When you embark on a 4×4 trail that promises multiple days in the backcountry, it’s a good idea to have an assortment of tools in your kit to keep you going. Whether needed or not, there’s certainly something to be said about the added confidence of having it in your bag. Here are just a few of the pieces I’ve picked up over the years that I keep handy.
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As soon as I leave pavement, I’m looking to air down to soften the ride – for both my comfort and maximize traction. I’ve looked at building my own 4-tire deflation/inflation kit but after rolling with guys who have.. I’m usually the first one ready to go with this handy tool without the hassle of coiling up an excessive amount of air hose. Hands down recommendation here.
To say that I’ve gone through a handful of flashlights is an understatement. This light is rugged, rechargeable, dimmable, magnetic, BRIGHT, and feels like a frickin’ light saber! Loved it so much that I bought 2. It is clutch when working under the rig or under the hood at night on the trail or as an easy way to add light to artistic photos. Can’t recommend enough.
When it’s time to air back up, this air compressor has been a game changer. Running 32″ tires, generally deflated to 12-15psi, I can inflate each tire back to the 36psi range in one-minute. Same as the deflator, I’m usually inflated just as quick (if not quicker) as the guys running 4-tire systems. If you’re running 33″+ tires, you may want to opt for the the double cylinder version.
Makita 1/2 Mid-Torque Impact Wrench
Some may call this “extra” but I call it super convenient – especially for quick tire changes and that unexpected mechanical failure on a buddy’s rig. You know, the type of fix that you wouldn’t even volunteer to tackle in your own garage, but in some sick way, you find yourself pumped to do it in the middle of a backcountry trail.
This one pretty much speaks for itself. It’s always better to have dedicated lug nut sockets in a convenient case to avoid pulling out the full socket kit. These are rugged, easy to read and take up minimal space in the kit.
I’ve modified my rig to carry packout cases for quick grab-and-go convenience and superior organization. Nothing like knowing you brought “the thing” but have no idea where you stashed it. This ket compliments the 1/2″ battery impact wrench. Obviously, I’m a Toyota guy so all my kits are metric. It’s simply a way to carry only what I need… and passively telling my domestic rig friends that they are doing it wrong.
Same as above. Organization. Grab-and-go. Domestic Rig Friends are doing it wrong if they’re asking me for SAE tools.
Essential tool here. The last thing you want keeping you from getting back on the trail is a stubborn nut or bolt that just won’t free up because of that one time you were just a bit overzealous with the threadlocker. At the very least, this breaker bar will compliment the lug nut socket set listed above.
Flex Head Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set
I don’t think there’s any need to explain why you should carry combination wrenches but…. if/when you do, make them flex head ratcheting wrenches. Imagine having the right size wrench but you just can’t the angle… and all of your sockets are too deep/bulky to fit with the ratchet. Enter, flex head wrenches.
For the few times that you need a second wrench on the other end of the fastner and just can’t justify carrying another kit of wrenches/sockets. Versatility is the name of the game here.
I currently carry a kit of my own making that includes most of these items but this kit is “Saved for Later” just waiting for me to pull the trigger before my next big trip. We can probably all agree that the most valuable tool in this kit is the telescoping magnet that we will inevitably use to fetch a fallen 10mm out of the engine bay.
Once I modified the pickup to run 32″ tires with an additional 2-3″ of lift, my oem bottle jack just wasn’t going to cut it. It also seemed to have taken some abuse in a previous life so I wanted a replacement that would give me a bit more confidence. This jack is beefy and has a max height of 18″.
This little scanner was absolutely essential in helping me sort out all the gremlins that come along with an engine swap and modified/adapted engine harness. Engine swap or not, to be able to quickly scan for codes as soon as you see the Check Engine Light is priceless when it comes to making the hard call of continuing on the trail or parking it to avoid irreversible damage.
