Here's a few things that came in handy during a trail breakdown yesterday wherein 3x passenger lower trunion bolts sheared off, disabling one rig. Most people carry some of this stuff and fortunately, when everyone dug through their tool boxes, we had it all as a group. I decided to add a few things to my kit based on this experience and promised a write up so here you go.
- Trunion Stud and Nut Set - Pretty obvious. I'm planning on adding Absolute Wit's End Nut Huggers too.
- Torque Wench - Pretty obvious...hopefully. You know who you are.
- 1/2" Impact Wrench with Batteries - Lots of stuff plus with a simple socket, the OEM jack becomes a powered jack!
- Baby Wipes - Lots of uses but cleans grease and oil from hands and tools easily. I have a Rubbermaid container I carry 24x7 that keeps them happy for nearly a year without severely drying out when I was in Phoenix. Occasionally I'll pour in 1/4 cup of distilled water to keep them nice and moist.
- 20-30 Gal Trash Bags - Lots of uses but after dealing with leaking axle grease, and lots of baby wipes...keep the trail clean!
- 1/2" socket (1/2" drive to fit Impact) - Place on OEM jack shaft to run jack up and down quickly. This is a shoulder, mental and morale lifesaver. I use a large round flat magnet (about the size of a 2016 watch battery) to hold the socket to the base. Placed in one recessed corner on the jack, it stays on fine with all my wheeling and doesn't get lost.
- Quart of Axle Grease - Replacement fluid, was surprised to see someone carried one in real life...very thankful it was there.
- Work Light - A solid flood or spot light with a magnetic base. I use cheap Chinese LED off road lights, equipped with RAM ball Mounts and SAE termination (plus a handful of extension cords) along with various adapters, including cigarette lighter, to place lights where I need them on my L-Track around the truck for trail lighting, camping or maintenance. Turns out they work great just lying in thr dirt too. It was very dark on the trail (like 6:00PM, even though it was actually 12:30PM). I see Rigid offers the Ignite super bright LED with a GoPro compatible mount making it easy for magnetic or suction cup mount. Carry spare batteries too. I store them in my ARB fridge so they don't get lost. Arw easy to get to and might suffer less when the fridge is running.
- Small Cold Chisel - Used to drift out sheared studs. Make sure it's sharp.
- Small Bastard File - Turns out this works in a pinch if you don't have a cold chisel. Lots of sharp, hardened corners to bite sheared bolts.
- Land Cruiser Safe Jack Adapter - Support one of our own with this amazing adapter. I used it to do a full brake swap and it was invaluable. After seeing it used on the trail, it's foolish not to have one. Link below:
- Land Cruiser Safe Jack Adapter - A must have - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/land-cruiser-safe-jack-adapter-a-must-have.937460/
- 6x8 Tarp - Blankets won't cut it when you're laying in a river of axle grease. Having a pair would make it easier for a 2-man repair.
- Extra Clothes - Between the grease and humidity, an extra shirt would've been nice. I'm planning on picking up a Tyvek Painter Coverall for such situations.
- Exam Gloves - Keep your manicure clean and purdy.
- Extra Shoes - I have a pair of strapped sandals from Walmart I never wear but will now keep in the truck 24x7 in case I wreck my shoes on a soggy trail. Wet shoes suck.
- Baby Powder - I always carry this in my truck gear box. Humidity and heat suck. This is an easy morale booster and welcome any time.
- Umbrella/Rain Suit - Somehow we managed to evade the downpour until AFTER the repair was done and cleaned up but it let loose right after for the next few hours. I carry an umbrella and Frog Togs, 1 size bigger than I normally wear, to fit over winter jackets.
- Tripod Stool - It can be exhausting watching someone work. I carry a heavy duty, adjustable height model (rated to 350lbs) with a mesh rope backpack. I don't weigh 350 (yet) but It's nice to have a seat to lend knowing it will take the weight and when thr kids were small, they would want to sit kn my knee. I've used this on trail runs, camp fires, event shows, standing in long lines and all sorts of spots. They store in the space of a Mag-Lite and beat sitting on a muddy rock or stump.
- Toolbox - I standardized on water proof, stackable Rigid tool boxes about 6 years ago. They lock together and can ride in the truck or on the truck and stay dry. I have 2x that always ride in the truck. I use a 3rd with a carpeted board in conjunction with a spacer block under the 2nd row as a sleeping platform. I can stack or store them around camp for use as a table or as additional seating. I typically set them under the truck when I sleep inside knowing no critters can get inside. I can stack 6x in the rear (2x stacks of 2x med and 1x small) and 2x med stacked in each 2nd row (folded up), secured with my Stratchit straps. I added climbing rings to the 2nd row bolts for tie down points.
- Metal Sawzall or Hacksaw Blade - Small to store and great for cutting off bent or mangled parts.
- Dremel with Small Carbide Stone - Cordless is ideal, corded if you have an inverter to run it. Would've been handy to grind the sheared bolts to ease extraction.
- Tap for Knuckle Studs (Size???) - Some of the holes were oval'd a bit and a tap could have cleaned them up nicely before installing the new studs.
Last edited:
