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Let's Talk Trail Tools

TheAlmightySam

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Portland, OR
Hey all. Putting together a trail toolkit to live in the back of my '92. I've got the basics, but what I'm wondering is what specialty tools I might need to snag. I know I need to get a 36MM socket, but are there any other large ones (say, larger than 19mm) that I should get? How about any other special tools specific to the XJ?

Basically, I want to carry a minimum of tools, but enough to fix any issue I'm likely to run into.
 
20,21,22,23mm at least.
Snap ring pliers
Balljoint/tie rod/pitman arm pullers
 
ZacSquatch said:
20,21,22,23mm at least.
Snap ring pliers
Balljoint/tie rod/pitman arm pullers

What do those go on?

I've never carried anything larger than 18mm, except the 36mm, and there's nothing you will need to fix on the trail that you would use snap ring pliers for. However, I carry them just because they're in my tool bag. I also carry ball joint press, pickle fork, and pitman puller, but only when I'm on overnight camping runs where you want to be more self contained.

It depends on how set up you want to be. If you don't carry the spare part, then you don't need the tool to remove it, like a pickle fork if you don't have spare steering parts.

I've gradually thinned out my tools, opting for fewer tools that will do multiple tasks, rather than the perfect tool for everything. Tools are nice, but they are also heavy.
 
Come to the Northwest - we have a BUNCH of tools on the trails. :shhh:
 
Here's a few I carry.
Hi-lift Jack, come along, gloves, bin full of stuff, bucket full of stuff...

DSCN0542.jpg


Inside the bin is recovery accessories, coveralls (dark blue) and a ground tarp. Got this idea from Greg (Montana XJ). The bin was puuchased at Walmart and loaded with the usual roadside emergency or recovery accessories and things in case it gets stuck ugly without help coming soon.

DSCN0546.jpg


There are flares, straps, d-rings, flash light, hatchet, 1st aid kit, zip ties, rain poncho, space blanket, earthquake kit which has water packets and freeze dried foods, and a marine air horn. Since the pic was taken I have added a couple of glow sticks and wagbags.

DSCN0547.jpg


I also carry a recovery bucket. Got this idea while on Fins-N-Things a few years back...The trail leader was a local, during a break he was talking about a recovery up Kane Creek a few weeks before. The Jeep swamped itself and was pulled out, the A$$hat owner drained his tranny and oil right on the ground. That's when I came up with this bucket idea.

DSCN0555.jpg



The bucket contains a hand siphon pump, two part expoxy for fuel tank leak stop, radiator stop leak, tire plugs, JB Weld, rags, oil absorbent pads, kitty litter type absorbent, duct tape, large garbage bags. Since the pic was taken I out a couple of wagbags in here also.

DSCN0553.jpg


The two together cost about $250 to outfit, the straps and reciever recovery being the single most expensive items.

Good luck,
Tom
 
Don't forget a 12 pt. 13mm socket for the front hub bolts.
 
Well I've posted this before and I usually get flamed by those on here who seem to never break anything and never carry tools/parts. So flame on! I carry a bunch of stuff, it all fits mostly in the back and some in the rear seat right side rear seat floor board. With some careful packing of course. I still have enough room for myself and my 14 and 5 year old sons. Everything is strapped down and secured.

Here is my pre-trail ride check list;
Center console
Mini Mag Lite and extra batteries
Tire Gauge
Bug spray, sun-block
Spare Fuses
Swiss Army Knife

Back seat floor board
Re-sealable drain pan
Blanket
Toilet paper

Small storage tote in floor
Bungee Cords
10 ton Bottle Jack
Small floor jack/jack handles
Ratchet straps

In door pouch
2 Ponchos

Laying in back floor area(where ever it will fit)
2 pieces of Plywood 12”x12”
2 10” long 2x4's
Shovel
3"x6' Tree Saver Strap
3"x30' Snatch Strap
Gloves
Assorted D-Rings
8’x10’ tarp/4 spikes
First aid kit
Spare Tire

