Tools For Working on Your Truck

[cruiserhunter]

Hola All,

I have NO tools. In Texas my roomate was blessed with a wealth to craftemen tools he had recieved from his father.

So, while i was in Texas I used his tools, since I have been in Chicago I have had to rely on the good will of Archie and Chitown to get me rig back together when she has issues.

So the Questions:

1) Do I buy one of those sets big sets of tools (ie rachets, wrenches, bits, pliers) that they sell at the big box stores?

or

2) Do I buy the tools seperatly?

3) Does the maker really matter and who has the best cost to benefit ratio.

I am exceedingly poor, so any help and input you could give would be appreciated.

thanks,
Patrick

 

[Poser]

Moved to the tools section...


You have to start someplace, and those craftsman sets include a lot of tools that would cost significantly more by themselves.

Pick up a 1/2" drive 24mm socket, six point. This is for your diff drain and fill plugs, along with the transmission fill and drain plug, and tcase drain plug. ( a 17mm and 19mm six point is a good idea as well )

 

[-Spike-]

Yep, start with the biggest set you can afford and add as you need to.

-Spike

 

[projektdotnet]

Yep, start with the biggest set you can afford and add as you need to.

-Spike

This strategy is working great for me. Wife bought me a large craftsman toolset for our 1st Anniv and I rarely need to hunt for anything else

 

[okie]

Hola All,

I have NO tools. In Texas my roomate was blessed with a wealth to craftemen tools he had recieved from his father.

So, while i was in Texas I used his tools, since I have been in Chicago I have had to rely on the good will of Archie and Chitown to get me rig back together when she has issues.

So the Questions:

1) Do I buy one of those sets big sets of tools (ie rachets, wrenches, bits, pliers) that they sell at the big box stores?

or

2) Do I buy the tools seperatly?

3) Does the maker really matter and who has the best cost to benefit ratio.

I am exceedingly poor, so any help and input you could give would be appreciated.

thanks,
Patrick

i was in the same position and when doing a resto you need ALOT of tools, you'll be suprized what household tools you can also make work. hehe

anyways i went to sears and got a craftsman set. then i lost mine in my many moves from house to house while restoring my truck. so the fam im staying with now has loaned me their set. very nice of them. so go to sears and get a set of craftsman tools. good luck!

 

[cruiserhunter]

I've been looking around. Does anyone have any experince with Husky or husky pro tools. I can get a really nice set for $100 which will inculde more tools than anything craftsman puts out in that price range.


Thanks for your help and advice

Patrick

 

[Tunnelratt]

I just picked up that $100 set of Huskys from HD, I just wanted a set for my war bag that I keep on the 40, they seem fine, got some decent weight to them, the tolerances are good and feel pretty good in your hand, will definitely do the job, buy what you can afford, all of us add tools as we go along.

 

[RHINO]

husky makes quality tools, easily equal to craftsman IMOP.

 

[stayalert]

generally accepted as cheaper to buy sets....years ago a friend had a couple of boxes stolen from his truck...Insurance company questioned value.....he itemized his tools with per piece prices and it was outrageously expensive. Cheap tools are....well....cheap tools....I've been generally satified with craftmen, but not the blue - handyman version or whatever they call it stuff......

 

[Josh83]

Get the best you can afford. I am not a craftsman loyalist like some, but they are decent tools for the money. I have no experiance with the husky tools that HD sells, but a coworker has a husky socket set he has been using in an industrial environment since the 70's if that tells you anything. I do like the Kobalt stuff from lowes. If you have the money to get a "professional" grade, do it. Such as the Craftsman professional. I really like the high polish for easy clean up and the more rounded edges are easy on the hands. If you can't afford it, don't sweat it, upgrade later if you feel the need. And if you are patient, you can find some GREAT deals at yard sales. I got a Wilton 6" industrial vise like I have on my bench at work. New is about $1000. Yard sale price? $25 Granted, its is spraypainted 30 different colors, but mechanically, it is still a $1000 vise.

 

[IBCRUSN]

Purchase what you can afford now to get started and replace as needed with better quality tools as you need them. As everyone else mentioned you more or less get what you pay for. That said for general hobby use and even light professional use the nut doesn't know the difference between Husky, Kobalt, Snap-on, Mac, Craftsman, SK, you get the picture. Once you've used different brands you'll find that each has specific tools that you like and are really good and ultimately your box will be filled with all the major brands.

I did a quick search and found the below info from a few different sites:

THE STANLEY WORKS
Husky, Proto, Blackhawk, Challenger, Master Mechanic, Stanley, Caterpillar, John Deere, Martin & Wilde

Stanley makes: Stanley, Husky, Mac, Proto, Blackhawk and Craftsman prior to 1994, and probably dozens of others

Danaher Tools makes: Current Craftsman, K-D, Armstrong and Matco

Snap-On: Snap-On and most likely the Lowe's Kobalt line from cheaper forgings

http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html

http://home.nc.rr.com/woodsmall/Tools.htm

 

[kulangot]

If your on a budget, you might want to price out the individual tools from sears vs. buying a tool kit. Why? Well, most of time when you buy a Craftsman tool kit, even if you can still get an all metric version, the sizes they give you are not ideal for a Cruiser. For example, they give you 13, 15, 16 and 18mm but not 17 or 19mm. You can actually use 13 here and there where some non JIS fasteners have made it onto your truck but the others you'll never likely use unless you work on European cars and the odd American/Canadian stuff.

