• NAXJA is having its 18th annual March Membership Drive!!!
    Everyone who joins or renews during March will be entered into a drawing!
    More Information - Join/Renew
  • Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

common tools for the trail??

I say this and I have yet to get my novice tech license. I have to move that up my "to do" list!

I believe the Novice licence has now gone by the wayside - Technician is the entry-level class. No Morse requirement anymore, either.

Google the online practice tests - a few runs through them and a little reading-up and you'll be good to go.
 
Tech is in fact the entry level license class these days. It's not that tough to pass... at least as an electrical engineer.

My feeling on the matter is to bring a 2 meter or 6 meter ham rig even if you are not licensed. Don't use it unless you really get into trouble, if you do get into trouble, remember that distress calls are permitted on any and all frequencies at your disposal. It's better to be alive and explaining your actions to the FCC (as long as you do not use crude language or cause interference and use it only for getting yourself rescued they probably won't do anything mean to you) than it is to be dead, but in full compliance with the law.
 
Oh Man that hurts:doh:

Sometimes I can't help myself.

Anyway I carry a a full compliment of sockets in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2".

Open and box end wrenches and gear wrench's in all sizes. A hammer.

Various diagnostics. Multimeter.

I carry about 70 obs of tools.

Spare rear drive shaft and axle shafts.
 
That's because somebody has needed pretty much off of them at some point.
 
Here is what I carry and where I carry it. And yes it all fits in three 8 gallon rubbermaid containers. Some of it goes under where the rear seat use to be. Everything is strapped down tightly to eye bolts bolted through the floor and re-enforced with steel plate. I use medium 1"/good quality ratchet straps. Nothing moves around on the trail

Center console
Mini Mag Lite and extra batteries
Tire Gauge
Bug spray, sun-block
Spare Fuses
Swiss Army Knife
Staun tire deflaters

In door pouch
2 Ponchos

Recovery, stored in the right rear fender area

2 pieces of Plywood 12”x12”, for jacking in the mud/sand

2 10” long 2x4's
Folding Shovel
3"x6' Tree Saver Strap
3"x30' Snatch Strap
Gloves
Assorted D-Rings

Tool s (in a 8 gal Action Packer)
BFH
C-clamp
1/2" Drive Socket Wrench
1/2" Drive 15-22mm, 24mm, 32mm, 36mm Sockets
1/2" Drive 3/8"-1" , 1 1/8”, 1 1/4” Sockets
1/4" Extensions
¼” drive socket wrench
1/4" Drive 7-10mm Deep Sockets
1/4" Drive 1/4"-5/16" Deep Sockets
7-23mm Combination Wrenches
1/4"-1" Combination Wrenches
Hack Saw w/extra blades
Large torx 40, 45, 50 Sockets
Spark Plug Socket w/swivel
Pliers
Channel locks
Medium size pipe wrench
Needle Nose Pliers
Vise Grips(small, large and needle nose)
EMT Sheers
Side cutters/dykes
Adjustable Wrench
1/2" Drive Breaker Bar
1/2" Drive Extensions
1/2" Drive to 3/8" Socket Adapter
½” drive swivel
3/8" Drive 10-14mm Deep Sockets
3/8" Drive 3/8"-5/8" Deep Sockets
3/8" Drive Socket Wrench
3/8" Drive 12 point 8-19mm Sockets
3/8" Drive 3/8"-3/4" Sockets
3/8" Drive Extensions assorted(you will need enough to put together to reach the CPS)
3/8" Drive to 1/4" Socket Adapter
3/8" Drive to 1/2" Socket Adapter
3/8” drive swivel
1/4" Drive to 3/8" Socket Adapter
Tubing cutter and flare tool and flare fittings
10mm-19mm swivel sockets
6 pt 8 mm box wrench, 12 pt 8 mm socket
Small prybar
Punches, chisels and alignment pins
Channel locks, large/small
Feeler gauge
DVohm meter
Test light
Wire crimpers and assorted connectors/extra wire
OBD2 scan tool
Metric Allen Keys
SAE Allen Keys
1/4” drive swivel
Flathead Screwdrivers
Phillips Screwdrivers
Torx Screwdrivers
Jumper Cables
D-Cell Mag Lite and extra batteries


In left rear cargo area
Fire Extinguisher
10 ton Bottle Jack
CO2 tank
ARB Compressor and hose


FLUIDS (in 8 gal Action Packer)
4 Qts. of Oil
4 Qts. of ATF
1 Gallon Potable Water
Screw on pour spout
WD-40/PB blaster
Fix-a-Flat
Brake fluid

