Tool bag/box for the car

S

Smash05

Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
1,794
I need some sort of organizer for the car. I grew up with crap cars, hand me down junkers so I always had tools in the trunk. Now I have my fiance's car, and voila no tools. I need a small bag of some kind to keep the jumper cables, first aid kit, and some other tools organized but I need to be as unobtrusive as possible so as not to clutter the small trunk. I was thinking a simple Home Despot tool bag or something like that but I am open to suggestions.
 
I drive some old beaters too. (19 years old)

I bought tool kits from wally world on sale, they have all the basic tools and they were cheap enough that if someone would take them I'm only out 15 to 20 bucks.
They, both came in hard plastic cases that hold the sockets and wrenches nicely.
 
Harbor Freight regularly has small canvas bags on sale. Some are open top and some are Mil Surplus knockoffs. I don't like large bags because I tend to overfill them. Two small ones work better for me.
 
I've used ammo boxes, tool bags, carpenter bags, etc. If you can store the cables separately it keeps things better organized for use - the cables are often not part of the service, and it frees them up from using the tools.

My current tool bag is a large double zip pencil case the size of a shave kit. If I can't fix whatever electrical gremlin is going bonkers with that, or the 1/4 drive kit in it is too small, I have a major problem and need towing. Shoulda caught it in weekly checks and maintenance. The 1/4 drive kit will do most hose, fuel injection, battery, and general maintenance, along with a multitip screwdriver and battery terminal tools. A pair of small vice grips, spare fuzes, etc. and I've covered everything I had a problem with in the last five years. Starters, alternators, belts, water pumps, etc, need a home shop environment where I can use the "big" box and grab another car to get parts. At that point it's time to get off the shoulder and home - which the invention of the cell phone greatly helps.
 
While I was running keeping in shape for the Reserves, I found most of my handiest tools on the side of the road. You'd think guys would put them in a tool bag. Or close the tailgate on their truck.

Populating the bag has been a challenge due to the need to make them as multipurpose as possible - in the appropriate way. Vise grips and Crescents are one method, especially inexpensive ones - I've had one too many tool bags liberated, and I don't use them all that much to need high dollar stuff just rusting on the floor boards.

I would definitely recommend the correct battery terminal service tools - the special pliers, terminal spreader if top post, ratchet wrench for side post, and a quality brush or ream to clean with - cheap brushes are a waste as they are now simply potted in the lid and self destruct in a half dozen uses. A small multitip screwdriver, small ratchet with the correct sockets for your car, fuse pullers, and a roll of self fusing electrical tape. A small "purse" size WD 40 for the ignition can help, too.

Bags are the best for this - I used a Fuel & Tool at one time, just to discover the tightly sealed tool box on the bottom of the tank sucked up warm humid air and left an inch of condensate in it. It happens in the bag, too, as cold tools will get wet on a humid day, but at least ia bag dries out.

Automobiles are not a great storage environment.
 
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