+ ton hand winch with 120' cable.
  • 10' length of chain for securing hand winch.
  • 3 snatch blocks.
  • 2 tree straps
  • ? 2 20' lengths 5/16” chain. Straps may be able to substitute, but you can't easily shorten them a few feet.
  • tire chains
  • sand ladders/bridging ladders
 
You forget the extra truck you're gonna need to carry all that crap. Seriously, that's an insane list. An oil drain pan? Jack stands?

I'm not aware of anything on these trucks that use 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 15, or 16 mm sockets.

If you need a pair of 12" cheater pipes to loosen your driveshaft bolts, you're putting them on too tight.
 
Very impressive. So where are you going to sit? :D
:lol:

I figure it's good ballast.:D

Right now I stick most of my tools in the pickup bed in one of the farm tool chests. Much wasted space. With the exception of the long stuff, jack stands, and wheel chocks everything should fit into two Pelican 1620 cases. You won't be able to pick them up, but... Add a third case to handle a selection of spare parts. Personally I wouldn't use the Pelican cases for this stuff, but it gives an good indication of volume. I'd use some other shipping cases I have instead. They fit much better into the bed of the pickup. I stick grocery sacks or duffels of stuff into the cases. Then I have a bunch of pieces of plywood I stick on top to make a level platform for sleeping. It works but isn't ideal. Most of the cases would work nicely as an oil pan. The tire chains, a couple 20' 5/16" chains and some shackles are in a 5 gallon plaster bucket and don't even fill it.

I'm thinking my tools list should really be a table and have columns for required, optional, and uses.
 
You forget the extra truck you're gonna need to carry all that ****. Seriously, that's an insane list. An oil drain pan? Jack stands?
Jack stands may be a low priority. A spare tire put under a wheel only works for some types of repairs.

I'm not aware of anything on these trucks that use 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 15, or 16 mm sockets.

I've ran into some small ones under the dash. I think you could also have removed some them with screwdrives.

If you need a pair of 12" cheater pipes to loosen your driveshaft bolts, you're putting them on too tight.

My wrenches that are the right size are about 6" long. Not quite long enough to loosen a 56ftlb torqued bolt with lock washer and locking compound on it. Check the specs. Having the cheater pipes also means I can torque them to close enough without having to get a torque wrench in there, not that any of mine even fit.

Add to the list thread locking compound.
 
That list is insanely impressive if i was goin to he moon for 5 years that is totally what i would bring.........if u cant carry it by hand your goin overboard 10,12,13,14,17,19,22 in 3/8 drive shallow/deep,1/2 drive impact,and box wrenches, 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets 2 short one long extension of each, 1/2 breaker bar,screwdrivers,pliers,needlenose,vice grips,channel locks,BFH,54mm hub socket,10mm/12mm line wrench,spare fluids,ujoints,birfields,TRE's,ReadyWelder(my personal favorite),AAA card, cell phone,BALLS
 
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