Spare parts (under rear seat and in rear floorboard) or in 3rd action packer

Spare U-Bolts
1 Spare C8.25 29 spline Axle Shaft
1 Spare Tie Rod w/ TRE's
Broom handle to push out broken shafts
Spare F/R yokes
Spare Driveshaft U-joint
Spare Nuts and Bolts
1 Spare XJ front drive shaft(can be used front or rear with my SYE)
1 Spare Serpentine Belt
1 Spare Fuel Pump
1 Spare IAC
1 Spare CPS
Spare relays and fuses
2’ of 10,12,14,16 gauge wire
Electrical tape
Haynes Jeep Cherokee Repair Manual
Small Grease Gun
Duct Tape
Spare Valve Stems
Tire Repair Kit
Garbage Bags
Vaccum Line Repair Kit
Hose Repair Kit
Spare U-joint Straps
Spare Lug Nuts
2 Spare Leaf Center Pins
Assorted Spare Hose Clamps
1 Spare Diff. Plug
1 Spare U-joint C-clips
Spare Snap Rings
Right Stuff sealant
JB Weld
Spare unit bearing mounting bolts and cotterpins
3’ of 3/8” tranny cooler hose
2’ of ¾” heater hose
2’ of 5/8” heater hose
2’ of 5/16” FI hose
2’ of 3/8” FI hose
Hose mending fittings of all sizes
Zip Ties
Towel
8’x10’ tarp/4 spikes
First aid kit
Spare Tire in rear floorboard held down with the hilift and straps

Small resealable drain pan, 8 quart
 
i dont see why peaple take the 36mm socket for the axle nut, just have a hub already installed on the shaft then you will just need a 1/2 or 13mm 12pt socket

in my last jeep that had a hp30/8.25 combo on 33's

i had
spare set of d30 shafts
1 8.25 shaft
1/2 breaker bar
1/2 to 3/8 adapter
1/2 12pt socket
3/4 socket
5/16 racheting wrench
big hammer
stock bottle jack

basicly mimimal shit to change a axle or driveshaft, jeep did so much better without all the wieght and alot safer
 
current jeep is a trailer queen on 60's

i just have a small bag that carries
sockets for the lug nuts, rear shaft bolts, frt spindle nut
couple of screw drivers
vice grips
adjustable wrench
spare 1310 ujoint
zip ties
 
i dont see why peaple take the 36mm socket for the axle nut, just have a hub already installed on the shaft then you will just need a 1/2 or 13mm 12pt socket

I run the RCV's so i'll never blow a shaft but I have ripped a ring gear apart so when that happens I have to remove the RCV's, install/torque stubbies and plug the axle tubes in order to get home(plus pull the front DS)

Yes my Heep is heavy but i have used about every tool or spare part on that list on the trail or in camp on my rig or others.

If I didn't carry something with me, that would be the one thing i need!
 
i dont see why peaple take the 36mm socket for the axle nut, just have a hub already installed on the shaft then you will just need a 1/2 or 13mm 12pt socket
I generally take mine because I just sling the whole toolbag into the jeep, easier to not forget anything. Hell, I even bring my external torx :dunce:

I'm glad I did, I ended up blowing a radiator hose due to a stuck thermostat at Fall Crawl and it would have been a real pain in the ass to change the thermostat out if I hadn't had my gasket scraper with me. Who the hell brings a gasket scraper with them while wheeling? I didn't, at least not intentionally.

... and I carry spare rad hoses, hose clamps, and a thermostat and gasket now too.
 
Air
Welder, with a grip of rods
Full set wrenches/sockets
Scanner
Hammer
Grinder
Any specialty tools (hub socket, fuel line discos ect.)
Bailing wire
Duct tape
Spare critical sensors
Spare tranny/steering fluid
Spare steering joints
Spare Ujoints for drive shafts
Everything else can wait until you get home.
 
i carry a husky mechanic tool tray with a bunch of sockets. a cooler chest filled with a hammer, rubber mallet, pipe wrench, shop towels, bleeder kit, screw drivers and others things. i then have crates with straps, ratchet straps, oil, napa filter, power steering fluid, coolant, ATF and gear oil. last thing i have is a good ole' hi-lift jack. i also have a tent in there in case things dont turn out too well or we find a nice spot to stop at.
 
Most of my sockets and combination spanners are 6 pt. The 13mm 12pt being one that I will stash a spare of in the glove box or in the centre console as they always seem to go missing from my tool bag.

I have been using Metrinch tools since the early 1980's. They work on both metric and inch sizes (In the UK it's metric and imperial). In some sizes, one Metrinch socket can replace four conventional sockets. Which is great for reducing weight and storage bulk.

I am on my third set now, having lost the previous two sets in cars that were stolen from me. https://metrinch.tv/collections/metrinch-sets-1/products/76-piece-combination-wrench-socket-set

As much as I love my Metrinch tools, they are not ideal for every situation. I still need wrenches for sizes smaller than 10mm. Just yesterday I purchased a 6pt 8mm full hex brake spanner that saved me a lot of grief after my 12pt 5/16" ring rounded a bolt on my transfer case front yoke.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top