Tool bag(sits in the back seat floor board on top of drain pan)
Oil Filter Wrench
BFH
C-clamp
Snap-ring Pliers
Retaining ring pliers
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
3/8" Drive 10-14mm Deep Sockets
3/8" Drive 3/8"-5/8" Deep Sockets
1/4" Drive 7-10mm Deep Sockets
1/4" Drive 1/4"-5/16" Deep Sockets
7-22mm Combination Wrenches
1/4"-1" Combination Wrenches
Hack Saw w/extra blades
Large torx 40, 45, 50 Sockets
Spark Plug Socket w/swivel
Nut Drivers
2 Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Vise Grips(small, large and needle nose)
EMT Sheers
Side cutters/dykes
Large Adjustable Wrench
Small Adjustable Wrench
1/2" Drive Breaker Bar
1/2" Drive Extension
1/2" Drive to 3/8" Socket Adapter
½” drive swivel
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
1/4" Extension
Tubing cutter and flare tool
10mm,11mm,12mm,13mm,15mm swivel sockets
6 pt 8 mm box wrench, 12 pt 8 mm socket
15 mm ratcheting box wrench
Small prybar
Punches, chisels and alignment pins
Channel locks, large/small
Feeler gauge

Small ALLIED tool kit(fits under front seat)
1/4" Drive Socket Wrench
1/4" Drive 4-14mm Sockets
1/4" Drive 5/32"-9/16" Sockets
Metric Allen Keys
SAE Allen Keys
1/4” drive swivel
Flathead Screwdrivers
Phillips Screwdrivers
Torx Screwdrivers


FLUIDS, I keep these in a storage tote with a solid bottom
6 Qts. of Oil
6 Qts. of ATF
4 Qts. of Gear Oil
Coolant / Anti-freeze
1 Gallon Potable Water
Screw on pour spout
Oil Filter
WD-40/PB blaster
Fix-a-Flat
Brake fluid
Extension cord

Spare parts in a 40” long tote
Spare Dana 30 Axle Shafts with hubs installed
Spare U-Bolts
Spare C8.25 29 spline Axle Shafts
Spare Tie Rod w/ TRE's
Broom handle to push out broken shafts
Spare rear yoke
Spare Driveshaft U-joint
Spare Nuts and Bolts
Come-A-Long
Spare XJ front drive shaft(can be used front or rear with my SYE)
Spare D-30 left and right knuckl
Serpentine Belt
Spare Fuel Pump
Spare IAC
Spare CPS
Spare relay


Gear Bag and spare parts
2’ of 10,12,14,16 gauge wire
Electrical tape
Test light
Multimeter
Wire crimpers/stripers, heat shrink and assorted connecters
Haynes Jeep Cherokee Repair Manual
Small Grease Gun
Duct Tape
Ratcheting Tie-downs
Rope
Spare Valve Stems
Tire Repair Kit
Garbage Bags
Vaccum Line Repair Kit
Hose Repair Kit
Spare U-joint Straps
Spare Lug Nuts
Spare Leaf Center Pins
Spare Hose Clamps
Spare Diff. Plug
spare pins and springs for the front Aussie locker
Spare U-joint C-clips
Spare Snap Rings
Blue RTV
JB Weld
Spare unit bearing mounting bolts and cotterpins
High and low pressure power steering hoses
Upper and lower rad. hoses
Zip Ties
Towel
2 pair of 8.25 “C” clips

Small storage tote
4 ½” electric angle grinder with cut-off wheels, grinding disc
3/8” electric drill with assorted bits

Mounted in Jeep
Power inverter
Co2 tank
48" High-Lift Jack
Jumper Cables
D-Cell Mag Lite and extra batteries
Fire Extinguisher
 
ECKSJAY said:
If you're still running them. :eyes:
If he's asking about trail tools, he's still running stock front hubs.
 
I am indeed still running stock pretty much everything. I plan on cutting my teeth on a stock XJ and learning to drive the thing before spending a bunch of money building it.

I appreciate the input, guys - lots of good information to go off of! Thank you!
 
