Some people just leave home with plastic and maybe a AAA card. Others prefer to carry a few items that will help them diagnose and repair issues that come up 50 miles from home. I'm working on my list of "essentials" but curious what other deem worthwhile. I'm not talking about an engine tear down on the side of the road but those items that are worth the extra weight in the trunk.
I'm starting with jumper cables, obd2 scanner, pocket meter, pliers, small set of metric wrenches, allen wrenches, flashlight, tire gage, a few rags,and the absolutely necessary duct tape. Of course, the owners books are in the glove compartment .
Spare parts to carry is a another thread.

 

I carry tools & roadside essentials as 'Talismans' to ward off mechanical breakdowns & avoid tempting Fate. By 'paying your dues' to the God of Car Breakdowns & humbly carrying some tools & a torch that actually works, you demonstrate your fear of breakdowns & your subservience to the power of Fate...

Therefore you will be spared the trauma of a breakdown-by observing simple caveman superstition

However, the first time you set out without any tools, your arrogance will be 'punished' by the Gods who will deliver a mechanical breakdown to your car that could have been fixed by the roadside-if only you had a pair of pliers, snips & a screwdriver with you

 

Do you have a screw in 'tow eye' in the trunk?

It is used to tie down the car in shipment from the UK and is removed in the dealer prep. Many techs throw it away or into their spare parts box rather than installing it into the Styrofoam tool tray.

A tow truck operator would appreciate having one . . . or two.

 

+1 on everything guys, esp. Flashlight. I like to keep my maglite in
the glovebox at all times. One thing most people don't immediately think about
for side-of-the road preparedness is a Pen & Pencil. Can be lifesavers
when referring to diagrams, talking on the phone with someone
to help, etc. My memory isn't as good as some though, so maybe that's
why I find them so useful!

Ian

 

IKEA has a dark blue cloth covered box with a zipper closing for about $8 which is ideal for carrying in the trunk. About 18w x 12d x 8h in inches.

Nice and neat, stays put on the carpet. Carrying a double terry cloth tool roll, there is enough to most jobs. Torx set, two socket sets, screwdrivers, cutters, pliers, vise grips, hemostat, knife.

 

A Glock! When the shooting starts, you don't want to be the only one without it.

 

I would probably do a screwdriver that accepts interchangable bits and a small bit set, this way you can have you phillips, flat heads, torx, 1/4 drive sockets, all in one little hand held tool.

 

I added a one gallon container for water {overheat} recently made frequent trips to Arbys rest room to fill up large cups of water to replenish rad.
Not easy to find those service station faucets any more.
Flashlite , and small trickle charger .
Good idea to have this list.

 

 

and a flashlight

 

To carry that lot, you would need to upgrade to a twin-screw

 

Not tools ... but I carry small bottles of my fluids of choice in the spare tire well so that top-ups can be made without changing brands.

 

+1

Sealed Litre containers of Jaguar Coolant and preferred Engine Oil fit neatly beside the spare wheel.

Graham

 

I thought he was referring to Macallan or something similar.

 

This is a little jem of a tool, Teng T029 pack of cigarettes sized.