You also won't need all the SAE stuff unless you have a V8 and even then, you won't need it all.

I no longer buy Husky tools because of their current warranty exchange policy and their tools are no longer made in USA. I bought stuff when HD first came out with Husky that was USA made and now it gets warantied with stuff made in China.

Go to sears with a calculator to compare individual purchase vs a set:

I'd get a 1/4 metric ratchet with 8, 10 and 12 mm sockets in deep and shallow.

Then get a 3/8's ratchet with 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19 and 21mm

Last get a 1/2 ratchet with 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24 and larger sizes if you'll need them (maybe as you need them).

I also like impact sockets for all sizes, more durable and then when you get $$$ for an impact wrench, you'll already have them.

Get a set of wrenches in the same sizes. Here you might do better with a set.

Get your basic pliers, vice grips, 24 oz ballpean or cross peen hammer, chisel, screwdrivers, etc.

Add to that an impact driver (the kind you strike with a hammer), mag light, work gloves, tool bag, tool roll and misc small stuff.

You'd be surprised with how compact this set can be and how much you can do with it. Nice to have exactly what you need with out the extra crap to haul around.

Also, you won't save in the long run with cheap tools. Don't go lower than Sears or Home Depot Husky. Not worth it.

-Stumbaugh

 

[D'Animal]

Buy a handful of 12mm tools.

 

[kulangot]

Buy a handful of 12mm tools.

To add to that, sears sells double box wrenches with 10 x 12 combo and 12 x 14 combo - both are very handy on a Cruiser. They have 17 x 19 as well, also very handy.

-Stumbaugh

 

[Plowboy]

I bought a box of MetWrench for around $100. Have not had any problems with them in over 5 yrs. The design of the tools fit both metric and sae. Because of the design there is some slop in the ratchets. Handle and socket moves back together. Solved the problem with new ratchet with a faster "click" return.

 

[kulangot]

I bought a box of MetWrench for around $100. Have not had any problems with them in over 5 yrs. The design of the tools fit both metric and sae. Because of the design there is some slop in the ratchets. Handle and socket moves back together. Solved the problem with new ratchet with a faster "click" return.

I've never tried those but there is a lot of interchangeability in the sae/metric sizes

8mm - 5/15

14mm = 9/16

11mm = 7/16

16mm = 5/8

19mm = 3/4

21 mm = 13/16

and 1" wrenches fits on 25 mm bolts with a tight fit.

I guess when they designed the one sets fits all, the build in the overlap to make more of the sizes work?


-Stumbaugh

 

[Curse]

I was in the same position a few months ago, so I just started buying mini sets and similar to get the tools I found I needed as I progressed.

Tools I've found are *required*

10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm sockets for 3/8'' drive.

17mm, 19mm sockets for 1/2'' drive.

12mm [for door removal and a few other things] and 14mm [for oil plug] standard wrenches (can't remember what they're called at the moment >.< ) If you can afford a set of Husky ratcheting wrenches, grab em, they're great.

A good Crescent wrench.

A pair of needle-nose pliers. I always carry the basic $20 leatherman with me, its definitely one of the best buys I've made.

That is what I can think of off the top of my head..

 

[sandcruiser]

I'd get a kit to start out, not only do you get a wide variety of tools, but you also get a handy storage/carrying case.

No matter what you start with, you'll find holes that you need to fill with individual tools.

Absolute minimum necessary is pretty much the stock toyota tool kit:

10/12mm wrench , 14/17mm wrench, adjustable wrench, flat head screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, pliers, spark plug socket.

That won't get you very very far, but it will get you started.

Right out of the gate, I would add: 1/4" drive ratchet with metric sockets through 13mm or 14mm (ACE sells a good one), and a 3/8" socket with 10mm-19mm (make sure it has 17mm too).

That should get you started at under $100. But you'll get a heck of a lot more tools if you buy a $100 kit.

 

[cruiserhunter]

Hey guys thanks for all the advice. I bit the bullet and bought a Husky Pro set from HD. Was on sale, $65 usually 100, couldn't pass it up. Doesn't have everything I'll need but its a good start... OH and as a bonus it FITS EASILY UNDER MY SEAT!!!!!!!!!!
PICS!!!
Here the link

https://forum.ih8mud.com/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=762

Thanks again,
Patrick

 

[gladly]

maybe they don't sell them in the states, but almost all of my tools are the NAPA ultrapro brand, and they're great, we had a deal when I was in (autobody)school, and I got all the basics, and have been impressed enough to continue with the brand when I buy new stuff
two good full sets of wrenches, 1/4 drive set and 1/2 drive set is a real good start, I have a few random 3/8 drive, and a couple of 3/8 ratchets, but really don't use them that much, other than for the philips, allan, and torx bits
also get the random larger 1/2 drive sockets you need, I think I have 21,23, and 30, but some of those might be 'cause of the VW, not the cruiser