I think my list would be longer than xjtrailrider's if I inventoried the glovebox, console and Tuffy box.

Yeah, it's heavy and somewhat unnecessary. Yeah, I do become the go to guy when someone breaks something odd on the trail and I have the correct tool. Makes it worth it to me.
 
TellicoReadyXJ said:
I think my list would be longer than xjtrailrider's if I inventoried the glovebox, console and Tuffy box.

Yeah, it's heavy and somewhat unnecessary. Yeah, I do become the go to guy when someone breaks something odd on the trail and I have the correct tool. Makes it worth it to me.

X2! Everyone thinks we are nuts until they break something, then we are thier new best friend!
 
That's the truth.......I'm carrying pretty much the same
tools include
1/4"-3/8"1/2" sockets extensions adapters etc,36mmsocket 1 1/8" socket
a couple adjustable wrenches,
metric and inch open end wrenches, coupla stubby ones for driveshafts and one other tight spot, oil filter wrench,assorted screwdievers, pliers, pipe wrench, crowbar, bfh, grease gun,,etc.....
Parts, rear axle shafts, an extra unit bearing, front axle shafts, tie rod/draglink, yokes,extra u joints,cap and rotor, plugs, wires, a box full of assorted nuts bolts and screws, wire,connectors, a few spare senders, (need to pick up another cps,) tire repair kit, On a long trip I'll add big parts & tools to keep in camp (starter/alternator/water pump) Vise, big jacks, etc.
Recovery, 30' straps, a tree saver, 5' choker chain, d rings,gloves (many pairs) hi lift, axe,shovel, jack board, some short chunks of 2x4 for cribbing, Logger's comealong (not a cheapo homeyd type - this thing uses 5/16" winch cable,) snatch block, 50' choker cable for the winch, wheel chocks.....
first aid kits fire extinguishers, blankets, spill cleanup stuff, in winter I add extra clothes (socks especially) a couple tarps,rope flashlights......a complete oil change , atf, coolant,water, brake fluid, pds fluid , gear oil, pb blaster/wd40, brake cleaner....
hmmmm damn no wonder my springs sag....next trip I think I'll just take some wd40 and my leatherman....
 
wow, finally someone with more stuff then me :D :D :D
Anyways, I haven't seen it posted anywhere (though I might have missed it) but here are couple handy items:
1. Short handle sledge (I spent some quality time with it on the trail once fixing a bent steel rim)
2. Welding rods (stick an assortment of rods into a small container made of 1" PVC tube that is capped on both ends) welding goggles (I took brazing goggles and replaced the shade 3 or 5 lens that they have with a shade 9 lens) or helmet and some thick gloves. Oh yeah, vicegrips for your welding rod come in handy too.
3. Jumper cables to go with the above.

Some folks say: why should I carry rods and goggles if I don't know how to weld? Well.... you might not, but someone on the trail might and the rods and goggles are small and light and come in handy.
xjtrailrider said:
Well I've posted this before and I usually get flamed by those on here who seem to never break anything and never carry tools/parts. So flame on! I carry a bunch of stuff, it all fits mostly in the back and some in the rear seat right side rear seat floor board. With some careful packing of course. I still have enough room for myself and my 14 and 5 year old sons. Everything is strapped down and secured.

Here is my pre-trail ride check list;
Center console
Mini Mag Lite and extra batteries
Tire Gauge
Bug spray, sun-block
Spare Fuses
Swiss Army Knife

Back seat floor board
Re-sealable drain pan
Blanket
Toilet paper

Small storage tote in floor
Bungee Cords
10 ton Bottle Jack
Small floor jack/jack handles
Ratchet straps

In door pouch
2 Ponchos

Laying in back floor area(where ever it will fit)
2 pieces of Plywood 12”x12”
2 10” long 2x4's
Shovel
3"x6' Tree Saver Strap
3"x30' Snatch Strap
Gloves
Assorted D-Rings
8’x10’ tarp/4 spikes
First aid kit
Spare Tire

