Ultimate (but cheap) Lug Wrench

[solidfrontaxle]

So I'm rethinking and reorganizing my vehicle toolkit and storage on the 80. I'd like to have it set up so my wife can quickly and easily change a tire, so that means lots of leverage.

I used to carry the original toyota toolkit with lug wrench, in addtion to a cheapo four way star. I got rid of both in favor of a harbor freight 25" breaker bar with a 21mm impact socket. I'm already not liking it - the leverage is nice, but it isn't symmetrical like the star wrench so it wants to slip off the nut, plus it is scary flexible and I can see it breaking easily. Once it's broken, it isn't as handy to spin off the nut either. The star wrench is not quite long enough so I end up stomping on it to break nuts, and it is impossible to store in a convenient to access place (the side panel where the jack goes).

I think the solution is one of the old school sliding t breaker bars like this:

only use one with a really long handle.

Then I can slide it out like a breaker bar to break the nut, then center it and spin it once the nut is loose. Maybe eventually get a ratcheting socket adapter to speed things up:

I just gotta find a place where I can find a sliding t handle for a good price. Most I'm finding are either 3/4" socket or way short. If I got a short one, would I be able to find a cheap piece of metal rod to replace the shaft with? It would need to be stiff enough not to deform/bend.

I don't really want to go more than $50 for this tool (with the rachet adapter-which is half the price probably). If it is too expensive, I'd rather get a really big star wrench and cut one arm off it.

Thoughts?

 

[Weber Sarge]

Those handles are tool steel and it's not cheap . It will be either impossible to find a long enough sliding t-handle or one that doesn't cost a fortune - I use them for various tasks myself and good ones start at $30 for 3/8" drive . A simple long breaker bar with socket and separate 4-way would be the easiest way to go imho ....
Sarge

 

[jblueridge]

I've got a 1/2" drive slider bar that long ago I put a piece of pipe over to add leverage. It bent the thing. Craftsman too from pre-asia days.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

As cool as my idea was in the OP, I never followed through and I ended up using my HF breaker bar to do a whole lot of lug nuts on and off. And after using it a bunch, I ended up really liking it. I'm just going to put some friction tape or temflex on the handle and it actually WILL be the ultimate and cheap lug wrench.

KISS always works in the end I guess...

 

[Dragos80]

The original one is the best in my opinion. She can step on it for more lb-ft of torque. It is short enough to be able to spin it with your finger and speed up the lug nut in or out.

 

[Dragos80]

or get one of these

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kawasaki..._-203124449&ci_src=328768002&ci_sku=203124449

 

[rusty_tlc]

I carry a folding lug wrench, it works okay. I only use it to spin the lugs off after I break them with a 1/2" breaker bar. I also carry a Harbor freight click style 1/2" torque wrench to tighten them back down. The best way to avoid a struggle breaking lug nuts loose is to not over tighten them to begin with.
The torque wrench is also used to check the steering arm nuts etc. so it's there anyway.

 

[Corbet]

I carry a folding lug wrench and a 1/2" breaker bar. I doubt my wife could lift the 35" tire off the swing arm anyway so it's good she does not like driving the 80.

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