Tool bag(sits in the back seat floor board on top of drain pan)
Oil Filter Wrench
BFH
C-clamp
Snap-ring Pliers
Retaining ring pliers
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
3/8" Drive 10-14mm Deep Sockets
3/8" Drive 3/8"-5/8" Deep Sockets
1/4" Drive 7-10mm Deep Sockets
1/4" Drive 1/4"-5/16" Deep Sockets
7-22mm Combination Wrenches
1/4"-1" Combination Wrenches
Hack Saw w/extra blades
Large torx 40, 45, 50 Sockets
Spark Plug Socket w/swivel
Nut Drivers
2 Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Vise Grips(small, large and needle nose)
EMT Sheers
Side cutters/dykes
Large Adjustable Wrench
Small Adjustable Wrench
1/2" Drive Breaker Bar
1/2" Drive Extension
1/2" Drive to 3/8" Socket Adapter
½” drive swivel
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
1/4" Extension
Tubing cutter and flare tool
10mm,11mm,12mm,13mm,15mm swivel sockets
6 pt 8 mm box wrench, 12 pt 8 mm socket
15 mm ratcheting box wrench
Small prybar
Punches, chisels and alignment pins
Channel locks, large/small
Feeler gauge

Small ALLIED tool kit(fits under front seat)
1/4" Drive Socket Wrench
1/4" Drive 4-14mm Sockets
1/4" Drive 5/32"-9/16" Sockets
Metric Allen Keys
SAE Allen Keys
1/4” drive swivel
Flathead Screwdrivers
Phillips Screwdrivers
Torx Screwdrivers


FLUIDS, I keep these in a storage tote with a solid bottom
6 Qts. of Oil
6 Qts. of ATF
4 Qts. of Gear Oil
Coolant / Anti-freeze
1 Gallon Potable Water
Screw on pour spout
Oil Filter
WD-40/PB blaster
Fix-a-Flat
Brake fluid
Extension cord

Spare parts in a 40” long tote
Spare Dana 30 Axle Shafts with hubs installed
Spare U-Bolts
Spare C8.25 29 spline Axle Shafts
Spare Tie Rod w/ TRE's
Broom handle to push out broken shafts
Spare rear yoke
Spare Driveshaft U-joint
Spare Nuts and Bolts
Come-A-Long
Spare XJ front drive shaft(can be used front or rear with my SYE)
Spare D-30 left and right knuckl
Serpentine Belt
Spare Fuel Pump
Spare IAC
Spare CPS
Spare relay


Gear Bag and spare parts
2’ of 10,12,14,16 gauge wire
Electrical tape
Test light
Multimeter
Wire crimpers/stripers, heat shrink and assorted connecters
Haynes Jeep Cherokee Repair Manual
Small Grease Gun
Duct Tape
Ratcheting Tie-downs
Rope
Spare Valve Stems
Tire Repair Kit
Garbage Bags
Vaccum Line Repair Kit
Hose Repair Kit
Spare U-joint Straps
Spare Lug Nuts
Spare Leaf Center Pins
Spare Hose Clamps
Spare Diff. Plug
spare pins and springs for the front Aussie locker
Spare U-joint C-clips
Spare Snap Rings
Blue RTV
JB Weld
Spare unit bearing mounting bolts and cotterpins
High and low pressure power steering hoses
Upper and lower rad. hoses
Zip Ties
Towel
2 pair of 8.25 “C” clips

Small storage tote
4 ½” electric angle grinder with cut-off wheels, grinding disc
3/8” electric drill with assorted bits

Mounted in Jeep
Power inverter
Co2 tank
48" High-Lift Jack
Jumper Cables
D-Cell Mag Lite and extra batteries
Fire Extinguisher
 
Okay, dammit, now I'm looking for the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Ketchup-jar, making sense........ :wave:
 
Bag of ratchets, sockets, wrenches, and screwdrivers.

Wire cutters.

Set of front shafts and short side rear.

Mostly empty box of electrical miscellaneous.

Box of assorted crap.

Spare tire.

Zip ties.

Done.
 
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